Agoora Outdoor

Do you Need Waterproof Bottoms / Waterproof Hiking Pants?

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 12:23:00 +0000

Do you Need Waterproof Hiking Pants?

Some may think that, if they wear a long coat, it will help to keep their legs dry, so they don’t need waterproof bottoms for hiking.

If your clothes get wet, the insulation properties fall dramatically, heat is quckly lost from your body and you can get cold very quickly, especially if your high up in an exposed position.

Waterproof bottoms are also very handy for sailing, canoeing, fishing and boat trips in general especially on choppy days at sea.

There are two types of waterproof hiking pants:

1.

2.

So then, for less challenging lowland walks waterproof hiking pants are best, but for more difficult mountain walks which are more exposed with stronger winds and driving rain, I think the over trousers are the better option.

Waterproof bottoms are made from waterproof breathable fabric and all the stitched seams are taped to keep out the rain.

Waterproof bottoms keep you dry, warm and comfortable in difficult, wet weather conditions. Agoora have a range of waterproof trousers for your inspection which can be accessed by clicking on the following links:

A good hiking jacket is essential for your enjoyment of the great outdoors.

The best hiking jacket will be waterproof with taped seams and a DWR Durable Water Repellent surface finish.

When choosing a waterproof jacket for hiking, first of all you need to decide which type you want.

What is the “Hydrostatic Head”?

What about “Taped Seams”?

What is the purpose of a DWR?

What to look for in a hiking jacket hood?

A wired peak is a great idea to keep out driving rain or hail stones.

Ideally it should be possible to roll away the hood and fasten in place when not in use although some people prefer not to use this feature as they think it makes the jacket uncomfortable.

Some hoods are designed to fit over a climbing helmet.

Which is the Best Waterproof Fabric?

Other Waterproof Hiking Jacket Features to look for are:

A two-way front zip so you can pull the zip up from the bottom if you need to stop for a toilet break or to put on waterproof over-trousers.
Double overlapping storm flaps with fastenings to protect the front zip from extreme wet weather.
A slight drop tail for butt protection at the back and unrestricted leg movement at the front.
Two large, zipped side pockets with storm flaps to keep out the rain.
An internal chest security pocket with zipped fastening and stretch fabric lining, safe from rainwater and an excellent location for your mobile phone.
A Napoleon style map pocket, large enough for an OS map can be useful.
Some of the top jackets have under arm pit zips for extra ventilation to aid the removal of perspiration.
A good jacket will have adjustable cuff apertures with “Velcro” adjustment tabs to keep out the drafts.
The ideal hiking jacket will have a bottom hem with an elasticated draw cord front and back and a toggle on each side at which the elastic can be tightened with one hand to keep out the drafts.
A second concealed drawcord around the waste helps to stops drafts going up your back.
A chin guard with beardguard trim (like a very fine micro-fleece) on the internal storm flap for the main fron zip gives excellent comfort on your face.
A hang loop at the back.

Clearly a balance has to be struck between jacket features, durability, performance, lightweight, packability and price.

If you have any questions, please contact us here at Agoora Outdoor, we will be happy to help.

Finally, why not try to find your waterproof jacket for hiking by clicking on the appropriate link below:
Which is the Best Outdoor Waterproof Fabric?
Well, this depends on what you want and how much you want to spend.

The majority of waterproof breathable fabrics have a face fabric with the rainproof breathable layer underneath.

When constructing outdoor waterproof fabrics, the waterproof layer is usually applied to the underside of the face fabric.

Some jackets don’t have a protective layer.

So then, what about the waterproof layer itself?

What is the “Hydrostatic Head”?
What is the “Breathability”?
What is the purpose of a DWR?

So then, regarding the waterproof breathable layer, for the majority of cases, there is a choice between a polyurethane layer which is coated on the fabric or an ePTFE membrane which is laminated to the material.

There are some technical variations between the different membranes owing to the need to protect the microscopic holes from being blocked by dirt and body oils.

People running Ultra Marathons will be aware of the new Gore-Tex Shakedry jackets where the eptfe membrane is applied to the outside of the lightweight waterproof fabric giving a two-layer construction which does not require a DWR.

What about PVC fabric?

What about Polythene?

As you may have gathered Gore-Tex is the dominant force in ePTFE membranes for outdoor waterproof fabrics but it is expensive, so people on a budget will settle for a polyurethane layer.

Agoora Outdoor give plenty of details on everything we have on sale including breathability, hydrostatic head, weight, type of material and suggested uses, so why not visit our website using these links:

You may also like to see our blogs: How to Spot a Good Waterproof Hiking Jacket and A Guide to Waterproof Walking Trousers (coming soon).

What is the Point of Hiking Pants,Trekking Trousers & Mountain Trousers ?

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 11:56:00 +0000

What is the Point of Hiking Pants, Trekking Trousers & Mountain Trousers?
Well, put simply, the reason for wearing hiking pants is staying alive!
With 18 years of experience in Outdoor Clothing and Equipment, Agoora Outdoor are well equipped to give high quality advice on both hiking pants for women and men.
Cotton soaks up moisture and holds onto it, so it dries very slowly.

Nylon and polyester are great fabrics for hiking pants because they are lightweight, hard wearing, repel water and dry quickly.

These synthetic, fast wicking materials help to regulate body temperature because when you’re working hard in hot conditions, your trouser fabric wicks away perspiration to the surface where it evaporates to provide cooling.

Wet cotton jeans stick to your legs and feel cold and uncomfortable, they also restrict leg movement so you have to work harder to cover less distance in a longer time.

The wind is also a factor, the best quality mountain trousers are made with tightly woven synthetic fibres which stop the wind. Breathability is also important.

The best hiking pants are made from stretch fabric, so the fabric blend will typically be something like 95% nylon and 5% elastane, spandex or Lycra.

Weight is also a critical factor.

Mountain trousers win again with regard to robustness and longevity.

Next, we have the DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish which is applied to the surface of most outdoor pants.

Most mountain trousers have a high sun protection factor which can be say UPF 50+ to protect you from sunburn when trekking in exposed positions.

So, for prolonged comfort when “floating” over hill and dale we recommend hiking pants for maximum enjoyment, a great day out and peace of mind if the weather takes a turn for the worse.