View Full Version : Rain Pants
appalachian.jackson
05-15-2007, 07:35
Well, it has come down to the piddly details. Piddly?, maybe a word, maybe not. So I'm looking for opinions on taking rain pants. I have some, but will I use them? I have gaiters. I'm only inerested in the pants to keep my feet dry, and Oh yeah, I'm SOBO.
Dustin
bigcranky
05-15-2007, 08:05
If you only want pants to keep your feet dry, and you already have gaiters, then you've probably answered your own question.
That said, however, do you have any other pants? Wind pants, nylon hiking pants, lightweight long john bottoms? Something to put on when it gets cold and windy up on a ridgeline or in camp? I know that many experienced hikers forgo the rain pants on long distance hikes. But my Golite Reed pants (<5 oz) usually make it into my pack except for short trips in very warm weather. They are often my only long leg coverings, and I use them on breaks and in camp, as well as in cold rain.
Feet dry? Give up on that one when it's soggy and rainy
Rainpants are totally unnessecary. I'd think about some wind pants just to keep the bugs away.
Footslogger
05-15-2007, 09:18
Bought em, carried them for a while, then sent them home.
Rain pants are like a lot of clothing/gear ...a very personal preference.
A pair of long nylon quick dry pants is a worthwhile thing to carry however rain pants tend to hold in a lot of warmth and slow me down. They trap heat which causes me to feel exhausted.
I hiked pretty near the entire trail in shorts and gaiters, low ones in warm months and high ones when the temps dropped.
'Slogger
A pair of long nylon quick dry pants is a worthwhile thing to carry however rain pants tend to hold in a lot of warmth and slow me down. They trap heat which causes me to feel exhausted.
'Slogger
I'll second that. I actually prefer to wear my Adidas Revolution pants (nylon, mesh lining, rain & wind resistent) in the summer as they are cool to wear and they protect my skin from overgrown plants/grasses crowding the trail in the summer, especially with dew in the a.m.
They're nice to have to put on when its cooler at night, and with a pair of long underwear underneath, they can be very warm when it really dips. The only way I see "rain pants" being useful is in winter conditions, or perhaps the Whites.
Quick dry Columbia nylon pants with zip off legs. Best of both worlds. Just my personal preference...
Quick dry Columbia nylon pants with zip off legs. Best of both worlds. Just my personal preference...
I see a lot of folks with the zip offs, but for me, I don't like how the inevitable ridge around the zipper rubs on my legs. I've never hiked in them for many miles to know if its an actual problem, or just one I perceive as a potential one.
I'm 5'10" 195lbs and I have pretty big thighs for my height and the zippers have never been an issue. They're almost at my knees anyway so they're not at a constrictive spot on my legs....
Oh and they have a nice flat tape overlap behind the zipper itself so when you zip off the legs it feels no different than the hem on any other pair of shorts...
:D [QUOTE=appalachian.jackson;363090]Well, it has come down to the piddly details. Piddly?, maybe a word, maybe not. So I'm looking for opinions on taking rain pants............................................. ........./QUOTE]
RAIN PANTS?????
THE INVENTOR SHOULD BE shot!
THEYRE Useless...& too damned hot!:D
Nightwalker
05-15-2007, 14:55
I see a lot of folks with the zip offs, but for me, I don't like how the inevitable ridge around the zipper rubs on my legs. I've never hiked in them for many miles to know if its an actual problem, or just one I perceive as a potential one.
It's a real one. I was given a pair of Columbias for Christmas. Wore them one trip. Wanna buy 'em cheap?
Nightwalker
05-15-2007, 14:56
Check out some Starter nylon/lined pants from W-Mart. Cheap, light and effective. I've got a decent set of rain pants, but they now stay at home.
hammock engineer
05-15-2007, 15:04
I'm starting off with some cheap campmor ones. I wear them to stay warm more than anything. It's on the list with the rest of my gear that if I don't use it I'll send it back.
Blissful
05-15-2007, 15:21
I used my rain pants when I was stuck in Overmountain shelter and it rained in on us. I also used them when I got to the shelter to go out in the rain for water etc. I have hiked in them but they are very hot and stuck to my legs going uphill. Not sure if I will carry them for the second part of my hike. May pick them up again for the WHites though.
I think gaiters contribute to blister problems. I sent mine home the first week. My nylon convertible pants kept debris out just fine. And in pouring rain with sloppy mud and rivers running down the trail, your feet WILL get soaked anyway. I think gaiters are useless, IMO.
As for zippers on convertible, you really need to try on the pants to see if it bugs you. Some did for me. I settled on Royal Robbins brand and LOVE them.
It's a real one. I was given a pair of Columbias for Christmas. Wore them one trip. Wanna buy 'em cheap?
And that's the other side of the coin. They don't work for everyone.
hammock engineer
05-15-2007, 15:33
You might want to keep them in mind for the cold sections in the south. For me at least I like to wear them in the cold, or at least a warm up layer when I wake up.
BigwaveDave
05-15-2007, 15:45
I use a set of goretex mil surplus rain suit. I like hooded jacket it keeps me dry. Its a little heavy but it works nice and with a long sleved capelene shirt if it gets chilly. The pants didn't work out. I'd rather just hike in shorts. Never cared for gaiters.
The General
05-15-2007, 16:42
Just simply not required, leave em at home.
In summer, Frogg Toggs are the only long pants that I carry. I wear them sometimes in the rain, when it's cool, and when going through poison ivy patches. Doesn't keep my feet dry.
Johnny Swank
05-15-2007, 17:56
The sooner you give up the notion of dry feet, the happier you will be. Fast drying shoes/sandles/boots are where it's at.
As far as rainpants, I carry a pair I made out of silnylon most of the year for warmth more than anything else. They weigh something like 3.5 ounces, and I'm sure that I'd pack something (like too much food every single resupply) if I didn't carry them. Rarely worn, and I could probably just as well wrap up in my groundcloth if things went south unexpectidely to be honest.