The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

14 best men’s waterproof trousers for hiking, cycling and mountaineering

Brace the wet weather with these fit-for-purpose pairs, tried and tested in Snowdonia national park

Jon Axworthy
Thursday 07 March 2024 10:37 GMT
Beyond waterproofing, we assesed packability, breathability and how easy they were to put on
Beyond waterproofing, we assesed packability, breathability and how easy they were to put on (iStock/The Independent)

We were recently on the hunt for the best waterproof jackets for men, but that’s only half the story if you’re caught in a downpour when you’re on your way to work or facing horizontal rain halfway up a mountain.

There are two kinds to choose from – over trousers are there for you to jump into when things get suddenly soggy and go on over your work gear or walking trousers. Then there are the keep-ons, or all-dayers, that you will wear, well, all day, in place of walking or hiking trousers when you know you’re heading out into bad weather.

The most important factor with both is, obviously, effective waterproofing and good breathability. You don’t want to keep the weather out, only to be wringing wet from within from the moisture you’ve generated from walking.

When it comes to over-trousers, packability is also important so that when the rain stops and it’s time to put the trousers away in a bag or backpack, they pack right down and don’t take up too much space.

We were also looking to see how easy over trousers were to get on over walking boots, cycling and work shoes or trainers.

How we tested the best men’s waterproof trousers

(Jon Axworthy)

If you really want to test the waterproofing of a product, head to Snowdonia national park in mid-February. We did just that and North Wales didn’t disappoint, hitting us with everything from driving rain to persistent mizzle, giving us plenty of opportunity to test all the products thoroughly to ensure they performed – especially in the boxer short test, a true measure of the waterproofing of the product. The soggier our boxers when we de-robed after our walk, the less chance the product had of making our final edit.

The best men’s waterproof trousouers in 2024 are:

  • Best men’s waterproof trousers for men – H&M StormMove trousers: £44.99, Hm.com
  • Best budget men’s waterproof trousers – Trespass toliland trousers: £27.99, Trespass.com
  • Best men’s waterproof trousers for cycling – Rab cinder kinetic: £210, Rab.equipment
  • Best men’s waterproof mountaineering trousers – Thru Dark aigis trousers: £445, Thrudark.com

H&M StormMove trousers

best mens waterproof trousers 2024 review indybest H&M StormMove trousers
  • Best: Waterproof trousers overall
  • Fit: Loose
  • Colours: Black/light blue
  • Ventilation: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Easy to put on
    • Packable
  • Take note
    • Not an all-dayer

These are a great pair of over trousers that have an elasticated waist and wide leg openings, making them easy to get on over anything you’re wearing quickly if you’re caught out or you just don’t want the faff of a costume change before heading out the door.

Waterproofing and breathability was excellent for short to medium walks, and there’s a further ventilation point at the thigh, if you are getting a little hot under the waistband.

We really liked the functionality of these trousers too, with two zipped pockets, one of which doubles as a storage pouch that you can pack the trousers up in. It will take up minimal space in a bag and will also keep the trousers from getting anything else in your bag or rucksack wet.

  1.  £44 from Hm.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

Trespass toliland trousers

best mens waterproof trousers 2024 review indybest Trespass toliland trousers
  • Best: Budget men’s waterproof trousers
  • Fit: Relaxed
  • Colours: Black
  • Ventilation: No
  • Why we love it
    • Adjustable leg length
  • Take note
    • Noisy

These pocketed trousers had very respectable waterproof and breathability ratings and plenty of adjustability, especially at the leg openings, which feature customisable tabs so you can lengthen or shorten the trousers according to height, or the kind of footwear you have on – a really good feature that adds to the overall value of the trousers. The pockets can be zipped and we found that the toliland could be used as either an over trouser or an all-dayer, depending on the conditions.

Back to top

Fjällräven high coast hydratic trousers

best men’s waterproof trousers 2024 review indybest Fjällräven high coast hydratic trousers
  • Best: Waterproof trousers for all-day wear
  • Fit: Relaxed
  • Colours: Black
  • Why we love it
    • 100 per cent waterproof
  • Take note
    • Expensive

As you’d expect when paying over £200 for a pair of trousers, with this pair from the respected outdoor brand you are investing in a guarantee of dryness. They were truly tested when we wore them on one of the most abysmal weather days of the testing cycle. Sure enough, after several hours in the elements we can report that we were never in danger of suffering from soggy boxer syndrome.

There’s good adjustability and the recycled polyester material was soft, stretchy and super comfortable, moving well with us as we worked hard uphill as well as when things got more technical on the way back down.

There’s a two-way zipper at the side so you can almost entirely open up the trouser to release any excess heat, while a Velcro fastener stops them flapping around as you walk.

