Topic

Combo Trail/Rain Pants

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Jeff Hollis BPL Member
PostedNov 14, 2015 at 12:53 pm

I have thought about this for years as a way of eliminating an extra pair of pants. I doubt I could sew such a thing myself but here are some features I would like it to have. Neutral not too dark a color, zip off legs, one of the more breathable waterproof/breathable fabrics, Roomy pockets with waterproof zipper seals, Pockets mesh lined for optional venting, Inner thigh zips for venting Anyone seen anything similar or made such a thing. I'm thinking with enough venting options it might work though the extra weight of zippers and fabric used may make the weight over the top. My current zip off pants and rain pant combo weighs just under a pound. Cheers, Jeff

Dale Wambaugh BPL Member
PostedNov 14, 2015 at 1:11 pm

Showers Pass makes zip-off pants for biking. $150 retail. No idea on the weight. https://www.showerspass.com/products/mens-club-convertible-2-pant Nice idea, but…. I could see wearing full side zip rain pants with silkweight long johns for cool-cold weather shoulder season hiking, especially in the PNW, but they would get hot and sticky in anything 50F or higher and miserable in direct sun. Light softshell-ish pants is about as good as it gets I think. But once they soak through, you have sticky boat anchors wrapped around your legs. On one trip I was wearing soft shells and kept going in heavy rain because I was close to the trailhead. The DWR was good for a while, but once it soaked through, it was naaaaasty. A poncho and tall gaiters can make an alternative to rain pants. A poncho allows chaps too. There is the rail kilt thing too. No free lunch I'm afraid.

PostedNov 14, 2015 at 4:27 pm

With all the features you mention I expect that they'd weigh more than regular pants and light rain pants combined – and not do either job as well, and not offer as much warmth when worn together for warmth. Plus I imagine you'd have one heck of a time sealing such a beast with all the pockets and so on. And you'd be replacing them much sooner than your rain pants since they'd get so much more wear. A better approach in my experience is rain pants and shorts and long johns.

Viewing 3 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
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