Super deals: At least 50% off

Outdoor & Hiking Trousers

Go to the guide ↓

Two pairs usually do: light walking trousers with stretch and overtrousers in your pack.

Guide

Outdoor & Hiking Trousers

Walking trousers should dry fast and let you step up freely. Add softshell trousers for windy, colder days higher up.

Key points

  • For most walks: walking trousers plus overtrousers.
  • Waterproof only with a membrane or coating and taped seams.
  • Overtrousers: as a guide, 15,000 mm hydrostatic head.

Which type for which use?

UseChooseReason
Walking from spring to autumn, travelChooseTrekking trousersReasonLight, quick to dry, airy. Little wind protection, no warmth
Mountain days, via ferrata, scrambling, cool and windy weatherChooseSoftshell trousersReasonStretch, wind protection, some warmth. Slower to dry, too warm in the valley in summer
Steady rain and wet snow, worn over other trousersChooseWaterproof overtrousersReasonWaterproof thanks to a membrane or coating and taped seams. Little stretch, clammy on long climbs
Hut-to-hut trips, travel, changeable daysChooseZip-off trousersReasonLong and short legs in one garment. The knee zip gets in the way when scrambling
Winter walks, snowshoeing, sledgingChooseInsulated trousersReasonWarm without a second layer. Too warm uphill, no substitute for ski trousers

Types compared

What to look for when buying

QuestionIn briefWhy
Water-repellent or waterproof?In briefDWR or membraneWhyWater-repellent trousers carry a DWR (durable water repellent) finish that sheds a shower. Only trousers with a membrane or coating and taped seams are waterproof.
What hydrostatic head do overtrousers need?In briefFrom 15,000 mmWhyAs a guide, 15,000 mm, more than for a jacket: kneeling, sitting and a hip belt all raise the pressure on the fabric.
When are softshell trousers worth it?In briefIn wind and coldWhyAs soon as the wind gets up. Softshell is more tightly woven than trekking fabric, cuts the wind and has plenty of stretch. It is too warm for hot days in the valley.

Frequently asked questions

Zip-offs or full-length trousers?

Zip-offs suit travel and hut-to-hut trips with big swings in temperature, because you can leave the shorts at home. On a via ferrata or a long scramble, full-length trousers are the better choice: there is no zip to catch at the knee.

Do I need overtrousers as well?

For persistent rain, yes. A water-repellent finish sheds a shower, but after a while water presses through the fabric. Pack overtrousers with long side zips, which go on over your boots.

How do I wash and reproof outdoor trousers?

Follow the care label, use liquid detergent and no fabric softener. Gore recommends washing Gore-Tex at 40 °C and, once dry, 20 minutes in the tumble dryer, which revives the water-repellent finish. If water still soaks in, reproof.

Why does the finish need more care than it used to?

Manufacturers say fluorocarbon-free finishes need more regular care than the older fluorinated ones. From 10 October 2026 the EU restricts PFHxA, a chemical from the PFAS group, in clothing newly placed on the market.

Last updated: October 2026

No products match these filters.