I've reviewed the Pro Stretch and the Bear Grylls in more detail on the site but this is a comparison type review!
I've worn all of these pants over the past 7 years and in all kinds of places and conditions. This is a mini review of each of these trousers to hopefully help you!
For the record I'm about 5'11", a 29-30 waist and an average / athletic build. I've got slightly short legs for my height.
Craghoppers Kiwi Trousers (Classic version)
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| On the shores of Buttermere |
These are the original Kiwi trousers and I had these in grey, 30 waist and regular leg length. These are also available with zip off legs so they can become shorts. These come with a decent belt.
These are the baggiest and most 'heavyweight' feeling trousers out of all the ones I've had. They are very resilient and useful in all kinds of situations - outdoors and work. My friend took a pair with him when working in Belize and he swears by them.
However, they don't have any stretch and aren't the most manoeuvrable trousers I've ever worn! In fact my decision to retire them was because they just don't give any articulated movement. As a part-time mountain goat this doesn't help and you can forget scrambling well in them! They do dry out fairly well.
Highly recommended for basic walking and when you need a tough pair of trousers. Not recommended for scrambling, climbing and where you need lots of flex and movement.
They hold a map very well with the pocket perfectly sized.
Craghoppers Kiwi Pro Stretch
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| In the snow... in May |
I've got these in black, 30 waist and regular length leg. These come without a belt.
The trousers are the best balance of great value general walking / scrambling pants. They are very stretchy, especially having come from a pair of the old Kiwi trousers.
They give plenty of freedom of movement. Despite being a 29-30 waist, I find the Pro Stretch very slightly tight around the waist - but it also gives a huge amount of stretch as well. I did have to re-sew the button (double stitches!) and that's been fine. They dry quickly too.
The downside is that they don't give any extra protection in the vulnerable areas like the bottom of the inside of the leg or on the knees / around the backside. For this reason I don't use them when scrambling unless it's basic grade 1 stuff or climbing.
These don't hold a map brilliantly as the trouser pocket is a bit loose and not quite deep enough. I wouldn't keep my map in these over very rough terrain or in very windy weather.
Bear Grylls Survivor Pants
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| The Bear Grylls pants... having survived part one of Lord's Rake |
Got these in the grey / black size. Having read reviews, I went for these in the 32 waist and short legs (I got them cheap on ebay too...) The 32 waist is about right but it does mean I need the included belt to keep them up. I could have bought the 30 waist. Legs are a little short for me.
These are pretty hard-wearing and my automatic go-to trousers when I'm dragging them across rock etc. They do have a couple of flappy pockets on the legs which isn't ideal fro scrambling but they're pretty hard wearing (polyamide) and have slight reinforcement material in all the key areas - these areas are all stretch as well which is a nice touch.
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| Up towards Blencathra |
The two side pockets are useless for holding a map in many ways - again, not quite deep enough and too loose and without the ability to keep them 'shut' with the map in.
These are a bit noisy when you walk in them - the Craghoppers Pro Stretch pants are silent. So just be aware of that as well.
Montane Terra Pants
I bought these in the graphite colour in size small - which equates to 28-30 waist.These are the most expensive pair of trousers out of the four reviewed and it shows. There are touches in the Terras that aren't found on the other trousers.
The feel of these is very nice and they are incredibly lightweight in feel and touch. Don't be deceived by this - the tactel fabric with teflon surface is very hard-wearing indeed. They have vents at the top outside of the leg and a zip at the bottom of the pants as well. The knees are pre-bent, there are two deep pockets and there's reinforcement exactly where needed.
One thing I did find is that the elastic on the trousers is incredibly tight. I think I would only need the included belt if I were wearing an XL... The small is a great fit for me but so tight on the waist - there really needs to be more give. Even when I tried on a medium they were still really tight on the waist, except too baggy elsewhere. I have read a couple of reviewers saying this same thing. The amazing thing is that I think my small Montanes stretch nearly 10cm beyond my waist, it's just the elastic is too rigorous.
Conclusion
So, you pay your money and take your choice. These are only a few of the many trousers available so get out there and find the pair that's right for you!
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