THE KNOWLEDGE

Handy hints Zip-offs (aka convertibles) are a great idea, but reattaching the legs when summer ends (or if you’re walking from the plazas of Florence into the Duomo) can be a pain. To help, clever pairs like the Vaude Farleys have colour coding so you can see what attaches where.

Down at heel Drawcord hems (like this one on the Regatta pair) help you get a perfect fit over your boots. The Helly Hansen pair is even better as you get a three-stud tab to set the hem at exactly the right width. Metal studs tend to add cost though.

Belt and braces We like trousers that come with a belt, because no-one is precisely a 32 or a 40. The Columbia and Patagonia pairs have integrated belts which sit within the fabric so as not to sit awkwardly beneath a rucksack harness and belt.

Go prepared When trying on, take as many things as you’d ever want to put in them: map, phone, wallet, keys – and your boots too, to see how the hem fits over them.