Women’s Softshell Pants

Women’s Softshell Pants at Arc’teryx

Women’s softshell pants suit days that start cold, warm up fast and finish windy. The fabric stretches with each step and resists wind and light weather, and the range runs from lightweight Gamma pants to relaxed outdoor pants. Within the Gamma family, Fortius DW 2.0 suits all-season wear and the lighter Fortius 1.0 is made for summer.

How do women’s softshell pants handle wind, scrub and changeable weather?

We call the Gamma Pant our most versatile softshell pant. Its Fortius DW 2.0 fabric is hardwearing and breathable, with a soft brushed backer and recycled nylon, so it stays comfortable on a cold start and holds up to rock and scrub. A low-profile waistband adjuster rides under a harness or hip belt, and a drawstring cuff closes out debris. The pockets are secure and accessible. Add a women’s softshell jacket for the windy ridge.

Do women’s softshell pants come with a high-rise fit and zippered pockets?

Pockets are where the Gamma softshell pants branch out. The Gamma Utility Pant has a high-rise stretch fit and adds zippered hand pockets and two easy-access zippered thigh pockets to the same Fortius DW 2.0 fabric. The lighter Gamma SL has a zippered thigh pocket for a smartphone and an adjustable low-profile waistbelt that sits under a hip belt or harness. Add a beanie for cool, exposed trail days.

Which women’s outdoor pants suit scrub, sun and wind?

Relaxed cuts start with the Leutia Pant, a lightweight, weather-resistant softshell with a wide leg, a hem cinch for adjustable length, a waistband belt and cargo pockets. The Nia Pant is a rugged, wind-resistant softshell in a relaxed barrel leg for cooler days, and for hot weather the Silene Pant is a fitted, lightweight softshell made to disperse heat, with wind resistance and sun protection. Browse more relaxed cuts in our women’s hiking pants.

Women’s Softshell Pants FAQs

How do women’s softshell pants handle light rain?

Women’s softshell pants shed wind and a passing shower rather than steady rain. The Gamma SL Pant adds water resistance for summer movement and the Leutia Pant is a weather-resistant softshell, so both cope with changeable days. When rain settles in, add a women’s rain jacket, or pack women’s waterproof hiking pants for your legs.

Which women’s softshell pants stay cool in hot Australian weather?

Start with the Silene Pant, a lightweight softshell made to disperse heat and ventilate sweat, with wind resistance and sun protection for hot-weather days. The Gamma SL Pant is the lightest of the Gamma family, built from Fortius 1.0 for summer movement, with a zippered thigh pocket for a smartphone.

Are women’s softshell pants stretchy enough for scrambling?

Yes, they are built to stretch. The Gamma Pant’s Fortius DW 2.0 fabric stretches with each step, the Nia Pant has stretch fabric for range of motion while clambering, and the Silene Pant adds articulated knees for technical moves. For more pants built to move on rock, browse our women’s climbing pants.

Can women’s outdoor pants double as travel pants in Australia?

Yes, if you pick relaxed, lightweight outdoor pants. The Carbene SL Pant is a pair of generously tailored trousers for warm weather and everyday use, made from Ondritex with a drawcord waist, two concealed side pockets and two rear pockets. For a more technical pant that still travels, the Gamma Utility has zippered hand pockets and thigh pockets for small essentials.