British Windproof Trousers, DPM, surplus

Very good foul weather trousers - "foul" being just about any weather in the UK, so we trust the Brits to know what they are doing here. These are mostly 80's or 90's manufacture, mixed lot of CS95 and other models, mostly "Trousers, Arctic Windproof".

These are basically a heavy-duty version of standard combat trousers, so the fabric is weather-resistant Ventile or lookalike. That's where the magic lies - it's a very tight weave, making it durable and especially good against the elements. The idea is that when cotton gets wet, it swells shut and slows down the process of the wearer getting wet. These are not rain trousers as such, but then again they breathe about a million times better than any Gore-Tex membrane ever will - excellent all-around choice for the crappier months of the year. The brits also work some kind of magic on their uniforms, as they dry very quickly once the rainfall stops.

Washing and care

Wash in 40 °C / 104 °F. Treat with a water-repelling spray: it helps keep the pants dry, so they breathe better.

Sizing

The sizing system is trouser inseam/waist in centimetres, with a hight waist, measure yours just below the navel.

Genuine Brit surplus

Genuine used British army surplus, made in the UK from proper fabric. Usually, these are a bit more faded in appearance than the ones pictured. Availability is limited.