Rab Torque Light £85

+ Extremely comfortable, lightweight yet durable

- A little light on features

The Torque Light are specialist summer climbing pants from Rab, but hillwalkers looking for cool, comfortable soft shell trousers will also appreciate their excellent fit, generous stretch and good breathability. They don’t have a particularly high elastane content and the fabric has two-way rather than four-way stretch, yet they feel impressively supple and flexible, to help you nail even the trickiest scrambles. A crotch gusset and shaped knees help ensure superb articulation. The nylon construction also offers good durability, and key seams are double stitched for added strength. That means these trousers are well-suited to moving swiftly on rocky, challenging terrain. The fit is slim, with a tapered cut and a low-profile waistband to help them sit easily under a climbing harness, but they also work well when wearing a rucksack hipbelt. They’re designed to be lightweight and efficient, so the relatively simple features consist of two open hand pockets, a small, zipped thigh pocket and a zipped back pocket. There is no hem adjustment, but they fit neatly with boots or trail shoes. Since they’re intended for warm weather use, the fabric is not particularly weatherproof, though it is treated with a DWR. It is very breathable and quick drying though. But we were most impressed with the exceptional all-day comfort. It’s pretty much like going hillwalking in pyjamas.

■ Men’s sizes XS-XXL

■ Women’s sizes 8-16

■ Leg lengths Men’s S/R/L, women’s R/L ■ Fabric 96% nylon, 4% elastane

■ Weight 309g (men's 34in, L leg)

Verdict

Extremely light, cool and comfy technical climbing trousers that come into their own when scrambling over rocky terrain.