What are technical trousers?

They’re trousers designed for outdoor activity: the stretch fabric moves as you bend your knees, while a water-repellent treatment or membrane provides rain protection. For rocky terrain, they can also have reinforcements, like the stretch EXPLORE 4 H with Kevlar reinforcements and edge guards, weighing 430 g in size M.

I’m under 1.72 m tall: which version should I choose?

Choose the shorter-leg version, labelled COURT: it gives you the right length without alterations. The ALBARON COURT H and PLARET Court H are recommended for heights under 1.72 m, and the KATMANDOU COURT 3 H for heights under 1.70 m. The HOGGAR 3, QUEBEC 2, EXPLORE 4 and SNOW PANT 4 also come in a shorter-leg version.

Waterproof trousers or overtrousers: which should I take?

Choose waterproof trousers if rain is forecast for the day: the HOGGAR 3 H, made with 10,000 mm CIMASHELL, can be worn on its own and weighs 424 g. If showers are only a possibility, take overtrousers: the TORRENT H, made with 20,000 mm Ultrashell, packs into your bag and has two full-length zips so you can pull it on without removing your shoes.

Which trousers should I wear for snowshoeing in the cold?

Choose warm trousers with a brushed lining. The QUEBEC 2 H blocks wind, snow and showers, has a 10,000 mm rating and weighs 540 g in size M. Its five-pocket cut also works around town.

Men's trousers and shorts

Cimalp men’s technical trousers and shorts for the mountains, rain, cold, skiing, trail running and climbing: stretch fabrics, Ultrashell or CIMASHELL membranes, and several styles available with shorter legs.

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The best Men's trousers and shorts for enjoying the mountains

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Shorts & trousers trail

Men’s technical trousers: choose for the season and weather

Start with the worst weather you’re likely to face, then consider the terrain. On dry trails, stretchy, water-repellent trousers are enough from spring to autumn. For prolonged rain, add a membrane ; in dry cold or on snow, choose a brushed inner fabric or a lining. Before deciding, check the product details for:

Trouser weight, from 219 g for the OCHE H to 700 g for the PITON 3 H ski trousers
Whether it has a membrane and its hydrostatic head rating, from 10,000 to 20,000 mm
Reinforcements at the knees and lower legs
The availability of a short-leg version

Rocky terrain and all four seasons: EXPLORE 4 H and ALBARON H

For trousers you can wear from spring to autumn, choose the ALBARON H: windproof, water-repellent bi-stretch fabric, weighing 375 g in size M. For rock or scree, choose the EXPLORE 4 H, stretchy, with Kevlar reinforcements in high-wear areas and kick patches at the lower legs, weighing 430 g. The ROCKFIT 5 H, made from bi-stretch softshell, weighs 585 g and stands up to wind and brief showers. Compare fits and reinforcements in our men’s hiking trousers.

Lightweight or 2-in-1 trousers for summer and trekking

When the weather warms up, go lighter. The OCHE H weighs 219 g in size M and dries quickly; the PLARET H weighs 299 g and has plenty of pockets. To switch to shorts without stopping for long, the KATMANDOU 3 H and ARCALOD H convert in seconds, weighing 360 and 350 g respectively; you can convert the KATMANDOU without taking off your shoes. For hot, humid climates, the CARLIT 2 H (289 g) and KATMANDOU 3 H have an anti-mosquito treatment integrated into the fabric. This treatment is an insecticide*, recognised as effective against most mosquito species (Aedes, including Aedes albopictus, known as the "tiger mosquito", Culex and Anopheles). Find them in our lightweight men’s trousers and our men’s 2-in-1 trousers.

Waterproof, warm or ski trousers: rain, cold and snow

In prolonged rain, pull on trousers with a membrane. The HOGGAR 3 H uses 10,000 mm CIMASHELL with sealed seams. With three pockets and kick patches, it can be worn on its own and weighs 424 g. To keep a pair in your pack, choose overtrousers : the TORRENT H, made from three-layer Ultrashell rated to 20,000 mm, has two full-length zips so you can pull it on over your shoes, and weighs 360 g. For trail, the STORM PRO PANT 3 H weighs just 300 g. View the range in our men’s waterproof trousers.

In cold weather, the QUEBEC 2 H, made from softshell with a brushed inner, blocks wind and keeps out snow. It weighs 540 g and works for everything from snowshoeing to city wear. For skiing, the SNOW PANT 4 H (600 g) has internal gaiters and the PITON 3 H (700 g) has ventilation zips; both have a 10,000 mm rating and a RECCO reflector. Compare them in our men's ski trousers.

Men’s shorts and trousers with shorter legs

For summer hiking, the GALIBIER COURT 4 H weighs 158 g. The GALIBIER also comes in a medium-length fit (225 g) and a long fit (230 g). For rocky terrain, switch to the ROCK MEDIUM 3 H, reinforced against abrasion and weighing 300 g. For trail, the OBIOU 2 H weighs 65 g. View all the styles in our men’s hiking shorts and our men’s trail shorts and trousers.

If you’re shorter, look for the COURT version: ALBARON, EXPLORE 4, PLARET, HOGGAR 3, QUEBEC 2, SNOW PANT 4 and KATMANDOU 3 come with shorter legs, ready to wear without alterations. Check the rating in the product details : 1.72 m for the ALBARON COURT H and PLARET Court H; 1.70 m for the KATMANDOU COURT 3 H.

* The mosquito-repellent treatment is a biocidal product containing permethrin as its active substance. It may cause skin sensitisation.

F.A.Q