THE NORTH FACE SUMMIT SERIES GTX £n/a

I bought these full-zip waterproof trousers from a outlet discount village about 13 years ago in my early days of hillwalking. I think they cost me about fifty quid back then. I had no idea that despite testing many other waterproof trousers for Trail since, all these years later they would remain the best I’ve ever used. They’re fairly heavy duty, but I wear them year-round in the mountains. The closest thing available now seems to be the new Summit Series L5 Futurelight Trousers costing a much heftier £475. Maybe I got the bargain of the century!

VERDICT A big price tag can be worth it, if they last a lifetime. At 13+ years old these still keep me totally dry. And they look good too.

USED BY Jenna Maryniak, Trail deputy editor

USED FOR 13 years