Good gardening trouser?

LessImpecunious

I need to replace my gardening trousers, which have been on their last legs for several months. I bought them (Engelbert Strauss trousers - their description: "A collection with unmistakable hardware character. e.s. prestige* with features of the highest technical level. Robust and tough canvas for the mission on the edge. Indestructable work trousers made of strong canvas fabric" for nearly £50 (they're now nearly £60) in Jan 2011 - so they've done pretty well, if not quite indestructible (and they lost their water-repellance a year or two before they started to wear thin....) Given that (and they will be used daily, and often for fairly heavy-duty gardening - bramble-bashing, etc) should I stick to them (despite the rather annoying flashy catalogue and logos) or does anyone have any recommendations for any similar, cheaper, or better product? (i.e., they don't need to be cheap, but moneysaving in the long-lasting sense). Grateful for any recommendations!

The_Biff

I find Dickie's workwear trousers are very good, long lasting and cheap.

Wizard_of_Id

Workmate trousers from Aldi, hard wearing, plenty of pockets and also pockets for knee pads about £10

tori.k

I second Dickies and found guy cotten the best for cheaper waterproofs

LessImpecunious

So, no Aldi anywhere near me; two votes for Dickies, but have looked at their trousers and they range from c. £20 to c. £60... so still somewhat confused...thanks to all for replies anyhow - sorry cannot work out how to do individual thanks to each reply!:mad:

NaughtiusMaximus

The amusingly named 'tactical pants' from 5.11 are very hard wearing and comfortable, usual price is around £40 I think.

LessImpecunious

Thought I'd give an update on this - as I eventually went for the amusingly-named ones, as they looked to be both waterproof and durable. However, they have proven not to be water resistant (wasn't expecting miracles, but let water through within half an hour of light rain, and don't dry quickly either). Can't comment on durability as they're only a couple of months old. Seem resistant to tearing, but could be thicker for serious bramble-bashing...

DiggerUK

I always have old trousers and jeans that are getting to the end. Charity shops don't tend to come up with the goods these days. But there are brand new jeans in Primark for about £7. Mrs.D uses the middle at Lidl..._

LessImpecunious

Thanks for reply DiggerUK - maybe I'm a wuss, but I find ordinary trousers don't keep out the brambles, wild roses, hawthorn prunings, etc (my garden is q big, much of it is more landscape management than gardening); which is why I was looking for recommendations of something more like the gardening/outdoor pro might wear...

-taff

If you want good quality you often have to pay for it.
I do wonder though, can you not spray them with the same stuff you spray shoes with to make them waterproof again?

LessImpecunious

The point was I DID pay (a lot) for what I thought were going to be good quality - not just on NaughtiusMaximus's recommendation, but reviews on Amazon which suggested these were the "real thing", used by police officers and survivalist-types...just not up to my kind of gardening! They haven't lost their waterproofing - are Teflon-coated and hadn't been washed since purchase - just weren't waterproof at all when tested in light rain. I'm fairly confident they'll last well, and won't be ripped by brambles, etc, it's just that I can still feel them through the fabric!; and didn't do everything I wanted... maybe good for fairweather gardeners! (and not Moneysaving as I obviously need something different!)