Trouser recommendations - short and stout(ish)

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chriswjx

chriswjx

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Looking to treat myself for a decent pair of trousers to go on this stalking whatnot. Ideally waterproof/resistant and windproof, seen a recommendation for Pinewood Pro Hunter Extremes which I plan to try once the blasted covid goes away.

Meanwhile, any recommendations for those a bit wide in the hips and short of leg? I usually buy 34" w, 29" leg jeans, but with a fair bit of stretch. Running a tape measure around the hips the tape tells me I'm actually a 38" 😅😅😅

Budget wise I don't really want to spend more than £200, but looking at this price range, trousers just seem to come in arbitrary lengths based on the waist size, so was wondering if anyone had any recommendations or suggestions?

Cheers,

Chris
 
I've never completely solved the "trouser problem." I have tried a wide range of stuff, including all the big money names, and have found when I do long days out that in waterproof trousers I always end up pretty damp, cold, and uncomfortable. Over the past fishing season I've been wearing a pair of army surplus trousers but a longer waterproof coat under my smock when needs call for it. Add in gaiters and there is only about 3 inches of my legs exposed to the rain and cold. I've found this much more comfortable than the waterproof trousers that I'd been wearing in some of the previous years.

Getting longer waterproof coats that come to your knees isn't so easy as these days the trend is for shorter and shorter coats made by people, I can only assume, who've never actually been outside.

I wear a surplus windproof smock as my main stalking/fishing/walking jacket on the basis that it is very comfortable as it doesn't trap the moisture like the "waterproof" coats, plus it is showerproof which is all you need on most days. However in very bad conditions then I put a waterproof layer under the smock - especially if I'm not going to be doing big walks etc.

If you take a look at the last few seconds of this video you get an idea of what I'm wearing, I had the waterproof layer on because I was sitting on the bog with my back against the peat drinking tea for quite some time:

 
chriswjx said:
… plan to try once the blasted covid goes away.
Click to expand...
It will never go away. What are you waiting for?

As for trousers, as has already been said, completely waterproof is ver uncomfortable to wear all day long especially when it gets warmer or when you heat up a little, no matter what marketing tells us.

A good compromise for me are the Fjell Räven G1000 models with a Hydratic liner. It is only waterproof so so, but keeps the windchill off and they are comfortable to wear and quick drying.
 
chriswjx said:
As in "I'm currently curled up in bed with a fever from covid" go away...
Click to expand...
Truly sorry about that. But we will all have to get used to catching covid just as we are catching the flu. The good thing is, as we get used to it it will hit us less hard. Get better soon!
 
Steff said:
Truly sorry about that. But we will all have to get used to catching covid just as we are catching the flu. The good thing is, as we get used to it it will hit us less hard. Get better soon!
Click to expand...

Managed to live for more than 10 years in the UK and still not gotten the flu either 😂

But agree, here with us to stay. Just a pain in the arse that after nearly 3 years of it, I get hit now. Had an job interview today that now is to be postponed, and crossing the fingers I recover in time for the weekend as I have my first ever stalk booked on Saturday morning!
 
If you want a heavy duty trouser the Harkila ProHunters are hard to beat. Sizes are mean in my experience. The other option is a pair of surplus waterproof trousers that you put on when raining as a shell layer. They won’t be thornproof but are £10 upwards on eBay so won’t break the bank. The British or German Army ones seem popular. Had my old DPM ones years and they still don’t leak. Good for the warmer months as they aren’t insulated.
 
Koenig said:
If you want a heavy duty trouser the Harkila ProHunters are hard to beat. Sizes are mean in my experience. The other option is a pair of surplus waterproof trousers that you put on when raining as a shell layer. They won’t be thornproof but are £10 upwards on eBay so won’t break the bank. The British or German Army ones seem popular. Had my old DPM ones years and they still don’t leak. Good for the warmer months as they aren’t insulated.
Click to expand...

I have had several pairs of the ProHunters and on the positive side they are very robust and so they do survive quite a while. However, even with all the ventilation zips open they do leave you sweaty unless you are simply standing still plus both pairs I have leaked after a short period of use. This is why I'm currently experimenting with simply not bothering with waterproofing the legs at all as the end result seems somewhat more comfortable. This is the ProHunters in action and I was soaking from the waist down that day, but perfectly dry above that, plus when the rain eased off in the late afternoon there was no chance that the ProHunters would dry in the wind so when I got home I was as wet as when the rain stopped:

 
save your money go get some from decathlon or hoggs of fife,
i like breeks and gaiters myself

or buy pair of goretex over trousers can carry in a poachers pocket or ruck sack if weather turns


Paul
 
sauer said:
save your money go get some from decathlon or hoggs of fife,
i like breeks and gaiters myself

or buy pair of goretex over trousers can carry in a poachers pocket or ruck sack if weather turns


Paul
Click to expand...
As above, tweed breaks & gaiters.
 
gr cz527 said:
some of the ridgline trousers have adjustable length zips. quite good value too at 80 quid. personally prefer breeks now.
Click to expand...
Yes the pintail explorer, you can shorten them with the internal zips up the inside of the trouser leg…. I have three pairs and they’re great and silent and not sweaty
 
chriswjx said:
Looking to treat myself for a decent pair of trousers to go on this stalking whatnot. Ideally waterproof/resistant and windproof, seen a recommendation for Pinewood Pro Hunter Extremes which I plan to try once the blasted covid goes away.

Meanwhile, any recommendations for those a bit wide in the hips and short of leg? I usually buy 34" w, 29" leg jeans, but with a fair bit of stretch. Running a tape measure around the hips the tape tells me I'm actually a 38" 😅😅😅

Budget wise I don't really want to spend more than £200, but looking at this price range, trousers just seem to come in arbitrary lengths based on the waist size, so was wondering if anyone had any recommendations or suggestions?

Cheers,

Chris
Click to expand...
Some deerhunter varieties are available in shorter leg. Rogaland are pretty tough but not waterproof.
 
I've spent a fortune on trousers but the ones that work best right now are from decathlon. Their top range ones but a load cheaper than big brands. They fit small so try first or go for at least a size up if ordering online. My best expensive ones are swedteam.
Latest gen harkila stuff is garbage
 
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