Hiking trousers suggestions

Nabinium

Nabinium

Nabinium

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Joined
7 Jul 2025
Posts
751
Location
Bedfordshire, UK
Heading north to the Peaks relatively soon and then we've got a few other hikes planned around the country (either Surrey somewhere or the Cotswolds, then Yorkshire), but I realised I only have a single pair of hiking trousers from Mountain Warehouse that I got a year ago.

Some of the trips planned will potentially be 5-6 days of hiking, so while I can reuse that existing pair, I would definitely want more pairs for the longer trips.

Any suggestions for decent quality trousers would be much appreciated. In terms of technical things, a brief list of what I'm ideally looking for in the trousers:

  • Quick drying
  • Lightweight
  • Stretch
  • UV protection

Hopefully I'll soon have all the gear, but still no idea.

Cheers :)
 
I can't offer any advice but if you come to Surrey hit me up, we can meet up for a pint or cuppa or whatever. Show these nerds that stuff does actually still happen IRL.
 
Diddums said:
I can't offer any advice but if you come to Surrey hit me up, we can meet up for a pint or cuppa or whatever. Show these nerds that stuff does actually still happen IRL.
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Ahhh, I'd be up for that. Doing the hikes with my partner and she loves meeting new people anyway. If we swing by Surrey way, I'll let you know. We were thinking of going to a few nature reserves near/past Guildford.
 
Nabinium said:
Heading north to the Peaks relatively soon and then we've got a few other hikes planned around the country (either Surrey somewhere or the Cotswolds, then Yorkshire), but I realised I only have a single pair of hiking trousers from Mountain Warehouse that I got a year ago.

Some of the trips planned will potentially be 5-6 days of hiking, so while I can reuse that existing pair, I would definitely want more pairs for the longer trips.

Any suggestions for decent quality trousers would be much appreciated. In terms of technical things, a brief list of what I'm ideally looking for in the trousers:

  • Quick drying
  • Lightweight
  • Stretch
  • UV protection

Hopefully I'll soon have all the gear, but still no idea.

Cheers :)
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I don't hike and if I can avoid it never wear trousers (I'm that idiot wearing shorts in -5) but... if I absolutely must wear trousers I've found Craghoppers to be very good quality, comfortable and hard wearing for work.

These seem to have everything you've asked for:

 
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Nabinium said:
Ahhh, I'd be up for that. Doing the hikes with my partner and she loves meeting new people anyway. If we swing by Surrey way, I'll let you know. We were thinking of going to a few nature reserves near/past Guildford.
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Loads around here. We live in Milford, a few miles from Guildford.

Check out the devil's punch bowl of you havent already.
 
Hagar said:
I wear a lot of mountain warehouse. The lightweight stuff is ideal, quick drying, solar and bug proof.
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Can you charge your phone off them?

Joking aside - aye mountain warehouse for decent cheapish clobber. Or trespass, though their quality has taken a nose dive/bit hit and miss in recent years (imo)
 
I like Mountain Equipment Comici trousers, which are made from a stretchy lightweight softshell fabric. Can be a bit pricey but comfortable, and I think they're actually pretty durable too - had a lot of use out of them. Pretty breathable, but moderately wind resistant. Work well in warm and cool weather.

I liked the older design with a separate belt rather than the new integrated one (I've got an old pair and a new pair), but overall still very good imo.

More of a 'fitted' leg than a classic roomy trousers fit, but not embarrassingly tight.

Reasonably quick drying, although probably not quite as quick as the very thin nylon fabric on something like the Montane Terras. It takes a lot to get them properly soaked though, and if it's that wet you'd be wearing waterproofs anyway.
 
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Thekwango said:
Jeffrey, is that you?? I thought you got headshotted with an iron bar in prison!
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Couple of years ago when filling up my truck at a fuel station there was a bunch of drunk lads started mockingly calling me Jeffrey Dahmer and saying I looked like him (you'd have to be really drunk for there to be a resemblance) - I was just there thinking probably not the smartest thing for them to do...
 
Rab shorts have been good for my most recent hikes. I usually get cheap gear and these were £40, but they're light, comfortable and have zipped pockets.
 
My 3 pairs of craghoppers i have had bought have all failed mostly the crotch ! one the pocket detached from the lining in a day from new , recently bought 2 pairs of Brasher , great but not ultra cool thermally , i have given up on waterproof , quick dry is fine ,when i did my Camino i used some ultra cheap ones off ebay under a tenner but so thin and light not so durable , wouldn't mind some summer weight decent ones ,i absolutely love my Rohan hiking shirt so maybe them but i hate tight legs , like em baggy for movement
 
Rroff said:
Common complaint with them for some reason, not had it happen myself but I only use them for a few weeks a year.
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not sure if its the cut with mine so going over styles and rocks causes strain , just seen they guarantee them for life (i think )
but they have been gifted so i have sewn them up for work pants
 
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