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Rain Pants


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  • #1254267
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    I have heavyweight rain pants, but I decided to build something lighter out of sil-nylon or else a breathable fabric. It would be my size, 29" inseam.
    Commonly, rain pants will have a slit up the inside of the leg to the knee, and this is used for going on over boots. The slit has to be closed. Should I use metal snaps, plastic snaps, or Velcro? If I use Velcro, I could use a strip for bunching the fabric for fit around the ankle.
    Any opinions?
    –B.G.–

    #1564235
    Jeremy Greene
    Spectator

    @tippymcstagger

    Locale: North Texas

    I have never found it useful to use ankle zips. You are just distributing the muck on your soles throughout the inside of your pants. I don't get it. If someone can explain it better I am open.

    #1564587
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    On some pants, the ankle slit is on the inside (the medial side) and on others, it is on the outside (the lateral side). If there are zippers, snaps, or velcro for closure, they will see more abrasion from the other leg if they are on the inside, but they are a lot easier to reach for wearer adjustment if they are on the outside.
    Which is better?
    –B.G.–

    #1564594
    Jim W.
    BPL Member

    @jimqpublic

    Locale: So-Cal

    There are several rain pant patterns that eliminate the outseam to eliminate that source of leakage. In that case you would use the inseam for a zip. "The Green Pepper" has some inseam only patterns.

    I've had several pants with ankle zips, and none of them would allow donning over hiking shoes with chunky soles. I vote no on the ankle zips, yes on adjustable hems.

    #1564595
    Greg Mihalik
    Spectator

    @greg23

    Locale: Colorado

    "Commonly, rain pants will have a slit up the inside of the leg to the knee, and this is used for going on over boots. The slit has to be closed."

    Use a gusset, and velcro at the ankle.

    #1565708
    Paul McLaughlin
    BPL Member

    @paul-1

    I have found it lighter and more waterproof to just make the legs wide enough to allow shoes to fit through. Then a little bit of velcro will allow you to close off the bottom if you want to.

    #1566124
    Jan Rezac
    BPL Member

    @zkoumal

    Locale: Prague, CZ

    I'm now using homemade silnylon chaps, and they work far better than anything of comparable weight.

    The advantages:
    Easy to make
    Lighter than pants (and much lighter than wp/b pants allowing comparable ventilation)
    Good ventilation (feels better than GTX pants)
    Easy to put on (wide enough to go over shoes)

    Disadvantages:
    Works only with a long jacket (I made mine to match) or poncho
    Less protection in high winds

    #1566130
    Brady Fulton
    Member

    @bfulton

    Locale: Phoenix Arizona

    Do you have any pictures? Are there instructions online?

    #1566167
    >> Bender <<
    BPL Member

    @bender

    Locale: NEO

    I have been thinking about making rain pants as well. I would like to have them for hiking & biking. The only problem is the posterior may be a bit slippery with the sil. I have some old heavy rains pants I may sacrifice for a pattern. I think just about any pant pattern would be a good place to start. You can get an idea of what you need to cut and tweak it for better fit.

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