Finished with a drawstring waist and stirrup cuffs, theyll stay snug and secure all day long (and so will any items you place in the side pocket). Wirecutters Anna Perling wrote the first version of this guide in 2019 and interviewed several rain-gear experts, including Susan Sokolowski, an associate professor and the director of the sports product design program at the University of Oregon; Sean Michael, the program director for the outdoor product design and development program at Utah State University; and Stephen Regenold, the founder of GearJunkie, who is well known for his outdoor-gear knowledge. Made from 100% recycled nylon for minimal impact on the environment.
You can re-treat your pants to maintain them. The ArcTeryx Beta pants (available in mens and womens versions) are the most insulating and durable rain pants we tested. Drying your pants on low for a short time can help reactivate the DWR, too. Patagonias Torrentshell 3L Pants (available in mens and womens versions) are similar to our top pick, but they are an ounce heavier, and theyre more expensive at this writing. Although you probably dont need rain pants during lighter showers or warmer weather, a good pair of rain pants can help you stay dry and comfortable when youre hiking in heavy rain or colder climates. This is the gear wed use duringand aftera rainy-day outing. Susan Sokolowski, associate professor and director of the sports product design program at the University of Oregon, phone interview, July 12, 2017, Sean Michael, professor and program director for the outdoor product design and development program at Utah State University, phone interview, July 13, 2017, Stephen Regenold, founder, Gear Junkie, email interview, July 17, 2017, How to Choose Rainwear, REI, April 7, 2016. They are available in regular, short, and long versions to accommodate multiple heights. (The womens version unzipped only to the calves.) (The temperature was around 48 degrees Fahrenheit in the rain forest.) But the Torrentshell pants dont offer any inseam-length variations (they come in a 32- to 32-inch inseam), so if youre shorter or taller, these pants may not fit you quite as well as our top pick. Compared with the other pants we tested, the Beta pants dont just cause water to bead offthey repel water with force. Materials: Most of the pants in this guide are coated with a DWR film and made from materials ranging from nylon to polyurethane to polyester. If you wash or put these products in the dryer, the membrane will start to fall off, said Sokolowski. Mobility: Youll probably be moving around a lot in your rain pants, so its important that the pants move with your body. Avid hiker and photographer Kim Mock helped with testing plus-size rain pants for this guide in 2022. These pants are attractive, but they have a wider boot cut, which makes them feel like snow pants. The fabric looks and feels identical to that of the PreCip pants. Youll be able to get a more customized fit if you opt for pants with an adjustable waist, too, whether the pants use a drawstring, elastic cord, or belt. Previously an editor on the Wirecutter outdoors team (where she edited the first version of this guide), she now covers parenting, baby/kid, outdoor, and travel gear. Full-zip pants unzip from the ground all the way to the waistband. Weve added new upgrade picks, the womens ArcTeryx Beta Pant and the mens ArcTeryx Beta AR Pant, which are suitable for cold weather and alpine hikes. JavaScript settings can usually be found in your browser's Tools or Preferences menu. Subscribe now for unlimited access. Up ahead, four of the best rain pants for women on Amazon! Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. A membrane like a Gore-Tex membrane is actually laminated to the outside fabric. Thats where true waterproof pants come in. We conducted an eyedropper and spray test (per Sokolowskis advice) to see whether the water soaked through or beaded on pants. These pants have thigh-high zippers, which make them easy to get on and off. Good rain pants should have taped or sealed zippers and seams, too, to keep water out. Even so, this test illustrated that some pants were more effective at repelling water than others: Water droplets practically jumped off several pairs of pants while clinging to the fabric of other pairs. Utah State Universitys Sean Michael recommended looking into company-specific washes or treatments. Columbia Womens Storm Surge Rain Pants: The Storm Surge pants come in plus sizes in the womens version. If you do want to buy a kilt, we like the Zpacks DCF Rain Kilt. Although the PreCip pants are still roomy enough to move around in and to pull over base layers, they have a narrower cut than any other rain pants we tested and a better range of inseam lengths to fit people of different heights. Enjoy exclusive offers, the latest on products, and new ways to get outdoors. A few labels, including that of our pick, specified powder detergent. We took that list of top models and narrowed the group based on the following criteria: Layers: Rain gear is categorized by how many layers its made from. Share your opinions with other L.L.Bean customers. Copyright. These pants caused water to bead off well enough, and our tester said that she didnt feel wet even after a long slog in the rain. She also spoke with Liz Thomas, an accomplished lightweight thru-hiker and a former writer on the outdoors team at Wirecutter. During our water and wash tests, the Beta pants felt hardier than competitors. Despite their wider range of sizes (up to XXL), however, ArcTeryx clothing tends to run narrow, so youll probably want to try them on before you buy. The PreCip Eco Pants come in three inseam lengths (short, regular, and long) in both mens and womens versions, and they were among the few pants in our pile that proved to be true to size. While the brand doesnt make any claims about wind resistance, some reviewers have confirmed that this pair has effectively kept the wind out. These lightweight, comfortable pants will keep you dry through rainy hikes. They were manufactured in partnership with BLUESIGN, ensuring a sustainable and safe textile production thats environmentally conscious.
