REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Stretchy
Water resistant
REASONS TO AVOID
Too thin for wind
No features
Shallow pockets
Columbia Anytime Outdoor Pull-On - Women's Review
Great budget buy starter pant for a beginner hiker
Credit: REI Co-op
RELATED: Best Hiking Pants for Women
Our Verdict
The Columbia Anytime Outdoor Pull-On pants are a bit different than most options we tested and give off hiking tights/pants hybrid vibes. Their thick waistband and straight cut legs fit like tights. And yet they're made of pretty lightweight material and have impressive water resistance that can withstand moderate rain. These pants are basic, featuring just two shallow hand pockets. However, they don't offer much protection against cold wind and are difficult to layer. We also don't have a lot of faith in their longevity and general durability. But if you aren't expecting much from your pants or are just getting into the hiking pants game, they might do the trick for you - and will certainly save you some money.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Columbia Anytime Outdoors is are a blend of 96% nylon and 4% elastane. They have Columbia's Omni Shield water and stain repellent treatment, and a UPF 50+ rating. These pants are available in three inseam lengths: short 29.5", regular 32", and long 34.5", and sizes XS-3XL. We measured the regular at a true length of 32", but their cut runs a bit tight and a tad small, so sizing up might not be a bad idea.
Performance Comparison
They don't come across as obvious hiking pants in style and are versatile enough to be worn out to dinner after your day of adventuring.
Comfort & Mobility
The Anytime Outdoors are a snug fit. The primary tester of these pants is of average height, with a slightly curvy build. Their midrise waist and straight legs are flattering and have an almost formal look to them. If you are curvy with wider hips and thinner legs, these are worth consideration.
Their midrise waist and straight leg are flattering for curvy women with wider hips and thinner legs.
When it comes to comfort, these pants are about average compared to other contenders. Their fabric does a good job moving with you, aiding mobility. Their fabric is soft, though not as soft as some of the other pants in this review. We think they would be better fitting with a higher waistband. They have no drawstring of any kind, but their tight fit doesn't leave us asking for one. While many times, wide waistbands like the one on these pants can twist and tangle with washing, we washed these pants several times over the course of testing and it kept its form.
Thick waistbands like the one on the Columbia Anytime Outdoor can twist and tangle with washing. We washed these pants several times over the course of testing and it kept its form.
Credit: Columbia Anytime Outdoor, Womens Hiking Pant 2019, Stretch
Versatility
These pants are best suited for moderate day hikes in warmer weather but will sustain moderate rain. We wouldn't recommend them for climbing as the material isn't very abrasion-resistant. They are lightweight for warm weather hikes, but layering under or over comfortably is not an option.
We like that these don't come across as obvious hiking pants in style, and their almost semi-formal look makes them totally fine to wear to dinner. They will work for water sports where you're getting wet but the air temperature is warm, as they offer good water resistance, but not much wind protection. These pants offer no option to convert into shorts or cinch up into capris.
Breathability
The material of these pants is breathable but the tight fit gives a balmy feel when moving fast and creating a lot of body heat. Alternatively, they offer very little protection at a standstill in a cold breeze. Since we can't comfortably fit a base layer underneath, we don't think these pants are ideal for cold weather.
They repel water surprisingly well, and are ideal for water sports in warmer temperatures, or exploring rivers and creeks.
Durability
Durability is not the name of these pants' game. Given these pants thin, stretchy, non-ripstop material makeup, this is no surprise. The material is likely to pill and break down in areas of high friction such as the thighs and rear. The material is soft, and stretchy, but also thin and not as abrasion-resistant as other pairs in this review.
This material is prone to pilling and breaking down in high friction areas like between the thighs and on the rear.
Weather Resistance
These pants surprised us with their water resistance. Even when water did finally soak in, not much took hold and these pants never soaked through. Impressively, they also took just 20 minutes to dry under the full sun. However, this thin material lets wind pass through, which makes them breathable but not ideal for cutting the bite of big gusts. As is fairly standard with hiking pants, these have a UPF 50+ rating, meaning 1/50th of the sun's rays will penetrate the fabric. This is perfect for pants that are meant to be breathable and worn in the summer. If you're in the market for a cold-weather pant to be worn during spring and fall hikes where you may experience rain, snow, or gusts of wind these are not our top choice and we think there are far more suitable options in this review.
Columbia's Omni Shield technology helps these pants stay reasonably dry in the rain and their thin fabric dries quickly if it does get wet.
Credit: Kathleen Sheehan
Features
Not many features here. You get two shallow hand pockets.
Just two shallow hand pockets that barely fit an iPhone.
Value
These pants are some of the least expensive ones we tested. However, we've found that when it comes to hiking pants, these offer very limited features and much less durability than other contenders. They just don't have the impressive technical features that most outdoorswomen want in a pair of hiking pants, but they could be a good starter pair for novice adventurers on a budget.
They don't have the same technical features as other pants in our lineup, but they're not a bad option for infrequent or beginner hikers.
Conclusion
The fit of Columbia Anytime Outdoors is best suited for women with curves. They rank high for water resistance, low for wind protection, and lack fancy features like leg pockets or the ability to convert into shorts. They are not the most durable pair that we tested, but if you don't hike much and want to save some money, they might be worth it for you.
Though they're far from our favorite pair of pants, they are one of the cheapest.
—
Kathleen Sheehan
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