Good Plus Size Clothing Source?

[WineyJack]

Ok ladies, I'm in desperate need of decent hiking pants in plus size (18)! I'm having a devil of a time finding them. Last year for my week on the trail I ended up just wearing my cotton pants and I was miserable. The only non chafing, comfy pants I have for hiking are my running tights. Are there any good lines/sites out there that I've yet to discover?

[Karma13]

I switched to men's pants and shorts. Not only do they have a greater size range, but they last longer and they're better made. And they're not impractically short for actual... you know. Hiking.

My current pants are RailRiders Eco-mesh. They're bug-treated, and they have elastic at the waist. I wear... I guess a 16, and the pants I have are Large. I'm guessing 18 would be XL.

For shorts, the ones I'm using on my thru attempt are from GoLite.

I also have a pair of Kuhl pants from REI that I like a lot, but they're one of those types of men's pants that don't translate well to women's bodies: too large in the waist, a bit too snug in the thighs. But they fit me OK for hiking, and they're comfortable.

[skinewmexico]

I've gotten my wife pants from Craghoppers, they have a wide range of sizes. Doesn't seem to be the reverse vanity sizing that MH and TNF seem to have. If you sign up for emails, they have some great sales.

[Driver8]

It's got less cachet, but Wal-Mart is a pretty good source for plus-sized stuff. I got some synthetic Starter thigh-compressing under pants there recently for a lot less that I'd've paid for substantially the same thing elsewhere. Also got some decent summer-season shorts for gym and outdoors. I agree with Karma13 that looking at men's clothes can work well, too, so long as issues of cut and fit in a given size can be reckoned with.

[pqtex]

I hear ya about the men's pants being too big in the waist, but even in women's sizes, by the time they fit my hips, you could drive a car through the waist. The easiest solution for me has been to get a good fit in the hips and thighs and take darts in the waist.

About 4-5 years ago, I bought 3 pair of Columbia's PFG (Performance Fishing Gear) zip off pants from Academy, in a Men's XL. These have been extremely durable and I have used them extensively. I wear them on every canoe, hiking, camping trip I take. I also use them for yard work, gardening, and general around the house chores. They look as good now as they did when I bought them. They are cool for summer, and work well in winter by wearing silk or polypro long johns under. I also like that they have good pockets. Although I don't recall the exact cost, they were reasonably priced--especially when you factor in the durability and longevity. I'm usually rough on clothes because I work hard and play hard.

Jill in Texas