Simond Men's Mountaineering Pants Review

Over the last couple of winters I've been using the Simond Mountaineering Pants for general outdoors wear and mountain excursions. Simond kit can be found at Decathlon and has gained a reputation as having some excellent kit at very good prices.

Trudging back crampon-less from Coire an t-Sneachda on a very icy March day!

Having used a pair of Sherpa winter pants that I'd got cheaply on eBay and having been impressed with their resilience, I took a punt on the Simond pants simply so I had two pairs of winter trousers (from experience!) My conclusion is that I've started wearing these Simond ones almost exclusively.

Simond Mountaineering Pants - from decathlon.co.uk website

These are very resilient pants. Decathlon says they have a 275gsm weave but in English that means these are good for climbing, scrambles and pottering around in. The inside of the lower legs are reinforced and nice and tough for protecting from crampon scratches - or at least helping! In practice I wear gaiters anyway so while the gaiters have been torn, the pants have been protected!

The pants are quite fitted in terms of wearing them but without hindering movement. They definitely have some added articulation which I've found perfect for climbs, scrambles and walking over boulder strewn hills and moors.

Murk on Dartmoor in winter

The pants also come with accessories that would make me consider wearing them even on skis - there are some detachable inner gaiters which although I haven't used are very helpful. I think they'd just about fit over ski boots. The pants also come with detachable braces. If you haven't used braces in winter then it can be a useful, if acquired, taste. But simply to have these with the pants and the fact they can be removed just adds to their value.

Update March 2020 - I did wear these for skiing in the Cairngorms and they worked a treat - the outer zip at the bottom helped me get them on over skis and then was able to buckle them up over the ski boots, absolutely brilliant!

Skis at Cairngorms, was holding my bag between my legs so image looks a bit weird!

Can't find any close-up pics of the pants except these - with the Rab gaiters guesting...

The lower leg has a zip and the option to close them on one of two snappers, which gives you a decent fit over boots. In practice I've found these can cause the pants to ride up the boot a bit. Not a deal breaker and this can be slightly remedied by choosing to close the pants on the slightly 'looser' popper giving the pants more space over the boot.

Winter course on Blencathra, image courtesy of Grahm Uney

The tops of the pants also have zips on the outside of the legs for added venting option. Useful especially when hacking up deep snowy wanders or moving fast - I tend to get very hot and then get cold quickly, so venting helps!

In terms of pockets, there's a zipped leg pocket at the front of the right leg. This isn't at all huge but good for stashing some small gloves, food etc. The main pockets at the sides are zipped and again they are not huge, meaning that if you've got a larger phone with tough case on, you may not be able to fit in the pocket. This is one area where the pants need a tweak - larger pockets please. The toggles are fairly long and grab-able in winter snow with a liner glove or larger glove.

I've seen some reviews on Decathon saying these are a slightly strange fit, but I haven't found that to be the case! The pants don't have a belt or belt loops, so if they don't quite fit, use the braces. At the top there is zip fly with a couple of clips for you to get a good fit around your waist. As I say I have found these to move very well with me and not hinder movement at all.

A wintery and gloomy Blencathra

My advice is to try a pair and see if they work for you - if they do, then at £50 they're a ridiculous bargain!

Happy winter days!

Alpkit Koulin Trail Tights review

Alpkit

Alpkit - the British company that has always been a bit different (in a good way) and has produced solid kit at solid prices. They've always been good 'bang for the buck' (or indeed pound) without ever being a 'value' or 'budget' range. Over time, they've built up their reputation with ever improving gear and the issues a few years back with stock shortages are now a very distant memory. This has always been a customer and user-driven company with their staff 'real' outdoors people who are just 'one of us' and communicate this in their marketing.

In recent times they've stepped up their game with both an increase in quality (such as using Primaloft in their insulated jackets) and a huge increase in the range of stock they provide. During this time their prices have gone up but I would say they are still very well priced in all they do. They're one of those companies that listen to their customers well and are small enough to implement changes quickly and well. They also keep their 'classic' ranges going while improving them.

Onto the Koulin tights which I feel are already a classic item. 

Tights?!

