I am hoping that by writing my review of Regatta Geo softshell trousers for women I can help at least one person. Someone, who maybe like me, is active. An outdoorsy person, photographer or the dog walker who wants to be protected from the great British weather. Oh and that someone would be a tad larger than your average model! Surely there are more like me?

I have hips, strong thighs and a big bum. I am not exactly slight even for all my efforts in the gym and out on the hills. My exasperated searches for winter trousers is now over thanks to Regatta!

I am not going to lie to you this is my first item of Regatta clothing. Many of my other well known mountain brands have let me down.

My requirement for outdoor winter trousers

Trousers that keep me warm and dry. Trousers that are comfortable to wear all day and don’t need any other leg wear underneath. More importantly trousers that actually SIT ON MY WAIST. Not my hips! I like my outdoor trousers to be practical. Not to expose my lower back or worse whilst I am out and about.

On a cold winters day I love to layer up. What I don’t want to do is have to keep tucking myself back in every ten minutes. This is part of the reason I want trousers to be higher on my waist (I’m not talking Simon Cowell style).

I’d also quite like pockets with zips. Usually I would carry my phone, lip balm and maybe my hand lens and a hanky in my pocket. I don’t want to drop or lose any of it.

Image of a woman stood on some wooden blocks in the woods

Testing out my new softshell trousers

I tried on two different sizes of the Geo softshell – my normal size and the one above. I know you ladies will understand this! The larger size had plenty of room around the waist, bum and thighs. This is perfect for me because as a photographer I quite often find myself crouching over something or even lay on the floor trying to get the perfect photo. I only have little legs so the short style for me at 29 inches is about the right length. Guess what else? They sit perfectly on my waist. No hesitation in purchasing these beauties (they were actually a birthday present).

Wasting no time at all in giving them a test run I decided to wear them the following day for my birthday day out at Anstruther on the Fife coast.

Photo of a woman standing on some rocks at the seaside. She is facing the photographer

We were out and about for five or so hours. Walking along the coast, harbour wall, beach and sat outside to drink our hot chocolate. I scrambled over rocks to reach rock pools and knelt down to see what was in them. At this point my layers of clothing did not become untucked nor did I unintentionally expose myself! The wind resistant membrane meant that the rather bracing Scottish wind coming in over the North sea did not cause me any bother at all. I was snug as a bug in a rug with these fleece lined beauties on.

I also discovered at the bottom of each trouser leg there is a zip and two press-studs to make it easy to pop over your boots etc. If I am honest, the lower part of the leg could be slightly more tapered here, but maybe that’s just me? Part of the waistband is elasticated with a big chunky button above the zip. Oh and have I mentioned that they actually sit on my waist?

There are three pockets – one on each side and one on the back. All lined in the same manner and on occasion I used them to thaw my hands out.

Not just for big days out in the mountains

We don’t have a dog, so I’m unable to test them out for that sort of thing. I decided to hand wash the car (this is a regular occurrence for us). Even with all the stretching, bending and kneeling down, I remained comfortable, warm and dry. Bonus!!!

Photo of a woman cleaning a car.

Since buying the Regatta softshell trousers I have also taken up cold water swimming. They work a treat for cutting out the wind after getting out of the cold loch water. Toasty warm, drinking hot drinks (Vimto is my go-to) and eating cake I know I can rely on these trousers.

Photo of a woman stood at the side of a loch. Wearing lots of layers after swimming in cold water

My review of Regatta Geo softshell trousers for women, and I have to give them a massive thumbs up. I also bought myself a second pair from the Regatta website. My other half has purchased the men’s version (and he is a real slave to the more expensive brands). Well done Regatta you have yourself two new disciples.