Theyre basic, waterproof pants with a few standout features: They have long ankle zippers that make them easier to get on and off than the PreCip pairs, as well as articulated knees, and theyre more breathable than many of the other options we tested. Columbia Mens Rebel Roamer Rain Pants: Though the Rebel Roamer pants have two snaps at the ankles to help taper the legs, they lack ankle zippers, which makes them difficult to get on and off. We lunged, jumped, rolled around in wet grass, splashed ourselves with river water, knelt in puddles, and rubbed our butts against mossy trees and gravel. Then, we repeated the eyedropper and spray test to observe any differences (there werent any). Theyre also more affordable than many of the other pants we tested. They also have zippered side pockets. That is, if your zippers break or get stuck on a pair of half-zip pants, youre still mostly covered. And these pants are likely to stand the test of time longer than our other picks because of the fabric. Marmots pants kept us dry while we walked for several miles in heavier-than-usual rain and wind in Portland, Oregon. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Water didnt soak through any of the pants, so they were all baseline waterproof. They arent the quietest pants, either. The cuffs are reinforced with scuff-resistant ballistic panels and are zipped to allow for the easy on-and-off of boots. Many hikers dont need to bother with rain pants, especially if you hike when its warm, said Stephen Regenold, founder of GearJunkie. The ankles had only shin zippers and Velcro (no buttons), and one tester reported that the REI pants stuck to her legs during a rainstorm, even though they initially repelled water. As for the price, the PreCip Eco Pants are at the lower end of the high-end rain pants we tested and at the higher end of the cheaper options. For this reason, we eliminated any pants that weighed more than a pound. The North Face Venture 2 Half Zip Pants (womens): Although the Venture 2 pants come in three inseam lengths for the womens versions, the long and short versions are harder to find in stores.
Ultimately, because all of our candidates proved to be waterproof enough, we made our picks based on sizing options, price, fit, and features. Instead, the PreCip pants fit well and were easy to move in; we also found their legs roomy enough to pull on over layers and then walk in. [The term] waterproof [means its] a complete barrier to water, and water resistant means that some water will get through, said the University of Oregons Susan Sokolowski. At more than triple the cost of our top pick, these pants are a splurge. Usually its a cost decision, so if you get pants that are fully waterproof, theyre more expensive. If Marmots PreCip Eco Pants are unavailable, Patagonias Torrentshell 3L Pants (available in mens and womens versions) are nearly identical to our top pick. When the DWR membrane starts to visibly flake off, thats a sign that your rain gear is failing. TEK waterproof technology blocks the elements while maintaining breathable comfort. If youre somewhere warmer or in a place with intermittent rain, a breathable pair of water-resistant pants might be enough. We also consulted REIs handy rain-gear guide throughout our research and writing process. However, we can vouch for using our rain pants in non-hiking situations on occasion, too: Well layer them over long johns to go out in the rare Portland, Oregon, snowstorm, pop them on for a shoulder-season snowshoe, don them while biking, or put them on for a messy garden job. Jenni has been writing and editing product reviews for almost a decade, with bylines in Wirecutter, Reviewed, Slate, and beyond. When youre faced with chilly weather, a pair of insulated, water-repellant pants is crucial. Because of that extra layer, these pants are slightly heavier than the PreCip pants, with a pair of mens regular pants weighing 10 ounces and a pair of womens regular pants weighing 9.3 ounces. In 2019 and 2022, we first tried on all the rain pants to observe how easy they were to move around in, how comfortable they were, how loud and swishy the fabric was, how easy they were to get on and off, and how well they fit. Both are made from ripstop nylon, although Patagonia recently updated its design to be 3-layer, in contrast to Marmots 2.5-layer design. Because rain pants often have ankle zippers or snap cuffs that would make alterations difficult, its important to find a pair with the right size and cut for you. Kim Mock took rain pants out into the Colorado wilds during the spring months, as well. The result is a 3-layer construction that breathes well but still keeps you dry. If you want extended sizes in short or tall lengths: Consider the Eddie Bauer Cloud Cap Rain Pants (mens and womens stretch). And although the zippers on the womens PreCip pants are plenty long, theyre not as long as the zippers on Patagonias Torrentshell pants. We didnt get much rain during our trip to the Hoh Rain Forest, but at least we had a river to splash in. This guide isnt for ultralight hikers, most of whom probably dont want the added weight of a situational accessory. And the fabric felt breathable during a steamy hike in the Hoh Rain Forest at Washingtons Olympic National Park. The key is that theyre made with Gore-Tex Paclite material, which is totally windproof and waterproof, as well as exceptionally lightweight.
