BAM Roborough Cargo Bamboo Trouser Reviews
Jessie Stevens puts a pair of hiking trousers to the test
Jessie Stevens put BAM’s Roborough trousers to the test…
Walking trousers are a hard nut to crack. You want them to be tight enough that they don’t fall down mid mountain. Long enough that they cover the all important ankle ‘gappage’ (the annoying space between sock, boot, and exposed leg). And durable enough that they are almost indestructible (I’m looking at that sketchy via ferrata). You also want them to be light and flexible so you don’t get soggy and sore. I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect pair for a while, and when I was given the chance to try these BAM Active Trousers, I was intrigued to see if they’d fit the bill.
What you get
The BAM Roborough trousers are a slim fitting cargo cut trouser for hiking and outdoor activities. They are made of a heavy weight twill fabric formed of cotton, viscose bamboo and elastane.
They are cut mid to high on the waist and have six pockets:
two patch pockets at the front with a diagonal opening
side pockets on the leg with poppers
one popper back pocket
one back zip pocket.
BAM is a climate positive company and are on a journey to become Impact Positive. Their clothing is bamboo based with a big sustainability focus.
You can see all the tech specs on the official BAM Roborough Cargo Trouser page.
How the BAM Roborough Cargo Trousers Performed
These trousers have now been on several hikes, but the first test was a 10km hike around Loch Torridon. Classic Scottish Highlands, I had 4 seasons in a day and a whole load of midges to contend with!
The Material
BAM’s Roborough Bamboo Cargo Trousers are made from a heavyweight stretch twill which is mainly composed of Organic Cotton and Bamboo fibres. To say the material is soft, would be an understatement. As BAM says, ‘the feeling is so soft that you will want to live in them’. I wouldn’t put it that far, but I could definitely spend a long time in them. The bamboo fibres not only add the softness but also naturally combats odours due to its antimicrobial benefits. Perfect for those long sweaty walks or that multi day trip when you forgot the backup pair of bottoms.
The Fit
Overall, I would say the fit was very good. The material definitely hugged all the right places, both making them easy to move in and chafe-free. It only let itself down on the ankles, which were quite tight. I didn’t notice this when walking, but when taking them off, it was a bit of a struggle. I can imagine there would have been a fair bit of ‘tent pretzeling’’ if I was doing a camp. I thought I'd mention it, however it is just a personal fit situation.
The Feel
I was really surprised by how comfortable the trousers were. I thought the heavyweight twill would be restrictive, particularly on some of the scrambly sections of the route, however they were the opposite. Due to the close fit design, I found them to be really easy to move and stretch in. This was tested to the max when I had to scramble over some very large bouldery things for a good 20 minutes. I was hoping to get down to a remote loch, but gave up as I realised I didn’t have enough time or snacks to go all the way down and right back up again. It was mainly the snacks, let's be honest.
A Note about Chafing:
After testing the trousers for some longer hikes, plus during day to day wear, I have found they start to chafe around the inner thigh seams after a few hours. This is not noticeable on shorter walks, but over long periods it can become uncomfortable. This is definitely not a deal breaker as these trousers are very comfortable in general and make for some great light hiking gear. It is just to say that these may not be the right trousers for you if you are looking to do some longer walks. Or perhaps consider sizing up.
Overall Verdict
I will definitely be wearing these on many more walks in the mountains, but I also love how they could equally pass as a pair of everyday trousers. I’m a big fan of multi-purpose item. The pockets are amazing for storing all the essentials (snacks), with two buttoned pockets on the sides and the jean style pockets on the top and back. I am also a huge fan of BAM’s sustainability credentials and dedication to make well made products which last a long time. We definitely need to see more brands making this part of their ethos, so it feels good to be supporting a brand which is spear-heading this. It’s a yes from me!
Jessie is an avid mountain biker and now Munro-bagger, currently based in the gloriously soggy North West Highlands.