Some models only had a quarter-l

Some models only had a quarter-length zipper near the cuff of the pant. pants hiking deluge berghaus waterproof After extensive testing, we found that the Marmot Minimalist, OR Foray, and Arc'teryx Zeta SL kept us the driest in both real-world and side-by-side testing. Weight is an important factor when selecting rain gear for outdoor activities. We own and field test every product we recommend, which is sadly not the norm. CONDENSATION - If youre wearing rain pants on a cold rainy day, condensation will likely form on the inside fabric. We loved that the 3/4 zipper saved a bit of weight and didn't require a bulky closure system near the waist of the pant. This leads us to its primary drawback; while perfect as a just-in-case pant that you may put on for an afternoon thunderstorm or a couple of times during a week-long backpacking trip, it simply isn't as durable or breathable for someone who anticipates a great deal of aerobic use. Rain, sleet, or snow will not penetrate the fabrics that make up these pants. The North Face Venture Half-Zip offers a nice balance of price and functionality, most packable pant in our review was the Outdoor Research Helium, the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Lightweight, excellent stormworthiness, packable, sweet 3/4 length side zips, impressive breathability, Lightweight, stormworthy, quiet fabric, good breathability, 3/4 length side zips, effective elastic cuffs, Durable, among the most weather resistant on the market, comfortable fit, excellent mobility, Mega stretchy fabric, best breathability in the review, built in belt is the bomb, By far the lightest and most compact pant in our review, great mobility, elastic waist band is extremely comfortable and functional, No pockets, waist band is not as nice as others, expensive, No zip fly, one marginally useful pocket, DWR didn't last as long as other models and needed to be retreated more frequently, Ankle length zips, no venting options, no waist tightening/cinching options, no belt-loops, Not quite as abrasion resistant as other models, so-so weather-resistance, Less durable than most, hard to pull on over boots, Lightweight, yet tough, comfortable, and articulated enough for a week long backpacking trips where it rains every day, Highly protective pants that are light and compact for tucking away in your backpack, A basic, few-frills Gore-Tex pant that offers fantastic storm protection and mobility; it sacrifices little convenience for weight, without giving up anything in the way of performance, A fantastic all-around pant with rad stretchy fabric, which offers exceptional freedom of movement and the best breathability, Hard to beat for any trip where weight and packed space are at a premium - as long as there isn't too much off-trail travel, where their lower than average durability could be an issue, 2.5 Layer Gore-tex with PacLite Technology, 50D 100% Polyester w / Gore-tex PacLite Waterproof Breathable Membrane, 30D 100 Nylon Ripstop w/ Pertex Shield+ Waterproof Breathable Insert, This performance oriented all-around model is stormworthy enough for rainy week long backpacking trips but light enough to throw in the bottom of your pack as a just-in-case layer on day hikes, Waterproof and breathable rain pants that protect well and go largely unnoticed in your backpack, The Minimalist is a basic pant that screams mobility and storm protection, The Ozonic offers some of the best breathability and mobility in our fleet, An excellent choice where packed space and weight are a priority, Hikers on a budget, with limited and short exposure to truly foul weather will dig these pants as an emergency product in the bottom of your pack, Simple, basic shell pants for typical casual use, You can certainly buy a nicer pair of rain pants but you'll find it difficult to buy a better pair for the price, For the price this is tough to beat; they are breathable, wallet-friendly, and feature full-length zippers, REI's offering is friendly on the wallet, and is versatile and storm-worthy; however, it's not as light as others in our fleet, The Rebel Roamer won't break the bank; while it doesn't boast a ton of extras, it's storm worthy and versatile, It is a small niche that these pants fill; for that niche, they are very well made and virtually over-prepared, Versatile and a decent weight, this model is perfect for downhill skiing or day hikes. saveandshopcollections ZIPPERS - Zippers on rain pants have two functions: they add ventilation and help you thermoregulate, and they make it easier to put on and take off the pants. This is because if it is really raining hard opening vents to "stay cool" is a sure way to get wet. The fabric is soft and stretchy, and the cut is close and athletic; the pants weigh just 10 ounces and pack smaller than most t-shirts. If you have more questions or a suggestion, wed love to hear from you! Rain pants can see a lot of wear, often even more so than their upper body counterparts. While most people don't end up wearing their rain pants as frequently as their rain jacket, they are exposed to more threats. We liked the Marmot Precip's low profile drawstring closure, but the Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic's built-in flat webbing waist belt was the cream of the crop for comfort and functionality. There are a vast number of hardshell jackets available Our testers live and breathe mountains - and guide them You shouldnt have to worry about your feet when the bad From the showers of spring and summer thunderstorms to the We spent hundreds of days testing 15 of the best Best Backpacking Backpacks for Women of 2022. This leads many people to think that their rain gear is failing even though its