Walking Trousers

Craghoppers Natales Cargo Waterproof Trousers | Review

I’ve been using the Natales cargo waterproof trousers in some seriously wet weather recently and have found that they have the performance to match trousers at much higher prices. They’re genuinely comfortable to wear too – as a sole pair of trousers (so not as overtrousers), and I’ve happily worn them all day long on a variety of different hikes this year.

While it’s relatively easy to find cargo hiking trousers, I’d say that Craghoppers have cornered a great niche here as it’s actually quite hard to find waterproof cargo trousers, especially ones geared specifically towards hiking. And at 385g, though not the lightest option out there, they’re definitely not the heaviest either. All in all, I think these are a very worthy addition to our Outdoor 100 gear of the year list this season.

The Top Line

My main thoughts? Well, in my opinion, these are a cracking pair of waterproof trousers. While too warm for the hotter months, the Natales trousers have become my go-to hiking trousers for wet and/ or cold weather here in the UK. I think they offer a great balance between comfort, utility, and protection, at a very reasonable price point.

Pros: all day hiking comfort, great for UK weather, good eco aspects
Cons: too warm for hotter months, not ideal for high-aerobic activities

Buy the Craghoppers Natales Cargo Waterproof Trousers: £48 at Craghoppers.com

The Natales came in handy during some very wet weather on our Outdoor shoot in the Lake District this year. All photos: Dave MacFarlane.

How I Tested Them

I’ve been using these waterproof trousers all throughout 2025 in a variety of different conditions across the UK and Ireland. Including the Outer Hebrides in summer, (which involved a run-in with Storm Floris), some day hiking in the Langdale Pikes, a few mountain missions in the Dartry range in Sligo, and some more recent excursions along the South Downs; these waterproof trousers have seen a real mixed bag of weather this year.

What They’re Best Suited To

I think the Natales trousers are best suited to autumn through to spring here in the UK. On an unseasonably warm day, I’d opt for something a little lighter (something like the Rab Phantoms for example), however, I think these are versatile enough to work well in many other conditions.

From my experience, they excel on those big walking days where it’s raining on and off for the majority of the hike. If you prefer the fast and light approach, I’d look elsewhere, however, if you’re an ambling hiker like me, I think you’ll get along well with these.

And they don’t look out of place in a pub either. In day-to-day life cargos are my main trousers of choice so I’ve been very happy to wear these both in the countryside and in the city. The only giveaway is the slight rustling sound of the fabric, but otherwise, I think they’ve got a nice, understated look to them that suits a wide range of scenarios.

Key Features

The main features of note here are the 6 pocket options. I tend to use trouser pockets much more than I use jacket pockets so having all of these storage options has been great. There’s two zippered hand pockets, one rear zippered pocket on the right hand side, two large cargo pockets on the legs, and one small velcro pocket on the left in between the hand and cargo pocket.

The large cargo pockets are my favourite and I find them great for everyday essentials like your keys and your phone, as well as some light mountain snacks. These pockets are safely secured with both a zip and velcro closure.

Materials and Construction

Craghoppers use their proprietary dual-layer AquaDry Membrane for waterproofing here, along with their PFC-free DWR called H20 Shield. Interestingly, the H20 Shield DWR is plant-based, containing a minimum of 60% renewably sourced content from a variety of plant-based sources. Craghoppers have actually been PFC-free since 2019 which is pretty impressive considering many other big names are only now just hopping on the band wagon.

The H20 Shield works by repelling water from the outer fabric, whilst the AquaDry membrane works from the inside to prevent moisture buildup. This culminates in an impressive hydrostatic head rating of up to 30,000mm and a breathability rating of 30,000g/m2/24hrs.

With all that in mind, I’d say it’s still a surprisingly thin feeling material. On the one hand, this is what gives it a lighter weight than similar waterproof trousers that are designed to be worn all day. On the other hand, I do wonder about the abrasion-resistance of the fabric in the long run. So far I’ve had no problems though so stay tuned on that front.

Buy the Craghoppers Natales Cargo Waterproof Trousers: £48 at Craghoppers.com

Fit

Craghoppers describe these as a relaxed fit and I’d say I agree. They’re not overly baggy to the point where you’re snagging branches, and they’re not tight and restrictive either. I’d say they sit somewhere in the middle but you can always size up or down depending on your preference. I’ve got a curvy and stocky build and tried them in an XL and they were spot on.

They’re very flexible too thanks to the stretchy mesh-lining on the inside. I’d even go so far as to say they are the comfiest waterproof trousers I’ve used so far, even on steep inclines.

Are they waterproof and breathable?

My phone and other essential items stayed nice and dry in the pockets.

As mentioned earlier, the Natales use a combination of Craghopper’s AquaDry and H20 shield technologies. We’ve seen Craghopper’s AquaDry in the likes of the Anderson Cagoule in the past, and it’s just as impressive in this instance. It’s kept me very dry so far and the cinch cord at the hem has been really useful at keeping water from dripping into my boots.

Related: Best Walking Boots for Women

That being said, I’ve been uncharacteristically organised about reproofing my gear lately, and have noticed that the DWR needs reproofing quite frequently on these trousers. That’s generally the case with PFC-free waterproofing though, and is easily done using Craghopper’s spray-on reproofer or some Tech Wash from Nikwax.

Verdict

In short, these are a practical, effective and genuinely comfy pair of trousers with some great sustainability aspects to boot. For me, they’re the ideal waterproof trousers.

I generally find shell trousers too restrictive when I’m on the move and always very reluctantly use them. Having a lighter, more flexible option has been very handy in that sense. And for the UK climate in particular, having a pair of trousers that you can stick on all day and not have to worry about is a big selling point.

I often wear them on dry days too actually, when it’s chilly enough that the dual layer fabric helps keep in a little bit of heat. And if paired with a good base layer, I’d happily wear these in the height of winter too.

Price: £48
Weight: 385g
Best for: spring, autumn and winter hiking

Buy the Craghoppers Natales Cargo Waterproof Trousers: £48 at Craghoppers.com