Do you want to make sure you’re warm enough for camping in cold weather?
Are your legs always getting cold when you’re camping in winter?
Never underestimate a good pair of pants.
My father-in-law said this to me on our first family winter camping trip when I stood huddled around the fire and couldn’t bring myself to get away.
I don’t want you to go through what I did, so here are my picks for the best pants for winter camping.
The top pants for winter camping need to be well-insulated and waterproof or water-resistant. Our picks for the best cold-weather camping pants include:
- Gash Hoa Softshell Pants
- TBMPOY Lightweight Hiking Mountain Pants
- Jessie Kidden Outdoor Snow Softshell Winter Pants
- Good Studios Fleece-lined Anti-static Pants
Read ahead for more information on what to look for and specific reviews of each product.
Table of Contents
Shell Vs. Base Layer
If you’ve gotten into hiking or camping in the winter, you’ll probably know about the terms “base” and “shell” layers.
To build better insulation and stay warm, you need at least two layers: the base and the shell.
The base layer is a thicker, well-insulated material designed to keep the heat closer to your body.
Common base layers include things like fleece linings or long underwear.
The shell is the outer layer designed to protect from wind and keep moisture away from the base layer.
Good shell layers may be lightweight without much insulation.
In this article, we’ll talk about pants that let you cut to the chase and combine both layers.
You may still want to add base or shell layer if you’re still cold, but these do the job quite well in my experience.
What To Look For In The Best Winter Camping Pants
This section covers what you’ll want to look for in the best cold-weather camping pants.
Each of these elements is important to consider when shopping, but if you had to focus on only a couple of features, we recommend keeping weight and water-resistance in mind.
Material
The material of winter pants has come a long way in the past 15 years.
It used to be for the best to be warm, they had to be thick.
Now, there’s a lot more wiggle room.
When camping or hiking, you want the ability to move without sacrificing your heat and waterproofing.
Common materials today include polymers, nylon, and other mixtures of the two.
Weight
Along the same lines, campers should consider weight when buying pants.
The heavier the pants, the more effort you need to spend when moving.
Lighter is better in strict shell layers, but you still want some substantial lining, such as fleece.
If you’re not doing much moving while camping, the weight won’t be as significant.
If you’re a hiker, you know how vital each ounce is to consider.
Water-Resistance
The ability to resist water is critical in any outlet layer of clothing.
It’s easy to miss how wet your pants are getting.
The inner layer needs to stay dry, and the outer layer needs to resist water while still allowing for your sweat and moisture to get pulled out.
This is why we often use a lighter outer-material couple with a thicker base material.
All companies will tell you their pants are waterproof, but it comes down to what happens when you use it.
We did the work of trying some out and checking with users to see how well these pants are waterproofed in our reviews below.
You may also want to learn about how to dry clothes when winter camping.
Lining
Believe it or not, on a shell or outer layer, you don’t need a lining at all.
But the products on our list today all have a fleece or warm layer of some kind.
In my experience, it’s just easier to have these combined into one set of pants.
When going camping in the extreme cold, the lining and outer layer may not be enough.
In this case, consider adding long underwear underneath and snow pants above.
Durability
Sadly, too many of us have made this mistake (including me).
Consider durability to avoid tears and rips, which let in the wet and cold.
Again, this is one of those areas the only experience from actual users will show.
We did the heavy lifting for you by looking at different information sources in our reviews below.
Fit
This may not define which product you buy, but it should be one you consider.
When you’re out camping in winter, you’ll be living in your pants almost the entire time.
It needs to fit comfortably.
Some pants use elastic or stretchy waist-systems for tight fits without messing around with buckles.
They trade some security for comfort and convenience.
Other pants use zippers, buckles, and belts like regular pants.
These will be more secure when walking around, but it’s more inconvenient to undo and redo.
They’re also sometimes less comfortable.
Think about what your plans are when you’re going camping and pick based on this.
Review Of The Best Pants For Winter Camping
This section covers our review of each of these pants.
Notice we don’t include current pricing because it’s always changing.
Be sure to click the button or image to the most current prices on Amazon.
Gash Hoa Softshell Pants
These medium-high priced pants are designed for movement in the winter.
It uses a zipper and button closure for better security when moving.
The outer material is polyester and waterproofed for keeping things dry.
It uses a warm, granule fleece inner lining to keep you warm without being too thick and sacrificing movement.
They include zippers to tighten the pant legs to your boots.
This prevents snow from getting in.
There are also several storage pockets with zippers for carrying items with you easily accessible.
In the places where bodies tend to get colder, faster (such as knees), they include an extra layer of wind-breaking material.
Pros
- Lightweight and durable
- Warm, inner layer
- Zippers pull pants tight to boots and prevent snow
- Fits great for movement
Cons
- Not as comfortable to wear compared to some others
TBMPOY Lightweight Hiking Mountain Pants
These medium-high priced pants are designed more for hiking and movement, but they’ll work well for winter camping too.
If you plan on camping when the weather is freezing, you may want to check out another pair of pants.
But adding more layers will do this work as well.
These pants shine when it comes to waterproofing and drying.
Made of a polyamide and spandex mixture, the pants are light while being great windbreaks and waterproofed.
These pants use a zipper and button closure along with a belt for security while moving.
But they also include a stretchy waist, which will help when you’re done walking.
Let out the belt a little for a more comfortable pant.
They include an inner fleece layer to help retain heat, though it’s thinner than many others.
Still, if you keep moving, this will keep you warm.
The outer material repels water while still drawing water from the inner fleece to dry the pants out faster.
It includes zippers for storage as well.
Pros
- Very light, great for movement
- Repels water and dries quickly
- Adjusts for good fits in any situation
Cons
- Not as warm on its own as some of the others
Jessie Kidden Outdoor Snow Softshell Winter Pants
These pants are priced affordably and don’t give off the look of “winter pants.”
It misses some of the extras other winter pants have, but the lower price and style may be more of what you’re looking for.
Made of nylon and spandex, these pants allow moisture to leave the pants quickly while still providing a good windbreak.
With a button and belt, it takes a bit of work to get them secure, but they fit well once hooked.
There is an inner fleece lining to keep your legs warm.
They include a few pockets for keeping things in, but not as many with zippers.
The material is rip-stop designed (won’t tear as easily) and water-resistant.
These pants are thinner near the boots to allow for a tighter fit and less cold to get in.
Pros
- Lower price
- Looks like a regular pair of pants
- Warm inner layer
- Durable nylon outer layer
Cons
- Not as water-resistant as some others
- Not as an adjustable fit
Good Studios Fleece-lined Anti-static Pants
Here is a quality pair of pants designed for movement in winter at a medium price point.
It’s made of all polyester, which helps lower the price.
Polyester is still great for protecting from wind and resisting water when treated well.
It uses a zipper and button closure for a secure fit.
These pants are also recommended for skiing and snowboarding, so the material is tough as well.
The waist is adjustable and has some stretch to it to better allow for more comfort.
They include a reasonably thick fleece lining for the inner layer.
It will keep you warm in most cold environments, especially when moving around.
They also include many zippered and strong pockets for storing valuables with easy access in mind.
Pros
- Extra warm
- Good value
- Fits well and adjusts to different body types
Cons
- Not as waterproof as others
- A little stiff
Final Thoughts
We hope this guide for the 4 best pants for winter camping helps you stay warm and dry.
Many people think camping in winter is an odd choice, but there’s something special about sitting around a campfire when the snow is falling.
Don’t let the cold turn you away from such a unique experience!
Check these pants out for ways to help you enjoy the time.
Now get outside and enjoy the fresh air!