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29 May 2025

Best walking trousers and waterproof overtrousers (and brands to avoid) in 2025

From Regatta and Rohan to Craghoppers and Berghaus, readers review which outerwear provides warmth and water resistance

Lauren BellSenior researcher & writer

In this article

Best walking trousers by brand
Best waterproof overtrousers by brand
Best walking trousers
Other well-rated walking trousers by brand
Best walking trousers for water resistance
Best overtrousers brands
Best value walking trousers and overtrousers
Lowest-rated walking trousers and overtrousers brand

You don’t need to spend over the odds to find decent walking trousers. A Which? survey found that the priciest brand garnered a lower overall score than five cheaper ones.

Of these less pricey brands, Craghoppers provides the best bang for your buck, securing five out of five stars for value for money. They are almost a third of the cost of Paramo trousers, on average, yet they received an excellent overall score of 80%.

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.

Below, 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	87%	£78
Montane	82%	£76
Mountain Equipment	81%	£67
Craghoppers	80%	£41
Brasher	79%	£49
Paramo	78%	£130
Regatta	78%	£36	n/a	n/a	n/a

USING THE TABLE Survey (conducted in May and June 2023) is based on data from 1,223 responses from Which? members who own walking trousers bought in the past five years. n/a = there isn’t enough data to generate a star rating. Average price paid is calculated from the amount members told us they paid for their trousers. Customer score is based on satisfaction and whether members would recommend the brand.

Best waterproof overtrousers by brand


Berghaus	82%	£76	n/a
Rohan	82%	£92	n/a
Craghoppers	72%	£45	n/a
Regatta	72%	£21	n/a
Mountain Warehouse	64%	£29	n/a
Peter Storm	62%	£28	n/a

USING THE TABLE Survey (conducted in May and June 2023) is based on data from 894 responses from Which? members who own overtrousers bought in the past five years (2018). n/a = there isn’t enough data to generate a rating. Average price paid is calculated from the amount members told us they paid for their trousers. Customer score is based on satisfaction and whether members would recommend the brand.

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Best walking trousers

Rohan 82%

Rohan review

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 Rohan hiking trousers and how quickly they dry after a downpour. 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 Amazon

Shop Rohan trousers at John Lewis

Other well-rated walking trousers by brand

Montane 82%
Mountain Equipment 81%

man standing on a mountain in walking trousers and boots

Montane walking trousers review

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

Shop Montane walking trousers at Go Outdoors

Mountain Equipment walking trousers review

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 walking trousers for water resistance

Paramo 78%

Paramo walking trousers review

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

Shop Paramo trousers at Amazon

Shop Paramo trousers at Blacks

Best overtrousers brands

Berghaus (82%)
Rohan (82%)

Berghaus overtrousers review

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 Go Outdoors

Shop Berghaus trousers at Amazon

Rohan overtrousers review

If you're put off by the thought of hitting hiking trails in the rain, you needn't worry; Rohan overtrousers excel at keeping rain out, scoring the maximum five out of five stars for water resistance. One said: 'They lived up to expectations in monsoon conditions.' Carrying them around in your backpack, just in case of a downpour, doesn't sound too much of a hardship, either, with various owners commenting on how light, easy to pack, and carry Rohan's overtrousers are. Just don't forget you'll need a well-rated waterproof jacket and walking boots too if you're going to stay dry from head to toe.

Verdict: Reliable overtrousers, even in Monsoons

Shop Rohan trousers direct

Shop Rohan trousers at Amazon

Shop Rohan trousers at John Lewis

Search for stars on your next outdoor adventure with our guide to buying the best telescope.

Best value walking trousers and overtrousers

Craghoppers walking trousers 80%
Craghoppers overtrousers 72%

person walking down a mountain in waterproof trousers and jacket

Craghoppers hiking trousers and overtrousers review

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 Go Outdoors

Shop Craghoppers trousers at Cotswold Outdoor

Lowest-rated walking trousers and overtrousers brand

Peter Storm walking trousers 75%
Peter Storm overtrousers 62%

Peter Storm review

Peter Storm came at the bottom of both the 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 with an indicative price of £21 per pair, on average, they’re also cheaper.

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

Find out more about Peter Storm trousers

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