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[whoRya]

It has been ages since I had much to discuss on the gear front.  I am now in need of a new pair of walking trousers (not waterproof).

I have two pairs at the moment.  One wasn't bought in an outdoor shop and isn't even a outdoors brand, they have been brilliant.  I think I paid about £15 for them 12 years ago.  But now just about every seam is falling apart.  They are zip-offs and one of the zips looks dodgy, if they zipped off I don't think they would zip on again.  I completely lost a thigh pocket on a barbed wire fence.  They have seen plenty of hills and I think the fair thing would be to let them retire.

I also have a pair of Craghopper Kiwis (not convertible).  These aren't normally my first choice.  The belt is naff and they have a tendency to fall down on my hips a little letting fabric accumulate between the thighs, if they get wet or sweaty then the fabric tends to irritate.  They are hard-wearing and the pockets are good.  I'll still use them.

So what am I looking for? 
Light -  Preferrably lighter than Cragghopper Kiwis.
>  Fast drying - is assumed
>  Pockets - I use a good deep thigh pocket a lot, for a map when walking and lots around camp e.g. throwing tent/peg/pole bags in when setting up on a windy pitch and putting a wee foam sit mat in when I go for a pee
>  Convertible? - I didn't have any bother with these but some people say that the zips can rub, I suppose it depends on the fit on the individual.  That said if the trousers are light enough I'm not sure I need shorts.
>  Patches - grey and black efforts.  Hmm, not convinced.  Fine in the mountains but I also like to wear the trousers on lower level walks, parkland etc..  I may feel a bit overdressed.
>  Cost - I'd prefer to have the right pair, anything within reason.
>  Comfort - need to be comfortable enough to sleep in.

Well, any ideas?  What troos are the rest of ye usin'?

[twentyclicks]

I'm not too sure as I tend to ignore big thigh pockets. Haglofs or Mountain Hardware will have a few options.
Rohan will have something suitable too. I find MH & Rohan a little larger fitting eg a 32 is probably more like a 33.

A lot of cargo pants by other brands are cotton or poly-cotton so they don't really dry too fast. I'm sure Ray Mears' site or some of the other bush-craft types may point you to some more technical cargos.

[LennyJ1]

I was going to suggest montane terra's but you ruled them out with the thigh pocket and not different colours.

I was also going to say these too. but on the colour front I have all black ones and you cant see the panels.

[LandyLiam]

I'd been thinking about the Montane terra pants, but I would miss the thigh pocket. Currenly using Craghopper Kiwis myself which have a perfect thigh pocket, with an inner pocket which fits my blackberry perfectly (camera goes in the outer thigh pocket). But last weekend I spotted a nice pair of rab trousers on Fourman, they have a zipped thigh pocket which would be handy for keeping valuables, not sure if its map sized though.

[Matthew]

For me it is always the Montane terra pants. I think they are excellent.

[t18con]

i got a light cheap pair of karrimors from sports direct, does my summer needs very well. hate the cut of crag hoppers tbh.

[Oisín]

For me its has to be Craghoppers Kiwi Stretch, I can't fault them, only that I only have 1 pair.

They're not cut offs, but I never bother with them. They are just excellent, no restrictions, you can lift your leg up as high as you want to step up onto something, without thinking will my trousers let me.

[LennyJ1]

I had a pair of Craghoppers Kiwi Strech also but had a differend experience. They were great to begin with but after half a dozen wears they streched but never went back to the original shape. So now they are really baggy.

[Are we there yet?]

I love my Craghoppers as well..  Lenny, you need to make sure you dont wash them on any higher temp than 30 degrees.

Sports Pursuits have some good offers atm. http://www.sportpursuit.com/sales/craghoppers-outdoor-clothing

[whoRya]

Thanks for the replies so far. 

I tried on the kiwi stretch and found them too close fitting (on me). 

What about the likes of Berghaus, TNF, Sprayway, does anyone wear any of those?

[Rumblebum]

Hello mate, I have a pair of the north face trousers, though I havnt a clue what type they are.
They are lightweight and have plenty of room around the legs, seem to dry quickly after a rain shower and have a good variety of pockets, some with zips and map pockets on the thighs.
£30-£40 and they've served me well.
Before buying these I was after a pair of mountain hardware but the fitting of them was all over the place, I fancy the montaines next.

[Windy]

I have a set of mountain Equipment . Dry well can roll them up with zipped vents when too warm .Wore them on skiing holiday at night and found them surprisingly warm. When walking I don't really like things in my trouser pockets as they tend to get in the way but they have zip pockets and bottom zips if required , no map pocket ,practical wipe clean.

[LandyLiam]

well did you ever get yourself a new pair of slacks? my new montane terra pants arrived today, love them, they have side zips to allow ventilation for those hot days we get so often  and for some reason unbeknown to me they have zips at the ankles, don't really see the purpose of these     just the 2 normal pockets though, both zipped, will hopefully try them out in the hills soon and see if i can live without the back and map pockets.

[Are we there yet?]

I'm waiting on arrival of my craghopper winter lined trousers.. £50 in cotswold, £19.80 with sport pursuit  oh how i love that site

I have a pair of sprayway w/p for our normal Irish weather 

[Wolf_Larson]

I dont do craghoppers trousers they dont have a nice fix on me. I got a nice pair of jack wolfskin trousers (but no side pockets) im getting montane terra's for xmas. The bear grylls are pretty amazing for all you want, the only down side to them is they dont have a stracthy wast band.

I find it very hard to get out door trousers like the bear grylls with stracthy wast band to be honest. That is the trousers i look for and can never find.

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