Craghoppers make a bunch of different garments for the outdoors, from winter coats to hiking shirts, but it’s arguably walking trousers that they’re best known for. Why? Well, if we were to try to put our finger on it, it would be the high performance they offer and the good value that they come at.
“Over 90% of the material used here comes from recycled content.”
This particular pair, the Kiwi Pro II, sits right at the top of their best selling Kiwi collection. They’re trousers made for general outdoor wear; an ideal pair of backpacking, day hiking and scrambling from spring through to autumn. Come winter, they’ll be a little cold by themselves but will work well over a pair of baselayer leggings.
Pros: Excellent cut, functional fabrics, good value
Cons: Slow to dry once wet
Why We Chose Them
The Kiwi Pro II are excellent value for what you get. That’s the main reason why we chose them. In our tests in the Cairngorms of Scotland, they proved to be highly durable, water resistant, windproof and also very nicely articulated. You get a completely unhindered stride while wearing these – even when you’re lifting your knees up for a foothold or leaping over a stream.
We also liked the fit. This particular version of the Kiwi has a nice casual cut; it’s not too skinny and not too baggy either.
Details and Materials
A Polyamide weave has been used here. It’s a material that’s water resistant, breathable, wrinkle resistant and it’s also good for protecting your skin from UV rays and from biting bugs. All of these qualities are certainly apparent in these trousers. Craghoppers actually rate these to UPF 40+.
