Patagonia Terravia Alpine Pants Review

tPatagonia’s Terravia Women’s Alpine Pants are a staple for high-altitude hiking and climbing. The lightweight, water-repellent material offers protection from the elements and allows for dynamic movement.

The features of the pants add comfort and durability when recreating in rocky environments. Designed for the alpine zone, these pants are for hikers who prioritize all-day or multi-day hikes in temperate to cold climates.

Patagonia Terravia Alpine Pants At a glance

Price: $149
Weight: 323 grams (11.4 ounces)
Fit: Slim fit
Available sizes: 0-18 female | 28-40 for men (regular and short inseam available for both)
Materials: Lightweight 86% recycled polyester/14% recycled spandex blend and durable 85% recycled nylon/15% recycled spandex panels

Patagonia Terravia Men’s Alpine Pants here.

Photo: Katie Jackson

Intended use

As an alpine hiking and climbing pant, the Terravia pants are designed for adventurers on single or multi-day hikes looking for a lightweight pant that is comfortable when paired with gear, specifically backpacks or climbing harnesses. They perform best in rocky areas above treeline and in cool, arid climates.

Review circumstances

To test the Terravia Alpine pants, I wore them on single- and multi-day hikes to test their comfort and stretch between washes. On each of the trails, I spent a lot of time in the rocky alpine area, including some limited climbing.

As is typical in the high peaks of Colorado, the weather was frigid in the morning and then warm as we ascended into direct sunlight. On a weekend backpacking trip, it rained lightly for most of the morning while I was hiking. On the other hand, the pants (and I) endure gusts of wind, scattered rain showers, and direct, breezy sunlight with temperatures between 40 and 70°F.

Photo courtesy of Claire Dumont

Characteristics

Pockets: This design prioritizes pockets. There are two front hip pockets, one on each side. There is also a rear pocket on the right and all three are large enough to fit a smartphone. An additional smaller pocket on the upper right thigh is perfect for lipstick.

Wear panels: The pants have reinforced panels to protect against damage caused by rocks when climbing or climbing.

Ankle strap: The elastic at the end of the pants can be stretched securely around a hiking or mountaineering boot to keep out debris.

Low profile waist: The waist buckle is intentionally slim to fit comfortably under climbing harnesses and backpack hip belts.

Photo by: Katie Jackson

What are alpine pants?

What characterizes alpine pants? Patagonia markets the Terravias as the best alpine pants for hiking and climbing. They designed not only for the climate of high elevations but also for the physical conditions of the alpine zone.

Patagonia Terravia Pros Alpine Pants

Comfort: The fabric is comfortable, flexible and breathable. The majority of the pants are made of a lightweight polyester and spandex material. I found it perfect for the transition from a cold morning setting up camp to the warmth of a day of hiking. The slim fit prevented the pants from getting caught on branches or rocks. The 4-way stretch fabric allowed me to maneuver over rocks and bend over to pitch my tent without limitations.

Waterproof: In the rain, the pants performed decently. The water-repellent DWR coating was effective in light rain. The water droplets fell and rolled, leaving my legs dry. As expected, when the rain picked up a little more, the pants absorbed moisture but dried quickly enough in the arid climate that they were still comfortable to walk in all day.

Abrasion resistant: The distressed panels that make these pants ideal for hardcore skating are in all the right places. On some of the trickier sections of the trails I tested them on, I felt confident that I could slide over sharp rocks and loose shale without tearing the fabric.

Pockets: Zippered pockets securely fit everything in them. While I usually use a hip belt pocket, few are big enough to fit my phone. The front and back pockets fit my smartphone and have zippers to keep it secure while I climb over rock fields.

Fair trade: If ethical consumption is your modus operandi, know that Patagonia produces these pants in a certified Fair Trade factory.

Photo: Claire Dumont

Neutral notes

Fit: The Terravia pants have become looser as I wear them. Initially, I wouldn’t have been able to fit a base layer underneath, but after multiple wears and washes (air drying), I was able to easily throw in a pair of thermal tights.

Ankle strap: In my experience, ankle cinching is most effective with boots or walking shoes with ankle support. I couldn’t keep it securely attached on my low trail runners for more than a few minutes.

Photo: Katie Jackson

Disadvantages of the Patagonia Terravia Alpine Pants

Too long: As for fit, I’m 5’6″ and tried the regular length pants (31″ inseam). They were a little too long and bulky at the ankles. Next time, I would probably go with the short length (29″ inseam), but that’s not a sizing decision I would normally make. They were easy to fold and stayed in place for the rest of the day. Since there was a lot of extra material at the ankles, I preferred to fold them instead of using the cinch feature.

Durability questions: After three days of hiking, I found a small problem in the lightweight material near my hip, not the wear-resistant panels. I think it came from a willow branch on a short, slightly overgrown section of trail. It didn’t affect the performance of the pants, but it would give me pause if I planned to hike an unmaintained trail.

The belt collides with the hip belt of the backpack: Beware of struggling hip belts. These pants are not high waisted. They are mid-rise, which, for my body proportions, results in belt overlap that can be uncomfortable for several days in a row despite the low-profile design.

Too hot for hot days: Over 70° F and direct sunlight were too hot. While the fabric is breathable, the higher, sunnier temperatures were too warm. Since most hikes have wide temperature ranges depending on terrain and seasonality, the conditions for these pants to be comfortable will not align with all temperatures you may experience.

Photo: Katie Jackson

Overall value

These pants are light and belong to the rocky and scarce alpine zone. I would recommend them for hikes, such as the John Muir Trail (Nüümü Poyo), which stay in elevation and have limited overgrowth. Even without base layers, I recommend them for cold, arid trails.

In general, I wouldn’t recommend wearing pants of any kind on a hot, humid trail, like the Appalachian Trail, except early or late in the season, and these were no exception. While I haven’t tested them on a route-finding trail, based on my experience with the willow hitch, I don’t think they are durable enough to withstand dense vegetation for extended mileage.

In my experience, these pants performed well in the specific conditions they were designed for. If the trail you plan to hike fits within those perimeters, Patagonia’s Terravia Alpine Pants are a solid choice.

Shop the Patagonia Terravia Women’s Alpine Pants

Shop the Patagonia Terravia Men’s Alpine Pants

Photo: Claire Dumont

Some Comparable Pants Options

Mountain Hardware Women’s Rockrydge Pant ($99): A high-rise, wide-leg climbing and hiking pant, the Rockrydge is composed of a thick cotton material, best for single-day trips. The pants are harness compatible with a low-profile belt and a single zipper pocket.

PRANA HALLE PANTS ($95): These low-rise, boot-cut hiking pants are a Prana classic. Made primarily of nylon, the Halle pant is water-repellent, two-way stretch, and has no zipper pockets.

Stio Women’s Coburn Pant ($109): The Coburn Pant is a high-rise, wide-leg hiking pant. With multiple utility pockets, including a zippered mid-thigh side pocket, these pants are water-repellent, quick-drying, and made from two-way stretch nylon twill.

The Patagonia Terravia pants were donated for review purposes.