Craghoppers

Women’s Kiwi Pro Waterproof

£75 343g (12 long)

waterproof hot to wear Material: shell: AquaDry 96% nylon, 4% elastane; lining: 100% polyester Fabric treatment: Ecoshield plant-based DWR Size: UK 8-20 short, regular, long Men’s version: Yesy craghoppers.com

Marketed as walking trousers with the added bonus of being waterproof, these do look like an ordinary pair of trousers.

They are in fact very waterproof, thanks to the AquaDry shell fabric, which has a slight stretch and a soft finish. I expected some water ingress via the seams but so far these have kept me perfectly dry in torrential rain even after several washes.

Features include a reinforced ankle cuff and three zipped pockets. The microfibrelined waist is slightly elasticated with belt loops. The fit is relaxed, and not especially elegant, but comfortable to wear out and about. There isn’t quite enough give in them for scrambling but they are fine for easier walks.

A downside these is that they can be hot to wear, thanks to the waterproof membrane and brushed polyester lining, and walking in them does feel a lot like wearing waterproofs all day. I’d expect them to be comfier in cold weather.

I wouldn’t wear these on dry days, or even on long wet days; but they come into their own on shorter walks, particularly if it’s showery, thus avoiding the ‘waterproofs on or off syndrome’.