I know these trousers are £130 – but they meet every demand made of The Perfect Pants for Hillwalkers. The fabric is tough, breathable, stretchy, and slightly wind and water resistant. The right blend of weight and stretch allows them to drape, rather than being spray-on. The inside face feels comfortable against your skin and slides well over base layer leggings in really cold conditions. A crotch panel runs from knee-to-knee, and around the back of the knee, so these trousers are never restrictive, no matter how high the stile or how vigorous the scramble move. It is also in a lighter weight so there’s no heat build-up. Yeah! Knees are articulated. The waistband is basically a strip of wide elastic and expands or contracts to suit virtually all shapes; two studs above the fly give another 2cm of flexibility and there are belt loops in case you suddenly shrink. Zipped hip pockets are actually useable, and sized so they don’t get in the way of thigh movement. Zipped cuffs have a fabric insert and are wide enough to vent, yet not so complex they can’t be hemmed. And there are three leg lengths. I’m going to say it: these are the perfect pants.
First published: Spring 2013
