Stalking trousers for the (Scottish) hill

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Hoppy

Hoppy

Well-Known Member
looking at upgrading my trousers for stalking hinds in Scotland in January, currently use a couple of pairs of Harkila Pro Hunters and whilst a good pair of trousers and still fairly water tight at around 10 years old i wonder whether there is a more lightweight alternative out there, much more in favour of layering up for the conditions these days than one bulky item, looked at the Kuiu stuff but i see alot of people dont rate their longevity?
So looking for recommendations for a good set of waterproof over trousers that could be worn over some light weight trousers or a set of long johns. i like the cammo patterns that Kuiu supply as at that time of year there are a lot of brown rusty tones on the hill.
 
homer said:
Ever thought about getting a pair of tweed plus 4's?
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i have a few sets they are great for lowland stuff however i am looking for something waterproof and breathable that remains lightweight when wet something tweed definitely doesn't do!
 
I haven’t tried it myself but I‘m planning to. A pair of tight fitting and well insulated long johns and an army gore tex over trouser. The idea is that the over trouser will have a very slack fit and therefore be naturally ventilated to some degree while still keep the wet and wind off. This would be for winter conditions and moving about but not sweating excessively. Has anybody tried this?
 
hopkinsontom said:
looking at upgrading my trousers for stalking hinds in Scotland in January, currently use a couple of pairs of Harkila Pro Hunters and whilst a good pair of trousers and still fairly water tight at around 10 years old i wonder whether there is a more lightweight alternative out there, much more in favour of layering up for the conditions these days than one bulky item, looked at the Kuiu stuff but i see alot of people dont rate their longevity?
So looking for recommendations for a good set of waterproof over trousers that could be worn over some light weight trousers or a set of long johns. i like the cammo patterns that Kuiu supply as at that time of year there are a lot of brown rusty tones on the hill.
Click to expand...
Nothing wrong with Harkila trousers except price.
 
I have Hoggs of Fife stuff for up here in the highlands and proves really well. Im quite a hot tempretured person and get quite sweaty out in the hills. These always keep me warm and dry and seem to get rid of heat in a decent manner also.
 
Steff said:
I haven’t tried it myself but I‘m planning to. A pair of tight fitting and well insulated long johns and an army gore tex over trouser. The idea is that the over trouser will have a very slack fit and therefore be naturally ventilated to some degree while still keep the wet and wind off. This would be for winter conditions and moving about but not sweating excessively. Has anybody tried this?
Click to expand...
thats the type of thing i am thinking of, i know it works well with my jacket layers, i layer up or down for the temperature then have a waterproof skin keeps the damp layer away from your skin keeping you warmer for longer which is so important when your in the crap weather in January
 
tommustoe said:
I have Hoggs of Fife stuff for up here in the highlands and proves really well. Im quite a hot tempretured person and get quite sweaty out in the hills. These always keep me warm and dry and seem to get rid of heat in a decent manner also.
Click to expand...
do you know the name of the trousers you have?
 
Apart from the camo effect, Im not sure why hill stalkers encumber themselves with relatively heavy items of clothing. Walkers dont- in my youth going up munros I wore breeks in some ‘technical’ fabric which was warm when wet and didnt hold much water anyway. Allowed socks exposed covered by gaiters and spare socks in daysack if the inevitable happened, with light packable waterproofs in pack.

Or the army route - lightweight trousers which gets wet but dries fast… waterproofs for static positions only…..
 
hopkinsontom said:
i have a few sets they are great for lowland stuff however i am looking for something waterproof and breathable that remains lightweight when wet something tweed definitely doesn't do!
Click to expand...
If it’s really wet you are of course correct tweed isn’t water proof, but has the advantage of holding the wet off your skin, and quick drying in the breeze.

I was once told, possibly on here, that the highlands are a clothing nightmare as there are few places that are simultaneously as wet and cold. To add into the problem-stalking is as difficult as it comes to dress for as you could need to march several miles, sweating, then have to lie prone for a few hours! I think plus fours with a decent set of lightweight musto goretex overtrousers in the day bag is pretty optimal.
 
308tikka said:
Apart from the camo effect, Im not sure why hill stalkers encumber themselves with relatively heavy items of clothing. Walkers dont- in my youth going up munros I wore breeks in some ‘technical’ fabric which was warm when wet and didnt hold much water anyway. Allowed socks exposed covered by gaiters and spare socks in daysack if the inevitable happened, with light packable waterproofs in pack.

Or the army route - lightweight trousers which gets wet but dries fast… waterproofs for static positions only…..
Click to expand...
there is quite a big difference between walking in the hills and stalking in them, i have been out stalking in rough weather and never seen a hill walker out on normally busy walking routes, the main difference being you can be working up a sweat climbing up to the levels the deer are at only to sit for an hour or more glassing for a suitable beast, so you go from hot and sweaty to cold and wet so you need decent clothing to keep you going for the whole day, and the old adage of good is not cheap and cheap is not good was never truer which can ruin a day on the hill that could be costing you quite a bit of money!
 
Happy stalker said:

Berghaus UK

Buy Men's Deluge 2.0 Pant - Dark Green/Brown online with Berghaus. Buy online now
www.berghaus.com www.berghaus.com
Lightweight and easily packed into a small rucksack
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they don't look remotely breathable, if your going to get soaking wet from the inside you may as well just get wet in the rain.

once the moisture gets to your skin then it doesn't take much of a breeze at all to chill you to the bone, the ex army route is possibly one to go down but for some reason i feel a bit awkward wearing it.
 
Hoppy said:
there is quite a big difference between walking in the hills and stalking in them, i have been out stalking in rough weather and never seen a hill walker out on normally busy walking routes, the main difference being you can be working up a sweat climbing up to the levels the deer are at only to sit for an hour or more glassing for a suitable beast, so you go from hot and sweaty to cold and wet so you need decent clothing to keep you going for the whole day, and the old adage of good is not cheap and cheap is not good was never truer which can ruin a day on the hill that could be costing you quite a bit of money!
Click to expand...
Im a soft woodland and openfields stalker… my days on the hill are well over. Your points make sense … but if it were me Id be in windproof gaberdine trousers…

I wonder how the Kiwis in shorts and long johns get by!
 
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