OK so you may or may not wear tights as a guy. When I initially considered the Koulin tights, hideous images of A'level drama trips flashed through my head along with people mocking me for looking like a ballet dancer on the hills. There's also the slightly sensitive issue of close fitting tights and the occasional wolf whistle from obviously deluded females, as happened in Grisedale on one run. Having to wear them into Sainsbury's once was an experience...

The Alpkit Koulin tights. Not in Sainsbury's...

Out and About

But having bitten the bullet, I pulled them on (literally) for a trail run up through Grisedale, over the Eagle Crag scramble, up Nethermost Pike, to Helvellyn and back down to Patterdale via Striding Edge. Amazing run and no-one else around save for a guy with his terrified girlfriend headed up Striding Edge. We did stop to help but decided not to get too involved! Wonder if that relationship is still going...

Eagle Crag scramble. No it's a bit harder than it looks here!

If you haven't worn trail tights then they are unbelievably freeing, light and easy. They simply flex with your legs which is liberating. The Koulin tights have just the right amount of stretch in them to move with your body. Compared to even the amazing Montane Terras, I'd liken the effect of wearing the Koulin tights to running in trail shoes compared to running in boots. On the two times I've been on Dartmoor wearing them and in the Lakes, it was also so easy to climb as the tights are so flexible but also strong.

Heading back from Great Links Tor, Dartmoor

The Fit

I'm a 30 waist (at most) and with a fairly standard, athletic kind of build. The small in the Koulin tights was a perfect fit. Getting them on requires a wee bit of tugging to get them up the legs, especially on the lower leg. At the bottom of the tights on the outside of each leg there is a zip at the bottom (about 17cm in length) which can be done up, even if it doesn't feel like it. Helps get them on and off. Some people aren't fans of zips but I found they helped. They are slightly long (I have slightly short legs I guess) but this also means the tights easily sit on or above the waist.

The Features

The tights are highly breathable and move moisture well and dry quickly. The stretch is excellent and it jumps back to shape after use and washing, so no worries there. There are meshy panels in a couple of non-essential places to aid breathability.  A drawstring inside the tights at the front will also help.

There are two side pockets which I generally use to stash my (fairly large) smartphone on one side and a compass on the other. However, they will take more than that. At the back is a red zipped pocket which will take keys or other valuables.

The sensitive issue of your parts showing when wearing tights can be diminished by (a) not strutting around like a peacock; (b) wearing a pair of shorts over them or a long (I actually just wrote 'pong') baselayer; or (c) as I did, wearing a pair of Under Armour boxers underneath.

There is also a reflective logo and trim on the sides of the tights which is essential. They are pretty light and they seem very hard-wearing too.

If you spot this person, seek immediate medical help or counselling...

Conclusion

The Koulin Trail tights are ideal for trail running, running, hiking or even gentle scrambling. It's almost converted me away from wearing trousers when walking and certainly they're pretty good for trail running in 2 or 3 seasons. At £25 (October 2017) they're also brilliant value. Just don't tell anyone - I don't want hundreds of Alpkit gear clones out on the hills with me ;)

Update 2022 - these are still going, still holding my phone, still being used for the odd run but mainly for cycling. Classics!!

Montane Terra Pants walking trousers Review

Wearing the Montane Terras on the Climbers Traverse path up to Great Slab and Bowfell

As you can't see in the picture above, I'm wearing the Montane Terras. Fear not, I am wearing them in the picture below. Phew, what a relief.

The Montane Terra Pants in the, er, 'great indoors'. La Sporitva trail shoes (amazing!) complete the look...

Lots has been said about these but I can honestly say they're my favourites outdoors trousers and my absolute go-to ones - well, unless doing some heavy duty scrambling when I pull out an older pair of Craghoppers.

Why so special?

Well they're incredibly lightweight and nice to wear. Unlike my Bear Grylls pants, the Terras don't make you sound like you're a moving paper bag. (Add in a Goretex Pro jacket and you have a combo of moving paper bag and crisp packet all in one...)

The Cordura reinforcement (black area)

The fabric is resilient and yet they feel almost like a second skin. The main fabric is TACTEL and the reinforced areas are CORDURA which is very strong. There is reinforcement in the important areas such as the knees / thighs and around the rear quarters (the 'buttocks' in the words of Forrest Gump if you've seen that movie...)

