REGATTA

Delph

RRP: £40 Target price: £28 Considering the price, you get a lot of product with the Delph trousers. They’re lightweight, water-resistant and loaded with pockets; plus you can buy them in either regular or zip-off form. The waist is part-elasticated, giving flexibility if you gain or lose a few pounds. The back pockets close with Velcro while the cargo pockets – though not big enough to swallow an entire OS Explorer map – are at least large enough to keep one in place, even if the top sticks out. Sadly the main pockets are too shallow and I didn’t trust them to keep the contents safely inside when I sat down. The DWR treatment works well but it also seals in warmth, and the Delphs are poorly ventilated, meaning in hot conditions my legs got rather sweaty. They also make a loud rustling noise, which isn’t ideal for wildlife lovers. Flexibility was also an issue; when crossing stiles or climbing sharply I found the trousers caught around my thighs, meaning I had to hoist them up, which could get a little tiresome on persistent ascents. MP