Athleta Headlands Hybrid Excessive Rise Cargo Legging Assessment

Backside Line

The Athleta Headlands Hybrid Excessive Rise Cargo Pants are as near perfection because it will get. After two thorough exams performed by CleverHiker, these mountaineering leggings have earned the title of one of the best all-around leggings for girls. They match like a glove—comfortable via the legs, with simply the correct quantity of room on the waist. Sitting comfortably throughout the abdomen, they provide a relaxed match however can simply be tightened with a drawstring while you change to mountaineering mode. 

These pants boast six zippered pockets—greater than some other mountaineering leggings we’ve encountered, and definitely greater than most ladies’s pants. A mix of soppy materials within the again and sturdy material within the entrance ensures each consolation and toughness. Trendy sufficient for work or private occasions, these are the best pants to transition from slogging to socializing. Although they’re on the pricier aspect, the standard and flexibility make them properly well worth the funding. 

We examined these leggings on the excessive desert trails of the Carson Valley in Nevada (4,600 ft) and the snowy trails of South Lake Tahoe (6,200 ft). We navigated the paths with out utilizing the drawstring, with the drawstring tied, with our pockets empty, and with a cellphone in every of the varied pockets. We scraped in opposition to sharp, needle-like bushes on the entrance technical materials and squatted, crouched, sat on rocks, and kneeled within the grime.

We imagine that each hiker wants a jogger just like the Athleta Headlands Hybrid Excessive Rise Cargo Legging. Nevertheless, when you’re serious about exploring extra choices, check out our information to the greatest mountaineering leggings to discover a pair that matches your mountaineering model.

Consolation

These leggings are rather less comfortable and versatile than others, however solely simply. On the primary day we wore them, we didn’t need to take them off all day. They immediately felt like the kind of pants we might put on a number of days in a row.

The legs are stretchy and cushty, however the waist is a bit looser. There may be some wiggle when pulling them off and placing them again on, which makes us barely involved concerning the waistband stretching in the long run, nevertheless it’s price it for the match. We felt no restriction in squatting, bending down, or sitting cross-legged; we had a full vary of movement. The again of the pants is constructed from a softer material, whereas the entrance is extra technical.

Match

These keep in place! Over the primary 12 hours of sporting all of them day lengthy—strolling, working, taking part in with the canine, and many others.—we solely needed to pull them up perhaps 3 times, and that felt largely to work them into our physique form. We walked with the drawstring tied and untied, and the waist stayed up each occasions.  

We sometimes put on sizes 6 to 10 in different bottoms (often dimension M), however with these, the scale 10 suits properly. We might probably dimension all the way down to an 8, however for now, we choose a looser waist match with the choice for a drawstring. Because the material is stretchy, we focus extra on the waist measurement when selecting the best dimension. We by no means felt a muffin high. As an alternative, we immediately felt actually assured in these pants—horny in a means that didn’t make us really feel uncomfortable or ogled.  

The waistband is greater, hitting our stomach button, however because it sits extra on the stomach as a substitute of digging in, it feels actually snug. The match is just like the Revolution Race Alaska Fleece-Lined leggings.

Options

Okay, these have 6 pockets—sure, 6! And so they’re all zippered. There are even pockets on the butt! We do want the butt pockets had been extra hearty to cowl the booty a bit extra, slightly than having hidden zippers, however we perceive the engineering behind it. 

The upper hip pockets simply match our complete cellphone, whereas the decrease thigh pockets are a bit too small. We might match our cellphone in width-wise however not totally in size. These decrease pockets are additionally a bit comfortable for getting our palms out and in, so we wouldn’t advocate placing one thing small in there that will require digging. 

The drawstring feels prefer it may stretch an excessive amount of and never do a lot, nevertheless it ties and unties very simply. It’s a loop drawstring that ties itself right into a knot.

Breathability & Heat

We wore these outdoors on a really chilly day with our thigh-length coats, and whereas we had been chilly, our legs weren’t. Granted, we had on thick excessive socks, too. Nevertheless, we thought our legs can be a lot colder. These are just a little higher within the chilly than another non-insulated variations. If we had been shifting so much on a chilly winter hike, we’d be pleased with these. In heat climate, they don’t really feel stifling. 

They’re an attention-grabbing mixture of actually light-weight, thinner leggings and mid-weight leggings. Actually, we love these a lot that we’d by no means pack them away throughout any season.

Sturdiness

We don’t anticipate any pilling, and we really feel fairly assured within the material’s potential to deal with potential snags, although that will not occur. We might confidently put on these for a number of days of mountaineering, and we stay up for utilizing them on a backpacking journey.

Ought to You Purchase the  Athleta Headlands Hybrid Excessive Rise Cargo Legging?

Individuals who choose the look of pants however benefit from the really feel and suppleness of leggings ought to contemplate the Athleta Headlands Hybrid. Moreover, those that imagine leggings are unsuitable for mountaineering—primarily as a result of their lack of utility, like pockets—could discover the Athleta Headlands Hybrid adjustments their perspective. People who favor pants that may be looser across the waist throughout downtime after which tied with a drawstring for energetic time will admire the match of those leggings. 

Moreover, those that choose to spend money on gear usable in numerous settings, not only for one sport, will discover these leggings noteworthy. They carry out impressively on the path and in addition possess the model to be worn with one thing aside from a sunshirt, serving to the wearer really feel cool and assured off the path. Given our expertise with backpacking, these leggings can be a superb selection for a multi-day journey, a street journey, or abroad journey that features mountaineering, as they’re versatile, snug, and boast six zippered pockets.

For individuals who choose conventional leggings, dislike the added bulk of quite a few pockets, or favor a really comfortable waist (although sizing down by one or two sizes might be an choice), there is likely to be a better option on our full gear information.

What Different Mountaineering Leggings Ought to You Think about?

Should you just like the sound of those mountaineering leggings, you may also match properly with a number of the different merchandise we’ve included in our high mountaineering leggings gear information.

Revolution Race Alaska Fleece Lined Leggings Assessment: The principle distinction is that these leggings are fleece-lined and have considerably fewer pockets. They match extra like conventional leggings, in contrast to the hybrid model, which has a looser match on the waist. Nonetheless, each these leggings and people from Athleta supply a cosy match alongside the legs whereas offering a softer match across the stomach, all whereas holding the pants securely in place. Moreover, each choices are very sturdy and well-made.

Mammut Aenergy Gentle Tights Assessment: These leggings characteristic glorious stretch within the legs, leading to a cosy match under whereas providing better consolation across the waist. The principle distinction is that these leggings are lighter and extra breathable, making them much less informal than others. Each choices really feel unimaginable to put on and instill a way of confidence and power within the wearer. Nevertheless, one disadvantage of the Mammut leggings is that the waistband could generally slide down. Regardless of this, they’re a extra technical selection in comparison with Athleta leggings.

IUGA FlexTight™ Excessive Waist Tummy Management Leggings With Pockets Assessment: These leggings are an excellent low-budget choice that may match semi-similar to the Athleta. As a way to get a extra relaxed waist, you may need to dimension up within the IUGA FlexTight, however know that they don’t have a drawstring so slipping might happen. Additionally, there are solely two pockets and neither are zippered. Lastly, these leggings are constructed from extra reasonably priced materials, and subsequently are usually not going to be as sturdy and long-lasting because the Athleta.