They also come in three inseam lengths. We may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was written by our Commerce team. Plus, full-zip pants are often more expensive than half-zip options. To find the best pair, we spent 45 hours conducting research, speaking to experts, conducting a killer wash test, and chasing rain through Oregon, Colorado, and Washington. Marmots PreCip Eco Pants (available in mens and womens versions) will keep you dry just as well as the competition for a lower price, and theyre available in a wider array of inseam lengths. The biggest drawback with these pants is their fit: If youre shorter or taller than their inseams accommodate, you may be tripping over these pants or finding that they dont cover you adequately. Both the mens and womens models come only in black. Brooks gazes wistfully into the sky, looking for rain. Water didnt bead up and jump off the PreCip pants quite as well as it did off the ArcTeryx Beta pants, but neither did the water cling to the Marmot pairs fabric. The rain pants in this guide are instead meant for everyday hikers and backpackerstheyre not designed for full-submersion situations like angler fishing or kayaking. Overall, the womens version felt more like hiking pants than rain pants, and the mens option (which comes in regular or tall, S to XXL, non-stretch) was boxy. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that they have side slits to give you access to the pockets on your base layer some shoppers have noted that water has seeped in through these spots, and suggested affixing Velcro tabs to keep them closed. Columbia Storm Surge Waterproof Rain Pants, Mountain Warehouse Waterproof Rain Over-Pants, E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E Is Wearing Platform Sneakers This Summer Instead Of Sandals, The Best Walking Shoes For Flat Feet & Overpronation, According To A Podiatrist, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. Youre also likely to get water on your base layers when you remove full-zip rain pants. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company. The two zippered mesh side pockets let you stash whatever you need to keep accessible. The womens sizes are also a splurge. If you want a pair thats really impervious to water, your best bet will be to look for a brand that has a proprietary fabric technology (like Omni-Tech) thats designed with multiple layers (including the aforementioned DWR-coated membrane) to guarantee waterproof performance. These 2.5-layer, ripstop-nylon pants are made with 100% recycled fabric and have ankle zips to help you get them over your boots. To find the best rain pants, we spent 15 hours combing through reviews of mens and womens rain pants, reading 11 other guides in all. If youre looking for extended sizes in rain pants: Consider the Outdoor Research Helium Rain Pants (currently available only in womens sizes XS to XXXL). Made from a breathable polyester material thats coated with a proprietary watertight membrane, they are ideal for light-to-average amounts of rainfall, but may not stand up to heavier conditions (though, according to some reviewers, they will keep the wind out). Anna Perling tested rain pants in Portland, Oregon, a city notorious for its rain. But if zippers break on a pair of full-zip rain pants, your entire leg is exposed, defeating the point of the rain pants altogether.
Details, (Most orders will arrive in 2-5 business days), L.L.Bean is a registered trademark of L.L.Bean Inc. This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan. Your current browser is no longer supported on llbean.com. Likewise, they have Velcro-adjustable cuffs, taped seams, and an elastic waistband. If youre trekking through a cold, very wet environment or hiking in rain for extended periods of time, you should have completely waterproof pants. Based on our latest testing, we chose Marmots PreCip Eco Pants, which come in mens and womens sizes, as the best rain pants for most people. And we found that to be true during our testing. Rain pants are a just-in-case item that youll rarely need to take out of your baguntil you really, really do. Ankle zippers at the cuffs made pulling the pants over our boots easy, and we liked that the mens pants had a full zipper, from the waist of the pants down to the ankle. If you have mountain or winter hikes coming up, theyre worth the splurge. For a quick walk through the woods or muddy outdoor chores, any of our picks will work just fine. But during our testing, they werent breathable (likely due to their shell and their mesh lining). With a quality cut and the relative stretch of the fabric, the gusset starts to become secondary unless someone is really doing bouldering or face climbing., Ease of use: Ankle zippers are important because they let you easily don and shed your rain pants as you hike. After reading the labels on all of the pants and kilts in our test group to make sure we followed the manufacturers instructions, we used powder detergent, washed the pants in cold water for five hours, and air-dried them. However, Patagonia doesnt offer various inseam options for the Torrentshell pants (they come in a 32- to 32-inch inseam), so they may be too long or short for many peopleand if they dont fit you well in that regard, you may end up tripping over your pants or showing some damp, chilly ankle. Usually, [you should] follow the suggested manufacturers care [instructions]. For our wash test, we looked at the care label on each pair of pants. The Torrentshell pants have two zippered side pockets covered with a fabric shelf, and the pants fold and zip into one of the mesh pockets once youve taken them off, in case youre looking for an option that you can easily stuff into a backpack. For hiking and other long treks, a looser fit that can move with you is key. While researching how outdoor-clothing brands test their rainwear, we came across Patagonias Killer Wash tests and reached out to Matt Dwyer, Patagonias director of materials and development, to learn more; Dwyer told us that Patagonias initial wash tests involve running rain gear through continuous five-, 12-, or 24-hour cycles. Theyre finished with belt loops, a zippered fly, and a button closure. These pockets have a protective fabric shelf, and Marmots most recent update to the PreCip design added fully taped seams, which means you can trust that your phone will stay dry during a true downpour. The standard-size Helium pants were less well-loved among our testers, simply because they did not measure up to the comfort and durability of our top pick and runner-up pick. These pants are just as dry and comfortable in the rain. Most of the half-zip pants we considered also come in full-zip versions if youre set on having extra venting. Also, its loud. Nylon and polyester are the most common and are considered to be water-resistant, which means youll be kept dry but could eventually get some soak-through. The Torrentshell pairs did just as good a job as the PreCip pants when it came to keeping us dry in Portland, Oregon, rain and staying breathable on our hike in a rain forest. We considered articles from The Adventure Junkies, Backpacker, GearLab, and Outside, in addition to many blog posts and forums. Some functionality on this page requires JavaScript to be enabled in your Web browser. And if the weather turns gusty as it often does with rain youll appreciate it if your pants are also wind resistant. Every product will have a sewn-on care label.
