Splashed out on a pair of Paramo Cascada trousers from the shop in Aboyne today. The question is - should I remove the zipper ties from the legs or not? What have others done?

Ah ha. Another convert. Today Aberdeen, tomorrow the world. Leave them on. At least until after the first time you've tried to use them when they're wet and you're wearing two pairs of gloves. :o)

when they're wet and you're wearing two pairs of gloves.

Sounds like an Aberdeen summer.

Got some good advice as to fitting in the shop. Need to get a decent matching belt for it in town tomorrow.

Keep the ties on. Wait 'till winter. You'll wonder how you never did without them.

I took them off. I didn't like them fluttering around in the wind. The zip pullers are big enough without them.

replace the ties with a small loop of para cord with a couple of figure of 8's on the end. makes the fly easier to operate too.
beware of the fabric catching on the pockets; it only does it at inopportune moments.

Which bits are the zipper ties? I can't think what is being referred to.

The ribbons that attach to the zips.

Parky again! I second the warning of catching material in the pocket zips!

It always happens when I can't feel my hands, and the pocket's beginning to take on water!

Forget the belt and sew some elastic braces on them, or better still, have a girl sew them on for you <ducks> ;-)

Well I've obviously not noticed them impede me as I wasn't even sure what they were! Not used them in harsh conditions yet though. Found them not anywhere near as hot as I'd feared, they are very fine trousers (and should be at that price).

not used them? not even for some ventilation or scaring sheep with your thighs? mine are usually only done up fully when it's lashing down or very cold.

Thanks folks. I think the fly one will have to go - looks like an accident waiting to happen.

NNPB - when i tried them on in the shop, they didn't feel heavy at all. Out in Braemar, they felt like 'normal' trousers. A bit of swishing and that was all.

Braces - nice idea, Richard, but I never got used to them on trousers. Always felt as if they were going to fall down, so I did end up with both belt and braces. No surprise there then.

As to sewing. I'm reasonably competent with a basic needle and thread. Never got the hang of darning or sewing machines. We were raised to be independently competent.

I think I'll take the leg ties off and can always attach paracord as Parky suggests - some lives in my pack.

Cheers folk.

Think we're at cross-purposes Parky, I have indeed found the 'flashing a bit of leg' facility to be a godsend! I meant I haven't worn the trousers in the kind of conditions they're intended for yet, which I'm sure I shall rectify in the autumn.

Duncan, I agree re lack of heaviness. With the venting they are perfectly comfortable in quite warm conditions, though I don't think I'd want to wear them in high summer.

High summer is shorts weather!
Cascadas have changed my life as I have always hated overtroos - all sweaty and clammy with the friction of a survival bag if you slip over and slide. They stay at home in the warm months though.

With me, I was finding overtrousers needed to be pulled up a lot. Backpack seemed to be pushing them down. But I had the benefit of being able to purposefully slide down wet grassy slopes in them. Not sure if I'd do that in these expensive trousers. Wheeee.

As to warmth - well, I'd need to see. I tend to walk warm (sweating like the proverbial, in other words), so I'd need to see what conditions me and them can handle.

Shorts. Nae with my knees. :)

shorts - not with the surplus amount of stinging nettles/brambles this year.
casacada far too warm for summer. the fuera trews are good though.

Trousers did well. Except that I'll need to watch for wet trousers in the dry tent. With waterproof overtrousers, they are normally wet. With the Paramo, they are so nice and fine that I keep forgetting to check that the seat is wet.

ps - nice sitting in wet grass in them and not feeling wet or cold.

Harvey's map spent time in coat pocket.

About the zips and the pockets. Mine jammed terminally and the zip had to be forced open to get to the contents (somehing vital, i forget). The zip was repaired with a few stitches, but not for months!

Edit - it was the pocket not the fly that jammed, so not *that* vital. ;-)

LOL - I did wonder, tdave. Though I have already found the long leg pockets good for a morning scratch.

getting shirt terminally caught in fly zip is not fun.....