Let us discuss rain pants

I (and my brother) own a set of Marmot Precip pants, I have the ankle zips, he has the fulls. They are decent for the price and weight is low for the price. I believe they come in tall. They are moderately breathable.

Rain pants are under-rated. I own a pair of OR Celestials, which are 1/2 zip, weigh about 7.5 ounces and are made of Gore-tex Paclite wp/b. I can fit them over my trail runners without having to take my shoes off, they keep my hiking pants dry when it rains, they pack down pretty small the rest of the time and I can use them as a pillow at night.

When it's really warm and rainy, I don't tend to pack rain pants because I'm wearing running shorts as my worn layer and might have a pair of polyester long underwear in my pack for extra warmth at night (if need be). But that's the thing, I (usually) only bring rain pants when the temps are cool enough to warrant wearing hiking pants as my worn layer. Therefore, breathability has never been an issue for me. Though Gore-tex does tend to be quite breathable, I think that–given my experience–a less breathable pair of rain pants might fit the bill just fine, as long as they could be put on over a pair of hiking shoes.

Silnylon chaps for me. The lack of breathabilty doesn't seem to bother me at all, maybe since I'm only covered from the thighs down. They have a slit and a cordlock at the ankle so I can slide them on over my shoes. Light, pack small and offer a useful layer if needed.

Arc'teryx Alpha SL, 9oz. Gore Tex Paclite. Excellent pants that have worked very well for me. Pricey but I found them on sale at a 25% discount.

I only take in cold/cooler weather like others have said. In the summer I just wear running shorts that dry quick.

I have a pair of Marmot Precip Full Zips ( 11 oz in med. – wish I'd got the ankle zips) for when the chance of rain is better than 60% for prolonged periods. Less than that, I've got a ULA rain wrap on order. It's a silicon impregnated nylon kilt, if you're not familiar. 3.2 oz, should give me coverage down to my gaiters in the large(32" length).

I've been using Cabela's "Ultrapack" tops & bottoms for a few years. They're a little less than 8 oz each, and have put up with a few weeks' worth of off trail bushwhacking with only one small rip. Like all lightweights, though, they're starting to leak a little.

The size medium pants are a little long on me, and I have a 30" inseam. They're not exactly trim, but they don't really flap in the wind, either.

They only come on camo patterns though. Nothing's perfect. :”,Wolfeye”

GoLite Reeds are popular on BPL. About 6oz. Check em out if you haven't already.

Second the GoLite Reed Pants. I have a pair and love them. angkle zips and very light.

I will say as a tall/thin person that they're a bit bulky in the a$$ area. I'm 6'2" 185# and while the mediums fit, they were just too short. I had to get a size large for length. Not unbearably baggy in the rear, but they do have a long crotch inseam.

– Dana

Well, that's how I see 'um. I have Sierra Designs Hurricane Rain Pants. They weigh around 8.4 oz on my scale and I use them for wind or rain pants. Some folks say they are not breathable enough, but I have not noticed this issue. They have ankle zips so I can put them on or off with my trail runners on. I do not carry wind pants.

I never carry rain pants, but a long rain jacket and knee high gaiters covers the majority of my legs. I have a pair I got with my Frogg Toggs raincoat, but only use them for biking around town. They are very light and comfortable.