Walking Forum
Main Boards => Gear => Topic started by: Chris on 01:58:15, 14/04/06
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I've got a pair of over trousers in my rucksack, but they are a real pain to use. By the time you've decided it's raining hard enough to put them on, emptied your rucksack trying to find them, and struggled for 5 minutes putting them on - you're already soaking wet.
Are there any waterproof walking trousers that are confortable enough to be worn all the time?
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I wore my North Face 'Strider' waterproof over trousers with thermals underneath for two solid days of cold/dry weather after I soaked my walking trousers walking to the pub in the rain one night and couldnt get them dry!
They weren't as comfortable and had a tendency to slip down over my hips all the time but as an emergency measure they were fine.
I've also changed into them at the end of a walk and worn them driving home after particular muddy walks across Kinder Scout (and got some funny looks in petrol stations)
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you wont go far wrong with Berghaus paclite trousers. Goretx pants that are totally waterproof and breathable (if you look after them), weigh under 200gm and have a side zip to the hip. This means that you can get them on even if covered in [censored] and you will have no trouble stashing them in a side pocket/stretch pocket.
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In reply to Chris the Administrator's original query, I've been searching websites today for new waterproof trousers, during which I recall one company is offering some Craghoppers trousers that are, allegedly, waterproof too. Maybe they are the answer to what he is looking for?
I binned my once-waterproof, once-breathable overtrousers 3 days ago after a typical wet Snowdonia day, when I found that underneath them my walking trousers were soaked. My real gripe is this: I went in 6 shops in Betws-y-Coed and one in Conwy, to find I could buy any colour overtrousers I wanted so long as they were black. OK, a few were dark grey, too. Why only black? I don't want to go up the hills looking like a motorcyclist! My personal taste is for earthy colours that blend in, like brown, olive and green, and that is why I've been looking on the web, but all I can find is cheapo green ones, that I assume won't last long. Also you can't tell how heavy they are, not like going in a store and actually handling them.
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Following my gripe about the apparent non-availability of waterproof overtrousers in any colour other than black, I am happy to report that today I went into a "family camping and backpacking centre" next to a garden centre on the A1057 between St Albans and Hatfield, where I found a rail full of overtrousers that were olive-green coloured, light weight, claim to be breathable, elasticated & adjustable waist, knee-length zips, adjustable ankles and only £12.99. OK, so they might only last me a couple of years, but at that price who cares? I'll need to have bought eight pairs before I've spent the three-figures that some that I've seen cost. I was so pleased with finding them that I went next door and bought a nice plant to celebrate!