Short answer: Choose hiking and outdoor trousers to suit the weather. In warm, dry conditions lightweight stretch trousers without a membrane are enough, for rain and wet snow trousers with a membrane, and for cold days and wind softshell trousers. Look for a stretchy fabric, adjustable hems and a waistband that does not press under the straps of a rucksack. Most NORDBLANC outdoor trousers are stretchy and have no membrane, and some have a TERATEX® membrane with a water column of 10,000 or 5,000 mm.
Which trousers to choose for hiking?
Hiking trousers divide according to what they have to cope with: heat, rain or cold. An overview based on the details on NORDBLANC products:
| Type of trousers | When they suit | Water column | What the product details say |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightweight outdoor trousers | summer, dry days, brisk walking, multi-day hikes | no membrane, no water column stated | most made of stretch fabric, a few ultralight |
| Outdoor trousers with a membrane | rain, wet grass, wet snow | TERATEX® 10,000 mm | stretchy fabric, some models with a fleece lining |
| Full-length zip trousers (over-trousers) | showers, worn over other trousers | 5,000 mm, Water-repellent level | zip from waist to hem, no need to take your boots off |
| Softshell trousers | spring, autumn, wind, winter hikes (with fleece) | mostly 10,000 mm (SOFTSHIELD® 10000) | most with elastane, some with fleece on the inside, Regular or Slim fit |
| Ski trousers | piste, snowboard | mostly 15,000–30,000 mm | insulated on most, bulky for hiking |
The numbers describe the fabric, not the whole trousers. How to read water column and breathability is explained in the guide Water column and breathability. You will find a selection in the category outdoor trousers and in the collection softshell trousers.
Outdoor trousers with or without a membrane?
Without a membrane is enough when you are out in dry or warm weather. A lightweight stretch fabric dries faster and ventilates better, so you sweat less in it in the heat than in trousers with a membrane. Most NORDBLANC outdoor trousers are of this type and no water column is stated for them, so they are not intended for persistent rain.
Choose a membrane if you expect rain, wet grass or wet snow. Outdoor trousers with a membrane have two levels on the NORDBLANC scale:
- 5,000 mm, Water-repellent. Water first runs off the fabric. It copes with a shower, but in longer rain or when kneeling on wet rock the fabric soaks through. The over-trousers are like this.
- 10,000 mm, Waterproof. It copes with ordinary rain and wet snow while walking. Some models are insulated with a fleece lining, so they suit colder days.
Trousers get less wet than a jacket, because rain falls mainly on the shoulders. But you sit and kneel on them, and there water presses on the fabric harder. Only a few models have taped seams and waterproof zips; check them on the product in the Features section. For long rain, a full set with a membrane is the more reliable choice; the difference between softshell and hardshell is covered in the guide Softshell or hardshell. Reproof the fabric following the instructions on the Product care page.
Which softshell trousers for autumn and winter?
Softshell keeps out wind, does not restrict your stride and wicks sweat away well when you are moving, so it suits cold days when you walk briskly. Most NORDBLANC softshell trousers are made of SOFTSHIELD® 10000 with a water column of 10,000 mm and breathability of 10,000 g/m²/24 h, and a few models have 20,000 mm. The material is mostly polyester with elastane, and on most models hiking is among the activities. What to look for:
- Fleece inside. Some models have fleece on the inside and suit autumn and winter hikes. Models without it are lighter and belong to spring. Under fleece trousers, thin thermal underwear is enough; the choice is in the guide How to choose a baselayer.
- Water. 10,000 mm copes with a shower and wet snow while moving. According to the features listed, softshell trousers do not have taped seams, so they are not enough for all-day rain.
- Fit. Most have a Regular fit, some a closer Slim fit, which leaves less room for a layer under the trousers.
- In low light. Most models have reflective details.
A matching autumn jacket is chosen with the guide Spring and autumn jacket. The trousers are in the collections women’s softshell trousers and men’s softshell trousers.
What to look at on the hems and waistband?
Hems and waistband decide comfort on a long route more than colour or brand. Look for these things:
- Adjustable hems. Most outdoor trousers have them; you adjust the leg to your boot so that it does not flap or catch on rocks. Softshell trousers have a zip at the bottom hem on most models and adjustable hems on some.
