PÁRAMO MEN’S HALCON TREK TROUSERS, £150

The Halcon Trek trousers are part of the Naturally Páramo range, “quiet, high performance outdoor clothing” that gets you “closer to nature”, and are designed for “wildlife and fieldwork activities”. They are made from Nikwax Wind Resistor, a water repellent, wind resistant, stretchy polyester.

I found them well-made (in Vietnam), quiet and comfortable, with very good pocketing and not too much of it. There are two zip-up mesh hip pockets which are a good depth, and two gusseted cargo-type pockets on the front of them, each with a double-poppered flap. All of those pockets are large enough to take a softback Collins Bird Guide, but I wouldn’t recommend it(!). The waist fastens with two poppers, there are belt loops large enough for a 4cm belt, and if you need more security, loops for braces.

Each leg has a long zip on the thigh to provide ventilation. I spent nearly two hours in the Halcons in 27°C in early September, with Chiffchaffs singing and Willow Emeralds on the wing. The leg vents helped even with very little air movement. There’s no mesh inside the vents – that improves airflow, but would allow biting beasties in. On that day, the Halcons were a little warm at times – I wouldn’t want to wear them if the temperature was much higher. Páramo describe them as three season trousers – but I think they would be suitable for not too extreme winter use, too.

Freedom of movement was good and reinforced areas on the knees and backside provide protection when you kneel or sit – keeping my buttocks reasonably dry sitting on damp ground. There is also reinforcement on the lower inner legs and zips enabling the ankles to open a little wider. I wore the Halcons to do some proper fieldwork – surveying dragonflies. We had to push through vegetation to access the pond. The plant kingdom enjoyed a victory or two – some nettles stung me through the trousers and Cleavers clung to the fabric for a bit of seed distribution. I don’t see that as significant criticism – nettles and Cleavers are good at what they do. Páramo say the fabric is “suitable for use in many different environments without damage”. My use produced just two very small glitches in the fabric – where Cleavers or other vegetation pulled at it perhaps.

The blurb describes these trousers as quick drying and water repellent. They do repel some water but aren’t waterproof – too much and they get wet. I sprinkled them with a watering can and they were more or less dry after 30 minutes in bright sun. Nikwax aftercare products are recommended for cleaning and renewing water repellence.

Available in the ‘capers’ colour only. S-XXL. 492g. 30°C wash with Nikwax Tech Wash. paramo-clothing.com