Summer can be over very quickly in Scotland so it’s good to be prepared with a comfortable pair of hiking shorts. Things to consider when buying include: fit; range of movement including fabric stretch; weight, material type and speed of drying and SPF protection; sustainability, number and size of pockets, type of waistband and fastening, durability and cost. We’ve been testing a range of pairs. Findra: Kilda Trail Shorts RRP: £90Fabric: 88% nylon (38% recycled), 12% spandex These are longer length shorts from women-only Scottish brand Findra. They are designed with comfort in mind and are equally at home on…

Keela: Scuffer Trousers RRP: £84.95Weight: 440g (Women’s 10S) Just about the stretchiest fabric on test, these trousers have proved to have a high level of wind resistance and good water repellency, whilst not being too hot when working hard. I’ve found them to been fairly quick drying too. The decent sized zipped side vents with mesh are easy to use while wearing. The women’s fit is on the slim side, but these trousers come in 6 sizes and 3 lengths so you should find something that suits. The design is well thought out with good knee shaping and velcro-adjustable ankles…

Waterproof trousers have come a long way from the “boil in the bag”, flapping, oversized, essential but unloved items of gear I remember from the past. Whilst innovation has come with higher prices, there are now options that can be worn all day, as alternatives to regular hiking trousers and do more than just keep the rain out. Alpkit Nautilus Recommended Price: £124.99Weight: 420g (10 Short) Nautilus is Alpkit’s heavier overtrouser, made from 3-layer fabric with waterproof and breathable membrane with a nylon outer with a bit of stretch in it. This allows a slimmer fit so there’s less fabric…

Rab Spire Pants Recommended Price: £110Weight: 495g (Men’s 34″ waist) Described by Rab as ‘mid-weight softshell’ trousers, the Rab Spire are made from a double-weave Matrix fabric – 92% polyamide and 8% elastane. There’s a very tough-feeling reinforced fabric on the knees and the inside of the lower leg, great for me as this is where I find my walking trousers usually get badly abraded. Despite feeling robust, the main fabric is also stretchy, with a very soft inner face, and the design includes a diamond gusset and articulated knees – I’ve found them very comfortable to wear. On the…

Recommended Price: £110Weight: 226g (Men’s M, Regular length) Walking in the rain is pretty impossible to avoid in Scotland, even for the most fair weather of walkers. Waterproof overtrousers are in my pack all year round and for the last 5 years I’ve been using the older version of these Paclite ones from Berghaus. Paul’s now been testing the latest model over the last wet month or so, with our combined verdict below. Fit is good, with less excess material than some due to the long side zips which allow them to be put on over boots without being overly…

RRP: £80 (available for less in many outlets)Weight: 115g (size XXS) The long hot summer of 2018 saw skorts enter the mainstream of Scottish hillwalking kit. A skirt with a shorts liner, skorts have actually been around for a while. They are beloved of female mountain runners and cyclists in the Alps, so I thought I’d test out the latest version from Vaude – from a walker’s perspective. The skort consists of a kilt-style wrap-around, above the knee skirt with two side pockets, both large enough for small phones, one of them with a zip. Two tiny fabric loops with…