UKH

I know I know, ‘don’t wear shorts, wear trousers’ might be the obvious suggestion…
 

I always hike in shorts, even when it is below 0 degrees, otherwise I just get too warm when I’m on the move.

However, I have the following 2 hurdles to overcome:

1. When it rains, the water runs in to my socks.  I use Sealskinz waterproof socks, but eventually they give in.  If I was wearing trousers over my socks, plus maybe gaiters then I guess this problem would as a minimum be delayed, or even overcome altogether, but I’d be too warm.  Do I just have to decide which trade-off I least dislike?  Or is there a better way?

2. When on a multi-day hike, particularly in a morning when emerging from my sleeping bag / tent, I admit sometimes in shorts my legs are cold while having breakfast and packing up, but warm after 10mins of getting going again.  Maybe cycling leg warmers would help, or trousers that convert easily to shorts.

I realise there are lots of solutions out there, I was wondering how others had dealt with the same quandary.

I find there is a window one weekend in May when the temperature is warm enough for shorts but the midge are yet to arise from slumber.  Other than that it’s lightweight trousers all year (heavier weight in winter obviously).

To keep your socks dry could you cut the narrow part off a funnel and then use silicone or rubber to create a plug, push your leg in and use it to direct water running down you leg to the outside or wear your shoe width stops…or wear trousers…?

One word - Ronhills

Umbrella. 

1. I'm usually wearing non-waterproof trail runners on multiday hikes so any  water that enters escapes easily.

2. I wear wind or lightweight rain pants over shorts on those cold mornings. 

I'm similarly an all weather shorts wearer.  My thoughts:

1. I'd love a pair of neoprene gaiters that would fit above my socks and to my boots.  These do exist as "runner's gaiters" and similar but mostly in very small sizes that would clip to a running shoe but not a full sized boot.  If anyone was to make them I'd buy some!  The other option is to switch to walking in fell/trail running shoes and accept wet feet as they are designed for it.  I've also heard suggestions of waterproof socks but not tried them.  Normal walking gaiters I reckon aren't tight enough and would chafe.

2. Carry a slightly oversized (say one size up, so if you're L then XL or whatever, cut the legs off if they're too long) pair of tracky bottoms and pull them over the top of your shorts when you first get up, or just heavily layer up your top half.  Take them off when you set off, or after you've warmed up.  I'm not really a fan of converting shorts/trousers as they're just a faff.

Breeches and gaiters, obviously

My preferred walking trousers have a zip from hem to knee, so I can use that if my legs are getting warm - press stud at the hem stops them flapping about. Obviously doesn't work with gaiters on.

Cycling leg warmers might be an option, but would probably fall down a lot, as they sort of rely on being held up by cycling shorts, even if they do have their own silicone grippers. Calf guards, mainly worn by runners, might help - they provide compression rather than warmth, but could take the edge off a chilly morning. Both these would involve taking your boots off to get them off, though.

You could try something like scree gaiters to protect your socks a bit - you'd need to make sure of a good fit around your ankle, but it's probably only delaying the inevitable.

2 solutions:

(1) indoor hiking

(2) only hike in the Atacama Desert, Chile; or The Empty Quarter, Saudi Arabia 

There’s got to me some mileage in (1)? 

Centres in industrial estates filled with treadmills? 

Tight fitting scree gators help. Personally I went for non-waterproof as they are more breathable.

Mine are Rab and just required a little customisation of the lace hook in order to fit to chunkier boot laces. Do wish though I'd gone with a zipped design that can be fitted without having to remove the footwear.

slather the legs with embrocation for warmth, then vaseline for a DWR beading effect?

Gaffer tape the tops of your socks to your legs?

Walking - I also am a shorts and trainers on the hill person but so long as I am warm and comfortable I am fine with wet feet.

Winter biking - feet get much colder if wet so I wear waterproof cycling shoes. Problem is that the water runs down my leg and therefore into the shoes negating the waterproof shoes.

Warning - you will not win prizes for sartorial elegance. My solution SCUBA DIVING DRY SUIT CONE SHAPE ANKLE SEAL KIT available on auction sites. Hillcrest diving.

These are pulled on before the socks making a good seal against my leg. Wide cone goes over the shoes and therefore water does not run into the shoes. Obviously not tight like a gaiter on the shoe. Seal may not come far enough up the leg for boots and long socks but I wear Innov8s on the hill.

In minging weather I wear a pair of RAF "goretex" trousers cut off below the knee. Keeps my knees warm but lower leg can breathe. This is not a look I can recommend but it does work.

Not pretty and you may find your friends no longer walk with you. At least that's my excuse for being Billy no Mates.

Prosthetic legs. 

I’m also a shorts person. I wear lederhosen which are just about long enough to hang over the outside of the fishing waders that I also wear. 

The Kiwi way is polypros under your shorts.  Works a treat!

Wool loop stitch socks. Wool is warm when wet.

Peleton or Zwift for hiking....coupled with VR headsets, never need to leave home.

Beat me to it.

And regular gaiters on over boots and polyprops (aka long johns aka thermals).

Will dry quick after getting rained or worst case will fit pretty easily under overtrousers.

You can get insulated over shorts targeted at ski folk, eg:

https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/fja33/fjällräven-down-shorts-...
 

and trousers of course - good for camp and stops.

for girls there are similar insulated skirts. In a fit of drunkenness I’ve bought materials to make an insulated kilt - not quite got around to making it yet though!

It can be windy round the Trossachs

I've occasionally mused that a belay skirt might have a place on winter routes. Could be equally good for breakfast-in-shorts camping mornings

Yes - avoids crampon snagging, quick to pop on, use some hexes as a sporran - what’s not to like?