The reinforcement goes right down to the inside of the lower leg / ankle. Brilliant.

There is a great level of venting available - at the bottom of the legs and at the top of the legs around the thighs. This makes them incredibly useful for Spring and Summer excursions.

Showing a bit of leg - steady on ladies...

Venting at the top comes with mesh to help with modesty and even potentially keep out some bugs...

The pants are also articulated which may sound like a fancy word unless you've actually worn them to see how they move with your body.

Back in the day I used my army lightweights. Good and durable and solid. Then the Craghoppers Kiwis which were strong and practical. The Bear Grylls pants were a step in the right direction, let down by the rustle and excess pockets. But the Montane Terra Pants are absolutely brilliant for movement. They are unlike any other outdoors trousers I have ever worn. They are so good for moving, climbing things, scrambling around. And that's down to the articulation.

They also have some good pockets with mesh lining.

Pocket pulled out

A waist belt completes the pants with all they need. I am a waist 30 and got these in small. The one slight thing is that even with my ickle waist they are slightly tight, yet I can pull the waist out around 10cm! So the issue is with the elasticated waist possibly being a bit overzealous. But that's the only fault I can find!

I have worn these in various temperatures and they've been fine. They have dried very quickly in light showers and are incredibly breathable. They're durable and lightweight too. Perfect.

Montane Minimus Pants (Waterproof trousers) Review

My go-to waterproof trousers have been the Berghaus Deluge over trousers in the last few years. You would be hard pushed to find something more resilient and relatively breathable for the price.

However, what about those Spring and Summer months when the boots are put into hibernation and the temperatures rise enough for the lightweight kit to make an appearance...? Cue another pair of lightweight waterproof over trousers. On offer were the Montane Minimus so I got them - paid around £45.

Their first test was a slight mishap in that I wore my boots and mistakenly packed the Minimus pants instead of my Berghaus ones. Cue me stumbling around in heavy rain and sleety snow trying to get them on - unsuccessfully. The only way was to head for some cover, take off my boots, put on the waterproofs and then put my boots back on. Note to self: don't do that again.

The waterproofs themselves held out fine except for the usual plastering of mud as I considered and then thought better off a river crossing and headed back along a path...

Dartmoor in the murk and sleety snow. Location of a hapless hiker trying to put on the pants...

Back to the review, the pants are extremely lightweight (140g) and understandably very different to the Deluge pants which are more weighty. I don't think I'd be dragging them across scrambles on Bristly Ridge or through gorse on moorland. But they're probably more resilient than they seem and that's the price for going lightweight.

The outer fabric has a ripstop type face. The breathable fabric is 2 layer Pertex Shield which isn't breathable on the level of 3 layer fabrics like eVent and Goretex but is pretty good. Over the period of about 90mins walking quite quickly in rain and snow I didn't have any issues with breathability or leakage but that's obviously to be expected! They did well in a wet-ish day in Lakeland too.

Top of Fisher's Wife's Rake

The pants have some nice touches. They have 1 1/4 length leg zip which really helps getting them on over shoes and trainers etc. There is just one zip on the legs, probably to minimise weight.

Down the leg of the Montane Minimus

The zip on the Montane Minimus

There is also a strap lower down the leg (calf area) to cinch in the waterproofs when you're moving fast through the mountains or you're trail running. Nice touch. There is also reflective detail on the Minimus pants as well - much needed. The waist has a simple draw string at the front.

All in all, the Montane Minimus waterproof trews trousers pants (choose appropriate name) are a very good pair of lightweight overtrousers. They won't breathe as well as eVent or Goretex etc but they're not as expensive retail price either. They may not have the features of Paramo offerings but they don't have the price or the heat either. They're not as resilient as things like the Berghaus Deluge but they're under half the weight!

You pay your money and you take your choice... Ideal for moving fairly fast (just not too fast so you get too hot) and for trail running, just as Montane say.

Berghaus Deluge Waterproof Pants / Trousers / Overtrousers - Review

There are a number of pairs of waterproof trousers out there on the market, each with their own unique amount of features and purposes in mind.

