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Useful hiking trousers - ideas please

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Elen Sentier

Elen Sentier

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 8, 2012
4,197
3
Kingdom of Ergyng (Herefordshire)
www.elensentier.co.uk
For nearly 40 years I've been wearing Rohan trousers but the pocekts are not quite right for me and I would like the leg ends a bit different. I've been looking and looking but can't find what I want so decided to ask advice from you lot.

Things I do NOT want ...
  • NO elasticated waist !!!
  • Don't care about women's fit, have always worn men's trousers!
  • Don't find back pockets useful or comfortable.

Things I DO want ...
  • small pocket on thigh for phone
  • small pocket on other thigh for my small meds
  • cargo pockets on both legs that close properly
  • hand pockets on both sides
  • inner zip pocket for valuables/keys/wallet would be useful
  • knife pocket on leg would be good
  • D-ring(s) very handy

ideas would be really good :)
 
Hi Elen, I am a long time Rohan user myself and still use them as I like to keep my pockets empty when walking any distance, however for shorter walks I am a recent convert to 5.11 Tac-Lites which may match some of your criteria.


  • NO elasticated waist !!! - Actually they do, but only a little bit at the sides, it doesn't bother me and I hate elasticated waists.
  • Don't care about women's fit, have always worn men's trousers! - They come in both :)
  • Don't find back pockets useful or comfortable. - They don't have back pockets in the traditional sense, they have a kind of extended slash which can be used for carrying a 0.75l beer bottle if needed but otherwise remains unnoticable.

Things I DO want ...
  • small pocket on thigh for phone - choice of two (see below)
  • small pocket on other thigh for my small meds - choice of two, one is open topped the other 'bellows' and has a flap.
  • cargo pockets on both legs that close properly - Yes, although they do not 'bellow' and I would prefer them to be bigger.
  • hand pockets on both sides - Yes
  • inner zip pocket for valuables/keys/wallet would be useful - No, but I made a pocket organiser to do the job.
  • knife pocket on leg would be good - One of the two thigh pockets for a folder, also the hand pockets have a reinforced 'cuff' for use with a folding knife with pocket clip.
  • D-ring(s) very handy - One, on the outside by the right hand pocket.

Very tough, I have no complaints so far. For the summer I have bought a set of their shorts which has the same pocket arrangement which works well with my OCD. :)
 
Elen Sentier said:
Ta for that, had a look but not enough of the right size pockets - at least as far as I can tell.
Click to expand...

Elen I have a couple of pairs of the Austrian pants and can vouch for them. The thigh pockets both have a small velcro closed pocket inside the main pocket that is ideal for mobile phones and the like, plus it seems there are an endless range of sizes... If they fit me & John Fenna with no sewing, then that proves it !! :D
 
Ellen you must have tried Craghoppers in the past? They won't break the bank and are just good solid everyday trousers. Also look at the Tru-Spec range of trousers, they cost more but are certainly built to last.
 
Have a look at the BlackHawk trousers. I stick to those now, or the 5.11s. They have the elasticated waist bits though, like the 5.11s, but they don't fall down. Not accidentally anyway :D
 
Blue jeans or hunting pants have always been my go to. Carpenter jeans (I like Dickies) have close to the pockets you want but no zippered one. On the other hand farmer's overalls have several advanteges:
-Loads of pockets (including one on the bib which is often a zippered one.
-No elastic and the over the shouder suspender system is great for avoiding that "undressing" you describe.
-Tough as nails in brambles, rock scrapes, etc.

And they also come in hunters' versions.

And going back to cargo pants, Dickies also make a tough cargo work pant www.WorkWearUSA.com/DickiesPants
 
Last edited:
santaman2000 said:
Blue jeans or hunting pants have always been my go to. Carpenter jeans (I like Dickies) have close to the pockets you want but no zippered one. On the other hand farmer's overalls have several advanteges:
-Loads of pockets (including one on the bib which is often a zippered one.
-No elastic and the over the shouder suspender system is great for avoiding that "undressing" you describe.
-Tough as nails in brambles, rock scrapes, etc.

