PATAGONIA

Quandary

RRP £75 Target price £60 Patagonia have invented the Quandaries to get you out of ‘sticky situations’ (their words), meaning you can move every which way in these wonderfully dynamic trousers. The nylon fabric is amazingly light, and apart from the waistband itself there is no pressure at all against the skin. This is unrestricted movement at its best, and the durable water repellent (DWR) finish did a good job of keeping me dry during light showers. There isn’t much windproofing, but they keep incredibly cool, come with UPF40 sun protection and dry off quickly. On the days when you really need to cool off fast, the trouser legs can be rolled up into capris and secured with a button fastener. A drawcord inside the waistband allows you to achieve the perfect fit, and there is a good array of pockets – both zippered and open – to stow away valuables and gadgets. Patagonia also win Brownie points for their commitment to environmentalism – 62% of the nylon used in these trousers is recycled. RB