There are other options that we'll consider below but if you're looking for a pair of solid waterproof over trousers then the Berghaus Deluge must be right up there...

Absolutely battered by wind on Place Fell - helped by the Berghaus Deluges

The picture shows myself and a mate on top of Place Fell in Feb 2015 on a day of very high winds and a fair amount of blustery rain. The Deluge pants coped admirably - as they did on a long walk for charity across Dartmoor in 2011 and everything in between!

So what makes the Deluge good value?

First up they're very hard-wearing - although this does mean they're heavier than I'd ideally like (390g). I would be confident of dragging these through any terrain! In comparison (for example), the Montane Minimus are 150g, although at £80-90, twice the cost of the Deluges.

Alternatives (Dec 2017)... Craghoppers do the 'all in one' Kiwi Waterproof trousers at £70 - 365g with Aqua Dry or a 'Gore Tex' pair (likely Paclite but not specified) but Paclite is not at all hard-wearing. Rab do an amazing pair of eVent ones at 320g but these cost a lot (£120 odd) but include extra knee protection. Montane do the Minimus ones which are amazingly lightweight (these would be nice in the pack sometimes!) or the Spine pants at 291g (again a bit pricey at £120+ but with Gore Tex Active). Mountain Equipment do the slightly lighter Firefox pant at 259g (again over £100 and Gore Tex Active) The obvious problem with light(er)weight overtrousers can be durability, something the Deluge ones are very unlikely to suffer from.

Secondly, they have almost full-length two-way zips (and poppers) on the outside of the leg which extends right to the bottom of the trousers and almost up to the waist. The bottom of the leg 'popper' isn't always found on other waterproof pants. This means they're very easy to get on... don't under-estimate the usefulness of this when the rain or snow suddenly comes down.

Thirdly this also means that venting is possible due to the zip / popper combination. The two-way zip is great for this - you can unzip and use the poppers to vent if the rain isn't too heavy. It's worth noting that the other higher end waterproof pants mentioned before also have 2 way zips.

Fourthly, these act as a great second layer in winter to keep the legs warm! I would much rather use waterproof trousers than baselayer leggings in any weather except very cold temps - much easier to regulate temperature - i.e. much easier to take them on and off. Obviously when very cold, you'd use waterproofs and leggings - possibly unless wearing something like Paramo.

The downside

The main downside of these is first of all their heavy-weight but more importantly, they're not very breathable. They're definitely less breathable than eVent and Neoshell which means you may not always put them on when it's warm and you may get a bit sweaty!

The other thing I've found is that they are really not at all fitted. In a hoolie on Dartmoor, I looked like the Michelin man and wondered if I'd take off. My friend wearing her Montane Spine waterproofs didn't have the same problem as they are more fitted (yet probably less durable). So, you pay your money and you make your choice according to features needed and cost.

Final thought

For the features and the price, the Berghaus Deluges are very hard to beat! Nothing else touches their features at their price. Paying more will give you more fitted, more breathable and towards the higher end, more durability and winter-specific features like crampon protection, snow gaiters etc.

Outdoors Trousers / Pants Review - Craghoppers Kiwi Pro Stretch, Montane Terra Pants, Bear Grylls Survivor Pants, Crahoppers Kiwi Classic

Outdoors Trousers Review - Craghoppers Kiwi Pro Stretch, Montane Terra Pants, Bear Grylls Survivor Pants, Crahoppers Kiwi Classic.

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)

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

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

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.

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!

Craghoppers Kiwi Pro Stretch (Pro Active) Trousers Review

I'm not sure whether there's a shortage of material worldwide, but with 2014 fashion continuing in its skinny, figure-hugging, breath-defying trend it's great to have a pair of walking trousers that actually don't restrict your movement.

The other extreme of this is the well-respected Craghoppers kiwi original polycotton trousers. These British classics have been worn by no doubt many thousands over the years by many: from myself across the Moors - to my friend while out in the Asian subcontinent and Africa (zip-off version) - to some friends wearing them for a canoeing trip. But to me they are a bit heavy and very restricting in movement.

