[Closed] Waterproof trousers with stretch - Rab?

The fabric used in OMM Kamleika garments is quite stretchy. Never used the trousers though.

Ah. Just came in to mention Kamleika.

Wow, they look great.

I've ordered four pairs of trousers tonight, hopefully end up returning three 🙂

EDIT just thought - I'd use them for walking, and the ankle on those looks really slim for use with shoes. We'll see how it goes.

Yeah - they're really designed for runners (Mountain Marathon) so tend to be quite narrow.

I really like my Showers Pass trousers, a mixture of Elite and stretchy panels.

https://showerspass.co.uk/collections/mens-pants/products/skyline-pant

Hi Molgrips,

If your purchases don't work out I can recommend these, they have a nice stretch to them:

https://www.craghoppers.com/kiwi-pro-waterproof-trousers-black-3/

I've used them walking in the Brecon Beacons in terrible rain and they kept me warm and dry.

HTH

I tend to flit between OMM and Montane for lighter, stretchy stuff. Have got some Montane waterproof trousers I use for walking or biking as they've got some handy velcro adjuster things around the lower legs to draw them in for running/not getting eaten by chainrings.

Whatever softshell trousers fit (I really like cheap Regatta ones, 25 quid, super comfy and will take a rain shower no worries) and a pair of throw on 3/4 zip waterproofs for proper rain. IME stretchy waterproof stuff doesn't really work, unless you spend goretex pro/shakedry money.

I really like the Kinetic Alpine ones, but they're cut medium slim. They're not really overtrousers in the conventional sense, more like a stretchy softshell that's also waterproof. Very breathable, but the face fabric tend to wet out faster than conventional waterproof fabrics. I prefer the feel of the Kinetic fabric to Kamleika, but have never used the Kamleika trousers, so don't have a direct comparison.

Great on showery, windy, cool days. For proper, full-on, all-day rain I'd use a more conventional overtrouser.

Great on showery, windy, cool days. For proper, full-on, all-day rain I’d use a more conventional overtrouser.

So what you're saying is - I need two pairs? Understood. Can you email my wife please?

So what you’re saying is – I need two pairs? Understood. Can you email my wife please?

Sure. Just bang over her e-mail address and I'll let her know that you need more pocket money 🙂

+1 for Montane overtrousers, like honeybadg says the Velcro adjusters are great. Used them walking in the Brecons and cycling doing KAW both in foul weather and I stayed nice and dry. Fit over my rugby thighs too! Would be v chilly as sole slacks though as obvs they are over-trousers

Decathlon trousers are superb, will deal with everything but a downpour, a pair of berghaus deluge can be had for 40 quid too, sorted.

The OMM Kamleika trousers arrived. They are fantastic lightweight running trousers - really lovely bits of kit. The fit is really good - I'm a 34" waist in trousers, with an actual 36" waist measurement and a large arse and thighs very much not like a typical runner, and the Large were almost perfectly cut. Plenty of arse room, enough space underneath for thick leggings, plenty of belt cinch, no dragging of thighs which I really hate. And the ankles did fit nicely over my fairly chunky and fairly tall walking boots.

However, they definitely need something under them all the way - there is no lining, it's just membrane on skin which can get clammy, very unpleasant and extremely cold. But with leggings on I would be perfectly happy all day. The only issue is that they seem pretty delicate - which is fair, given they are designed to be lightweight. I would NOT want to put them on over muddy or dirty leggings either because I can see the inner membrane being eroded in no time. So you'd have to start and finish with them on, I reckon.

Given that, I am not sure they are ideal for what I need, general purpose waterproof trousers - which is gutting because they are just lovely.

RAB overtrousers still in the post.

What are you doing to get dirty leggings? The only part of my tights that get dirty when walking* are the bottom of them, which isn't much of an issue, it's not like biking where you have wheel spray.

* And my local hills are the Galloways, the wettest, mankiest hills there is!

Well the bottoms get dirty, so yeah there's going to be mud on the inside of the trousers which isn't ideal. And I might, yknow, sit down or something, or slip.

It's just something I observed about the trousers. You might not consider it an issue if you were reading this and looking for trousers - but you might 🙂

I didnt.

Asked same question on another forum as I needed new ones, ended up with berghaus goretex paclites.

If they are the OMM Kamleika halos that fold up to the size of a tennis ball be aware that they are incredibly easy to lose. I had a pair (not kamleika ) which folded into a little ball about the size of a bramley apple. Unfortunately they rolled out of my bag never to be seen again. Prior to that i was always misplacing them as they rolled under the sofa etc or get hidden under another piece of clothing. Great for lightweight, but a bugger to find and easy to lose.

Well the Rab Firewall trouser arrived, and they are.. well.. just overtrousers. Nicely made and tougher face fabric, but the cut isn't so good. L fit me but there just isn't quite enough room in the bum and with a simple elasticated waist instead of a proper one with a belt, if I lift my leg it pulls them down from the bum. Not bad for traditional overtrousers, but.. traditional overtrousers just aren't that great. And what the hell with the ankles? They are massive from the calf down. I've no idea why they're designed like that. I mean with 3/4 length zips they don't need to be wide to get them on, and the excess fabric is just going to get muddy and flap around.

So I'm keeping the OMM ones but they are so fragile I'll probably look for some Kinetic Alpine pants later as another option and I can keep OMM for when/if I need fast and light etc.

I have the Kinetic jacket but sent the trousers back as they were a bit crisp packet like (IMO). Also I wanted them as over trousers and they were too tight for that, aimed at being the only / main trouser option - which sounds like what you're after.

Thanks to the mention above I got some of the OMM Kamleika trousers in XL for £50 from Wiggle.

Will be used for wet walks and bike rides. They are pretty lightweight, so will be worn over tights/bibs and long waterproof socks.

Worn them once on a longish MTB ride on Sunday. Very comfy in use, and the stretch of the material feels really nice.

Just the right cut for me, worn over long socks, knee warmers and bib shorts, they were neither too tight or too loose.

It was a very cold day, but I was working hard, and layered up. They seemed to breath really well, and didn't feel at all sweaty.

Maybe not quite as robust as the Regatta walking trousers I normally wear as a top layer in winter. But definitely comfier, and a lot more waterproof.

Like 🙂

And what the hell with the ankles? They are massive from the calf down. I’ve no idea why they’re designed like that

They're designed to go over winter walking boots and Gaiters.

I could have fit two lots of walking boots in the ankles, they're massive. And I don't think they go over your gaiters...

aimed at being the only / main trouser option – which sounds like what you’re after.

Yeah that's what I originally envisaged.

Thanks to the mention above I got some of the OMM Kamleika trousers in XL for £50 from Wiggle.

Will be used for wet walks and bike rides.

I really don't think they'd last long biking - but I'd love to be wrong, so let us know 🙂

I really don’t think they’d last long biking – but I’d love to be wrong, so let us know

What's your main concern? Thinness of fabric, or something else?
I'm not planning on using them for anything other than xc bimbles, as they wouldn't stand up to rock interfaces too well.
But I'd hope as they've been designed to be worn when running through gorse and heather, etc. they'll stand up to at least some mild abuse.

My only worry would be potentially wearing though the arse.

Came to say omm....

Beaten to it repeatedly

And I don’t think they go over your gaiters…

Yes, they do.

The only issue is that they seem pretty delicate – which is fair, given they are designed to be lightweight. I would NOT want to put them on over muddy or dirty leggings either because I can see the inner membrane being eroded in no time.

The fabric is surprisingly robust, it's the stitching that has let the jackets down for me in the past.