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Hiking trousers are one of those pieces of kit where quality makes a noticeable difference to your day. Cheap trousers chafe, restrict movement on steep ground, hold moisture against your skin, and wear out quickly at the knee and seat. Good ones move with you, manage sweat and weather, and last for years of regular use.
This guide covers the main types of hiking trouser available in the UK and our top picks across different budgets and use cases.
What to Look for in Hiking Trousers
Fabric: Most quality hiking trousers use a polyester-elastane blend (for stretch and durability) or nylon (lighter, quicker-drying). Softshell fabrics add a degree of wind and shower resistance. Merino wool blends are warm and odour-resistant but less durable.
Stretch: Four-way stretch fabrics allow full freedom of movement on steep ground, scrambling, and high steps. This matters more than many walkers realise until they try a trouser without it.
Fit: Hiking trousers should fit through the hip and thigh without being baggy (which causes chafing) or tight (which restricts movement and causes overheating). A gusseted crotch adds mobility without excess fabric.
Water resistance: A DWR coating on the outer fabric sheds light rain and moisture from vegetation. This is not waterproofing: for sustained rain, you still need overtrousers.
Weight: For day walks, weight matters less than for backpacking. For multi-day routes, lighter is better.
Berghaus Navigator Trousers
Price: ~£75
Berghaus is one of the most reliable names in UK outdoor gear, and the Navigator is their workhorse walking trouser. The fabric is a polyester-nylon blend with four-way stretch and a DWR treatment that holds up well to UK conditions.
Quick specs: | Spec | Value | |——|——-| | Price | ~£75 | | Weight | ~370g | | Fabric | Polyester-nylon stretch | | Water resistance | DWR coated | | Best for | Year-round UK walking |
The fit is regular through the hip and thigh, with articulated knees that maintain comfort on steep ground. The two zipped hand pockets and single back pocket are practical without being excessive.
The Navigator is not the lightest or most technical trouser on this list, but it is durable, comfortable, and priced fairly. For someone wanting one pair of trousers to cover the range of UK conditions year-round, it is a very sensible choice.
Why we like it: - Excellent durability for the price - Four-way stretch works well on steep ground - Fit suits most builds - DWR coating performs well in typical UK showery conditions
Worth knowing: - Not as light as some alternatives for backpacking use - DWR needs reproofing after heavy use
Montane Terra Stretch Pants
Price: ~£95
Montane are known in the mountain running and fast-and-light hiking community for technical fabrics at competitive weights. The Terra Stretch is their multi-purpose walking trouser: lighter than a typical softshell but with enough structure for full-day upland use.
Quick specs: | Spec | Value | |——|——-| | Price | ~£95 | | Weight | ~290g | | Fabric | Stretch woven nylon | | Water resistance | DWR coated | | Best for | Fast hiking, warm-weather walking |
The fit is athletic but not restrictive, and the articulated patterning at the knee is particularly well done. This is a trouser that disappears: you stop noticing you are wearing it, which is the best outcome.
Why we like it: - Lighter than most in this category - Excellent freedom of movement - Dries quickly after rain or stream crossings
Worth knowing: - Less wind resistant than a softshell in exposed conditions - Premium price for a non-softshell trouser
Craghoppers Kiwi Pro Stretch Trouser
Price: ~£55
Craghoppers occupy a slightly different market than Berghaus and Montane: their gear tends toward the practical and affordable, and the Kiwi Pro Stretch is their most popular trouser for good reason. The fabric is durable, the fit is relaxed without being baggy, and the price puts it within reach of walkers who do not want to spend heavily on trousers.
Quick specs: | Spec | Value | |——|——-| | Price | ~£55 | | Weight | ~380g | | Fabric | Stretch nylon | | Water resistance | DWR coated | | Best for | General UK day walking, beginners |
The Kiwi Pro Stretch is particularly good for walkers who are building a kit list and need a reliable, all-purpose trouser. It is not the most technical option here, but it does everything a day walker needs at a fair price.
Why we like it: - Best value on the list - Available in a wide range of sizes - Durable fabric holds up to years of use - Wide availability in UK outdoor shops
Worth knowing: - Heavier than the technical alternatives - Less stretch than the Montane and Berghaus offerings
Rab Incline Light Pants
Price: ~£85
Rab, based in Derbyshire, is one of the finest British outdoor brands and their Incline Light is the most technical trouser on this list. The fabric is a lightweight stretch woven with a strong DWR treatment and a brushed inner face that adds warmth in cooler conditions.
Quick specs: | Spec | Value | |——|——-| | Price | ~£85 | | Weight | ~320g | | Fabric | Brushed stretch woven | | Water resistance | DWR + brushed inner | | Best for | Upland hiking, cooler conditions |
The brushed inner face is what separates this from a purely summer trouser. In Scottish Highland conditions, cool autumn upland days, or anytime the wind has a proper edge, the extra warmth makes a noticeable difference without the bulk of a softshell.
Why we like it: - Brushed inner adds genuine warmth in UK upland conditions - Excellent stretch and articulation - British brand with strong outdoor heritage - Well-considered pockets and reinforced seat
Worth knowing: - Warmer inner face makes it less suitable for hot summer days - Premium pricing
Zip-Off Trousers: Worth It?
Zip-off trousers, which convert to shorts by unzipping at the knee, are a practical concept that works better than their reputation suggests. The main criticism is the appearance of the zip line, which is fair, but for walkers who will use them through varied temperature conditions on the same day, the functionality is real.
The Craghoppers NosiLife Pro Convertible is the standout in this category: the NosiLife fabric has insect-repellent properties built in (useful for Scotland and midge-prone areas), and the zip is well-constructed and less visually obvious than cheaper alternatives.
For day walking in summer where temperatures vary significantly between valley and ridge, a zip-off trouser is a genuinely practical choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need specifically hiking trousers or can I wear other trousers?
Jeans are the classic ‘wrong choice’: heavy when wet, slow to dry, and restrictive in movement. Tracksuit bottoms have no DWR and hold water. Chino-style trousers vary: a lightweight stretch chino can work for easy, low-level walking but lacks the durability and water resistance of a proper hiking trouser.
For regular, year-round UK walking, hiking-specific trousers are worth buying.
Should I get waterproof trousers instead?
Waterproof trousers (overtrousers) are a separate category from hiking trousers. Most UK hikers carry overtrousers for rain and wear their hiking trousers underneath. Waterproof trousers worn all day without a breathable base layer are uncomfortable. The two-layer approach (hiking trouser + overpant when it rains) is more versatile than relying on a waterproof trouser throughout.
How do I wash hiking trousers?
Follow the label. Most hiking trousers with DWR should be washed on a low temperature with a technical fabric cleaner (Nikwax Tech Wash) rather than standard detergent, which can clog the DWR. After washing, tumble dry on low or iron on low to reactivate the DWR treatment. If beading performance drops significantly, apply a DWR spray or liquid to the clean, damp trouser.