Women's Walking Capris

When you don't want to show off your knees but still want great comfort, I love the Brooks Energy Capri. This was the first pair of capris I bought for walking, and they are still my favorite. The polyester and spandex fit well, but not tight, and they bell out at the hem and are notched so your legs aren't squeezed. They have a small zippered key pocket at the hip. The inseam length is 21 inches. Sizes XS to XL.

Lands' End Performance Sport Capri pants are a good design for fitness walking, Nordic walking and gym workouts. They wick away moisture and dry quickly. The waistband is wide, flat and meant to be worn at the hip. They have a relaxed fit and a drawstring waist. They have two front pockets. They come in regular, plus and petite sizes. Inseam length for regular is 19 1/2 inches, petite 17 inches.

These are my preferred pants for gym workouts, and good for walking in the spring and fall. They have a zippered pocket for your keys or other small essentials. The fit is just right -- not too tight, not too loose. The waistband is comfortable and elastic, with no annoying drawstrings. They are a mid-length rise, so you can wear them on your hips or at your waist. They have a 20-inch inseam. Available in sizes XS to XL.

This capri is made of a two-layer fabric, with a tougher nylon outer layer and an inner layer of sweat-wicking polyester microfiber. The legs are fitted, with a notch in the cuff. This design can give you the support you like with a compression short, but in a longer length. It has a small inner-key pocket. The inseam is 19 inches in length. Comes in sizes XS to XL and plus sizes 1X to 3X.

This boot-cut style is also longer, with a 24-inch inseam. The legs are close fitting to the knee, where they bell out. I find that style to be more comfortable as you are less likely to get bunching behind the knee. The polyester-spandex fabric is thicker and provides support. These capris have an inner-key pocket. Available in sizes XS to XL and plus sizes 1X to 3X.

After wearing these capris on one walk, I immediately ordered two more pair to rotate in my walking wardrobe. The cut allows plenty of room for thighs, knees, and calves. They have a generous slit at the bottom of the leg, which helps with knee movement. The fabric is a silky, lightweight polyester/spandex I love. The 20-inch inseam allows for coverage. Let's talk about the waistband - it is wide and substantial, great for attaching your iPod, pedometer and other gizmos. You can tighten it with a drawstring, but the elastic itself will do the job. Comes in XS-XL.

These convertible pants roll up and fasten with a button and tab, so you can wear them as crop pants or capris or full length pants. They are cargo pants with four pockets to stash your stuff. The poplin fabric is light weight and provides UPF 30 sun protection. I like these for travel and for walks in the woods. I prefer the roll-up convertibles because I suspect I would lose a leg if I used zip-off convertibles. The pant leg, that is, not my actual leg...