Rain pants? Options?

To me, yes.

I've found rain pants very useful, not in rain, but early morning on the trail. All those dew soaked ferns hanging into the path SOAK my hiking pants. I wear rain pants in the morning before the temperature gets to high to avoid soaking wet hiking pants and then the water running down into my shoes and such.

> To me, yes

>I've found rain pants very useful, not in rain, but early morning on the trail

+1 rain pants.

I use GoLite Reeds…dread having to replace them. I find the most minimally "breathable" waterproof pants to be fine in cool/cold weather. In warm weather I just get wet…feels pretty good!

You may want to look at:
Montbell Peak Shell (3L) or Versalite (2.5L)
Lukes Ultralite Pertex Shield pants
ZPacks Challenger pant

+2

They are real nice to have when you need them.

Lived 24yrs in Tokyo until last year. I don't think shorts are a bit of no-no at all. Suggest signing on to the Hiking in Japan Facebook group if you have specific questions.

I haven't worn shorts in Japan, but I know that in urban China you can get some stares. Not from the shorts themselves I think, but rather because of hairy legs or light/dark skin. Whatever.

Hiking in Japan, I really wished I'd had rain pants.

There are a myriad of opinions about rain gear. Just read any thread about recommended rain jackets. There are some truths to be distilled, however. I think pretty much anyone would agree that rain pants are good to have in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Well, there's always the exception to the rule.

I'd look at the range temperatures likely encountered and make my judgment from there. I've heard Skurka speak about good trip planning and he has a very left-brained approach that can help tailor your gear to the expected conditions.

I like good quality, well cut pants that have short zippers so that I can put them on and take them off conveniently. I will say that in my region (Southern Appalachians) I rarely bring them. Only in the shoulder seasons would l consider them worth bringing. My legs generate a lot of heat while moving and at camp I wear a base layer.

"(shorts are a bit of a no-no in Japan)." I lived in Japan for a few years and bushwalked in shorts when the weather warranted it. It may not have been common back then but it wasn't taboo. I also used to get stared at for wearing running tights under my shorts, now they all do it. Also, barring typhoons it never used to rain much in October or November, but of course I always carried full waterproofs just in case.