translate:/Global/SiteRating: 3 | Not Yet Reviewed | Trousers & shorts

This Ailsa Micro Two Tone fleece from Peter Storm is comfortable and cosy, with a tapered fit and flattering side panels. One nice touch is the fleece tab at the top of the zip, which prevents chafing on your chin. There’s a good size range and although this is one of the lightest on the market, it’s well-insulated and won’t ...

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Gelert Ozzie

£20.00

These Gelert Ozzie women’s shorts are a pretty good fit and cut, made from a pleasant heavy duty poly/cotton fabric. Some wearers will also appreciate the longer cut and conservative styling. After washing they dry pretty quickly for a mainly cotton short. Loads of pockets (too many perhaps) and the heavier fabric makes them ideal for dodgy summer weather.

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Peter Storm Active

£25.00

Inexpensive but still a useful walking pant, especially if not asking too much from them. The poly/cotton fabric soaks up water more easily than most, and definitely doesn’t dry as quickly, but they do keep the wind off, and the fit is quite neutral, meaning they’re not bad to move in. Good selection of pockets, including two quite sizeable cargo ...

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Hawkshead Walker

£29.50

The waist band is high and rather small for the size stated, while the seat and thighs are much more generous. There is some elastic in the waist, and loops for a belt if you need one. Come in two leg lengths to help you get a good fit, and many will love the simple, uncluttered design. The fabric is ...

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Sprayway Compass (male)/Escape (female) 2011

£30.00

The fabric used in the Sprayway Compass / Escape shorts is two-way stretch so they are great if you struggle with getting a good fit. There is also stretch in the waist so again these can expand around a tubby tum or hug a neater waistline. There is no belt provided but you get belt loops in case you want ...

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Regatta Geo Extol Zip-Off 2010

£30.00

At under half the price of some comparable trousers, the Regatta Geo Extol Zip-Off is clearly going to be a favourite in terms of cost. But this is more than a low-priced product, as it also has plenty of practical features that allow it to compete with the best here. The fabric is quick-drying nylon as with higher-priced trousers. The ...

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Wynnster Winter Trek

£30.00

These warm trousers from Wynnster promise a great fit, with an elasticated waist and webbing belt. They are not as easy to move in as some, but warm and extremely comfortable. Rain resistant, they’re spot-on for colder weather, but maybe a little too hot for really strenuous walking. Nice and light with a great choice of pockets.

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Royal Robbins Back Country

£30.00

These Royal Robbins Back County women’s shorts have a very useful waist adjuster to fine-tune the fit. The nylon fabric may cling a little, but the flattering cut promises to give you a snug, shapely fit. These will keep you cool and wash/dry with no problems – you don’t really need to iron them. Perhaps too many angled pockets?

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Outdoor Scene Lobby

£30.00

These shorts from Outdoor Scene are a great fit, thanks to a stretch panel in the waist, belt loops and a belt. The poly/cotton fabric feels good, but the legs are shorter than some. They’re very wind-resistant, and it takes a while for rain to soak in. Good choice of pockets, but all quite small.

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Sprayway Inca

£30.00

These Sprayway Inca women’s shorts need a belt ideally. The tough but lightweight stretch fabric and simple, attractive styling are comfortable, flattering and good for movement. The brushed fabric inner waistband is comfortable too. Cool and quick-drying, these may be a little too lightweight for all but the hottest days. A back pocket would be good too.

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Regatta Outland

£35.00

These cold-weather trousers from Regatta fit easily, thanks to elastic and belt loops for maximum versatility. The fleece lining is great, but can make them a little restrictive for energetic walking. They’re a very warm option and, with no venting, better for easier walking or really cold weather. Very good water resistance, and the conservative styling will appeal to many.

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Berghaus Men’s Injection

£35.00

These shorts from Berghaus have a nice cut, but there’s no elastic in the waist and, although they have belt loops, no belt is supplied. They’re good-looking and tough enough to take a few scrapes, but don’t repel rain well, and the cargo pocket is awkward to access.

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Hawkshead Walker Zip Off Trouser 2010

£35.00

Hawkshead Walker Zip Off Trousers weigh 460g; 65% polyester, 35% cotton fabric provides soft, fast-wicking feel; stretch waist with belt loops; rear pocket; two map-sized hip pockets. But no stretch; no leg pockets; no lower leg zips; not fast-drying as nylon trousers.