Back to top

Tierra m

best men’s waterproof trousers 2024 review indybest Tierra back up trousers
  • Best: Waterproof over trousers
  • Fit: Relaxed
  • Colours: Black
  • Ventilation : Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Excellent value
  • Take note
    • No pockets

These gore-tex paclite strides are great over trousers but are also comfortable enough to wear all day too, when they were a very effective barrier against rain, drizzle and splashback. There’s plenty of adjustability, with a built-in belt and end of leg adjustments, making the trousers easy to get on over whatever footwear you’re wearing, from work shoes to hikers. Breathability wasn’t an issue as we walked, and there are three-quarter length, two-way zippers on both legs so you could leave the bottom half zipped up and the top half unzipped to get more airflow around the legs.

Back to top

Finisterre rainbird trousers

best mens waterproof trousers 2024 review indybest Finisterre rainbird trousers
  • Best: Waterproof trousers for sustainability
  • Fit: Loose
  • Colours: Black, olive
  • Ventilation : Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Sustainability
  • Take note
    • Might run short for some

As always, the Cornish brand has prioritised the environmental impact of its manufacturing process, while products are transported by sea where possible and will also turn up at your door in packaging that can either be recycled or will break down harmlessly in the environment. So, if sustainability is a priority, these trousers should definitely be on your radar. Plus, they’re perfectly suited for weekend walking and keeping dry on the way to work.

The rainbirds are made from the same recycled fabric as the rainbird jacket (which we also really like) and it certainly performed under some testing conditions in Wales, which is what we would expect given its high waterproof and breathability ratings.

They offer a good mix of durability and stretchy comfort and there’s a zipped back pocket, which the trousers pack easily into. Like the rainbird jacket, there’s very little noise to accompany movement, and the fabric is very soft to the touch and a pleasure to wear.

The only slight note is that if you’re tall you may find that they may run slightly short if you’re wearing low cut shoes.

Back to top

Arc'teryx beta

best mens waterproof trousers 2024 review indybest Arc’teryx beta
  • Best: Waterproof trousers for technical adventuring
  • Fit: Regular
  • Colours: Navy, black
  • Ventilation: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Reliable waterproofing
    • All day comfort

Combining rugged durability with three-layer GORE-TEX waterproofing, nothing’s getting through these strides. And we should know, as we were wearing them when the heavens opened and decided not to close until a couple of hours later – passing the boxer short test with flying colours.

Clearly, these trousers are made with serious outdoor adventures in mind, so that as conditions worsen and you get higher you can concentrate on the technicalities of your walk or climb and forget about your kit.

It’s the first time that we’ve tested anything with the very tactile Gore C-knit Backer technology which adds next-to-the-skin comfort without impacting the excellent breathability of the trousers.

Nicely articulated so that they really move with you, there’s all the excellent detailing that you would expect from this established brand, with reinforced instep patches, a zipper fly and full side zips so you can get them on and off with ease.

Back to top

Jack Wolfskin rainy day trousers

best mens waterproof trousers 2024 review indybest Jack Wolfskin rainy day trousers
  • Best: Waterproof trousers for packability
  • Fit: Relaxed
  • Colour: Black
  • Ventilation : No
  • Why we love it
    • Handy stuff sack
  • Take note
    • A little noisy

The waterproofing and breathability of these over trousers even surpassed some other products that were almost twice the price. The manufacturer has used a texapor ecosphere pro light ripstop fabric which feels lightweight, moved with us well and created an impenetrable barrier that was really tested on a day that veered between drizzle and downpour. They’re also easy to get on and off thanks to an elastic waistband and generous openings that won’t get snagged on even the chunkiest pair of walking boots when you need to put them on in a hurry. The trousers come with a drawstring stuff sack and pack down to the size of a tennis ball, too.

Back to top

Thru Dark aigis trousers

best mens waterproof trousers 2024 review indybest Thru Dark aigis trousers
  • Best: Waterproof mountaineering trouser
  • Fit: Articulated
  • Colours: Black
  • Ventilation : Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Look great
    • Tough as hell
  • Take note
    • Pricey

Obviously, if you’re thinking about spending £400-plus on a pair of waterproof trousers, you’ve probably got something more challenging in mind than taking the dog out on a wet Wednesday afternoon.

The three-layer aigis trousers are made to take on absolutely anything, with waterproofing and breathability ratings that are at expedition level and the same quality of construction that we have come to rely on from this British brand.

The trousers are constructed to be able to withstand plenty of punishment and are reinforced with Dyneema at high-wear and easy snag points.

Added to this, there’s bags of functionality with zippered front pockets, double press stud fasteners, full length leg zippers and water repellent zips.

Back to top

Gill pilot trousers

best mens waterproof trousers 2024 review indybest Gill pilot trousers
  • Best: Waterproof trousers for dog walkers
  • Fit: Articulated
  • Colours : Black
  • Ventilation : No
  • Why we love it
    • Good functionality
  • Take note
    • A little noisy

These two-layer trousers are made with XPLORE fabric, which we didn’t know a lot about compared to the other high profile two and three layer fabrics, but it really performed well in the field in both our waterproof and breathability testing. There’s a real quality to the construction of the trousers too, including fully taped seams, and it certainly stood up to the bashing that we gave it over the Welsh mountainsides. There are two big pockets, an elasticated waistband and Velcro ankle closures which adds to the trousers usability for all kinds of walking and hiking.