Half-zip pants, which have zippers running from about knee height to the pants cuffs, allow you to pull your pants off over hiking boots more easily. These pants also lack ankle zippers and are difficult to get on and off over shoes. We also looked for pants that offered petite, plus size, and multiple inseam-length options. Our plus-size and petite womens testers both found the waist a bit snug, and our legs got cold during rainy hikes because the fabric was fairly thin. Most of all, she preferred the style of the Helium pants; many plus-size pants are boxy, but these allowed enough room for layering without looking baggy. For the cost, these pants offer the best value of all the pants we tested. They also have zippers at the ankles that allow for breathability, and they weigh just 5.5 ounces. These come backed by over 20,000 five-star ratings (no typo) and its all thanks to the technical details: They were created with a woven polyester fabric coated in a DWR finish and insulated to a temperature rating of -20 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Weight: Even if you consider yourself more of a weekend warrior than an ultralight hiker, rain pants shouldnt take up a lot of weight in your pack, because theyll probably be in there most of the time. They come in 30- and 32-inch inseams. If youre hiking in a warmer climate, you probably dont need rain pants. And, while neoprene may not be the conventional go-to for a pair of bike pants, if you are looking for more legging-style rain pants for cycling, a handful of Amazon fans pointed out that these work especially well keeping you dry and warm during cold-weather showers. Best of all? Like many of the other rain pants we tested, the ArcTeryx Beta pairs have zippers on the sidesbut their zippers fully extend from hip to ankle, allowing for the easiest on-and-off we experienced, as well as the best ventilation. If water soaks through the fabric, youre out of luck, and you need to reapply the coating. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). With ankle zippers at the cuffs, these pants are easy to get on and off while youre wearing boots. In 2022, freelance journalist Jenni Gritters updated this guide. Although we didnt experience any chafing, the material felt cheaper than that of our top pick, and the pants had just one pocket. Because the PreCip Eco Pants are made from ripstop nylon, they still feel somewhat like trash bags. Excess, bunchy fabric can get in the way, and pants that are too big are uncomfortable and noisy. But they perform in rain, snow, and mountaineering conditions, plus theyre the most durable option we tested. If you want a rain kilt for warmer weather: If youre traveling somewhere warm or going to a place with lighter rain, a rain kilt may work for you, but we dont think a rain kilt is the best rainproofing option for most people. In contrast, the other kilt we tested, the ULA Rain Kilt, uses three pieces of Velcro as closures, which leave several slits where rain can get through. We also liked the reinforced instep patches along the calves; because of the thicker fabric, youre less likely to rip your pants with crampons or snowshoes. Youll know whether a DWR coating is intact if water beads on the pants (this is a good sign). Almost all of the pants we tested for this guide are half-zip, though we did include a few pairs of full-zip pants, such as our upgrade pick. They come in black and gray in the mens version and navy and black in the womens version. The industry generally divides such gear into 2-, 2.5-, and 3-layer categories. For those options, check the Other good rain pants section.) However, these pants feel sturdier than the others we tested because of their gusseted crotch, which, according to our experts, can help reinforce an easy-to-rip area. You can find the Beta pants in regular (31- to 33-inch inseam) and tall (34- to 36-inch inseam) models of mens sizes S to XXL, and regular (31- to 32-inch inseam), short (29- to 30-inch inseam), and tall (33- to 35-inch inseam) models of womens sizes XS to XXL, all in black or blue. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. And his request was granted: During our eyedropper and spray tests, and our hikes in the rain, these pants repelled water just as well as our other picks did, and theyre available for a similar price. Though water-resistant pants are available, for this guide we reviewed only rain pants that were 100% waterproof. They have vented ankle zippers but come in only one length. 2022 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. However, they dont have some of the features we like on other pants, such as ankle zippers or elastic cinches. The womens version tightens at the waist with a drawstring, while the mens version tightens with Velcro. Once you have enabled JavaScript, please refresh (or "reload") this page. Theyre also a few ounces lighter than most of the other rain pants we considered. These pants are just as dry and comfortable in the rain. If you are looking for extended-size options, the Helium pants are the best of those. We felt noticeably sweaty and clammy after only an hour of hiking in the Columbia Storm Surge pants in the rain forestbut that wasnt the case in the PreCip pants. Made of ultra-durable and lightweight Dyneema fabric, the kilt has a zipper to seal it and a cinch waist. Theyre also typically less breathable, so you have to consider your conditions..
First, a note on rain pant materials. When the rain turned out to be sparse in Portland, Anna also took the finalists to the Hoh Rain Forest in Washingtons Olympic National Park, which receives 12 to 14 feet of rain per year. This kilt is less structured than the Zpacks kilt we tested, and its easier to move around in, but during our tests the fabric swished around our legswhen Anna walked, the kilt kept getting stuck between her legs. by James Austin, Daniel Varghese, and Sarah J. Robbins. The 3-layer ripstop-nylon fabric of these pants looks and feels identical to the fabric of our top pick, and the Torrentshell pairs were just as water resistant and breathable when we wore them while walking in the rain, too. Full-zip pants are easier than half-zip pants to get on and off, and they unzip to keep your legs cool, but our experts were concerned about the added weight of full zip pants and the risk of zipper failure. The mens pants come in S to XL (30- to 42-inch waist, 34- to 48-inch hip, 30- to 35-inch inseam), and the womens pants come in sizes XS to XL (24- to 38-inch waist, 35- to 39-inch hip, 30- to 33-inch inseam). We combed through reviews on multiple retail sites to look for reports on long-term wear, too. The key lies in their Gore-Tex Paclite materials, which breathe well but keep you dry, and in reinforced instep patches along the calves, which prevent you from catching and ripping your pants with crampons or snowshoes. They are also more expensive than our top pick, depending on the retailer. No matter what kind of outdoor adventure is in store hiking, biking, or even just sightseeing you already know how important it is to have a rain jacket on standby. You can also adjust the ankle portion, which has a cinch and buttons at the ankles, plus lace hooks for hiking or alpine boots. An easy at-home wash and re-waterproofing can make an old raincoat work like new. Similar to a wetsuit, these nylon and neoprene leggings will keep you warm and dry whether youre splashed while canoeing or are fully submerged playing water sports. The company thats made them has probably wash-tested them, said the University of Oregons Susan Sokolowski.
