The first thing you have to ask yourself is this; what do you want from your trousers? As odd as that might sound when you say it out loud it’s something you have to think about when looking at outdoor trousers. You can go from simple, just something to keep your legs covered to something technical with as many features and attachments as backpacking rucksack and in the review I’ve gone to both ends of that spectrum. Whatever the style you like there are still important constants to look for, the first of which is as always the fit, are…

Not the most glamorous item of outdoor clothing, and a bad choice won’t matter that much, but they are still an important garment affecting comfort and weather protection on the hill. Some walkers favour tight and stretchy legging-style trousers like the infamous Ronhill Trackster, others a loose-fitting cargo-pant style. Regardless – they need to offer unrestricted movement. Full-cotton trousers are not ideal – taking an age to dry when wet, but cotton blends such as polycotton are much better. Fully synthetic fabrics are perfect though, lightweight and quick drying while resisting wind. The number and distribution of pockets is a…

Not the most glamorous item of outdoor clothing, and a bad choice won’t matter that much, but they are still an important garment affecting comfort and weather protection on the hill. Some walkers favour tight and stretchy legging-style trousers like the infamous Ronhill Trackster, others a loose-fitting cargo-pant style….. Read Phil’s review of mens’ walking trousers Here Helen tests 7 pairs of walking trousers for women. Kathmandhu Mamora TrousersRRP £55 Made from very comfortable-feeling fabric with four way stretch and water repellent finish, these trousers have tabs and press studs to allow them to be rolled up to 3/4 length.…

The title ‘Winter Waterproofs’ is a little misleading; perhaps ‘Mountain Waterproofs’ or ‘Hardcore Hardshells’ would be more appropriate? In this review, and the companion men’s winter waterproofs review from Phil (read this for the introductory discussion of waterproof breathable fabrics), we seek to distinguish between the lightweight, ‘just in case’ waterproof jackets of summer and something more substantial that can cope with the worst Scottish mountain weather. Karrimor Elite Alpiniste RRP £199 This was my first introduction to eVent, a 3-layer waterproof breathable fabric that is stiffer with a more robust feel than some. After testing in a variety of…

Softshell is the perfect winter trouser material – tough, windproof, water resistant and stretchy – for this reason retailers often comment that more softshell trousers are sold than jackets. The softshell fabric that we know today is a reasonably recent invention, reaching peak ascendency in the early 21st century and now the fabric of choice for dog walkers and mountain guides alike. This modern softshell is perfect for the Scottish winter climate where low temperatures ensure that precipitation will generally be restricted to snow, though a DWR (durable water repellent) coating keeps the worst of any unexpected showers at bay.…