Cue the Kiwi Pro Stretch trousers - now replaced for men at least by the 'Pro Active' trousers...

Fit

Anyhoo, mine are in black and fit very true to size. They dry out fairly quickly - as quickly as anything else to be honest. Material is polyamide elastene so that means pretty hard-wearing and with enough stretch for you to move without restriction (unlike the baggier and less well fitting kiwi classics).

Pockets

As you can see from my top quality photo, the right hand side pocket fits a map well but the downside of this (compared to the kiwi classics) is that while the map fits the pocket and while the pocket has two 'clickers' on either side of the top of the pocket, there is a problem... On the kiwi classics you can stash the map and be sure it will stay there. On the kiwi stretch, you can't guarantee the map will stay there. The pocket isn't 'long' enough (down the leg) to take enough of the map to store it well enough. My view is they should lengthen the pocket by an inch or two. Nor do the poppers give enough security to anything else you'd want to store in there.

Another issue is that the kiwi classics give you three 'waistline' pockets - one on the left and on the right pocket - an inner one with zip and an outer one. The kiwi stretch gives you just two pockets but they do both have a zip which is good.

Stretch

I've found the amount of stretch is perfect. One thing is that if you are between trouser sizes in terms of your waist, you may want to consider going up a size (check first). I am a 29ish waist and have the 30" waist version. There is lots of stretch in the material on the waist but it can be a little uncomfortable putting them on and I have had to re-sew the top button with double thread. And as I say it's not because my waist is too big or because there's not enough excess room in the trousers!

The stretch coming in useful on a mini climb

Overall

These are my go-to trousers. No, they don't have the extra reinforced patches that the much more expensive Montane Terra pants have (or the Bear Grylls ones). But I love the stretch and the cut. These (or the replacements) will be my go-to trousers for most of my walking. Only when climbing and scrambling more seriously will I use other trousers. These also have UPF40 properties, keeping out the UV rays that would ordinarily pass through clothing. With a couple of improvements to the pockets (and the button!) and possibly a small bit of reinforcement around the knees they'd be perfect!

Bear Grylls Survivor Trousers / Pants Review

So the Bear Grylls trousers have been in my kit bag for around 3 years or so now. Overall, they're lightweight, pretty breathable and pretty tough too.

Here's the manufacturer's spec:

• Fabrics: SolarDry polyamide supplex with stretch panels
• Weight: 450g
• Active fit
• Drying loops
• 9 pockets
• 2 with zip-fastening
• Tough supplex combined with stretch panels for unrestricted movement
• Heel tape

Stock image

And here's my impressions...

The trousers are very solidly built. I like the reinforced areas around the bottoms of the legs, the crampon protection (although I'd probably recommend gaiters as well if using in snow). There are pockets on either side and on both legs. Polyamide is a strong material.

However, the pockets on the legs of my version aren't quite big enough to easily hold a laminated (active) OS map. It does fit, but it's a bit of a squish (unlike the Craghoppers equivalent stretch / Craghoppers Kiwi originals)... 

Another downside that existed in my version (since corrected I believe) was that my 'waist' pockets were made of 'parachute' type fabric. This has unfortunately meant it's worn through (with keys / compasses / penknife etc) in there at various times. I believe the newer version pockets have stronger material.

The inside of the slightly mauled pocket

The material itself does seem durable and the stretchy parts are such an asset, having had the original kiwi crag hopper trousers (which are good for what they are, but not great). The reinforced areas are really well reinforced and this does help hold down the trousers on the 'shoe' area.

I was recommended to get the waist one size above my regular size when I purchased them (by online reviews on the Craghoppers site) and this was a good call. My legs are usually somewhere between the 29" and 31" sizing which many trousers seem to come in and these are no exceptions in terms of length.

The other thing about them is compared to say the brilliant Kiwi Stretch trousers, these Bear Grylls ones are noisy to wear and noisy when you move - they rustle, unlike the stretch pants... If this makes any difference.

However, they do look quite good (and a bit like the Montane Terra pants). I paid £25 for these and that was a good fair price. I expect them to last a while. I'd like the legs to be slightly longer but hey, you can't have everything!!

In use 'in the field' (well, on a fell)