rain pant suggestions

Golite Reed

+1

With a 33" waist and 34" inseam, what size would you go with?

+2

I think I've tried just about everything in the rain pants category in an attempt to value weight and functionality. I have a pair of eVENT Rab pants which I really love, but they wait for me until winter. For three season hiking I use the ULA rain wrap which replaced my DriDucks, Reed pants, and GoreTex stuff. It is a very light and sensible option if you don't mind wearing a skirt. It can also double as ground cover.

I own a Cabela's Rainy River suit of Paclite Gore-Tex. The pants have side 12" zips at the cuffs and a left zipped hip pocket that doubles as a stuff sack.

For the price, quality, range of sizes AND good design I've found nothing that comes close to the Rainy River parka and pants.

Eric

I use a Golite Reed most of the time.

For winter and serious extended downpours, I use the Rab Bergen. Nothing beats eVent for breathability.

Good article here:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/2005_rainwear_review_summary.html

And this:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/orsm08_rainwear_favorites_2008.html

I'll be playing with a pair of Tyvek pants this year. Now those are CHEAP!

Best,
Doug

Another vote for the Reed. It's the lightest reasonably durable rain pant I've found.

+5 or whatever the number is now on the GoLite Reed

…

Thanks for the great suggestions. I'm looking solely for pants, so the skirt's out for now.

I should have thought about Cabella's. The hunting/fishing suppliers sometimes have great stuff for lw hiking.

The reeds certainly seem well accepted. I like the tiaga design, but the inseams are real short for me.

Dave, the link's were very helpful. Just ordered two pairs of tyvek pants and a jumpsuit. I'll probably try to dye one of the pants and cut the jumpsuit to see if I can make a usable hooded jacket out of it. So, when both of those are ruined, I'll still have another pair of pants to actually test. :)

Tyvek for now, reeds if they don't work out.

where'd you get the tyvek pants?

Tyvek clothes

However, I did not get a confirmation email and when I log back in, my order doesn’t show up. Looks like I’ll be calling them tomorrow.

Life's a party, If it's some kind of scam they really are going for a fringe market man. THX

Yeah, one of the more obscure net scam's out there, that's the genius of it!

The site link is from the bpl 2008 rainware review article posted in this thread, so I'm guessing someone has ordered successfully from them.

If you don't mind Cabelas, I second the Rainy River pair too. They are the cheapest Paclite I could find and they also came in tall sizes for larger folks like me. They are well made, affordable, and are durable. For me, they stay at home though as there are lighter options as mentioned throughout this thread.

The fabric on the Golite Reeds is durable enough, but the seam taping doesn't look quite so durable… Looks the same as the taping on my Sierra Designs Hurricane Pants, which started peeling off way before the rest of the pants wore out.

So far I think my Montbell Peak Shell pants are tougher, probably more breathable (not that it matters so much for pants), and not much heavier (more expensive tho).

For more money again and about the same weight you could get some Gore Tex Paclite pants, my Paclite jacket has proved pretty bombproof over several years of punishment.

Oh and there are some new lightweight Rab eVent pants out – Rab Drillium Pants, 2oz lighter than the Bergen at 10oz. Still 'heavy' compared to Reeds etc though.

While everyone's talking rain pants, what is the fit of the Rab Bergen pants like? My MB Peak Shells are pretty big and boxy and tend to billow about in high wind which is a pain. It's a pain that waterproof pants seem to be sized as if you're going to wear them over expedition down gear.

My old SD Hurricane pants had a better slimmer fit.. they were cheap too ($35 USD). Just a pity the taping didn't last.

I have a few pair I snagged from Sierra Trading post, and I believe they still have them.

I bought a tyvek coverall. I wore it once when it looked like rain was coming. Snow came instead.

After a couple miles of walking, the pants were becoming quite worn and frayed around the bottom already. Don't expect them to be much more than disposable.

The top half probably lasts a lot longer. I plan to use the top half (I cut my coveralls in half to make pants and a shirt) under my Houdini for rain.

I got some of those silnylon rain chaps. My hope is that having the crotch open will be more comfortable than full pants.

Chris,

I've ordered from them (MPE Safety Apparel) in the past. They are legit.

-Mark

Montane Atomic pants are good at around 6oz

http://www.montane.co.uk/productdetails.php

> My MB Peak Shells are pretty big and boxy and tend to billow about in high wind which is a pain. It's a pain that waterproof pants seem to be sized as if you're going to wear them over expedition down gear.

D'oh!! I had settled on getting some peak shell pants and I think you just changed my mind. I like trim/athletic fit because I'm a relatively slim guy. Baggy pants, no thanks.

So looks like it is back to the drawing board. Maybe I could go a size smaller in the peak shell pants? Probably too short in the leg then. I've got some Golite Reeds (not yet worn) which I will probably put on Gear Swap soon because I think I need a size smaller. But I thought the Peak Shell option would be good. Unlike many others here, I value excellent breathability in pants.

Leg length might be ok, but I the rise is quite short (I notice this on my MB wind pants too) so downsizing might not work.

I've been looking at the new Rab Drillium pants, bit heavier but probably more durable too. Been meaning to get around to emailing Rab about the fit.