rainpants - what do you use and do you l ike them?

“what i want:
light weight
pack down small
side zip ventilation

what is out there? how are they? in the summer rain, i don't worry too much about rain gear, but with the weather fixin' to get colder, i'm looking for something that will work. i think i am tired of wearing my regular hiking pants in the winter precipitation and changing into dry long johns when i get to camp because my pants and polypro longjohns are soaked through. buddha bear had a pair of pants last year at mount rogers that maybe would work but i can't remember what they were. they had full side zips.”

“I got a pair of Marmot PreCips with full side zips. They meet all your criteria. I can't fit my pants over my boots (that's right ladies).”

“I usually bring a pair of nylon (cheap) rain pants but rarely wear them. I have a heavy duty pair with side zips for ROUGH winter bushwhacking but rarely wear those either. I tend to sweat in both, even in cold weather.”

“I just splashed out on a pair on a pair on Montane ultralight pants at 4oz. I almost never wear them but I think it's nice to have them just in case. Their pertex, but I'm not too concerned about a limited amount of water getting though, as long as it's not a real soaking.”

“yeah, i know about the sweat situation associated with rain gear. that's why i want the side zips. i don't mind if my polypros are sweaty under the pants, that happens no matter what i'm hiking in, wet weather or not. i have a cheap pair of coated nylon rain pants that i can't stand.”

“doh, make that - they're pertex”

“I use the ones from REI. Very inexpensive riptop nylon which I treated with 3M water repellent. As I recall, it was $30 for the jacket and $25 for the pants. I only use them when I need them, and out here in Nevada that is not often! I've had them for about 2 years and they are still in good shape.”

“what I want:

1. waterproof
2. breathable
3. button that when pressed will inflate pants until I am fully enveloped and they become my tent. The zippered fly on the pants would obviously become the entrance of my tent. Do they make something like that?”

“Ditto everything baume66 said sooooooo.....

I'm making my own. I'm too fussy for the inexpensive stuff and too cheap to shell out for what I want.”

“I can't fit my pants over my boots (that's right ladies)."
ViOLiN
02:36:31 PM
09/12/03

You know what they say about a man with small pants...”

“That he has many trolls?”

“I like them, along with a light pair of shorts and long polypro underwear. With the three, I can handle any weather possibility. Mine are a bit heavy, used them ski touring in AK, but have held up well. About 8 years, Mountain Hardwear, I'm sure they don't look anything like what is out now.”

“I have marmot precip pnat but only use them is the colder parts of spring and fall. In the warmer months I just get wet.”

“I recommend everyone purchase a pair of goretex rain pants.

It has not rained on the trail since I bought mine:-)

I have a pair of REI goretex pants. I don't like that they don't have pockets. Side zips to the knees. The are like new.”

“I hate rain pants. What I'm thinking of making is a hikers' rain kilt out of silnylon and just using my gaiters with them. That allows for air circulation and increased comfort.”

“I've had rainpants for years and hate hiking in them. I'd rather just keep my upper torso dry and let the rest get wet. As long as there's dry clothes to put on in camp getting wet is not much of a problem.

However, I do bring them sometimes when I think I may a lightweight and waterproof shell for hanging around camp in cool and/or wet weather.”

“Yep, that's it. I'm going to make the rainkilt.”

“i take my pants off”

“I only take mine when it is near freezing. They are my second pair of pants.”

“Isis pants. They were 75% off, have full zips from hip to ankle, have pockets and are sa-weet. Just an 8 7/8oz. I've worn themaround camp for 3-4 hours in a downpour. They worked well, wasn't hot. It was October though.”

“Marmot Precip jacket = Kicks major ass! Light & Compact.

Pants = REI. Cheap and waterproof in normal rain. Mine have a tear in the side but nothing some Duct tape can't fix.”

“I have SD $29.00 pants and Marmot Precips, can't remember what I paid for Marmot Precips but a lot more than that. If I had it to do all over I'd only buy the Sierra Designs cheapies (REI's are a knock-off, same basic product). Like Walkindude I'd spend $$ for a jacket, but rainpants just aren't worth it IMHO. All depends upon your clothes list, of course, but save the $$ and weight & just take an extra pair of hiking pants.”

“in warmer weather, i don't worry about it. if hiking, i don't even worry about a rain jacket if it is warm. only wear one in camp. why i asked the question was because i'm tired of doing this in the wet, colder times.

please, keep the info coming.”

“I have a lot of different rain pants,from 3 layer Goretex on down to coated nylon. I only use them if it's cold, but lately I'm thinking that chaps may be the way to go. They are lighter, better ventilation and nothing to get in the way under the hipbelt. That's the biggest problem with full zip pants. The zippers land right under the hipbelt and can cause discomfort. I wind up rolling the pants down below the hipbelt to try and keep the zippers out of the way. I'm going to make a pair of silnylon chaps and see how that works out. A rain coat covers the upper part so the crotch is redundant when you think about it. They should be extremely light and have enough air circulation that condensation shouldn't be bad. Not for bushwhacking though.”

“I saw a rain duster. Went all the way down to mid calf. Not a bad idea...”

“ghost uses a longer duster type rain coat.”

“at least he used to, before he went and bought one of those fancy pants marmot ones.”

“In NM, it almost always have mine in the mountains. When it gets warm, I open the zipper from boot top to mid thigh.”

“But that is for the frequent thunderstorms, hail and even snow on a summitt. Fall and spring they are a must.

I've also used poncho and gaiters here and that works pretty good too. In the Pecos, you can spend an amazing amount of time slopping through mud.”

“mine also double as winter outer layer with fleece or polypro underneath.”

“Equinox just came out with some sil-nylon chaps”

“I have the Red Ledge rain pants from Campmor. I generally find them too hot and sticky to wear while hiking in the rain. However, I do wear them sitting around the campsite if it is raining or if the mosquitoes are real bad. They are also an extra layer if it get colder than expected. I almost always bring them along.
dawn”

“I have a cheap pair I picked up from Target. They are probably not too good, but I would use them around camp or if it was cold as another layer.”