Kit review: Craghoppers Kiwi Pro II Trousers
Reviewed by Steph
The plus size community are desperate for walking trousers. Walking trousers that fit. And by that I mean trousers that come over our stomach, cover our bums and don't dig in to our belly. Enter the Craghoppers Kiwi Pro II Trousers that have just been through a fit review, which covers their regular trousers, the zip off ones and their insulated winter trousers.
FEATURES:
The fabric is super stretchy, making it incredibly comfortable to wear and adaptable to lots of different shapes. The fabric is treated with an eco water resistant coating to keep off showers, as well as UPF40+ for UV protection. There are 3 decent sized pockets (all with zips) and reinforcement on the back of the heel for durability.
SIZE AND FIT:
The first thing to note about these trousers is to ignore the size chart (and I don't say this lightly). The size chart says for a size 20 they will fit a 36 inch waist and 46 inch hip, and I'm a 41 inch waist and 51 inch hip, and these fit me easily. They're a perfect fit around my hips, a little baggy round my waist but don't fall down (and have belt loops for those with narrower waists). They go up to a size 24 and in short, regular and long leg lengths.
To be honest, the fit is pretty great. They have increased the rise on the trousers, especially at the back, but not to a point that they're super high rise (which I know doesn't work for everyone). They're high enough to go over my belly and stay up, so that's a real win for me. The legs and stretchy and comfy and I think would fit a lot of different thigh and calf sizes because of the stretch.
PERFORMANCE:
I've worn these for long hikes and not had to pull them up once. The stretch makes them super comfy even when clambering over stiles, and they keep the wind out really well (I tested them on a cold windy summit!). The fabric is durable and doesn't snag easily, and the water resistance means they keep you dry in a shower. All in all, they've become one of my regular pieces of kit that I wear often.
RRP £65