And they also come in hunters' versions.

And going back to cargo pants, Dickies also make a tough cargo work pant www.WorkWearUSA.com/DickiesPants
Click to expand...

I must admit to being a sneaky jeans fan but the one's I've had still don't have enough pockets! They were built for rough work after all but can be a problem in wet British weather. Carpenters jeans sound good will go and look.
 
santaman2000 said:
Blue jeans or hunting pants have always been my go to. Carpenter jeans (I like Dickies) have close to the pockets you want but no zippered one. On the other hand farmer's overalls have several advanteges:
-Loads of pockets (including one on the bib which is often a zippered one.
-No elastic and the over the shouder suspender system is great for avoiding that "undressing" you describe.
-Tough as nails in brambles, rock scrapes, etc.

And they also come in hunters' versions.
Click to expand...

General advice for UK outdoor users is to stay away from Blue jeans as they are cotton and we tend to have a slightly more inclement weather than Florida. So they get dangerously cold when wet and take ages to dry. (Don't tell anyone but I am often found in the local woods in jeans...not much else - no that's a wicked rumour.) But good hunting pants are good.

ATB, GB.
 
maddave said:
Elen I have a couple of pairs of the Austrian pants and can vouch for them. The thigh pockets both have a small velcro closed pocket inside the main pocket that is ideal for mobile phones and the like, plus it seems there are an endless range of sizes... If they fit me & John Fenna with no sewing, then that proves it !! :D
Click to expand...

Are you wanting to share them with me (& John ??? !!!) ... perhaps we should do that chat in private ??? :tapedshut :lol:
 
Goatboy said:
General advice for UK outdoor users is to stay away from Blue jeans as they are cotton and we tend to have a slightly more inclement weather than Florida. So they get dangerously cold when wet and take ages to dry. (Don't tell anyone but I am often found in the local woods in jeans...not much else - no that's a wicked rumour.) But good hunting pants are good.

ATB, GB.
Click to expand...

LOL. I wore 'em for four years in the UK. No problems. True if you're out in cold weather you do need longjohns under them but then, you need longjohns anyway in cols weather.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions, helpful :). Don't get on with Craghoppers and the Tru-Spec don't seem to have the right pockets again. Black Hawk seem to have an interesting set - like how big is the mag pocket on the leg, is it for a maglite? What are the "Front thigh pockets have side zipper pouch and hook & loop top to secure valuables"? think I might need to see these.

MikeLA said:
To be honest your Rohans are still the Best but would recommend craghoppers
Click to expand...

Yup Mike, I'm sort of feeling that, think I might work at making extra pockets for them ... with my new Singer sewing machine after I collect it tomorrow :D
 
Goatboy said:
General advice for UK outdoor users is to stay away from Blue jeans as they are cotton and we tend to have a slightly more inclement weather than Florida. So they get dangerously cold when wet and take ages to dry. (Don't tell anyone but I am often found in the local woods in jeans...not much else - no that's a wicked rumour.) But good hunting pants are good.

ATB, GB.
Click to expand...

I know! I know! I just love them ... so coool (especially when wet LOL). Must get a look at these hunting pants, see what the pocket situaion is there.
 
Ellen google Nite-ize or Pock-its. They make various sized belt pouches for replacing real pockets. From small ones to hold your sunglasses to larger ones for construction tools and everything in between.
 
maddave said:
Elen I have a couple of pairs of the Austrian pants and can vouch for them. The thigh pockets both have a small velcro closed pocket inside the main pocket that is ideal for mobile phones and the like, plus it seems there are an endless range of sizes... If they fit me & John Fenna with no sewing, then that proves it !! :D
Click to expand...

I must concur with the above, bought a pair to try and for the money I think they are great , have tried many others over the years and these are very good
 
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