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Vaude Farley Bermuda

£35.00

These have an anti-UV treatment and a great cut, making them a good pair of lightweight, quick-drying shorts that easily earn their place in your pack. Their ‘boy scout’ factor is high, but they benefit from Velcro fastening side and back pockets and a cut that makes them ideal on the hill.Made in Far Eastmail order (01665) 510660; www.vaude.co.uk

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Craghoppers Nosquito Lite

£35.00

These walking trousers from Craghoppers are a good fit anyway, but there’s an elasticated waist and webbing belt too. The Solarlite fabric is cool and light and feels lovely and soft against the skin. The very light fabric is better suited to warmer conditions, where the high SPF and mosquito protection will also help. The fabric also loses out on ...

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Gelert Tasmania Trousers

£35.00

The Tasmania is cut from a soft, lightweight nylon that felt nice to walk in and is generously sized. The fabric hasn’t got as much water-repellency as some, but it dried quickly, provided some wind resistance, and breathed well, too. They have two deep hip pockets, and a selection of zipped pockets for valuables. The reinforced, articulated knees aided movement ...

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Keela Paraguay Zip Off

£35.00

The soft, stretchy fabric is easy to move in and feels great against the skin, but the legs are way too baggy, meaning they flap annoyingly. Nice elasticated waist with a webbing belt. Good water and wind-resistance make these a delight to walk in, although better suited to milder conditions. The zip-off legs add to their versatility. Colours: Black, ...

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Tog 24 Liberty

£35.00

These Tog 24 Liberty shorts offer a longer, slightly baggier style. Pleasant enough nylon fabric and webbing belt, but a clunky metal buckle. They wash and dry okay but the hip pockets are too shallow to risk carrying anything.

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Lafuma Cairn Pant

£35.00

These are walking trousers that can cut it on the hill, but they manage to feature some cool styling as well. The fabric is nylon but the weave and softness give it more of a cotton look and feel than you might expect. Careful use of double lines of stitching maintains some style while providing articulated knees and a waist ...

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Outdoor Scene Journey

£37.00

Zip-off legs make these men’s walking trousers very practical for backpacking and hill-walking; two map-sized hip pockets; zipped leg pocket that just about takes a map; elasticated waist with belt loops and belt; two zipped seat pockets; zipped security pocket. But zip-offs are uncool!; no ankle adjustment; not stretch fabric.

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Royal Robbins Mountain Performance 2011

£40.00

The Royal Robbins Mountain Performance shorts feel like they’re made from tough cotton, but they are actually made from an even tougher nylon, which also has the benefit of being fast-drying. For yet more durability they have double seams throughout and generally they just feel like you could live in them for years without them wearing out. They get a ...

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Haglöfs Climatic Rugged

£40.00

Made from 100 per cent polyamide, these shorts have a really tough feel and come with the kind of cut that might roll off a high-quality lederhosen production line. Not as instantly breathable as others on offer, and we didn’t like the jeans-style front pockets, but they are ideal for spiffing Famous Five-style adventures on rockier ascents. (Women’s Mid Q ...

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Peter Storm Hopeful Stretch

£40.00

Very lightweight trousers with a bit of added stretch for comfort. There are toggle adjusters at the waist to fine-tune the fit, and belt loops if you wear a belt. They’ve got a flattering straight-leg cut, and the fabric glides easily across the skin, making them feel comfortable to walk in. They’ve got a decent water-repellent finish so they won’t ...

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Nike ACG Cairn 2 in 1

£40.00

These zip-off trousers from Nike are a good fit, thanks to an elasticated waist. They have belt loops, too. The polyester fabric has a nice soft feel, but, annoyingly, becomes easily charged with static at times. They do a good job of repelling water in light showers, but once soaked, take a while to dry. They’re very light and so ...

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Keela Paraguay Zip Off

£40.00

These lightweight trousers from Keela use incredibly stretchy fabric that feels wonderful against the skin and should make these a real winner, but the cut is so baggy it negates the need for the stretch at all. Good elasticated waist and a webbing belt. These repel showers well, meaning the waterproof overtrousers can stay in the pack a little longer. ...