still waterproof and doing its job. These experiences help us amass a wealth of data on each rain pant to objectively compare each product. This review focuses on a broad range of rain pant designs and features. Some ultralight pants weigh less than the Ozonics, but we like them so much that we take them backpacking trips when theres significant rain in the forecast. They're a little smaller than the compared models above but still more substantial than the Helium. A large fall storm rolled through and we "took advantage" of the conditions on an extended backpacking trip. Full-length zippers are an obvious weight trade-off. Wearing lightweight synthetic hiking pants, shorts, or base layer pants underneath will help move moisture away from your skin and keep you more comfortable too. PROS: Affordable, ultralight, pack into their own pocket, more durable than most UL pants, CONS: Limited ventilation and more difficult to put on/take off without removing shoes due to short zippers. Rain pants that have full-length zippers allow the most airflow and are the easiest to put on and take off without removing your shoes. Your rain pants will walk down overgrown trails, play near crampons, and crawl over logs. montane regenhose antipioggia pantaloni hardshellhose impermeables pluie bergfreunde If you liked this list, youll love the CleverHiker Gear Guide where we test and recommend tons of outdoor adventure gear from a variety of categories. These models needed to have beefy Velcro or snap closure at the waist (near the top of the zipper along the waist area); if not robust enough, our pants would come undone and sometimes slide down. Rain skirts and kilts have become a popular alternative to rain pants in the ultralight backpacking world. While breathability and ventilation are essential in keeping their wearer dry, these two factors do not play an equal role. Overall, the Rainier are well-designed and are some of the best affordable rain pants on the market. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. We also found that we could still pull these pants over most light-to-medium weight footwear. No ads. BOTTOM LINE: If you prefer a streamlined clothing system, the Montbell Versalite (mens / womens) are a good minimalist option. Confidence in your ability to control your temperature with clothing and movement will come with practice. The Outdoor Research Helium is the best option for folks who put a premium on every extra ounce and cubic inch of space in their pack. While differences in fabric have a big impact on breathability and longevity, the water resistance a given pant has more to do with its design than the actual fabric. At the very least, it's likely to have a little more solitude. We're Dave & Annie, the outdoor adventurers behind CleverHiker. Don't let a poor forecast keep you from embarking on a hike or backpacking trip you've been planning for ages. All the pants we tested have the seams taped after sewing, offering as watertight of a package as possible. It is worth noting that the Helium and the Ozonic Pants are durable enough for most hiking and backpacking trips - as long as there is only minimal bushwhacking and you take care crawling over downed trees and the like. Unlike Gore-Tex, Dry.Q Elite is air permeable and doesn't require the wearer to build up heat in exchange for breathability. pants hiking waterproof fleeced 4ucycling pants rain the10pro A trusty pair of rain pants should be in every outdoor adventurer's gear arsenal. We live for outdoor adventure, and we take these guides very seriously. Zippers along the sides of rain pants are great for letting excess heat escape if you get too warm while hiking uphill or being active. We take the time to test each product in the field while hiking, biking, and exploring through all sorts of rain. fashioncornerstone Pockets are useful features, adding to a pants ease of use and functionality. waterproof paclite The Vertice Pants have extra-wide legs for airflow and easier dressing. Some of the best rain skirts & kilts we know of are: Rain pants can protect your bottom layers from wet snow. backcountry Our reputation is our most important asset, which is why we only provide completely honest and unbiased recommendations. There are times when we put rain pants on before we hit the trail, such as dewy mornings when theres lots of wet vegetation and we dont expect to be going uphill right away. packable These types of features were particularly nice for snowy applications because they helped keep snow out of your boots while snowshoeing or hiking and made it less likely that you'd catch a crampon on them while climbing or mountaineering. After spending several hours researching different products and making a selection for this review, we purchased each product (at retail) to test each product in hand. The primary limitation, as it pertains to function, is in durability. It suited us fine for mountaineering above treeline or backpacking on a trail, but it's ill-equipped for thorny bushwacks or canyoneering adventures where the material might rip. BOTTOM LINE: If ultimate weight savings is what youre after, the Zpacks Vertice (mens / womens) are tough to beat. Most people carry their rain pants in their packs more often than they end up wearing them, and thus, we weighted weight higher in our scoring metric than other pieces of technical outerwear we've tested. Most shell pant manufacturers design pants with full and three-quarter length side zippers to make them easier to put on and take off without removing your shoes. The last model worth noting on the more price-pointed end of the spectrum is the Marmot PreCip Full Zip and regular 1/4 zip iterations. Rain pants with hip pockets are nice, but you won't