There's a very old joke that I have changed to suit my purposes that goes as follows. You are walking to the shops on a gorgeous sunny day to buy some walking and hiking outdoor kit. However, you are unsure of the route and you spot the ghosts of Winston Churchill, William Shakespeare and a Lawyer. They each provide you with directions, who should you not trust? The answer, obviously, is you there is no such a thing as a gorgeous sun-filled day in this country!

It is perhaps not completely fair as we do get a few good days and nights but lets be blunt what ever your pastime, if you do it out of doors, you will need to become used to doing it in inclement weather. Thus, the correct type of waterproof trousers are essential for all but the infrequent outdoor enthusiast and so the team here at My Outdoor Store have constructed a list of the top ten tips for selecting trousers for walking.

1. Opt for fabric that dries rapidly and easily following a shower, fabric that remains damp will make you cold and lead to chafing. As a result denim will not be a good fabric because it won't dry rapidly and is susceptible to cause chafing

2. Factor in how breathable the material is. Breathable material (a.k.a. wicking material) is excellent as it will permit moisture from perspiration to dissipate. If its not breathable you can end up really wet, not from the rain but because of perspiration droplets which are unable to evaporate.

3. If you need trousers that will keep you cosy in cool weather, select types which have a lining

4. On sizzling walks you will need trousers which help remain cool, those trousers which have zip off legs will be the much more beneficial. The best contain zips at two levels so that they could be zipped-off to become shorts or calf-length trousers

5. Opt for trousers for hiking that have plenty of zip up pockets, these will be helpful for keys, guides etcetera.

6. Make sure the zips are not made from metal (as they could rust) and that they've got material over them to help keep them dry.

7. Make sure trousers can be machine washed, trousers might become muddy when trekking, particularly just above your ankles.

8.Gaiters are favoured by many people as they can keep the mud off your trousers. An alternative is to wear long hiking socks in order to place your trousers inside of them. This can likewise be useful should you know you can find biting-insects around.

9. Highly patterned trousers are excellent if you would like to get spotted however not so great if you are trying to observe wildlife

10. Waterproof trousers are also advisable for especially wet days and they are not pricey. These should open up the sides to enable them to be speedily put on over your boots.