Yes the weather is getting warmer so is it time to ditch the walking trousers and transfer to shorts? Well whatever you prefer to wear here are a few tips for picking out a pair, because we need to look after the legs as they do carry us uphill and down dale on our trips into the countryside, and everywhere else for that matter.

Fit: No matter how good the fabric is or the features they have, if  they don’t fit well you won’t wear them enough to get the wear out of them and they could end up just being a waste of money . So remember that they need to be loose enough so that they don’t restrict your movement but not too loose that you look like you are likely to take off in a strong breeze . You need that bit of give and stretch in the material.

Zip Offs: These are ideal if you prefer just to have one pair for all occasions, but you have to remember that the zips do add that little bit of extra weight and can reduce comfort. These can be ideal for some people but always make sure you pack the legs away safely, there is nothing worse than losing one leg.

Ankle Cuffs: You really want them to cover the cuff of your walking boots, so that they don’t flap about. Some trousers do offer adjustments on this with Velcro or studs, but this does reduce that casual look to the trousers.

Fabric – Depending on the season you need to consider the following, they to be light, but hard-wearing, wind-resistant, water repellent, quick drying, anti bacterial/UVF/anti-insect treatments. This is the same whether you are looking for shorts or trousers, as some lined shorts are available

Pockets – When you are out walking, keeping items in hip pockets isn’t always practicable, so look for at least one zipped pocket for valuables and a cargo pocket large enough for your map/guidebook, and some cargo pockets come with smaller internal pockets in them so that your mobile/gps can be stored safely.

Versatility – Performance can be important if you are buying a pair of dedicated walking trousers, so look for something that is designed specifically for the type of walking you are aiming for, more multi purpose garments might not have everything you want/need so you might have to make some compromises along the way, especially if you want a more casual look so they can be worn in other circumstances.

Type – Here you go, whether to go for trousers, shorts or zip offs. Again it might be what you feel most comfortable in, or what type of walking you want to do, At the moment I am considering a pair of zip offs, so that I can start the summer walking with them as shorts and then when the weather turns cooler I can go back to the full trouser, but I am not sure about the weight and feel of the zips so I may stick with shorts and trousers as two separate items in my kit.

 At the end of the day it’s all about your own personal preference, so have a look through our range of Regatta trousers and shorts we have and use these tips to help you choose the right pair for your walking requirements.