actually put your hands in them all that often. The Marmot PreCip Full Zip received a multitude of high scores but was the most prone to coming un-velcroed while wearing a backpack. pants waterproof hiking rain minimus ss17 montane That said, theyre some of the comfiest rain pants, and theyre super light and packable. Even more than the obvious bushwhacking and overgrown trailing hiking, many folks don't think about the times when you sit down on a log for a break, or when you kneel down to fill up your water bottle at a stream. Photo: Graham Zimmerman climbing a new route on Los Gemelos, Torres del Paine area of Chilean Patagonia. It can be challenging to utilize ventilation if it's raining with any amount of volume. When they aren't guiding, Jed and Ian spend most of their time pursuing their own outdoor objectives. Campaign Zero How well they keep us dry is more a matter of design. This was one of my favorite shots from the hike. The Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic and the REI Talusphere Full-Zip performed nearly as well. We do tests to find out. Being able to dump a little heat especially once it has stopped raining, between storms, or is if it is only misting is certainly an additional benefit. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. The North Face Venture Half-Zip offers a nice balance of price and functionality. Even though nylon and polyester are both quite water repellant to begin with, if they aren't treated with a DWR (or once their DWR has worn off), they will absorb moisture. Here, assessing mobility in a driving South American rain storm. However, if we weren't working as hard or it's warmer out, the Stretch Ozonic offers superior breathability. For example, if it's raining hard or you're simply walking up a wet, brushy, or overgrown trail, having your side zippers open isn't an option. The following rain pants didnt make our final list, but theyre very popular and theyve still got a lot of good things going for them. gearweare 2-, 2.5- & 3- LAYER PANTS - The number of layers rain pants have helps determine how waterproof and breathable they will be. Among full-zip models, we liked the Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic. hiking five pants point hiking waterproof face north There are some great options that are designed with comfort, movement, and hip-belt compatibility in mind. A rain pant should keep its user dry in the rain, whether hiking, backpacking, watching a sporting event, or out walking the dog. However, after extensive testing, most of our testers preferred the 3/4 length designs because they still offered nearly all the benefits of full-length models while being slightly lighter and typically more comofrtable in the waist area. It boasts impressive stormworthiness, weight, and packed volume that we found comparable to many high-end options. The Outdoor Research Helium Mens / Womens only have ankle-zips, but they still breathe pretty well since theyre made with lightweight materials. hiking pants waterproof tent In this category, we compared several features that made a given model easier to use. It is in duress that the full zip attribute of a pair of shell pants becomes truly valuable. These are the pants you choose for superior weather protection but will carry in your pack most of the time. While most models come in men's and women's versions, we find they often perform differently for men and women. tbmpoy cargopants Even among the selected models, which are all designed to be lighter weight, there was a significant difference in weight. When it starts to rain, it is rarely convenient to remove your footwear; because of this, we gave higher scores to models that were quicker to pull on without removing our boots or shoes. The most robust pants we tested were the Marmot Minimalist, Outdoor Research Foray, and The North Face Venture Half Zip; these competitors exceeded our expectations for durability. Dont put your rain pants on until you start to feel chilled (see When to Put Your Rain Pants on below). What differentiates the performance when a light sprinkle turns to a downpour mostly comes down to each model's overall design, including pocket closures, how well various vents stayed closed, and to a slightly lesser extent, the longevity of the outer materials DWR. BOTTOM LINE: If youre on a budget and weight isnt your chief concern, the REI Rainier Full-Zip (mens / womens) are a great option for all-around use. MEASURED WEIGHT (MENS LARGE): 9.25 oz. On a super wet hike near snow line on Chile's Volcan Llaima, lead test editor Jed Porter took multiple opportunities to swap pants. If you expect to contend with a lot of severe weather or rugged terrain, you might want to go with a thicker pair of heavy-duty rain pants. All of our testers appreciated the benefits of side zippers. Brrrr. The Zetas also have a trim, natural-looking fit that we dare say is stylish for rain pants. Read review: Outdoor Research Foray Pants. climbing GearLab is reader-supported. This means they keep breathing even if once you have stopped working hard, something that products using Gore-Tex and other ePTFE fabrics can't do nearly as well. CleverHiker.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. five pants point hiking waterproof face north You'll be turned on to new videos, trip reports, gear reviews, inspiring outdoor stories and much more. The DWR used on the Marmot PreCip Full Zip, Marmot Minimalist, and Arc'teryx Zeta SL stood out above the rest. Also, be sure to check out our CleverHiker Gear Guide to see all of our top gear picks. The next lightest pants we tested are the non-full-zip Marmot Precip and the Arc'teryx Zeta SL, which both weigh an impressive 8.0 and 8.6 ounces, respectively.