Do I need rain pants?

[soilman]

I carry rain pants because I don't carry a spare pair of shorts or pants. I only wore them on the trail once going over Max Patch in freezing rain and snow at the end of April. Used them mostly at the laundromat.

[WILLIAM HAYES]

its a mixed bag some hikers do carry them some dont I carry them to stay warm while hiking in a cold rain my legs have been damn cold in late april in windy conditions and I was glad I had light weight rain pants.

[dcurryjr007]

Which rain kilt do you have or use?

[Traveler]

I carry rain pants, but I bushwhack a lot which eliminates Frog Toggs and other thin material. I use a heavier type that has full length side zips for ventilation and are very easy to get into/out of. They do a good job of keeping my legs dry and warm in rain and/or wind and provide protection from water soaked vegetation along the sides of a trail. They do add weight, however given the risk of being cold and the consequences of that condition, for me the decision is an easy one. I do a lot of solitary hiking and backpacking, hypothermia is one of my chief concerns so perhaps I am a little over cautious. Like a rain/wind jacket, I consider rain/wind pants to be part of the critical gear list.

[Skyline]

I've used rain pants maybe 10x in 23+ years. The only time I'd say they were absolutely necessary had nothing to do with rain. It was for a layer of protection against very sharp, jagged vegetation encroaching on a trail. Most of the AT is well maintained, so YMMV.

[Fredt4]

YMMV,
If you have to ask, yes they'really necessary.

[Snowleopard]

I'd carry them to protect against hypothermia in a cold rain even below tree line. From the White Mts. north, I'd say rain pants are necessary to avoid hypothermia above treeline. In summer, the New England mountains can have temps in the 30s, torrential downpours and very high winds. This puts you at high risk of hypothermia. I'm not sure that Frogg Toggs are sturdy enough for above tree line in New England; I'd want a better fitting rain parka than Frogg Toggs for above tree line in New England.

It's worth reading the book, "Not without peril", http://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-Pe...+without+peril, used on Amazon for as cheap as 50 cents. A good lesson is reading the chapter on MacDonald Barr, died August 1986 on Mt. Madison of hypothermia.

[evyck da fleet]

You may want them in camp at the beginning and end of your hike. Unless it rained all day I didn't need rain pants but I did like being able to put them on to stay warm whenever it did rain and hanging out at night when it got cold either from rain, becasue I was atop a mountain or in a gap where the wind funneled between the mountains.

If you're a big dude from the northeast with lots of hair on your legs who hikes warm your answer may be very different from a southern girl who hikes cold and isn't going for the Wookie look with her legs.

[OldTrailDog]

I have worn wool or synthetic pants underneath goretex rain pants and OR goretex gaiters for years during the fall rain and snow season in wilderness in Montana and Wyoming. However, for the AT it will be Arcteryx nylon wind pants and zpack kilt.

[CamelMan]

a southern girl who hikes cold and isn't going for the Wookie look with her legs.

Patty, is that you? Just kidding, I like the natural look.

Anyway, from the posts it looks like the key is temperature. Mostly, I remember packing my rain pants, but not using them. Usually I carry a 3/4 or full length lower-body base layer (at least for sleep), and put shorts on top of that. So, if the solution to my problem is switching shorts out for long pants, or covering my already base-layered legs with waterproof nylon, then yes, would consider putting on the rain pants. Otherwise, it's up to you, based on your experience.

In 2013 in April, in GA, I was slackpacking (daypacking out of Hiker Hostel--with my own pack but less gear) in some classic hypothermia weather: cold, wet, and low 40s. (Yes I got lost on Blood Mtn for the 2nd time in my life, but had enough sense to realize it and even helped somebody who had never been there, just because I heard a voice.) It would have been great to have some rain pants. More than great, actually, because I had to rely on getting inside Mtn Crossings to warm up and wait for the van. So if I wasn't slackpacking there was potential for real trouble, which to me means I failed. At least a little.

The only time I actually remember having rain pants on is as wind pants, during a "wind storm" down here in the Smokys, when I went hiking just for fun. But that's not an answer for you and how you hike. Try them out and see what temperatures you like them in. Cold and wind are great reasons, but you may or may not have to find some others.

[High Mileage]

I didn't use mine a whole lot, but it was a 50/50 between cold rain and cold.
There is a wide range in which they become useless, but if they are really breathable instead of saying breathable they can be extremely useful in select situations.
Mostly it will be extra wbut I used Zpacks and they breath very well and come in handy when I really need them.

[bigcranky]

I'm with Fred on this one, if you have to ask, you need to carry rain pants. Go go antigravitygear.com and order a pair of silnylon rain pants, they are very light and can be used in cold rain, or as a layer around camp when it's very cold. They are not remotely "breathable" but then again most "breathable" fabrics aren't either. The AGG pants will last much longer than Frogg Toggs and the like, and don't cost a lot. And they probably fit better, based on my Frogg Toggs experience.

[brendathompson71]

in the past i used my rain pants all the time, I love them... but mine weighted way to much.. so now I either need to go with ones that are about 4 ounces (don't want to spend the money) or go without... and honestly I go back and forth.... I may just attract the rain I hear a lot of people say they never use them and didn't need them... I tend to spend almost as much time in the rain as without rain.

[AlyontheAT2016]

I decided to go with Frogg Togg pants, since I more than likely (hopefully) will not be wearing them every day for a month straight. They will do the trick. Thanks everyone for your input!

[Water Rat]

I decided to go with Frogg Togg pants, since I more than likely (hopefully) will not be wearing them every day for a month straight. They will do the trick. Thanks everyone for your input!

It's not likely you will need them that often - one hopes! They will be nice to have on exposed ridges up north, as well as in the evenings. Best wishes for a safe and happy hike!

[Migrating Bird]

I decided to go with Frogg Togg pants, since I more than likely (hopefully) will not be wearing them every day for a month straight. They will do the trick. Thanks everyone for your input!

Very wise decision, from Hanover to Katahdin - Aug-Oct they are most helpful.