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. The fabric used is The North Face’s excellent 2.5 layer DryVent (like GoreTex), with taped seams and in a super durable 40D ripstop nylon. They will not give in when the heavens open, and unlike many designs, remain quite breathable, which also makes them ideal for hard climbs and more vigorous outdoor activities. Grab a bargain while you can. RET (Resistance to Evaporative Heat Transfer) tells you theresistance a material has to water vapour passing through it. The lower the RET value, the less its resistance to moisture transfer and therefore the higher its breathability. By the definition of this standard, an RET of 0-6 is 'extremely breathable' (comfortable worn at a higher activity rate); 6-13 is 'very breathable' (comfy at a moderate activity rate); 13-20 is 'satisfactory' or 'breathable' (uncomfortable at a high activity rate); and anything over 20 is going to boil you in the bag (I paraphrase). That’s why we’ve pulled together this list of key factors for Berghaus Mens Paclite Pants below, to help you choose if it’s the right product for you and your budget. We reserve the right to choose an alternative courier at dispatch in circumstances where your chosen courier is unlikely to achieve their expected delivery promise.

Another factor that can be a great indication of product quality is the brand. Brands like Berghaus are of course extremely well known, especially for waterproof trousers. Vaude’s commitment to sustainability and fair working conditions has always made me sit up and take notice of what the company is doing, but the Yaras Rain Zip Pants II shows that product development is also something that the brand does very well. The standout feature here is the full-length two-way zips on each leg, which means it’s incredibly easy to take them on and off, even if you have boots on. This also makes ventilation a simple and effective job, as you can unzip the sides as much or as little as you like. There are however some methods that you can use to determine a product’s quality without needing to physically have it.Waterproof overtrousers are often baggy by necessity. Some manufacturers offer articulated knee joints, Velcro calf adjustment, ankle cuff press studs, waist drawstrings, and varying leg lengths to help combat waterproof trouser looseness. Waistband The Gore-Tex membrane is bonded to the outer shell material, before being covered by an anti-oil substance and carbon. Gore-Tex has engineered this material to be used for everyday activities, golfing, and hiking. Fairly lightweight at 575g, the Dry Rangers incorporate what’s known as a ‘drop liner’ inside the trousers. This is an inner lining made from Rohan’s classic Barricade membrane, and makes them exceedingly waterproof, breathable and windproof. In a line: The Regatta Chandler Overtrousers III may not be the best performing, but they are a great cheap option to have ‘just in case’. 6/10 Columbia Pouring Adventure Pant When we saw the name of the Sprayway Walking Rainpant (also available in a women’s version) we immediately had visions of these overtrousers walking by themselves – it would certainly be a great sight out in the hills – hordes of overtrousers marching along. Anyway I digress…

The photo above shows the hem of the trousers around the end of the leg – this has been strengthened by Rohan using scuff tape which means that if the trousers do drag along trails or fields that the ends of the leg don’t get frayed or damaged. A nice touch on a quality pair of 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. Most waterproof trousers tend to come up a little large to accommodate layering but look for adjustable waists, straps and integrated belts that help you find a comfortable all-day fit. Basic trousers often have drawstrings. There are poppers at the ankles to cinch the trousers in on your boots, while there is a storm flap that covers the zips to help protect against water ingress. I found the trousers to be just right in the baggy/slim fit stakes, and the material seemed to offer a respectable amount of durability. An elastic waistband and toggle help you achieve a good, comfortable fit, and I found the range of movement to be excellent. 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.In a line: The Paramo Velez Adventure Trousers might not be to everyone’s taste style-wise, but they do what they were designed to. 8/10 Rab Ladakh DV Pants

To keep gear as light as possible most superfluous extras are stripped out, but with the Minimums, the cut is slim, with articulated knees for a great range of motion, the waist has elastic and drawcord and the zips run 1/4 -length up the leg. You may need to take your trousers off to pull them on without snagging, but this will prevent them getting filthy on the inside. 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! Going green is rarely a budget option, but these super trousers have 10,000mm HH waterproofing, and the benefit of two velcro fasteners on each leg (both with reflectors) that allow you to gather in any extra material at the ankle and calf. It’s simple but super effective and makes them ideal for riding your bike in filthy weather without the risk of getting caught in your drivetrain. These Craghoppers Kiwi Pro Waterproof Trousers are great all-round walking trousers – the fact that they also offer excellent waterproof performance via an AquaDry membrane for a great price make them a no-brainer if you’re after some all round trousers. For women, we also recommend the Airedale trousers which have even better waterproof performance. Head out into the great outdoors in comfort with these Men's GORE-TEX Paclite Shell Overtrousers. You'll walk and trek with ease and practicality thanks to the GORE-TEX Paclite Shell fabric, which is lightweight and can be compressed into its own stuff sac when not being used - ideal for bush walks and camping expeditions.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 Here, Rob Slade puts 12 pairs of the best waterproof trousers (all available in men’s and women’s) to the test to see which pair you should invest in. Regatta Chandler Overtrousers III Another nice design touch is a small hook included at the lower end of each leg which can attach to the laces of your walking boots in a similar way to gaiters. This can prevent water and mud splashing up inside the overtrousers and onto your main walking trousers. Bear in mind that the fit of the Ventus is quite slim in terms of waist size although there is elastic which allows some expansion and adjustability. Of course, the breathability is important too, and we have conducted many hill walks with the Berghaus Paclite with absolutely no internal moisture being found on our inner trousers. It simply isn’t an issue – they are great performers.