You can re-treat your pants to maintain them. The ArcTeryx Beta pants (available in mens and womens versions) are the most insulating and durable rain pants we tested. Drying your pants on low for a short time can help reactivate the DWR, too. Patagonias Torrentshell 3L Pants (available in mens and womens versions) are similar to our top pick, but they are an ounce heavier, and theyre more expensive at this writing. Although you probably dont need rain pants during lighter showers or warmer weather, a good pair of rain pants can help you stay dry and comfortable when youre hiking in heavy rain or colder climates. This is the gear wed use duringand aftera rainy-day outing. Susan Sokolowski, associate professor and director of the sports product design program at the University of Oregon, phone interview, July 12, 2017, Sean Michael, professor and program director for the outdoor product design and development program at Utah State University, phone interview, July 13, 2017, Stephen Regenold, founder, Gear Junkie, email interview, July 17, 2017, How to Choose Rainwear, REI, April 7, 2016. They are available in regular, short, and long versions to accommodate multiple heights. (The womens version unzipped only to the calves.) (The temperature was around 48 degrees Fahrenheit in the rain forest.) But the Torrentshell pants dont offer any inseam-length variations (they come in a 32- to 32-inch inseam), so if youre shorter or taller, these pants may not fit you quite as well as our top pick. Compared with the other pants we tested, the Beta pants dont just cause water to bead offthey repel water with force. Materials: Most of the pants in this guide are coated with a DWR film and made from materials ranging from nylon to polyurethane to polyester. If you wash or put these products in the dryer, the membrane will start to fall off, said Sokolowski. Mobility: Youll probably be moving around a lot in your rain pants, so its important that the pants move with your body. Avid hiker and photographer Kim Mock helped with testing plus-size rain pants for this guide in 2022. These pants are attractive, but they have a wider boot cut, which makes them feel like snow pants. The fabric looks and feels identical to that of the PreCip pants. Youll be able to get a more customized fit if you opt for pants with an adjustable waist, too, whether the pants use a drawstring, elastic cord, or belt. Previously an editor on the Wirecutter outdoors team (where she edited the first version of this guide), she now covers parenting, baby/kid, outdoor, and travel gear. Full-zip pants unzip from the ground all the way to the waistband. Weve added new upgrade picks, the womens ArcTeryx Beta Pant and the mens ArcTeryx Beta AR Pant, which are suitable for cold weather and alpine hikes. JavaScript settings can usually be found in your browser's Tools or Preferences menu. Subscribe now for unlimited access. Up ahead, four of the best rain pants for women on Amazon! Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. A membrane like a Gore-Tex membrane is actually laminated to the outside fabric. Thats where true waterproof pants come in. We conducted an eyedropper and spray test (per Sokolowskis advice) to see whether the water soaked through or beaded on pants. These pants have thigh-high zippers, which make them easy to get on and off. Good rain pants should have taped or sealed zippers and seams, too, to keep water out. Even so, this test illustrated that some pants were more effective at repelling water than others: Water droplets practically jumped off several pairs of pants while clinging to the fabric of other pairs. Utah State Universitys Sean Michael recommended looking into company-specific washes or treatments. Columbia Womens Storm Surge Rain Pants: The Storm Surge pants come in plus sizes in the womens version. If you do want to buy a kilt, we like the Zpacks DCF Rain Kilt. Although the PreCip pants are still roomy enough to move around in and to pull over base layers, they have a narrower cut than any other rain pants we tested and a better range of inseam lengths to fit people of different heights. Enjoy exclusive offers, the latest on products, and new ways to get outdoors. A few labels, including that of our pick, specified powder detergent. We took that list of top models and narrowed the group based on the following criteria: Layers: Rain gear is categorized by how many layers its made from. Share your opinions with other L.L.Bean customers. Copyright. These pants caused water to bead off well enough, and our tester said that she didnt feel wet even after a long slog in the rain. She also spoke with Liz Thomas, an accomplished lightweight thru-hiker and a former writer on the outdoors team at Wirecutter. During our water and wash tests, the Beta pants felt hardier than competitors. Despite their wider range of sizes (up to XXL), however, ArcTeryx clothing tends to run narrow, so youll probably want to try them on before you buy. The PreCip Eco Pants come in three inseam lengths (short, regular, and long) in both mens and womens versions, and they were among the few pants in our pile that proved to be true to size. While the brand doesnt make any claims about wind resistance, some reviewers have confirmed that this pair has effectively kept the wind out. These lightweight, comfortable pants will keep you dry through rainy hikes. They were manufactured in partnership with BLUESIGN, ensuring a sustainable and safe textile production thats environmentally conscious.
