When it comes to outdoor adventures in really hot climes, hiking trousers need to be light, cool, breathable, stretchy and simultaneously capable of dealing with the occasional thunderstorm. The majority of traditional hiking and climbing trousers will be too warm for hot trekking trips but the Titan Trail Pants from Columbia are definitely worth a look.
Lightweight and airy, soft and stretchy, the Titan Trail summer-specific hiking trousers are constructed using a polyester/nylon/elastane fabric with 4 way comfort stretch designed to move with you as you progress along the trail. We found the Titan Trail Pants to provide excellent freedom of movement in the mountains and the integrated Omni-Shield water and stain repellent technology stood up well when we were caught in an unexpected downpour.
Protection from the sun is the main priority here and Columbia's OMNI-SHADE technology offers all-day reassurance when you're out in the full heat of the day. With a UPF of 50, you can worry less about getting burnt and concentrate more on achieving your goal for the day.
An added benefit of the Titan Trail pants is the casual styling that means you'll be happy wearing them into town or around a campfire at the end of a day's hiking. They don't shout 'I'm a hugely technical outdoor pant', but they do come with a few subtle performance features (articulated knees, leg zips for extended opening and numerous useful pockets) that combine to enhance on the trail performance without changing the overall casual style of the product.
The only major downside we could see was a modesty issue! We tested the Titan Trail Pants in last year's Coral colour and found our dark coloured underwear was visible through the lightweight material so you might want to opt for this year's Black or Nocturnal versions if you want to avoid any unwanted exposure!
At £100 the heat-specific summer hiking Titan Trail Pants offer a decent value solution to a very specific demand. Whilst they're unlikely to stand up to the rigours of the - ahem - British summer, they're a great companion for hot hikes. Pop 'em in your pack and hit the dusty trail.
