Hiking Trousers & Shorts

Hiking trousers and shorts, including the overtrousers that go over both

The hiking trousers & shorts category exists because leg cover is the layer walkers think about last and regret first. This category centres on waterproof overtrousers, the shell layer pulled over whatever is already worn once the weather turns. Full-length walking cuts sit in hiking trousers. Warm weather versions are grouped as hiking shorts. What follows covers choosing between the three.

When do you actually need overtrousers?

When rain is persistent rather than passing, or when wind is driving it sideways. Ordinary walking trousers dry quickly and are often more comfortable wet than sealed inside a shell, which is why experienced walkers put overtrousers on later than beginners do. What changes the calculation is cold, wind and time: wet legs in wind lose heat fast, and soaked trousers stay soaked all day. Carrying a pair weighs little; wearing them needlessly costs comfort.

Trousers, shorts or zip-offs?

Trousers protect against sun, insects, nettles and scrapes, and they are the only sensible option on overgrown paths and rough moorland. Shorts move better and dry in minutes, which matters on hot ground and river crossings. Zip-off convertibles promise both and compromise on fit, since the zip sits across the thigh where the knee bends and the leg has to be removed over a boot. A practical middle ground is a light pair with a roll-up leg and a tab, which does most of what a convertible does without the hardware.

What should be checked on a pair of overtrousers?

• Leg opening: a full-length side zip lets overtrousers go on over boots without taking them off. A short ankle zip means removing footwear in the rain.
• Articulation: a gusset at the crotch and pre-shaped knees decide whether a high step feels free or restricted.
• Fabric weight: light fabric dries fast and snags on gorse. Heavier cloth resists abrasion and holds water longer.
• Waist system: an integrated belt or elasticated back sits flatter under a rucksack hip belt than a buckled belt does.

How should overtrousers fit over what you wear?

Loose. They are cut oversized on purpose, so ordering a size down to reduce flap is a common and expensive mistake: the shell has to slide over trousers, not lie on them, and anything tight at the knee pulls the seams apart from the inside. Check the length with boots on, since a hem dragging under a heel wears through in a season. If the ankle opening is wide enough, a pair goes on standing up, using a wall or a walking pole for balance.

How do you look after a water-resistant leg?

Wash it, then reproof it. Grime and sweat hold water against the face fabric and stop it beading, so a shell that has stopped shedding rain is usually dirty rather than finished. Use a technical wash, avoid fabric softener entirely, and reapply a proofing treatment when beading no longer returns after a wash. Store the layer dry and loosely folded. Heavier cotton and blended cuts such as those in military trousers want the opposite handling, being washed for cleanliness rather than for performance. The pocketed patterns collected as combat trousers follow that simpler routine.