Best walking trousers and waterproof overtrousers (and brands to avoid)

You don’t need to spend over the odds to find decent walking trousers, according to a Which? reader survey. We reveal the five outdoor brands rated better overall than the priciest label. 

Craghoppers hiking trousers proved great value. They are almost a third of the cost of Paramo trousers, on average, yet received an overall score of 80%. 

However, when choosing waterproof overtrousers, you might need to part with a little more cash to find options that excel - particularly if you want them to be breathable. 

To help uncover the best and worst brands, we asked over 2,000 Which? members to rate walking trousers and waterproof overtrouser brands they’d worn. 

Here, we reveal which scored highly for breathability, water resistance, fit and more - and which brands to avoid.

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Best walking trousers by brand

• Rohan
• Montane
• Mountain Equipment
• Craghoppers

Best waterproof overtrousers by brand

• Berghaus
• Rohan
• Regatta
• Craghoppers

Best walking trousers (87%) and joint best overtrousers (82%): Rohan

Rohan is an excellent outdoor clothing manufacturer, topping our table for its trousers and overtrousers. It also came joint second in our waterproof jacket results table. Owners raved about how comfortable they found their hiking trousers and how quickly they dry after a downpour. The overtrousers excel at keeping the rain out, scoring the maximum five out of five stars. While Rohan's trousers are expensive, readers said they found them durable and are unlikely to need replacing anytime soon.

Verdict: High-quality garments made to last 

Shop Rohan trousers direct

Shop Rohan trousers at John Lewis

Other well-rated walking trousers by brand

Montane (82%)

Montane designs trousers to withstand harsh mountainous climates. As such, owners gave Montane the full five out of five stars for durability. They also raved about useful deep pockets and lightweight designs. However, Montane is the third priciest brand in our survey. If you'd prefer a cheaper option with similar ratings, choose Mountain Equipment or Craghoppers. 

Verdict: Trousers that should go the distance

Shop Montane walking trousers direct

Shop Montane walking trousers at Cotswold Outdoor

Mountain Equipment (81%)

Mountain Equipment's trousers are breathable, long-lasting and fit well; owners awarded the brand four out of five stars in these categories. And even better, trousers are just £67 a pair. Couple this with positive reviews about how comfy the trousers are, and it’s no wonder Mountain Equipment achieved top marks for value for money. This brand designs outdoor wear for inhospitable environments, so its clothing will suit adventurous types. If you’re in the market, however, for something cheaper, Craghoppers trousers are £36 less on average. 

Verdict: Quality trousers at a fair price

Shop Mountain Equipment walking trousers direct 

Shop Mountain Equipment walking trousers at Cotswold Outdoor

Shop Mountain Equipment walking trousers at Go Outdoors 

Best value walking trousers (80%) and overtrousers (72%): Craghoppers

Craghoppers trousers are ideal for keeping costs down. You might overlook its hiking trousers’ lower water-resistance rating, especially if you buy its five-star water-resistant overtrousers to pull on over the top during rainy spells. Both trouser types got high ratings for durability, comfort and value for money. Plus, it offers a lifetime guarantee on its clothing.

Verdict: The perfect compromise between quality and price 

Shop Craghoppers trousers direct

Shop Craghoppers trousers at Cotswold Outdoor

Shop Craghoppers trousers at Go Outdoors

Best waterproof trousers for hiking (78%): Paramo

Paramo scored four out of five stars for water resistance in our survey - a feat no other hiking trouser brand managed. Usually, the more waterproof a pair of walking trousers is, the less breathable it is, and nobody wants to be encased in clammy legwear for long hikes. It’s a difficult balance to strike, but Paramo manages it: owners gave it the full five out of five stars for breathability.  However, the fit let it down - with some readers complaining of their trousers being overly wide around the legs or ‘tight in some places and roomy in others’. Paramo trousers are also extremely pricey (£132). We’d choose top-of-the-table Rohan instead, where trousers are £50 cheaper per pair, on average. Find out how owners rated their Paramo waterproof jackets in our recent survey.

Verdict: Waterproof and breathable but pricey

Shop Paramo walking trousers direct

Best overtrousers brands (82% joint): Berghaus and Rohan

See above for Rohan review 

Berghaus overtrousers

Berghaus overtrousers do their core job perfectly, gaining full marks for keeping wearers dry. Like joint top-scorer Rohan, they’re breathable, too, something many of the cheaper brands struggle to achieve. Berghaus mirrors Rohan’s ratings in every category, from fit to durability, but trumps it in one area: price. Owners told us that they paid £16 less, on average, for their Berghaus trousers. But they won't be for everyone at double (or even triple) the cost of some budget versions. 

Verdict: Comfortable and practical overtrousers you can rely on

Shop Berghaus trousers direct

Shop Berghaus trousers at Cotswold Outdoor

Shop Berghaus trousers at Go Outdoors

Lowest-rated walking trousers (75%) and overtrousers (62%): Peter Storm

Peter Storm came at the bottom of our trousers and overtrousers tables. That said, the brand’s walking trousers (£32) still got a respectable 75% overall score – the same as Berghaus, which members told us costs almost double. Just don’t waste your time with its overtrousers (£28). We heard several complaints about fit, with one owner describing them as flappy and ‘like clown trousers’. Regatta’s alternatives are more comfortable and durable - and at £21 a pair, on average, they’re cheaper too.

Verdict: Passable lower-priced walking trousers. Give the overtrousers a miss

Find out more about Peter Storm trousers