We’ve never been able to quite work out when knee breeches became the ‘in thing’ for climbers and walkers. The early pioneers didn’t wear them but they were certainly in vogue during the 1950’s and 60’s. And while just about everything from that era harks back to the Second World War, we can’t think of a breeches connection. The problem was that you needed very long socks to bridge the gap and because they extended below the knee there was still a restriction when the knee bent.
By the time 2000 came along they were pretty much ‘history’, modern full length trousers with various stretchy materials are the norm, and if you want freedom of movement there are some good shorts on the market!
Ex RAF Mountain Rescue stalwart,Martin Mackay kindly donated this pair which probably date from the 1970’s.
Though not referring specifically to the pair we have here in the collection – here’s what Ellis Brigham has to say about a similar pair in his 1973 catalogue. They would have cost around £4.00 back then.
Breeches
Accepted by all outdoor people as being the most satisfactory apparel for modern individual sports and pastimes. The leg is cut full but cannot be called baggy -there is plenty of seat room cleverly hidden by the use of front pleat darts. The squared double seat reaches to the side seams. This double seat incorporates on the right-hand side, a large pocket to take a peg hammer head first, slings and chockstones. All our breeches have t-his feature as standard. The two deep side pockets button down like the extra back, left-hand hip pocket which has been reinforced to carry a hammer, head first. Velcro touch tab bottoms give instant and effortless adjustment and will never let the wearer down, no matter what the conditions.
Belt loops – extended top band – button fly. The breeches are available in regular and long leg lengths. Double thickness knees for extra wear on the lighter weight materials. Regular sizes have total leg length of 19″ and outside leg length of 27″. Waist sizes 28″-38″ in two-inch changes. Long sizes have an extra 2″ on the leg.
