Cold arse with Rab Bergen

Hi OM crowd,

I bought Rab's Bergen over trousers on the advice of a man 'in the know'. I wore them yesterday in a howling/sleety 60mph gale and got a cold backside. Is this common with Rab's or should I just buy some Merino shorts? And no this isn't a wind up.

Cheers

Simon

eVent is definitely not as subjectively insulating as goretex in my experience.

thats why i like it for a jacket.

I like my Rab bergen ots.. but have had them replaced under warranty once.

buttocks are a big muscle to keep warm in breezy conditions! walk faster?

There's nothing wrong with the trousers at all and neither is it a Rab problem (don't go changing the trousers, they're good). Unfortunately the problem's probably with you (some people get cold in some places more easily than others) and that's a pretty common site to get cold as stated above. Are the under trousers you're wearing suitable to the condtions (don't go thinking of over-trousers as much in the way of insulation - they keep you warm by keeping wind out but that's all) or would something thicker be better? or maybe as you state thicker underwear or maybe a full baselayer under trousers.

Thanks all,

I've been toying with the idea of getting superfine merino wool shirt and leggings?

With merino make sure you buy from a good company e.g. icebreaker or a few of the other top ones (cheaper brands are just not as good e.g. macpac feels far coarser to me).

Some people don't react well to merino (you can be allergic to it and some people still feel merino to be as prickly like non-merino wool) so I'd recommend getting one half and seeing if it suits you first.

If it suits you it's as good as most other baselayers, but it may also be worth looking at meco by Rab (and a few others) as the cocona should add wicking properties that wool lacks.

I have used my Bergens for a few years, above 0 I would be wearing Momtane Terra troos and Patigonia Capilene 2-3 shorts, below 0 I would add Capilene 2-3 leggings.