Sometimes trekking trousers can leave you with the sneaking suspicion that the product you’ve forked out for is about as durable as a chocolate teapot in a pizza oven. They feel wrong, bits fall off them seemingly at will, and whenever your knee even gently touches a rock the fabric dissolves into nothingness like a ghost in the mist.

Fortunately, the Berghaus Fast Climb Trousers are different. Tough, long-lasting, and stretchy in all the right places; these things are a superb example of what can happen when designers get it absolutely spot on.

These are summer alpine climbing pants, lightweight but still tough as anything. They feature added Kevlar knee reinforcements – yes Kevlar, the same stuff they make bullet-proof vests from. This gives your knees added protection, and means the trousers won’t get holes in them as soon as they’re within two centimetres of a pebble.

“They feature added Kevlar knee reinforcements – yes Kevlar, the same stuff they make bullet-proof vests from.”

Ankle and calf zips on the trousers make it easier to implement precise footwork, while the zipped mesh vents around the thighs increase ventilation at those times when you’re really pushing yourself hard. The devil is in the detail as they say, and the pull-on elasticated waistband here is a testament to that idea; offering wearers significantly more usability while also reducing clutter and bulk in the moments when you’re wearing a harness.

If you want a pair of trousers that’ll do the job, do it well, and go the distance on multiple trips without showing signs of wear and tear the Berghaus Fast Climbs are what you’re after. Plus, if you’re environmentally conscientious, you’ll be delighted to know that the Colourkind eco fabric uses 89 per cent less water and 63 per cent fewer chemicals than conventionally produced fabrics. It’s BlueSign approved, so its eco-credentials are independently verified too.