At last the weathermen are forecasting some decent temperatures for the UK so will this mean I can switch from walking trousers to walking shorts or should I keep them covered. Sometimes it can just be personal preference so if you are undecided here are a few practical tips on what to look for when considering trousers and shorts.

Fit: Even if you look at amazing fabrics and features in a pair of trousers, or short, if they don’t fit you are not going to wear them sufficiently to get the wear out of them and they could just gather dust in the wardrobe and simply becoming being a waste of money. So, a good pair of trousers or shorts need to be loose enough so you don’t restrict your movement, but not too loose or baggy so you look like you will take off if the wind picks up. Remember you need to have 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: These are best if they 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 if you are looking to use them for other activities.

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 electronic frvices 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 looking at a pair of zip offs, so that I can start the summer walking with them as shorts and then when the weather turns cooler, as it inevitably does, 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, but at least I can give them a try

I hope these tips will help but personal preference will always come to the fore, so why not take a look at the whole range we currently have available and make sure you make the most of the upcoming warm weather