Walking and Climbing

Is this a similar idea to Hi-tec's 'Ion-mask'.

And if so, does that mean it could be aplied to anything made of fabric? For instance I use workmans trousers for walking in good weather cos the cut is right for free leg movement, and the large pockets are ideal for stuffing thing into, but they're appalling in the wet, perhaps they could be treated the same?

Gary

It would be fun to wear just to wind up all the people you meet on a wet windy mountain top.

You can just imagine them in the pub that eve talking about the irresponsible clothing choices of some obviously very inexperienced people.

I have a bivvy tent made from Epic - did not let in 10 hours of drizzle and rain a few weeks ago on an overnight in the Lake District....possibly not quite the same fabric but would make a wacky pair of troos being bright yellow

I think (?) MHW and Howies do a few clothing items in Epic...

So Alpkit are setting up in competition with M&S are they?

A quick search shows M&S are selling 88 lines of clothing treated with "Stormwear", including bootleg, straight leg, loose fit jeans etc all available in multiple colours and all your standard different M&S waist sizes and leg lengths for £25 upwards. Take your pick -  there's also chinos, cords, woollen trousers, shorts, moleskin trousers, casual jackets, suits, trainers even.

I bought a pair of jeans this spring and they too have been far better than standard denim around town in this summers rain. No problems with the durability of the DWR so far either, although I've used my standard technique of washing technical clothes (i.e. liquid detergent, 2 rinse cycles to remove all detergent).

ALoveSupreme wrote (see)

chasetrailbuilda - Rohan are also doing walking trousers in epic cotton - see here - plenty pockets.

Well, just took delivery of the Alpkit jeans, so got some initial thoughts.

Sizing seems spot on. They are a 'comfy' fit... as in lots of room to move about in, bit much for me really, I'd have prefered a tighter leg. Very stretchy denim too, plus the crotch has a diamond shape sewn in, so you can put your .legs miles apart and squat down with no discomfort at all. Not a bad colour BUT really don't like the embroidered slogan on one arse pocket- leave that to Evisu boys.

Have a strange feel to them, not unlike some of the distress treated jeans of a couple of years back by the lkes Diesel etc, however I'm sure some people would be unhappy about the slightly greasy feel of the denim against their thighs.

I'd be happy to wear them in pub and on an unplanned walk in the hills but not sure I'd swap them for walking trousers. Gonna wear them over the farm and see how they hold up to water, sheep droppings and all the usual mess that gets on clothing over there. If they stop the damp 75% of the time they will be fine over there because waterproof leggings just get shredded by horns, fencing etc.

All in all a good deal if the proofing holds up. We shall see.

Haven't tried them chase, but Rohan bags are a classic walking trouser

That is true, but while I think they're great as work and travel wear (smart enough for the Fashion Police, comfortable and hard wearing, easy to care for with a good supply of handy & secure pockets for cards, change, keys etc.) I've never really understood their attraction as something to go walking in (but then I think the same about most "walking trousers").

You get better freedom of movement in something stretchy and there's not really much use for 6 pockets when you're walking.  Filling them up just means you notice lots of stuf in your pockets with every step.

Worst case you get  a decent pair of practical cotton trousers, and if the epic finish does half what it says then they'll not let wet through too quickly.

Indeed.  Should they appear in Rohan's bargain bin I'll supplement my existing collection of Bags with a pair (or two).  Same goes for the Epic Pampas jacket, probably.

Pete.

I too have just taken delivery of the alpkit jeans, its really sureal to see water just running off a pair of jeans.

 i cant wait to see my mates face next time i meet him for a walk and i have got them on....well you have to try them on the hill once ;o)

Peter, the OP said that he already uses  "workmans trousers for walking in good weather cos the cut is right for free leg movement, and the large pockets are ideal for stuffing thing into", but finds them "appalling in the wet", so it seemed to me not unreasonable and, who knows, quite possibly even helpful to suggest he have a look at Rohans Epic Bags since they seem quite close to what he's looking for. But thanks for dissecting my reply anyway.

I've never really understood their attraction as something to go walking in.

Perhaps, for many people, their attraction is that they are "smart enough for the Fashion Police, comfortable and hard wearing, easy to care for with a good supply of handy & secure pockets". You might not like them for yourself; can you really not understand their attraction for those that do?

You get better freedom of movement in something stretchy

That might be the case - depends on what the something is - but sensibly cut trousers give more than enough freedom of movement for walking for most people. Maybe you've been buying yours too tight.  Rohan-like trousers are usually significantly more wind-resistant (not to mention cheaper) than Schoeller type fabrics, and they don't make you look like a plonker as Ron Hills do.

So, if I was chase and I liked walking in roomy cotton trousers with decent pockets, but fancied more water-resistance, I'd go to my nearest Rohan shop. Mostdef.

Got a pair myself, ordered another pair straight after. They seem to have sold out all but the biggest and smallest size within a week.

Typically only had good weather since I got them but I could marvel at the way the water beads and runs off them all day. Who knows, maybe we'll all be on the hills in waterproofed denim jackets by next year! 

Spent the whole yday evening just popping round mates, sticking the jeans under their kitchen taps and grinning at their reaction. It truly is something to behold! I think Alpkit may have come across the perfect Glastonbury jean.

So, if I was chase and I liked walking in roomy cotton trousers with decent pockets, but fancied more water-resistance, I'd go to my nearest Rohan shop. Mostdef.

But Bags aren't particularly roomy, thobut. 

Pete.

Peter Clinch wrote (see)

But Bags aren't particularly roomy, thobut. 

Deary me...  Levis have sold rather more pairs of 501s than that over the years and the streets aren't full of immobilised jeans wearers, so is it a clear conclusion that 501s are roomy and give excellent freedom of movement?

Things are relative.  And relative to, say, the rest of Rohan's trouser range, and particularly those aimed at walkers (Bags are sold as "multi-function", not walking trews btw) Bags are less roomy and give less freedom of movement.  Case in point, I've been to Yoga classes in a pair of Uplanders, it really wouldn't work at all in Bags.

I wear them to work on a daily basis, and I walk around at work unhindered.  I like the way I can put an Ultrium tape in one of the front pockets and still walk... but I wouldn't want to do that for more than a couple of hundred meters, and with all the pockets around the hips that's not much good for a map.  And walking around a hospital doesn't actually call for as much freedom of movement as walking up and down a big hill.

Ever noticed that you see far fewer pairs on the hill than you did 20 years ago, even though they're still a top seller for Rohan?  Noticed how Rohan have made "easyfit" versions?

Pete.