Back to top

Berghaus deluge 2.0 trousers

best mens waterproof trousers 2024 review indybest Berghaus deluge 2.0 trousers.
  • Best: Waterproof trousers for under £100
  • Fit: Relaxed
  • Colours: Black. navy
  • Ventilation : Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Breathability
  • Take note
    • No pockets

We were really impressed with the deluge 2.0 waterproof jacket again this year, so we thought we should also try out the matching two-layer trousers, which are made from the same fabric.

As with the jacket, the trousers strike a good balance between waterproofing and letting moisture generated from walking wick away – even when we were working really hard up slope we were never in danger of overheating. And if you do feel the need for some air conditioning, the trousers have three quarter-length zips on each leg, which can be closed over with snap fasteners.

An elasticated and draw cord waist adds to the adjustability and the wide leg openings means they can work well as over trousers, if needed.

Back to top

Keela rainlife 5000 trousers

best mens waterproof trousers 2024 review indybest Keela rainlife 5000 trousers
  • Best: For the perfect fit
  • Fit: Regular
  • Colours: Green, navy, black
  • Ventilation : Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Over trouser and an all-dayer
    • Lightweight
  • Take note
    • Not the best breathability

These trousers are available in eight sizes and three different lengths (short, regular and long) so you’ll have no trouble finding a pair that fits.

It’s the first time that we’ve worn trousers featuring the rainlife 5000 fabric, which has an outer with a waterproof coating, and they worked well over a prolonged period of bad weather and were adequately breathable while walking. The fact that the fabric is texturised also made them comfortable to wear as an all-day trouser, while the elasticated waist and zip that runs from the bottom of the trouser to just under the knee (and also has a storm flap for added protection) meant that they are equally effective as an over trouser. In addition, taped seams add to the waterproof barrier, and there are two button-down side pockets, which add functionality.

Back to top

Craghoppers ascent over trousers

best mens waterproof trousers 2024 review indybest Craghoppers ascent over trousers
  • Best: Waterproof trousers for walking in warmer weather
  • Fit: Short, regular and long
  • Colours: Black
  • Ventilation : Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Lightweight
    • Breathbility
  • Take note
    • Pocket zips aren’t waterproof

Made, in part, from recycled materials, the aquadry fabric worked well inmoderate rain and was still able to withstand heavy downpours for a short time. The breathability was excellent and, combined with the fact the trousers are so light, it means these are a good option as the weather gets warmer but some April showers are still a very real possibility.

You can get the trousers in and out of their stuff sack easily, and there’s a

good length bottom zip which means you can get them on easily over a variety of footwear. There’s also a Velcro fastening around the heel ensuring that your trousers won’t get wet from the bottom up, while there are two side zipped pockets which are welted to cover the zip and minimise any water getting in.

Back to top

Dare 2b adriot II recycled overtrouser

best mens waterproof trousers 2024 review indybest Dare 2b adriot II recycled overtrouser
  • Best: Ergonomic waterproof trousers
  • Fit : Regular
  • Colours: Black
  • Ventilation : Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Moves well when walking
    • Minimal noise
  • Take note
    • Doesn’t pack down tight

This brand has packed plenty of functionality into these over trousers with pockets with water repellent zips, an easily adjustable shockcord waist and three quarter length leg zips making it easy to get the trousers on and off.

The ARED 20/30 fabric has the brand’s highest rating of waterproofing and breathability. It also has a very nice tactile, stretchy feel, and we can report that the trousers really did perform well in the wet.

One of the things that we really liked was the overall wearability of the trousers, which were articulated really well for walking, climbing and stepping over obstacles, with the snap adjusters at the leg hem keeping the trousers in place and stopping any water getting into socks and shoes from standing water.

Back to top

The verdict: Mens' waterproof trousers

If you’re not headed to the extremes and just want to cover up on your commute or head out for a soggy dog walk without having to change clothes, then the H&M StormMove trousers are a great option to have at hand. Easy on and off, with good waterproofing, breathability and functionality, they also move well with the body and are excellent value.

When you’re taking on the great outdoors, come preprared with the best walking poles for hiking

Voucher Codes

TUI Discount Code
TUI Discount Code
£250 off a 7 night stay with the deal of the week - TUI discount code
ASOS Discount Code
ASOS Discount Code
10% off first orders £20+ using this ASOS promo code
Travelodge Discount Code
Travelodge Discount Code
5% off bookings with this Travelodge discount code
The Body Shop Discount Code
The Body Shop Discount Code
Save 20% on orders with The Body Shop discount code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
Save 15% on everything with birthday orders at The Perfume Shop - Member exclusive
Cult Beauty Discount Code
Cult Beauty Discount Code
Get 15% off + Extra 5% on select products with this Cult Beauty voucher code

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in