Berghaus Men's Paclite Gore-Tex Waterproof Overtrousers, Lightweight, Durable

Product Information

Here in the UK, we are pretty familiar with rain, and those of us who enjoy outdoor pursuits are even more so. The UK’s hiking and trekking hotspots are some of the wettest, with areas like Snowdonia, the Lake District, and the Yorkshire Dales and Moors all being renowned for regular downpours. In some areas of the Scottish Highlands, a holy land for all serious outdoor enthusiasts, there can be anywhere up to 3,000mm of rainfall a year. Columbia’s Pouring Adventure Pant is another very affordable option, and just like the Regatta trousers we had on test, they have an inner lining that can cause trouble when you’re trying to pull them on in a hurry, with your boots getting caught up. However, unlike the Regatta trousers, the Pouring Adventure Pant has zips on each leg that come mid-way up your thigh, allowing you to slip them on easier. Better yet, these zips open both ways, so if you start to overheat you can unzip them from the top to allow for some venting. Pulling them on over boots proved to be rather challenging, with the side zips only coming up to the middle of the shin not really helping in this regard. The side zips were not two way, either, and there were no other ventilation zips on the trousers, so you may well find you over heat if you run hot.

William Lobley is a Content Writer and reviewer for WhatsTheBest, specialising in technology and outdoors. He also writes for Empire Online. We managed to find 4 items that were made by Berghaus and are categorised as “waterproof trousers”. The trousers have a loose cut and two-way zips making them easy to pull over trousers. They’re also available in 30”, 32” and 34” lengths for taller people. This reviewer wears a 32” length leg in standard trousers and found the regular High Coast Hydratic trousers to be on the long side, especially when worn with larger walking boots.

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They’re expensive, but take care of these and they will last for years – you can also re-wax if the waterproofing starts to fade. This does make them a bit heavier than the Gore-Tex equivalent, but they’re so comfy you won’t notice Thanks to Gore-Tex’s years of innovation and experience, its waterproofing materials and membranes have never been lighter, more durable, or more waterproof. To help you find the best solution, we’ve rounded up the best Gore-Tex waterproof trousers available. If you’re looking for all-purpose outdoor trousers as opposed to overtrousers, make sure they have plenty of stretch around key areas, especially the knees and seat (bum). Basic trouser shapes can be rather utilitarian, so ladies’ specific cuts take into account higher waist and hips. We can’t promise high fashion, but they will be more comfortable than overtrousers and keep you dry. What key features should I look out for? For a more hands-on approach to outdoor life (e.g. fishing, hunting or general camping activities) then you may require something a bit more rugged. We can highly recommend the Solognac R900 reinforced waterproof trousers for these kind of activities. They are superb. They are incredibly thin, and almost translucent as a result, but if you want to travel light and stay dry, regardless of whether you’re off running ultras, they’re a brilliant choice. Be warned though, they will tear more easily than a burly pair of three-layered Gore-Tex Pro trousers.

I know that even some of the best waterproof trousers are noisy to walk in, but these seemed especially so, and they are rather baggy, meaning they flap away in the wind quite a bit. Poppers on each ankle help cinch them in at the bottom to counter this slightly. They were certainly comfortable to wear, and the elastic waistband ensures you can achieve a good fit. We gave the Berghaus Paclites a pretty thorough going over in terms of water. Both my wife Alison and I donned a pair and our daughter Loz took great delight at spraying water at us with a hosepipe. The trouble is she couldn’t get us wet! The water was simply beading off the Berghaus trousers and at the end of the exercise they looked completely dry – impressive!

In a short shower during testing they certainly did their job, but if you run hot you may find them a little on the warm side. There aren’t any ventilation zips to counteract this, but on days in cooler temperatures (which, let’s face it, is a lot of the year in the UK), they should be fine. Range of movement is as you’d expect from a normal pair of walking trousers, and they are super comfortable.

The material the product is made from is often a sign of the quality for waterproof trousers. Take a look at the product details over at Cotswold Outdoor to get a feel for this. The Fjallraven Vidda Pro G-1000 trousers (which are also available for women) are superb, rugged, water resistant adventure breeches which are suitable for walking and climbing.The profile of these waterproof trousers is quite standard, with plenty of room for layers underneath, while not having too much excess fabric that they flap around in the wind loads. The toggle at the waist is on the outside of the trousers which, along with the soft fabric inside, makes the Mountain Rainpant really comfortable to wear. The best waterproof trousers you can buy in 2023 1. Berghaus Men’s Gore-Tex Paclite Shell Overtrousers: Best waterproof trousers for all-weather hiking If you’re climbing mountains in the summer they will get a bit too warm – and you will appreciate the ventilation – but given the changeable nature of the English weather we’ll take clammy over absolutely soaked. Wherever you are and whatever time of year you’re there, these trousers will keep you dry. In a line: The Sprayway Mountain Rainpant is a great all-rounder at a respectable price. 8/10 Paramo Velez Adventure Trousers In a line: We love the slim profile of the Helly Hansen Loke Pants and, all-in-all, they’re a solid option. 8/10 Didriksons Tuba USX Pants

In a line: If you’re not prone to running hot in the hills, the Craghoppers Kiwi Pro Waterproof Trousers are a great option. 8/10 Helly Hansen Loke Pants The final key considerations to look out for chiefly concern the zips on your waterproof trousers. Zips are often a source of water ingress and the best waterproof trousers use an additional stormflap layer either on the outside of the zip, or inside and sometimes both! Look for YKK zips or specific waterproof zips to help prevent water getting in this way. Waterproof performance is surprisingly good – we experimented by pouring a glass of water directly on to the trousers and it just beaded up and slid right off – impressive for a budget pair of trousers. Craghoppers specify a hydrostatic head of 8000mm which is better than most tents! The Women’s Airedales are even better at 20000mm and cheaper to buy! In addition to long trousers for outdoor sports and winter sports, several sportswear manufacturers also offer short trousers with a waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex membrane. Sporty runners and cyclists wear weatherproof shorts for road cycling, mountain biking, running and trail running. Although they don't protects the feet, shoes and calves against rain, wet and mud, they do keep your thighs and hips comfortably dry. This way, Gore shorts guarantee exceptional comfort, even during wet training or racing conditions. There’s nothing fancy here, but with taped seams and 5,000mm HH waterproofing they will keep you perfectly dry for a good few hours. The drawstring will keep them from falling down – they’re cut generously – and the handy zip with elasticated cuffs makes them easy to get on in a hurry.By its very nature, waterproofing material inhibits fabric breathability, and for this reason, condensation can form. As condensation creates discomfort, ventilation is included by some manufacturers to promote airflow. A trouser with long side zips and two or three zip pulls will allow extra ventilation at the calf, knee, or hip. These vents will need to be closed off during heavy rains. Scuff patch