Big 5 Casual Gear wind/vapor pant $9.99

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These pants come from Big 5 on sale a couple of years ago. I see similar generic wind/vapor/rain jogging and exercise pants on sale for around $9.99 all the time.

They are cheap enough that I buy a pair for each car in case I get stuck and have to walk in inclement weather or put on chains, change a tire, etc.

I have now tested them out with my hiking gear and they work great, very utilitarian. They block wind, shed water and snow, and keep my legs warm while exercising in freezing and below weather.

Weight is 6.5 oz.

100% Polyester, PU coated, water resistant. Labelled Casual Gear, L. I got the large so it would go over my regular street clothes or hiking clothing and layers. It does that perfectly.

It has zips at the bottom of the leg and I can put them on over a base layer long john, hiking pants, and boots with no problem. Elastic at the bottom of the legs seals out wind and water.

The waist is elastic with a tie string, no front zipper, and two hand pockets which are extremely handy. The waist is better than on some of my more expensive fancy gear. Comfortable and seals out weather, doesn't ride down or up and twist (elastic waist band is ablut 1 1/2 inches wide).

Because of its price, simplicity, functionality and durability I am using these generic pants all the time.

For example, I just used them in freezing temps around 28 -32 F, no wind, but there was first icy rain, then sleet, then snow. The pants shed all of the water in its various forms and kept me entirely dry on a 1 – 1 1/2 hour walk.

Breathability has not been an issue, I use them for short hikes with a Drop Stopper jacket. Although, I think these would work for much longer hikes if it was not downpouring, with snow I would think they would go all or most an entire day.

I give them a three because of the issue of breathability, there are better fabrics and products available at the same or less weight.

But they get a real solid 3 and maybe should be a 4 so I would not discourage anyone who needs a pair of wind / rain / snow pants to check these out. I posted this review, in part, to let any beginners know that if they think that they cannot get started hiking and going light because of money there are always options, besides the extremely expensive "pro" or "top of the line" gear. (When I was a kid we painted people's address numbers on the street curbs to raise money to go to scouting events because we, my family and the other boys, could not afford it otherwise.)

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