Theyre basic, waterproof pants with a few standout features: They have long ankle zippers that make them easier to get on and off than the PreCip pairs, as well as articulated knees, and theyre more breathable than many of the other options we tested. Columbia Mens Rebel Roamer Rain Pants: Though the Rebel Roamer pants have two snaps at the ankles to help taper the legs, they lack ankle zippers, which makes them difficult to get on and off. We lunged, jumped, rolled around in wet grass, splashed ourselves with river water, knelt in puddles, and rubbed our butts against mossy trees and gravel. Then, we repeated the eyedropper and spray test to observe any differences (there werent any). Theyre also more affordable than many of the other pants we tested. They also have zippered side pockets. That is, if your zippers break or get stuck on a pair of half-zip pants, youre still mostly covered. And these pants are likely to stand the test of time longer than our other picks because of the fabric. Marmots pants kept us dry while we walked for several miles in heavier-than-usual rain and wind in Portland, Oregon. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Water didnt soak through any of the pants, so they were all baseline waterproof. They arent the quietest pants, either. The cuffs are reinforced with scuff-resistant ballistic panels and are zipped to allow for the easy on-and-off of boots. Many hikers dont need to bother with rain pants, especially if you hike when its warm, said Stephen Regenold, founder of GearJunkie. The ankles had only shin zippers and Velcro (no buttons), and one tester reported that the REI pants stuck to her legs during a rainstorm, even though they initially repelled water. As for the price, the PreCip Eco Pants are at the lower end of the high-end rain pants we tested and at the higher end of the cheaper options. For this reason, we eliminated any pants that weighed more than a pound. The North Face Venture 2 Half Zip Pants (womens): Although the Venture 2 pants come in three inseam lengths for the womens versions, the long and short versions are harder to find in stores. Ultimately, because all of our candidates proved to be waterproof enough, we made our picks based on sizing options, price, fit, and features. Instead, the PreCip pants fit well and were easy to move in; we also found their legs roomy enough to pull on over layers and then walk in. [The term] waterproof [means its] a complete barrier to water, and water resistant means that some water will get through, said the University of Oregons Susan Sokolowski. At more than triple the cost of our top pick, these pants are a splurge. Usually its a cost decision, so if you get pants that are fully waterproof, theyre more expensive. If Marmots PreCip Eco Pants are unavailable, Patagonias Torrentshell 3L Pants (available in mens and womens versions) are nearly identical to our top pick. When the DWR membrane starts to visibly flake off, thats a sign that your rain gear is failing. TEK waterproof technology blocks the elements while maintaining breathable comfort. If youre somewhere warmer or in a place with intermittent rain, a breathable pair of water-resistant pants might be enough. We also consulted REIs handy rain-gear guide throughout our research and writing process. However, we can vouch for using our rain pants in non-hiking situations on occasion, too: Well layer them over long johns to go out in the rare Portland, Oregon, snowstorm, pop them on for a shoulder-season snowshoe, don them while biking, or put them on for a messy garden job. Jenni has been writing and editing product reviews for almost a decade, with bylines in Wirecutter, Reviewed, Slate, and beyond. When youre faced with chilly weather, a pair of insulated, water-repellant pants is crucial. Because of that extra layer, these pants are slightly heavier than the PreCip pants, with a pair of mens regular pants weighing 10 ounces and a pair of womens regular pants weighing 9.3 ounces. In 2019 and 2022, we first tried on all the rain pants to observe how easy they were to move around in, how comfortable they were, how loud and swishy the fabric was, how easy they were to get on and off, and how well they fit. Both are made from ripstop nylon, although Patagonia recently updated its design to be 3-layer, in contrast to Marmots 2.5-layer design. Because rain pants often have ankle zippers or snap cuffs that would make alterations difficult, its important to find a pair with the right size and cut for you. Kim Mock took rain pants out into the Colorado wilds during the spring months, as well. The result is a 3-layer construction that breathes well but still keeps you dry. If you want extended sizes in short or tall lengths: Consider the Eddie Bauer Cloud Cap Rain Pants (mens and womens stretch). And although the zippers on the womens PreCip pants are plenty long, theyre not as long as the zippers on Patagonias Torrentshell pants. We didnt get much rain during our trip to the Hoh Rain Forest, but at least we had a river to splash in. This guide isnt for ultralight hikers, most of whom probably dont want the added weight of a situational accessory. And the fabric felt breathable during a steamy hike in the Hoh Rain Forest at Washingtons Olympic National Park. The key is that theyre made with Gore-Tex Paclite material, which is totally windproof and waterproof, as well as exceptionally lightweight.
They also come in three inseam lengths. We may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was written by our Commerce team. Plus, full-zip pants are often more expensive than half-zip options. To find the best pair, we spent 45 hours conducting research, speaking to experts, conducting a killer wash test, and chasing rain through Oregon, Colorado, and Washington. Marmots PreCip Eco Pants (available in mens and womens versions) will keep you dry just as well as the competition for a lower price, and theyre available in a wider array of inseam lengths. The biggest drawback with these pants is their fit: If youre shorter or taller than their inseams accommodate, you may be tripping over these pants or finding that they dont cover you adequately. Both the mens and womens models come only in black. Brooks gazes wistfully into the sky, looking for rain. Water didnt bead up and jump off the PreCip pants quite as well as it did off the ArcTeryx Beta pants, but neither did the water cling to the Marmot pairs fabric. The rain pants in this guide are instead meant for everyday hikers and backpackerstheyre not designed for full-submersion situations like angler fishing or kayaking. Overall, the womens version felt more like hiking pants than rain pants, and the mens option (which comes in regular or tall, S to XXL, non-stretch) was boxy. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that they have side slits to give you access to the pockets on your base layer some shoppers have noted that water has seeped in through these spots, and suggested affixing Velcro tabs to keep them closed. Columbia Storm Surge Waterproof Rain Pants, Mountain Warehouse Waterproof Rain Over-Pants, E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E Is Wearing Platform Sneakers This Summer Instead Of Sandals, The Best Walking Shoes For Flat Feet & Overpronation, According To A Podiatrist, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. Youre also likely to get water on your base layers when you remove full-zip rain pants. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company. The two zippered mesh side pockets let you stash whatever you need to keep accessible. The womens sizes are also a splurge. If you want a pair thats really impervious to water, your best bet will be to look for a brand that has a proprietary fabric technology (like Omni-Tech) thats designed with multiple layers (including the aforementioned DWR-coated membrane) to guarantee waterproof performance. These 2.5-layer, ripstop-nylon pants are made with 100% recycled fabric and have ankle zips to help you get them over your boots. To find the best rain pants, we spent 15 hours combing through reviews of mens and womens rain pants, reading 11 other guides in all. If youre looking for extended sizes in rain pants: Consider the Outdoor Research Helium Rain Pants (currently available only in womens sizes XS to XXXL). Made from a breathable polyester material thats coated with a proprietary watertight membrane, they are ideal for light-to-average amounts of rainfall, but may not stand up to heavier conditions (though, according to some reviewers, they will keep the wind out). Anna Perling tested rain pants in Portland, Oregon, a city notorious for its rain. But if zippers break on a pair of full-zip rain pants, your entire leg is exposed, defeating the point of the rain pants altogether.
Details, (Most orders will arrive in 2-5 business days), L.L.Bean is a registered trademark of L.L.Bean Inc. This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan. Your current browser is no longer supported on llbean.com. Likewise, they have Velcro-adjustable cuffs, taped seams, and an elastic waistband. If youre trekking through a cold, very wet environment or hiking in rain for extended periods of time, you should have completely waterproof pants. Based on our latest testing, we chose Marmots PreCip Eco Pants, which come in mens and womens sizes, as the best rain pants for most people. And we found that to be true during our testing. Rain pants are a just-in-case item that youll rarely need to take out of your baguntil you really, really do. Ankle zippers at the cuffs made pulling the pants over our boots easy, and we liked that the mens pants had a full zipper, from the waist of the pants down to the ankle. If you have mountain or winter hikes coming up, theyre worth the splurge. For a quick walk through the woods or muddy outdoor chores, any of our picks will work just fine. But during our testing, they werent breathable (likely due to their shell and their mesh lining). With a quality cut and the relative stretch of the fabric, the gusset starts to become secondary unless someone is really doing bouldering or face climbing., Ease of use: Ankle zippers are important because they let you easily don and shed your rain pants as you hike. After reading the labels on all of the pants and kilts in our test group to make sure we followed the manufacturers instructions, we used powder detergent, washed the pants in cold water for five hours, and air-dried them. However, Patagonia doesnt offer various inseam options for the Torrentshell pants (they come in a 32- to 32-inch inseam), so they may be too long or short for many peopleand if they dont fit you well in that regard, you may end up tripping over your pants or showing some damp, chilly ankle. Usually, [you should] follow the suggested manufacturers care [instructions]. For our wash test, we looked at the care label on each pair of pants. The Torrentshell pants have two zippered side pockets covered with a fabric shelf, and the pants fold and zip into one of the mesh pockets once youve taken them off, in case youre looking for an option that you can easily stuff into a backpack. For hiking and other long treks, a looser fit that can move with you is key. While researching how outdoor-clothing brands test their rainwear, we came across Patagonias Killer Wash tests and reached out to Matt Dwyer, Patagonias director of materials and development, to learn more; Dwyer told us that Patagonias initial wash tests involve running rain gear through continuous five-, 12-, or 24-hour cycles. Theyre finished with belt loops, a zippered fly, and a button closure. These pockets have a protective fabric shelf, and Marmots most recent update to the PreCip design added fully taped seams, which means you can trust that your phone will stay dry during a true downpour. The standard-size Helium pants were less well-loved among our testers, simply because they did not measure up to the comfort and durability of our top pick and runner-up pick. These pants are just as dry and comfortable in the rain. Most of the half-zip pants we considered also come in full-zip versions if youre set on having extra venting. Also, its loud. Nylon and polyester are the most common and are considered to be water-resistant, which means youll be kept dry but could eventually get some soak-through. The Torrentshell pairs did just as good a job as the PreCip pants when it came to keeping us dry in Portland, Oregon, rain and staying breathable on our hike in a rain forest. We considered articles from The Adventure Junkies, Backpacker, GearLab, and Outside, in addition to many blog posts and forums. Some functionality on this page requires JavaScript to be enabled in your Web browser. And if the weather turns gusty as it often does with rain youll appreciate it if your pants are also wind resistant. Every product will have a sewn-on care label.
