Wind pants or rain pants?

[Allen Butts]

I live in fort collins and primarily backpack in the colorado region. I currently have a super old pair of cheap sierra designs rain pants, but they are hardly waterproof anymore and they weigh 9oz. I am planning on upgrading and need some advice. Here are some prospects i have been looking at:

-Montane Minimus pant
-Montane Featherlite pant
-Montbell Dynamo Wind pant

What do you use, rain or wind pants?

http://www.montane.co.uk/products/men/shell/minimus-pants/830

http://www.montane.co.uk/products/men/windproof/featherlite-pants/105

http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=63&p_id=2305123

[Nathan Watts]

I vote rain pants. I have both. Have never put on wind pants except for at camp for a little warmth. Rain pants serve that function better and I have worn rain pants occasionally in the rain too.

Wind pants are typically lighter and pack smaller, but I think they're kind of useless…at least in my experience

[Eric Blumensaadt]

I agree with Nathan, rain pants, especially if they are good WPB like eVent, are the best multiple purpose pants.

Getting your legs soaking wet in a day-long rain isn't good if you then have to attempt to dry out the wet pants overnight – which ain't gonna happen. Then what do you have to wear the next day… in the rain?

[Nick Truax]

Another one that you may want to add to your UL pant list are the Montbell Versalite Pants.

Montbell Versalite Pant

Supposedly coming in at 3.6oz (med) for a wp/b pant. Those and the Montane Minimus both look like pretty nice options if you aren't going to be shredding them up too much. I've seen the Minimus and am waiting for the Versalites to come around so that I too can snag one of these options. At around 4 oz and less(!), I figure they will be well worth their weight.

[Allen Butts]

I guess i must have skipped over the versalite pants somehow, great find. Well its seems as thought the consensus is to go with a wp/b pant. I do agree that if it rains for multiple days and im in wind pant, im kind of screwed. Thanks for the advice guys

[Bob Gross]

Some of us went down the road of a wind pants kit. Thru-hiker sells a Liberty Ridge pants kit, and there is some choice of fabric. I used fabric that is half-waterproof and half-breathable, and that seems to be a decent compromise for summertime weather. Mine finished out at 2.45 ounces.

–B.G.–

[Charlie Murphy]

I just bought these. On sale now, free shipping(still a little pricey), 7 ozs, paclite, with zips. However I have not received nor used.

http://www.golite.com/Ms-Currant-Mountain-Paclite-2-Layer-Pant-P46645.aspx

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