Waterproof Trousers. Pointless?

I was talking with a friend about the "how to buy waterproofs" blog that got published recently, and the conversation turned to waterproof trousers- which I didn't really address. 

Me. As standard. Very little use for waterproof trousers.

Waterproof trousers are an interesting one. For YEARS I hated the concept, hated the item of clothing and simply wouldn't wear them unless in the *direst* of circumstances. There were many reasons for this, and the primary reason was because I had cheap, shit waterproof trousers. 

You know the type. They're *kind of* expensive- but really, the zips on the legs (if there are any) only come up to mid calf height, the fabric itself is barely breathable, they're a nightmare to get on over boots or shoes, and you end up just as wet from sweat inside as you would have been from rain anyway. These are some of the many reasons why I just run in shorts all year. Skin dries quickly, it doesn't get too hot because of excess layers etc etc. 

So for a long, long time waterproof trousers were something that was on a kitlist and stayed at the bottom of my bag, only to be disturbed for a kit check. 

What made me change my mind?

Where they really come into their own. Berghaus Paclite (reviewed below)

First things first. When you consider the construction of a waterproof jacket, the main part of it is the body, with the arms being tacked onto the outside. Ok- it's not quite like that, but the main "body" of the garment is indeed, the body. With trousers, the main part of the garment is generally the leg- the appendage- the bit that is doing ALL of the movement. Making something that fits that is going to be a bit of a challenge. Especially as we all have different lengths of leg etc. 

The second point is this: Waterproofs work really well if you have the right kind of layering system underneath it. Close fitting wicking fabric means that sweat wicks away from the body into the environment in the garment- which hopefully- will then "breathe" that moisture out. Put the wrong layers on underneath and the whole thing goes pearshaped and you end up wetter from sweat than you do from water ingress. 

So it is the shape, the material AND what you wear underneath that makes or breaks the trousers and their ability to perform well. 

What makes a bad pair of waterproof trousers?

Summer "decathlon" pair

Here we have a pair that are my "summer racing" trousers. They cost the princely sum of £10 from outdoors magic, have taped seams (which is essential for them to be deemed "waterproof") and are made from polythene. There is nothing breathable about these. The crotch is a horrendous mis-mash of seam tape and fabric, the leg zips come up to about half way up my calf, and you can't get them on without taking off your shoes- (let alone boots). These are a pair of trousers that stay in a bag. I have never worn them. I never intend to wear them. They are for summer races where there is literally no chance of rain, but kit check demands you *have* to have a pair of waterproof trousers. This is their only function. 

Waterproof trousers with pockets? That's surely a bad idea.

Not a lot of zip to get your feet through the legs. And VERY crinkly material.

Regatta? trousers

Next up is a pair of *slightly* better trousers. The main difference is that they are green(!), are made of a slightly nicer fabric than polyethelene, they're taped and the zips on the legs are still pretty much the same- but probably come up to knee height. Neither of these trousers have waterproof zips, so they rely on a fabic gusset behind the zip to keep that bit "waterproof"- all very nice, but it absolutely limits the ability to get your foot through the leg.... thus you either have to take your shoe off and use someone else to hold onto while you put your leg in the hole, or you sit on the sopping wet ground to put on your trousers, rendering the waterproof abilities of said garment fairly pointless. 

 

Challenging access if you have shoes or boots on.

I think I took these on a DofE expedition and was fairly miserable with just how wet I got wearing these. Partially to do with the crapness of the trousers, and partially to do with what I was wearing underneath. I can't imagine that my normal leg wear was particularly wicking or breathable, and 2 layers of trousers - in ANY situation isn't really all that comfortable. So yes, these do a job, but to be honest, they might as well be the really really cheap ones as they just sit in a bag and will literally *never* get used again. 

I can't believe I spent 3 days wearing these.

What makes a GOOD pair of waterproof trousers?

Mountain Equipment- I can't remember what model they are...

Now we have the pair of waterproof trousers that made me realise what waterproof trousers are *meant* to be like. I can't remember why I bought these- but I suspect they were in a sale and I knew I needed something for a Mountain Leader assessment that was better than the stuff I've already written about. These are *hardcore* waterproof trousers. Bib/braces, goretex, internal gaitors- heavy duty things that must have been bought more than a decade ago (I have a suspicion they might be an old version of the ME Kongur- but don't really know). They have zips ALL the way up the leg (bottom to top and top to bottom), zip pockets in the bibs, a zip in the middle- easy to get into and out of whilst wearing boots (though because of the bib/braces you have to take a jacket off to get them on). They are heavy- expedition weight. If these are being worn, they're being worn from the start- I don't like carrying them to put on later. 

The zips go all the way to the top. And then some.

Pockets on the front. Zips all the way down. Internal gaitors. These are the bomb.

Why were these such a revalation? 

I realised that with these, they are pretty much THE layer that should be worn as a trouser. Why wear 2 trousers over each other- that seems silly. A pair of tights underneath to keep your legs warm- that wick sweat away from you- and then these over the top. It's like wearing a thermal top with a waterproof jacket over the top- it's an efficient way of staying warm and dry. They're easy to vent if you need to- and if you want to take off/ put on at any point- as mentioned, the zips enable you to do that with relative ease. Yes, they are expedition weight- but if you're going walking in the rain- they are amazing.

The inside of the back part of the braces are fleece lined as well. Toasty.

 

However- if you're running, or even walking and want something to carry in case of rain, you don't necessarily want something that weighs more than a kilo, just in case... what do you do then? Enter the next revalation in my waterproof trouser odyssey: 

Decent running trousers- eVent or Paclite. 

The first ones I owned were eVent- Astro Ascent trousers from Montane, and were followed by the Berghaus Paclite ones- which are actually Lynnes. The Astro Ascents have zips that go 3/4 of the way up your leg, don't have bib/braces, and, importantly- *feel* like a normal pair of trousers once you have them on.

Montane Astro's. They literally don't make them any more. Shame.

(I suspect it might be a different story if - as ever-  you have another pair of trousers underneath them)- but with tights on- they're brilliant. Because of the robust nature of the zip, they don't fold down particularly small (they fit into a 1 litre drybag)- so they're ok for walking and the like, but are a bit bulky for lightweight running. However, because of those decent zips- I've never had an issue doing them up in the rain. 

Montane eVent trousers- big zips!

The Berghaus paclites have a lighterweight zip, so yes, they pack down smaller, but the zip *does* get caught a lot on the fabric and can be a right pain to zip up in extremis. Or even just normally. However, these are my go-to waterproof trousers if I'm heading into the hills on a run and the weather looks a bit dodgy and I might be using them to actually be water/windproof. Again- excellent with tights on. Not so great with trousers.

Berghaus Paclite trousers. The main difference to the eVent is the skin facing fabric

Difference between the Montane (left) and Berghaus (right) zip sizes

 

Mountain Equipment Karakorum

The last pair in my collection are my MRT issue ones- which are braced Drilite trousers. Robust- and will do the job. They pack down smaller than the insane expedition ones, but will stay up when you're using a rucksac due to the braces. Leg zips go all the way up and down- which is essential for this kind of thing. Again. Bombproof- though not as mountaineering focussed as the Kongur which ME market as the Mountain Rescue specific waterproof pant. I'd like to have a pair, but these are more likely to get trashed than any other pair, and it's much better to replace a £200 pair than a £500 pair.

We use the ME Karakorums, not the hyper expensive Kongur MRT waterproof pant.

So the main takeaways from this- I guess: if you're going to wear waterproof trousers, a pair of tights is much better to wear underneath for comfort than a pair of trousers. At this juncture I must apologise to those in MRT who have to suffer me prancing around in a pair of thermal tights for half the year. (the other half of the year its shorts). But I'm over 40 now and I don't care any more. They're perfect for hacking around on the hill and if it rains- waterproof trousers go right on over the top and I'm still comfortable and able to do what needs doing. 

If you're going to buy a pair of trousers and intend on using them- go with as long a side zip as you can for easy access/taking off. 

If you're going to buy a pair for "race kit check" be *damn* sure you aren't ever going to use them if you're going for the crappest lightest thing out there. If you *are* going to use them- ie. in a race that is long, arduous and the weather might change at any point- spend more. Get a decent pair. They might be the bit of kit that is the difference between finishing and quitting.