Fox Khaki LW Cargo Trousers

How well is it built?

The LW Cargo Trousers are made from Fox's Comfort Stretch fabric, a blend of 91% nylon, 6% elastane and 3% polyester.

Nylon is hard-wearing for its weight, and the elastane adds give, so the fabric should hold its shape after a day of kneeling, crouching and climbing up steep banks.

The finishing is neat and practical. There's a zip fastening fly, an elasticated waist with a belt loop, and tapered cuffs that keep the hems tidy and out of the mud.

Six pockets are spread around the trousers, with two at the front, two at the rear and two on the legs, so there's somewhere for everything you'd normally carry.

They're light summer trousers rather than heavy-duty work wear, and that's exactly what they're meant to be.

The Ridgemonkey APEarel Lightweight Classic Cargo Trousers add reinforced seams and an integrated belt, but for light summer wear I think the Fox is well made, and 8.0 is a fair score.

Weather Protection

Will they keep you dry in a downpour? No, and they're not meant to. These are lightweight cargo trousers, not waterproofs, and that's why weather protection scores 6.5.

They'll keep the sun off your legs and put a layer between you and the nettles, but a proper downpour will get through them, so a pair of waterproof overtrousers such as the Fox Explorer 20K Trousers belongs in the rucksack when showers are forecast.

On the plus side, a nylon-rich fabric should dry far quicker than heavy cotton combats once the rain stops, and the light weight means they shouldn't trap heat on a hot afternoon. The tapered cuffs sit closer to your boots, so the hems are less likely to drag through wet grass.

For me, they're summer and mild-weather trousers first and foremost, and that's how they should be judged. On a warm day by the lake, they're far more comfortable than a waterproof, so the low weather score is simply honest rather than a flaw.

Comfort & Fit Rating

Comfort is the reason to buy them. The 6% elastane gives the fabric real stretch, so kneeling at the water's edge, climbing over stiles or crouching to slip a fish back should feel unrestricted.

The elasticated waist is forgiving on long days, while the belt loop lets you add a belt if you carry keys or a heavy phone in the pockets.

Six pockets is a useful number on the bank. The two leg pockets are handy for a phone, a licence or a packet of hooks, the front pockets take your hands and the rear pockets suit a wallet.

The tapered cuffs give a modern, tidy cut that sits well over trainers or boots, and the S to 3XL range covers most builds.

The Ridgemonkey APEarel Lightweight Classic Cargo Trousers add articulated stretch panels and adjustable ankles, but the Fox matches them for everyday comfort. For warm-weather fishing, I think they're excellent, and 8.5 reflects that.

Is it good value for money?

For a branded pair of fishing cargos, they're sensibly priced, and the stretch fabric, six pockets and tidy cut mean you're getting a proper bank trouser rather than a plain pair of combats. I think value earns its 8.5 without much argument.

Where they fall down is versatility. They're summer and mild-weather wear, so you'll still need waterproofs for wet days and something like the Nash ZT Air Cell Trousers or the Aqua Products F12 Thermal Trousers for winter.

That's not a criticism, as no cargo trouser does everything, but it's worth knowing before you buy.

I'd recommend the Fox Khaki LW Cargo Trousers to carp anglers, stalkers and day-ticket anglers who want comfortable, practical trousers for warm-weather fishing.

They'll also suit anyone who likes to wear the same pair to the bank and to the pub afterwards, and they're a sensible first pair of fishing trousers for a newer angler too.