WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 24

Thread: Rain pants

  1. #1
    Registered User TheMidlifeHiker's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-14-2018
    Location
    Sturbridge, MA
    Age
    47
    Posts
    68

    Default Rain pants

    Necessary / helpful / waste of ounces?

    Trying to decide if I should carry them.

    Discuss.

  2. #2

    Default

    In warmer weather, no. Keep your stuff dry, and hike until you hit shelter.

  3. #3
    Registered User kestral's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-12-2011
    Location
    Melbourne, Florida
    Posts
    379

    Default

    In cold weather, wind pants to help you stay warm, and in cold mist or full on cold rain, priceless.

    in warm or hot weather, steam suit while hiking, can be nice around a rainy camp, good to wear on laundry day.

    i have an old pair of marmot rain pants. Have held up well, not esp lightweight. Depends on expected weather if I bring or not.

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    02-05-2009
    Location
    Delray Beach, Florids
    Age
    73
    Posts
    1,359

    Default

    On a long section hike or a thru hike they are good to have in heavy weather. They can also act as a back up and you have something to help make a pillow from and they give you something to put on when doing laundry. Bring them along.

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-21-2008
    Location
    Bangor, Maine
    Posts
    179

    Default

    My Precip pants are worth every ounce to me. I take them in all 4 seasons. They have proven to be a very versatile piece of gear for the way I do things.

  6. #6
    Registered User kestral's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-12-2011
    Location
    Melbourne, Florida
    Posts
    379

    Default

    I made a rain kilt out of two turkey oven roaster bags, some packing tape and crossed fingers. Great for warm rain over shorts, weigh 1.5 oz. a good addition to prevent unwelcome steaming on warm / hot rainy days. Have held over many trips surprisingly well and pack very small. May be an option for summer if you are not hiking in high country. Cost about 3 dollars at Wally World. Enjoy your hike!

    I wore my rain pants on a very cold night over my woolly cresta base layer top and bottoms with rain parka over down vest. Basically every piece of clothing I had. I had packed my summer bag by mistake. Dog chipped in with body heat shared and a potential disaster was avoided. Hard freeze that night, est temp per weather ap was 15 degrees, unexpectedly cold for feb in north Georgia. Went to bed shivering, woke up snuggly warm. Made morning coffee while still in bag.Live and learn. I now ALWAYS pull out bag and double check it’s the one I need. (I had packed my summer bag (40 degree rated) in my usual winter bag stuff sack). Dumb!

    sometimes it’s nice to have a backup layer.
    Last edited by kestral; 03-12-2018 at 17:35. Reason: Additional info

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    06-02-2011
    Location
    Neptune Beach, Fl
    Age
    49
    Posts
    6,238

    Default

    If your confident in your manhood check out these bad boys.....~3oz water resistant breathable rip stop nylon....great layer if not looking for hot rain pants or $$$ wind pants...I rarely go without these...thx Mags for the tip


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  8. #8
    Registered User TheMidlifeHiker's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-14-2018
    Location
    Sturbridge, MA
    Age
    47
    Posts
    68

    Default

    I’ll have to research a pair then - thanks for the advice!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  9. #9
    Registered User TheMidlifeHiker's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-14-2018
    Location
    Sturbridge, MA
    Age
    47
    Posts
    68

    Default

    I’ll have to research a pair then - thanks for the advice!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  10. #10

    Default

    It's a personal choice, conditions and situations that impact my decision making, may not impact yours at all. Best wishes and happy decision making.
    Termite fart so much they are responsible for 3% of global methane emissions.

  11. #11

    Default

    Picked up a pair of those pants recently. I'm 6' 180 and I take an XL. Fits pretty decent.

  12. #12
    Registered User
    Join Date
    10-17-2007
    Location
    Newark, Ohio
    Posts
    1,010
    Images
    45

    Default

    Only time I ever wore mine was at the laundromat while I was washing the rest of my clothes.

  13. #13
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-25-2017
    Location
    Dallas, Texas
    Age
    68
    Posts
    806

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by saltysack View Post
    If your confident in your manhood check out these bad boys.....~3oz water resistant breathable rip stop nylon....great layer if not looking for hot rain pants or $$$ wind pants...I rarely go without these...thx Mags for the tip


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Thank you the pointer and to those with experience too.

  14. #14
    Registered User DownEaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-15-2017
    Location
    Silicon Valley
    Age
    68
    Posts
    682

    Default

    If it's cold and wet, or cold and windy, rain pants are good to have. You can join about half of all hikers out there and start with a Frogg Toggs suit. If it works out for you you're all set, and if not it's a cheap experiment.

  15. #15

    Join Date
    05-05-2011
    Location
    state of confusion
    Posts
    9,866
    Journal Entries
    1

    Default

    Depends
    If cold or windy...yes.

    Sometimes that rain is 48F too even when its warm out at higher el.

    I usually always bring basic kit, because my pack is light enough it dont matter.
    Last edited by MuddyWaters; 03-13-2018 at 01:30.

  16. #16

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TheMidlifeHiker View Post
    Necessary / helpful / waste of ounces?

    Trying to decide if I should carry them.

    Discuss.
    You have to ask yourself where and when you will be hiking.

    On most stretches of the AT in summer, pain pants will prove too warm and of little benefit. If however you hike in New England, even in summer, they can come in very handy as you could experience cold rain/sleet any time of year. Early spring and/or fall, I would carry them.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

  17. #17

    Default

    Did not need for my thru. Started with a homemade poly rain kilt and ditched it by the Smokies. Quick drying running shorts were good enough for me


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    GAME '16 4/18/16-8/12/16
    Trailjournal: http://www.trailjournals.com/jjdontplay
    Blog (Post Trail Gear Reviews): https://keeppushingon.wordpress.com/

  18. #18
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-13-2012
    Location
    Mid Atlantic
    Posts
    1,047
    Images
    9

    Default

    Frogg Toggs, cheap, repair with duct tape, loose enough to put on without taking off your shoes. Use them as wind pants and laundry clothes.

  19. #19
    Registered User TheMidlifeHiker's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-14-2018
    Location
    Sturbridge, MA
    Age
    47
    Posts
    68

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Deacon View Post
    You have to ask yourself where and when you will be hiking.

    On most stretches of the AT in summer, pain pants will prove too warm and of little benefit. If however you hike in New England, even in summer, they can come in very handy as you could experience cold rain/sleet any time of year. Early spring and/or fall, I would carry them.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    I think I’ll have them until I ditch my winter stuff... don’t know exactly when that’ll be but I’ll likely pick up a pair of shorts as an alternate bottom layer with my hiking pants at the same time.

  20. #20
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-18-2007
    Location
    upstate NY
    Age
    71
    Posts
    71

    Default

    Have you considered rain chaps instead of full pants? I picked up a pair a few years ago and wore them on a backpacking trip where it was wet and humid. I liked the ability to vent while still keeping my shorts and legs dry. They're definitely a compromise but it might be one that works for you.

    That's all for now. Take care and until next time....be well.

    snapper

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •