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Rain pant recommendations

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 10:26 pm
by Ingo
My trusty old Red Ledge rain pants started peeling at the seams last trip, so looking for new ones. The only thing I don't care for is that they just barely fit over the boots, but a relatively minor annoyance. I may stick with them but am looking at alternatives and suggestions.
Criteria (besides the obvious, they must keep me dry):
- 9 oz or less
- wind proof
- preferably $50 or less, $100 absolute max
- ankle zips would be nice, not required if otherwise fit over size 11 boots
- don't need pockets, just another source of potential water entry

What I've considered:
- Red Ledge, replace what I've had ($40, 9 oz)
- Marmot Precip, I like my jacket ($80, 9 oz, ankle zips, pockets)
- Frogg Toggs, light & cheap, shorter life ($25 for 10.4 oz suit, can't get pants separately. So 4-5 oz-ish for pants?)

Any opinions/experience or other suggestions? Probably will be used 70% canoeing and 30% hiking/backpacking. I probably use them as much as an outer layer when it's windy and cold.

Re: Rain pant recommendations

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:32 am
by torpified
I've used Frogg Toggs, and can contribute the following very limited intelligence:
--they run HUGE. Think David Byrne's big suit from Stop Making Sense. I bet they'd fit over your boots.
--their colors are pleasingly ugly.
--I never actually hiked in them. As luck would have it, no significant rain fell on the trips where I used them. I wore them around camp though, which included a bit of poking/scrambling around the environs.
(--I keep the jacket they came with in the car and have used it briefly in some significant rains. It kept me dry.)
--after about three weeks total of that kind of use, they were getting careworn. I'm not sure how long they'd last on a bushwack.

Re: Rain pant recommendations

Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2018 9:59 am
by hooky
https://www.cabelas.com/product/clothin ... s?slotId=6

I bit the bullet and bought some Gore Tex rain gear from Cabelas. I hunt, so it was justified by being double duty. Not the lightest, but it's been the driest stuff I've ever used and has been very durable over the last 3 years. Multiple 30-40 degree days in continuous rain and it's kept me dry. MT050 Quiet Pack Rainwear with Gore Tex and it's on sale right now. I have the jacket and pants.

Re: Rain pant recommendations

Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2018 7:16 pm
by Ingo
torpified wrote: Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:32 am --their colors are pleasingly ugly.
You have such a way of saying things, always makes me smile :).

Re: Rain pant recommendations

Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2018 11:36 pm
by Midwest Ed
I have a 2 piece rain suit from Columbia. I haven't used the pants much but I'm "oversized" and they are loose fitting. I wear the jacket a lot and I am extremely pleased with it. Both are very lightweight. They sold separately at about $50 each. I noticed their 2 better line pants are presently off 40% discounted from $300 and $150. I can't vouch for either of them though, just thought you'd like to know about the sale. Their return policy is a flat $6 and 60 days.

Re: Rain pant recommendations

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:34 am
by chief54
I splurged and got some Mountain Hardware Gore Tex and absolutely love them. Have used them from Isle Royale, 100 Mile Wilderness in Maine, even used them last spring on a 10 day raft trip down the Colorado River/Grand Canyon, to keep dry in mornings in the shade of canyon when hitting rapids, kept me dry which meant staying warm in the cold water of the river. I think it is the best investment i have made in all my backpacking gear.

Re: Rain pant recommendations

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 3:36 pm
by Tortuga
Probably not what you're looking for, but I love it.

http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/cloudkilt.shtml

Re: Rain pant recommendations

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 3:46 pm
by Ingo
Tortuga wrote: Thu Mar 08, 2018 3:36 pm Probably not what you're looking for, but I love it.

http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/cloudkilt.shtml
I've seen those, and intrigued me if I did more straight backbacking. Unfortunately they don't work well sitting in a canoe--or for warmth when it's 40 something and the wind is blowing 20 something off the lake (in July) :shock:

Re: Rain pant recommendations

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 7:57 pm
by Tortuga
Ingo wrote: Thu Mar 08, 2018 3:46 pm
Tortuga wrote: Thu Mar 08, 2018 3:36 pm Probably not what you're looking for, but I love it.

http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/cloudkilt.shtml
I've seen those, and intrigued me if I did more straight backbacking. Unfortunately they don't work well sitting in a canoe--or for warmth when it's 40 something and the wind is blowing 20 something off the lake (in July) :shock:
Very fair point :D