Craghoppers Kiwi Stretch Pro trousers were recently a staple in my outdoor wardrobe for a number of years. They were affordable, stretched appropriately and breathed nicely under warmer conditions. Sadly they tend to lose their fitted shape after a few years of abuse, so I had to make the decicision between buying myself a third pair or trying something new.

It was at this point of indecision that I reached out to Craghoppers explaining my predicament and asking for their recommendation. They were very helpful and very kindly offered to send me a pair of their Steall trousers in return of a gear review. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the trousers and their waterproof coating claim, but I held my judgement and have grown to love them over time.Keep these for the rough conditions and have a lighter pair for warm days and you will be covered for 90% of events. On the topic of covering all your bases, it’s worth noting that these trousers come with some special washing instructions – you have to wash them at a low temperature with a special waterproof cleaner or pure soap, to keep the waterproof material in good condition. A small price to pay for such affordable quality though!

The AquaDry waterproof membrane adds both a layer of windproofness along with the inner lining but also functions quite nicely in the rain, where it beads off water droplets. In brief, they feel very similar to the Kiwi Pro Stretch, but with better protection for colder weather; something that’s always around the corner when camping in the United Kingdom and Ireland! This policy is in addition to any statutory rights you may have as a consumer, which remain unaffected. At the time of writing this I’ve had worn these trousers for around 10 months, throughout some rather nasty Irish winter weather and continue to wear them when the colder conditions present themselves. In comparison to the Kiwi Pro Stretch, they feel much more durable and protective. If you’re a great British hiker, you probably won’t be put off by a drop of rain. But if you want to enjoy the outdoors without getting soaked to the skin, a pair of men’s waterproof trousers is an investment that will soon pay dividends. While on the point of the fleece lining; don’t be fooled into thinking these are all year round trousers. I find that in weather over 10 Celcius, the amount of heat they hold is too much to handle and my legs end up sweating. This of course isn’t a bad point, it’s merely down to the fact that to have well performing winter trousers you can’t also have trousers suitable for the occassional heat of spring or summer months.

Craghoppers Mens Steall II Thermo Waterproof Trousers

The level of waterproofing coating in the trousers is rather suprising. I’ve worn them on a number of foul hill days without any additional waterproof layer over them, and my legs have remained warm and dry throughout.