Athleta Trekkie North Jogger Review

Bottom Line

For a great mix of comfort, features, and durability woven into a jogger, we like the Athleta Trekkie North Joggers. Compared to similar models, the Trekkies have bigger, better pockets that can fit a modern smartphone, which we like to have handy for navigating. The zippers are a great addition to keep things from falling out. We also found them to be much more durable than competing jogger brands, with a ripstop material that withstands abrasions and snags. 

For hikers that head out in all conditions, we want to warn you that these pants took a very long time to dry. Not only that, but they seem to soak up water rather than repel it. For those reasons, we cannot recommend these pants to anyone looking to use them in extremely wet environments or on extended backpacking trips. Besides that limitation, they are so comfortable and durable that we would gladly bring these pants with us on a trip to the desert or for trips where the forecast is predictable.

We think every hiker should have a jogger like the Athleta Trekkie North. But if you want to see what else is on the market, check out our guide to the best hiking pants to zero in on a pair that fits your hiking style.

Comfort & Mobility

Assessing the comfort of these joggers while out in the field was hard because we kept forgetting to think about them. They were that comfortable! We love wearing these pants on the trail, around town, and at home on the couch. The stretchy material feels good on the skin, the fabric is a bit loose, which makes it easier to move around, and the elastic waistband makes it easy to take these pants on and off. We also found the tapered fit of the pants to be stylish and easier to move in as extra fabric isn’t swinging around. The only time we noticed these pants was when the zippered pockets at the hip got in the way. Still, the slight bulk of a zipper is a small price for securing your pocket valuables. Otherwise, we had to really nit-pick for any signs of discomfort.

Durability

During our testing, we found the Athleta Trekkies to be surprisingly durable. Generally, we expect lighter-weight pants to be less durable due to the thinness and type of fabric. However, the Trekkies showed no signs of wear or tear after our abrasion tests and did not seem prone to ripping or snagging on sharp branches. After completing our field tests, we found no evidence of piling, loose threads, or weak seams. When handling the fabric, the nylon and spandex material feels thin, but the weave seems much more robust than other hiking pants in our collection. Outside of hiking, we’ve crashed our bike countless times at trail speed and grated our legs on some granite while wearing the Trekkies, but these pants are unphased. Overall, durability is a big win for these Athleta pants.

Breathability

While Athleta promotes the breathability and moisture-wicking capabilities of the Trekkies, they didn’t quite live up to the claims. Given the technical feel of the fabric, we were disappointed with the quick-drying abilities of these pants. When we conducted our side-by-side testing, these pants took a very long time to dry: well over two hours. We eventually stopped checking on them as they lagged behind other pairs that had long dried out. The saving grace is that the looser fit helps with airflow, and the elastic ankle cuffs make it easy to adjust the bottoms to capri length. They still would not be our choice of hiking pants to bring if we were planning to backpack in a wet environment.

Features

Usable pockets, a drawstring at the waist, and elastic ankle cuffs are the features that make these joggers more versatile than similar models we have tried. We first noticed the shiny zipper pockets on the front when we pulled these pants out of the delivery package. These pockets are large enough to fit a smartphone and easy to unzip with one hand. Our only complaint is that these pockets sit in such a way that phones or other hard, oblong items like power banks limit our leg’s range of motion while hiking. Fortunately, there is also a leg pocket with a zipper, though this one is a bit tougher to open. These pants also have pockets in the rear, though these pockets are generally more difficult to reach with a backpack on, and our phone fell out while moving around.

In addition to pockets, we appreciate that these joggers have a small drawstring to help keep the pants from falling down when the elastic waist stretches out. They also have elastic ankle cuffs which makes it easy to pull the pants up for creek crossings or for when it is hot outside.

Weather Resistance

These pants are thirsty, spongeing up water like they’re dehydrated. When we tested these pants during our side-by-side comparison trials, we used a squirt bottle on the mist setting to simulate rain. Just one squirt soaked through the fabric to the skin. We could not see any beading or signs of water resistance. While hikers who want water resistance should really consider softshell or rain pants, it is disappointing that these pants performed so poorly. That doesn’t mean that they can’t be used on the trails, but they will undoubtedly be a better choice for hikes where the chance of precipitation is low.

Should You Buy the Athleta Trekkie North Joggers?

These pants are spendy, but overall, they offer a great return on the price. Value is determined by comparing functional features and durability to the price. Though pricier than most joggers, their enhanced durability and features like zippered pockets and a drawstring make them a fantastic long-term value. We’ve had our pair for years and wear them on mountain biking, climbing, and backpacking trips. We also love them for chore day, trail-runs, and pickleball. So, if you’re a multi-sport kind of gal, one pair of pants covers a lot of ground.

We like to use Trekkie pants in drier environments, such as the desert, where they are less likely to get wet or stay wet. They are perfect for people who want extremely comfortable pants that feel like sweatpants but still have features like usable pockets and durability.

What Other Hiking Pants Should You Consider?

Mountain Hardwear Dynama 2 Ankle Review: Also a style of joggers, the Dynama 2 Ankle pants are an excellent option for those who need to prioritize breathability over features. We liked that these pants dried much more quickly during our side-by-side testing, but these pants do not have very usable pockets. 

Patagonia Happy Hike: Like the Dynama pants, Patagonia’s Happy Hike model has faster drying times and smaller pockets. They are another option for those whose biggest concern is comfort above all.

The North Face Aphrodite 2.0 Review: The Aphrodite pants are a great compromise between the comfort of a jogger and the traditional style of a more technical pair of hiking pants. They are comfortable enough to want to wear at home with softer fabric material but have better-designed pockets.