Half-zip pants, which have zippers running from about knee height to the pants cuffs, allow you to pull your pants off over hiking boots more easily. These pants also lack ankle zippers and are difficult to get on and off over shoes. We also looked for pants that offered petite, plus size, and multiple inseam-length options. Our plus-size and petite womens testers both found the waist a bit snug, and our legs got cold during rainy hikes because the fabric was fairly thin. Most of all, she preferred the style of the Helium pants; many plus-size pants are boxy, but these allowed enough room for layering without looking baggy. For the cost, these pants offer the best value of all the pants we tested. They also have zippers at the ankles that allow for breathability, and they weigh just 5.5 ounces. These come backed by over 20,000 five-star ratings (no typo) and its all thanks to the technical details: They were created with a woven polyester fabric coated in a DWR finish and insulated to a temperature rating of -20 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Weight: Even if you consider yourself more of a weekend warrior than an ultralight hiker, rain pants shouldnt take up a lot of weight in your pack, because theyll probably be in there most of the time. They come in 30- and 32-inch inseams. If youre hiking in a warmer climate, you probably dont need rain pants. And, while neoprene may not be the conventional go-to for a pair of bike pants, if you are looking for more legging-style rain pants for cycling, a handful of Amazon fans pointed out that these work especially well keeping you dry and warm during cold-weather showers. Best of all? Like many of the other rain pants we tested, the ArcTeryx Beta pairs have zippers on the sidesbut their zippers fully extend from hip to ankle, allowing for the easiest on-and-off we experienced, as well as the best ventilation. If water soaks through the fabric, youre out of luck, and you need to reapply the coating. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). With ankle zippers at the cuffs, these pants are easy to get on and off while youre wearing boots. In 2022, freelance journalist Jenni Gritters updated this guide. Although we didnt experience any chafing, the material felt cheaper than that of our top pick, and the pants had just one pocket. Because the PreCip Eco Pants are made from ripstop nylon, they still feel somewhat like trash bags. Excess, bunchy fabric can get in the way, and pants that are too big are uncomfortable and noisy. But they perform in rain, snow, and mountaineering conditions, plus theyre the most durable option we tested. If you want a rain kilt for warmer weather: If youre traveling somewhere warm or going to a place with lighter rain, a rain kilt may work for you, but we dont think a rain kilt is the best rainproofing option for most people. In contrast, the other kilt we tested, the ULA Rain Kilt, uses three pieces of Velcro as closures, which leave several slits where rain can get through. We also liked the reinforced instep patches along the calves; because of the thicker fabric, youre less likely to rip your pants with crampons or snowshoes. Youll know whether a DWR coating is intact if water beads on the pants (this is a good sign). Almost all of the pants we tested for this guide are half-zip, though we did include a few pairs of full-zip pants, such as our upgrade pick. They come in black and gray in the mens version and navy and black in the womens version. The industry generally divides such gear into 2-, 2.5-, and 3-layer categories. For those options, check the Other good rain pants section.) However, these pants feel sturdier than the others we tested because of their gusseted crotch, which, according to our experts, can help reinforce an easy-to-rip area. You can find the Beta pants in regular (31- to 33-inch inseam) and tall (34- to 36-inch inseam) models of mens sizes S to XXL, and regular (31- to 32-inch inseam), short (29- to 30-inch inseam), and tall (33- to 35-inch inseam) models of womens sizes XS to XXL, all in black or blue. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. And his request was granted: During our eyedropper and spray tests, and our hikes in the rain, these pants repelled water just as well as our other picks did, and theyre available for a similar price. Though water-resistant pants are available, for this guide we reviewed only rain pants that were 100% waterproof. They have vented ankle zippers but come in only one length. 2022 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. However, they dont have some of the features we like on other pants, such as ankle zippers or elastic cinches. The womens version tightens at the waist with a drawstring, while the mens version tightens with Velcro. Once you have enabled JavaScript, please refresh (or "reload") this page. Theyre also a few ounces lighter than most of the other rain pants we considered. These pants are just as dry and comfortable in the rain. If you are looking for extended-size options, the Helium pants are the best of those. We felt noticeably sweaty and clammy after only an hour of hiking in the Columbia Storm Surge pants in the rain forestbut that wasnt the case in the PreCip pants. Made of ultra-durable and lightweight Dyneema fabric, the kilt has a zipper to seal it and a cinch waist. Theyre also typically less breathable, so you have to consider your conditions..
First, a note on rain pant materials. When the rain turned out to be sparse in Portland, Anna also took the finalists to the Hoh Rain Forest in Washingtons Olympic National Park, which receives 12 to 14 feet of rain per year. This kilt is less structured than the Zpacks kilt we tested, and its easier to move around in, but during our tests the fabric swished around our legswhen Anna walked, the kilt kept getting stuck between her legs. by James Austin, Daniel Varghese, and Sarah J. Robbins. The 3-layer ripstop-nylon fabric of these pants looks and feels identical to the fabric of our top pick, and the Torrentshell pairs were just as water resistant and breathable when we wore them while walking in the rain, too. Full-zip pants are easier than half-zip pants to get on and off, and they unzip to keep your legs cool, but our experts were concerned about the added weight of full zip pants and the risk of zipper failure. The mens pants come in S to XL (30- to 42-inch waist, 34- to 48-inch hip, 30- to 35-inch inseam), and the womens pants come in sizes XS to XL (24- to 38-inch waist, 35- to 39-inch hip, 30- to 33-inch inseam). We combed through reviews on multiple retail sites to look for reports on long-term wear, too. The key lies in their Gore-Tex Paclite materials, which breathe well but keep you dry, and in reinforced instep patches along the calves, which prevent you from catching and ripping your pants with crampons or snowshoes. They are also more expensive than our top pick, depending on the retailer. No matter what kind of outdoor adventure is in store hiking, biking, or even just sightseeing you already know how important it is to have a rain jacket on standby. You can also adjust the ankle portion, which has a cinch and buttons at the ankles, plus lace hooks for hiking or alpine boots. An easy at-home wash and re-waterproofing can make an old raincoat work like new. Similar to a wetsuit, these nylon and neoprene leggings will keep you warm and dry whether youre splashed while canoeing or are fully submerged playing water sports. The company thats made them has probably wash-tested them, said the University of Oregons Susan Sokolowski.