Hiking clothing is my preferred kind, even if I am not hiking. Here are some arguments:
- They tend to look neutral. Not flashy like other kind of sportswear, and not as obvious as cargo pants.
- They are comfortable, reasonably durable, and low maintenance. They are made for hiking after all.
- They tend to have plenty of pockets, including ones in the location recommended by the article.
- Zippers on pockets are common. Makes them safer. They usually have some sort of water resistance too.
- Speaking of water resistance, it is another great feature of hiking pants, they often have a hydrophobic coating (that doesn't always last unfortunately) and are designed to dry quickly. Rain doesn't only happen during hikes.
Of course, their neutral style is a negative if you want to make a fashion statement, but in a casual setting, if you don't care and don't want others to care, this is perfect.