The right trousers

One of the most unsuitable items of clothing to wear on a walk is a pair of denim jeans.  They're heavy, with thick seams and if they get wet they're very slow to dry.  At the start of the year jeans were all I had and so finding suitable legwear quickly became a priority.

As the year has progressed I've acquired a variety of shorts, cropped and full length trousers and this short review is about my two favourite pairs.

First there's the Berghaus Ortler Ladies' Walking Trousers. 

These are lightweight, three season pants which basically means they're most suited to spring, summer and autumn conditions, but not suitable for the depths of winter.  Having now worn them on a cold windy day, I can vouch for this being the case.  However, in warmer conditions they are very comfortable indeed.  The fabric is light and breathable and temperature control is aided by the addition of a zipped vent on each leg.  The bottom of the legs can be cinched with elastic drawstrings which is useful  to ensure they sit at the top of boots and therefore don't get too dirty in muddy conditions.  The fabric is very quick drying and can stand a shower without becoming too uncomfortable.  What I especially liked when choosing these trousers is that they come in different leg lengths (many well known brands are only available in one length  - long, and I'm quite short).  Two factors which could stand improvement are the lack of stretch (although they're loose fitting enough for that not to cause a problem) and the lack of zipped pockets.

My very favourite trousers are the Craghoppers Kiwi Pro Stretch. 

 

 

I bought a black pair (with a pretty pink lining!) which are superbly comfortable and also look smart enough to wear out.  A little warmer than the Berghaus, they are also highly breathable and shower resistant (although I've yet to test this out in wet weather).  What I especially like is the addition of zipped pockets which means I can carry loose change with confidence.  These trousers also come in different leg lengths and the fit is very true to size.  Again, these are "three season" trousers and, like the Berghaus, would not be suitable for cold, winter walks.

As I started the year with next to no suitable kit, I've had to invest in various items as the year has progressed.  These days there's a bewildering choice of stuff out there, so I hope my short reviews might prove helpful to anyone looking for similar items.  Next time I'll be writing a review about waterproofs.