Experiencing the outdoors to anyone with little experience on long hikes may seem a little daunting with so many kinds of gear, clothing and equipment to choose from, offered by dozens of brands that you may need, especially when you just want to get out there and explore. Here at Webtogs Gear Guru we have put together a series of Top 5 Guides to help everyone find the right gear for their next hike, climb or multi-day adventure like this one for Walking Trousers for 2015. While you may not need a full expedition kit for a trek around nearby hills having some technical outdoor gear can benefit overall comfort and performance by helping to shield you from the elements, be functional by being compatible with other gear, durable and varying other factors.
For our Top Five Walking Trousers this year we have looked at a wide and varied selection of leg-wear to test which performed better overall and across a range of factors as while certain pairs of hiking pants may be more suited to winter climate conditions, others for warmer weather and therefore equally wear well yet in opposing situations. We also aim to clarify on the technologies and fibres used in the fabrics of our 5 Top Walking Pants and how they work in case you don’t know your DWR from TACTEL and their relevance to certain types of hikes and climates.
Craghoppers Kiwi Pro Convertible Walking Trousers
These are a great all year-round versatile pair of walking pants that offer the basics that will suffice for most hikes that the majority will find themselves on in relatively warmer, drier weather conditions. Craghoppers Kiwi Pro Convertible Walking Trousers are made from a Polyamide Elastane blend that is comfortable and durable yet enables them to stretch so that movement is unrestricted and have a stain resistant finish so any inevitable mud and dirt that is flicked up along the way can be cleaned off without affecting the colour. The main feature of these particular Craghoppers Kiwi Pro pants are that if the weather gets warmer and you want more of an air flow the legs can simply be unzipped and become a pair of walking shorts, removing the need to carry an extra pair of leg-wear in case the climate conditions change. Three zip-pockets are included for any smaller essentials you may need, plus there is a sunglasses wipe in a side pocket as a handy extra. More Info
The North Face Trekker Convertible Walking Trousers
Similar to the previous of our Top 5 Walking Pants, The North Face Trekker Trousers are convertible as they can be unzipped at the mid thigh and turned into shorts, but that is where the similarity ends. To hold the pant legs if not required there is a right hand side stow pocket, or should you need that for other essentials, rear belt loops that will hold them. These have an Alpine fit so are made for more active, higher elevation treks with a crotch gusset for greater movement and articulation and are made from a light stretch Nylon fabric for durability as well. The exterior is protective up to UPF 50 and has a Durable Water Repellence finish making moisture bead away, plus is fully moisture wicking as well due to VaporWick technology so works well at keeping you dry. A constructed waistband has belt loops and there are a number of pockets on the Northface Trekker Convertible pants all with zips to securely store gear you need at hand. More Info
Montane Terra Walking Trousers
Montane Terra Walking Pants much like the rest of the brands’ outdoor gear is highly technical with every aspect of the design and construction having a practical application. These trousers are made for a range of activities throughout the year so are ideal if a pair for most treks and trails is required. TACTEL Nylon makes up the majority of the fabric as it is tough, resistant to both water and wind and dries quite quickly all while maintaining the feel of soft cotton due to a Teflon finish, plus give UPF 40+ protection. Seams are twin-needle sewn and Cordura patches placed for reinforcement which adds to the overall durability. The Montane Terra Walking Trousers have articulated knees for high step movement, a tailored waist and press stud ankle adjustments for a secure, comfortable fit that reduces heat loss. The legs have quarter length zips that allow for rapid cooling and continual ventilation if needed, plus there are three zipped pockets for secure storage. More Info
Rab Vector Walking Trousers
The Rab Vector Walking Trousers are a mid-weight mountain trail pant primarily designed for hill and mountain trails, but do work well across a range of conditions. Matrix DWS fabric is used for these Rab softshell pants which consists of a double woven pattern that makes them hard-wearing yet stretchable so you feel unrestricted in your movements, plus with the addition of Durable Water Repellence means they are resistant to wind and water as it makes moisture bead and roll away. Similar to the previous hiking trousers these also have articulated knees to give a greater range of motion but they also have a removable, yet fully integrated webbing belt for comfort and no restriction if worn with a hip belt or harness. In total the Rab Vector Trousers have four pockets for a organising those key items you may need at hand and all feature YKK zips so are secure and will prevent moisture from getting inside. More Info
Columbia Silver Ridge Cargo Walking Trousers
For treks and trails in warmer weather the Columbia Silver Cargo Walking Trousers are the best option of our Top 5 for 2015. The main fabric is the brands’ own Silver Ridge Ripstop which is a tough Nylon material that includes Omni-Shade that protects up to UPF 50, but Omni-Wick Mesh panels have been placed in key areas for rapid moisture wicking to help you stay warm and dry. To help you move unrestricted there is some elastic around the waist and a gusset detail which also give a nice and secure fit as well so you can walk with lasting comfort in these. The pocket options include a security one that is zip-closed and other hand pockets that are hook and loop closure with mesh pocket bags to further help ventilation and breathability. More Info