- Roll-up and full-length zip legs. Only a few models have them. You roll up roll-up legs in the warm; you open full-zip legs along their whole length and pull them on over your boots.
- Thigh ventilation. Only a few models have it; it gives relief on an ascent in the warm.
- Leg length. Standing and mid-stride, the hem should end just above the boot and not drag on the ground.
- Waistband. A few models have an elasticated waistband, and only a few an adjustable belt. Neither the waistband nor the fastening must press under the hip belt of a rucksack. You will find the type of waistband on the product in the Features section.
- Material. Some models contain elastane or spandex (3–13%), and a few are labelled ultralight.
Women’s and men’s outdoor trousers: how do they differ?
Mainly in sizes and proportions. Both women’s and men’s NORDBLANC outdoor trousers have a Regular fit and the same types: lightweight without a membrane, with a membrane and softshell. The size chart gives women’s sizes 34–48 and men’s XXS–XXXL, and each has its own waist and hip measurements. You will find women’s trekking trousers in the collection women’s outdoor trousers and men’s in men’s outdoor trousers. Choose the size by your own measurements, not by the label on another brand.
What size of hiking trousers to choose?
Trouser size is determined by the waist circumference at the place where you wear them and the hip circumference. According to the NORDBLANC size chart, for example, men’s size L corresponds to a waist of 86–90 cm and hips of 103–107 cm, and women’s size 40 to a waist of 79–83 cm and hips of 100–104 cm.
- Measure yourself standing straight with a tailor’s tape measure over thin underwear, without pulling it tight. The procedure is summarised in the guide How to measure jacket size.
- Try them on in motion. Squat, raise your knee and take a long stride. The fabric must not press at the crotch or below the knees, and the waistband must not slip down.
- Allow for a layer under the trousers. In the cold, try them on with the thermal underwear you will wear. The close Slim fit leaves less room for a layer.
- Check the length in the boots you will be walking in.
If you are between sizes, try both. You can try the trousers on in our stores.
When to choose trousers for cross-country skiing or downhill skiing?
According to the product details, outdoor trousers are intended for hiking, and on some models also for everyday wear. Cross-country skiing and downhill skiing are not among their intended uses.
- Cross-country skiing. Stretchy softshell trousers that keep out the wind suit. Most of them list cross-country skiing among their activities, and more are in the collection cross-country ski trousers. Layering is described in the guide What to wear cross-country skiing.
- Downhill piste. This is the place for ski trousers with a water column mostly of 15,000–30,000 mm, insulated on most, with detachable braces and double legs. The differences are covered in the guide How to choose ski trousers, and the choice is in the category ski trousers.
- Winter hike. Insulated softshell trousers or trousers with a membrane and a fleece lining are enough. Ski trousers are needlessly bulky for walking.
Frequently asked questions
Can outdoor trousers be worn in town too?
Yes, some models list everyday wear among their intended uses, mainly lightweight trousers, including models with a jogging-bottoms cut. The stretchy fabric does not restrict movement on the way to work. Trousers with a membrane and over-trousers are intended for outdoor activities, and in town in warm weather you can easily overheat in them.
Trousers with a membrane or over-trousers in the rucksack?
If it will definitely rain, take trousers with a 10,000 mm membrane, which you wear all day. If rain is only possible, set off in lightweight trousers and pack over-trousers in your rucksack. They have a zip along the whole length of the leg, you pull them on over your boots and they cope with a shower, but they have only 5,000 mm.
One pair of trousers or two for a multi-day hike?
Usually one pair of stretchy trousers to wear and a lighter pair to change into in the evening are enough. According to the product descriptions, lightweight models with the DRYFOR finish are quick-drying. In unsettled weather, add over-trousers or take trousers with a membrane.
Can hiking trousers also be used for cycling and running?
Outdoor trousers list hiking as their intended use. On some softshell trousers, cycling and running are also listed among the activities. For cycling and running, what counts is stretch, a close fit that does not flap and reflective details, which most softshell trousers have.
Why do I sweat in hiking trousers and what can I do about it?
Most often the trousers are too warm for your pace: trousers with a membrane or fleece belong on cold days, and in warm weather choose lightweight ones without a membrane. Only a few models have thigh ventilation; in the heat, rolling up roll-up legs helps. Wear functional underwear under the trousers, because cotton holds sweat.