UL Rain Pants – Versalite vs Zpacks Vertice? Other options?

I like my zPacks Vertice pants… light weight, easy on and off, packs small… sheds water well, though have not had them in heavy rain… and doubt either would hold up well bushwhacking…

I have a pair of Zpacks Vertice that I purchase in 2018 but haven’t been used that much because it doesn’t rain that much in the sierras, and often I just let my legs get wet and stay warm by walking a bit faster.  They are light and compact,  but I feel ambivalent about them due to low durability.  Less than 100 miles of use in I noticed wear on the membrane around my ankles and some leaking from the seam across my butt.  I will continue to use them until there are fully worn out, and then replace them with a more durable material.

Chaps were quite popular in the 70’s, and for a good reason – they work. I’ve got a pair of Sierra Designs Chaps, these by Montbell are quite similar:

https://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?p_id=1132145

However, with chaps you’ll need a longer jacket to cover the crotch, or use a poncho.

Thanks for the feedback. I’m open to other suggestions as well. I’m in the northeast, so rain does happen fairly often. I’d still like them to be as light as possible.

I’ve been very happy with Montbell Versalite rain pants.  They’ve kept my legs dry in steady, all day rains.  Some folks have said that they are fragile, but I’ve used them for off trail hiking, and they have held up pretty well.  My current pair is about three years old and still going strong.  I do retreat them every year with Nikwax TX Direct.

I’ve been very happy with Montbell Versalite rain pants. They’ve kept my legs dry in steady, all day rains. Some folks have said that they are fragile, but I’ve used them for off trail hiking, and they have held up pretty well. My current pair is about three years old and still going strong. I do retreat them every year with Nikwax TX Direct.

Sharon, I see you’re in NC – given how rainy your part of the country can be, yours is high praise indeed! I’m a real Montbell clothing fan, and you’ve gotten me taking a hard look at the Versalite.

I too am a Montbell fan in general and have the previous generation Versalite pants.  I like them quite a bit, although they only get rare use and in cold weather. I am a rain kilt convert for moderate temps.

After hearing Sharon’s experience,  looking at a couple other reviews  and seeing such a good weight savings I’ll probably get a pair of the Montbell Versalite rain pants before winter. I’ll save around 3:oz over my Helium rain/wind pants which I wear mostly for warmth and wind. Don’t expect them to hold up to bushwhacking with our thorn scrub environment but I don’t do that with the Helium pants either. On trail they should be good. I’m already carrying either a Montbell ultralight down vest or jacket depending on season. Love their work.

I am also a happy Versalite user.

I have used the Haglöfs L.I.M GTX pants in Sweden for more then two years now. It rains frequently and I often need them. Can strongly recommend them.

They are 280g – which may be heavy – but considering that I use them at every trip this is well invested for me.

Thanks all. I’m thru-hiking the Northville Placid Trail in October (Adirondack Mtns, NY). So I’m looking for something UL. I looked at kilts but likely need the warmth insurance of pants for the ADK’s in October. I have OR Foray Rain pants for winter/trips where weight isn’t a priority (especially canoe trips). I would never bushwhack in them unless it were an emergency.

Kilt plus tall gaiters (or chaps)?

Gives you more ventilation options for mixed conditions.

In the ADK in October, I’d be packing the Versalite over a kilt or chaps w/ gaiters. You can always wear shorts underneath if too much warmth is a concern, but those October ADK rains can be cold. And, as we know, it does rain in the ADK a lot. I’d also pack low gaiters.

Sharon or others who use the versalite. How are they to get on without taking shoes off? I see there’s no ankle zips

I like the OR Helium rain pants. Made with durable 30D nylon Pertex Shield 2.5 layer. They have ankle zips and weigh 6.7 oz for size M. Helium runs just a tad small though. A little heavier but you won’t have to worry about brushing up against every branch or bramble along the trail.

https://www.outdoorresearch.com/us/collection/mens-helium-rain-pants-275387

Brad, good tip on low gaiters. Seems like there’s not many Vertice owners out there.

The author of this article thinks the Zpacks is more breathable than the Montbell.

https://www.adventurealan.com/best-rain-pants-hiking-ultralight/

It is hard to find a good substantiated comparison of the two. But now I’m also looking at the Zpacks. Normally when it is cold and windy I’ll wear my Helium pants for the first two miles and then stow them unless it’s raining or snowing.

I can get the Montbell Versalite rain pants on and off without taking off my shoes.  I wear Topo Terraventure 3 shoes in a men’s size 9.5.  If my shoes were larger, I would have to take off my shoes to put on or take off the Versalite pants.

I wear size 10 men’s in Altra and Topo and can barely get them on and off with my shoes on.

Size 10 / 4E width here
Yeah, would not fit through the GoLite Whims (109 g), so I added a slight flare at the bottom of each leg using silnylon.
Flares! How antique! (but they work)

Cheers

To add to the few other comments regarding getting them (versalite infinium) off with shoes. I wore a size 9 shoe at the time and could do it with a little effort no problem on a non-bulky shoe.

I am in the northeast. Last September i thru hiked the NPT thru the Daks. I hike in the Catskills.  I have been using Arc’Teryx Beta SL rain pants year round. Pretty sure thats the model. Its been a few years so I may be wrong. I think Arc’Teryx discontinued them, I especially like them for my winter snowshoe trips. They are side zip so work well with boots/shoes. Lightweight so i dont mind tossing them in my pack just in case,  they roll up very small.. and they keep my dry!

I did carry them on the NPT but actually never bothered using them even though it rained on my first 4 days.. I was wet no matter what.. so my shorts were just fine.. my bare legs are water proof.. and i was not cold..  October may be a bit cooler but should not be too cold..  take it with a grain of salt though.. definition of cold. Anyway.. Arc’Teryx would probably be my choice if i had to buy a new pair only because all the pants and tops i ever used,  I finally found what has worked for me.. so I would definitely consider..

“but I feel ambivalent about them due to low durability. ”

That is the killer when ordering by mail.  Weight is another.  Montbell and Patagonia look OK, and can find stores where their pants can be seen face-to-face; but for me there is one major issue, and that is the makers tending to use only black.  Rainpants are something I’d only use in a worst case storm, and IMO black would create condensation and add to the shivers, which is the reason for rainpants in the first place.   So am stumped unless go MYOG.  And that is why, like some others, settle for WPB gaiters, ultra short baggies from Patagonia, and fleece under a good WPB top (also not black).

But despite constant movement, the shivers prevailed, and a planned week backpack in a rainy spring ice storm was cut short, and had to bee-line for a day to get back to the car.  To avoid ruining a spring trek again, may have to MYOG, because black is OUT.  That would begin another snipe hunt for a WPB fabric.  Don’t mind doing that for a tent; but for every little item, doing the fabric hunt and sewing would leave no time for anything else, and be expensive.

Wish some of the makers would get savvy.  Wonder if they ever do serious treks in foul weather.

IMO black would create condensation and add to the shivers, which is the reason for rainpants in the first place.
I have to disagree with the idea.
My rainpants are black – the GoLite Whims were ‘carbon black’ in colour. (Not sure just what the fibre is.) They are not ‘waterproof’ in the sense of a membrane fabric (or plastic bag), but I carry them because they WORK. I wear them when conditions are pretty foul, and I have never noticed any condensation. It may have occurred, but under those conditions I have far worse to consider. :)

Cheers