13-09-08, 07:31 PM
With the nights drawing in, the bracken turning brown on the hills and a nip in the air in the morning thoughts start turning to winter paddling wear.
One of the pieces of gear I return to time and time again when the temperature drops are fleece trousers. When I came back to paddling a couple of years ago and needed to gradually build up my paddling wardrobe I very much hedged on spending much money. Remembering how great I found fleece trousers when I was an instructor [actually it was fibre pile in those days!] an early purchase was a pair of cheap [like £10] pair of fleece trousers.
They sure were toasty but not very practical as they lacked stretch and were rather thick.
Last winter I dug out an old pair of cycling touring trousers which were much better - essentially a fleece trouser with a high lycra content. Not really designed for paddling but they were a great improvement either on their own or under waterproofs. Now you won't be surprised to know that I'm a bit tubbier now than I was 15 years ago so I was on the look out for a better fitting pair - enter Reeds Transpire fleece trousers:
Modesty prohibits a shot of me on the catwalk so you'll have to make do with Reeds own image:
![[Image: 1473_2.jpg]](http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l49/alanjohnbrannon/1473_2.jpg)
Transpire fleece gear is sold by Reeds as part of their Chillcheater layering system but obviously you can wear them with what you choose. They are intended to be worn as a "skin tight" baselayer for the best wicking results and it's important to use their sizing guide to get the best fit. Call me old fashioned but I prefer to wear pants under these but every one to their own.
Obviously it is not quite fleece trouser weather just yet but for test purposes I wore them the other weekend on Windermere under waterproofs to see just how warm they were and how they wicked sweat. On stripping off at the end of the paddle the outer surface was damp with sweat but the inner was perfectly dry.
They have a high waist which means when sitting there was no cold gap at the small of the back [us aged ones have to think of these things] You can also get a "pre bent" design aimed at the kayak paddler in particular.
Paddling this weekend without over trousers on I found them pretty wind resistant and the odd paddle/spray drips weren't even noticed.
Minus points: As they are designed as a base layer they lack pockets not surprisingly. Also they would not be as abrasion resistant as gear intended as an outer layer. Can't say though I've ever had a fleece wear through but only time will tell on this.
Very pleased with these and at £30 money well spent in my book for a warm bum.
You can see the whole Reeds range at their on-line shop You can purchase directly from Reeds as I did or they are stocked by a number of the usual shops.
I'm currently trying out a couple of other items in their range but it's to early to report on them. I'll bring them along to the end of summer meet on Windermere so you have a look.
One of the pieces of gear I return to time and time again when the temperature drops are fleece trousers. When I came back to paddling a couple of years ago and needed to gradually build up my paddling wardrobe I very much hedged on spending much money. Remembering how great I found fleece trousers when I was an instructor [actually it was fibre pile in those days!] an early purchase was a pair of cheap [like £10] pair of fleece trousers.
They sure were toasty but not very practical as they lacked stretch and were rather thick.
Last winter I dug out an old pair of cycling touring trousers which were much better - essentially a fleece trouser with a high lycra content. Not really designed for paddling but they were a great improvement either on their own or under waterproofs. Now you won't be surprised to know that I'm a bit tubbier now than I was 15 years ago so I was on the look out for a better fitting pair - enter Reeds Transpire fleece trousers:
Modesty prohibits a shot of me on the catwalk so you'll have to make do with Reeds own image:
Transpire fleece gear is sold by Reeds as part of their Chillcheater layering system but obviously you can wear them with what you choose. They are intended to be worn as a "skin tight" baselayer for the best wicking results and it's important to use their sizing guide to get the best fit. Call me old fashioned but I prefer to wear pants under these but every one to their own.
Obviously it is not quite fleece trouser weather just yet but for test purposes I wore them the other weekend on Windermere under waterproofs to see just how warm they were and how they wicked sweat. On stripping off at the end of the paddle the outer surface was damp with sweat but the inner was perfectly dry.
They have a high waist which means when sitting there was no cold gap at the small of the back [us aged ones have to think of these things] You can also get a "pre bent" design aimed at the kayak paddler in particular.Paddling this weekend without over trousers on I found them pretty wind resistant and the odd paddle/spray drips weren't even noticed.
Minus points: As they are designed as a base layer they lack pockets not surprisingly. Also they would not be as abrasion resistant as gear intended as an outer layer. Can't say though I've ever had a fleece wear through but only time will tell on this.
Very pleased with these and at £30 money well spent in my book for a warm bum.
You can see the whole Reeds range at their on-line shop You can purchase directly from Reeds as I did or they are stocked by a number of the usual shops.
I'm currently trying out a couple of other items in their range but it's to early to report on them. I'll bring them along to the end of summer meet on Windermere so you have a look.
![[Image: minimeet8308017.jpg]](http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u267/retro4848/minimeet8308017.jpg)
Nice review but not big on the legged undies front.
Graeme