Hanging out at Ganoga Falls, Ricketts Glen State Park, Pa. (Compass Points Media / flickr) http://www.flickr.com/photos/compasspointsmedia/ / CC BY-ND 2.0
One question I frequently answered while working at an outfitter was whether a person should purchase rainproof pants to go along with their parka.
Seems a tempting decision that’s filled with common sense, doesn’t it? After all, if you’re going to keep your upper body dry, why not those legs?
My answer then is the same as it is today – Maybe.
I’ve been caught in the Adirondacks High Peaks during a misty, rainy August day when I wished I had ‘em. And I’ve survived summer downpours on the Appalachian Trail without them. If I didn’t have my pair in the Catskills last September, I’m sure I would have drowned (not really, but it did rain a lot).
Here’s some basic tips about whether to part with your money and purchase rain proof pants.
- I like having them when I know the day is going to be cold and raw. That trip to the Adirondacks had me ascending Algonquin when the temperatures didn’t reach out of the 50s. Rain and chilly temps make for some miserable hiking conditions, and an extra layer to keep me dry would have been a welcomed edition.
- I like having them when I know rain will fall all day long. During a three-day backpacking trip to the Catskills last September, our group soaked up three inches of rain over two of those days. The temps never dipped to the too-cold-for-comfort level, but having my rainproof pants gave me an advantage in terms of comfort. That was partly because we spent two days bushwacking, so we not only dealt with the falling rain but the residue water on all the witch-hobble and other shrubs.
- I don’t bring them if it’s going to be warm and raining only part of the time. If you’re going hiking when temperatures are warm, you can survive a flash rain storm without rainproof pants. If you’re hiking with pants made of nylon or similar synthetic, those pants dry fast anyway, making rainproof pants superfluous.
A lot of your decision making on buying rainproof pants will depend on your comfort level with cold. If you’re someone who gets cold easily and doesn’t handle well being chilly and wet, then you might want to spring for some rainproof pants. If you’re someone who doesn’t mind cold and wet so much, your money might be best spent elsewhere.
Don’t forget also that the success of waterproof materials depends on their breathability. If you’re hiking in the rain to the top of Mount Mansfield, Vt., you’re body will heat up and produce sweat. That sweat has less chance of evaporating when you’re wearing a pair of rainproof pants, meaning your legs are going to get soaked anyway. To summarize, if you’re engaged in a strenuous activity like hiking in the rain to the top of Vermont’s high peak, those rainproof pants might not do you any good any how, but if you’re hiking along the flat Kittatinny Ridge in New Jersey, which requires less exertion, then the rainproof pants could help.
I know that seems like a lot of information to consider when purchasing just one piece of apparel. That, however, is the nature of the beast known as outdoor gear and clothing.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Dave,
I think you nailed it about location… when I’m climbing in the Whites, unless it’s winter, I sweat and usually don’t need rain pants until the ridge. If it’s summer and the rain is warm, I don’t need them at all. I’ve found them to be most helpful in the spring or fall in valley hikes – lots of distance, below tree line, mud etc. I’ve yet to find a really good pair that breathes nicely. The closest I’ve come is my current pair of Helly Hansen pants. They have a nice zip from cuff up to calf with mesh underneath.
I think rain pants are a necessity if your going to be anywhere that you could get soaked. Nothing worse then chaffing:) Rain pants are an essential piece of mountain gear!
I find myself checking Compass Points every single day…you post great info and inspiring pics/videos so often!! Thanks Dave. In my experience rain pants played a very small role while thru-hiking the AT and will play a pretty much non-existent role (at least until I get to Oregon and Washington) when hiking the PCT. I carried a very breathable pair of Patagonia Rain Pants about 60% of the AT and realized one day that the only time I ever wore them was when I was in a laundry mat washing the rest of my clothes. And I did use them to lay on the ground under my sleeping pad to serve as like a groundcloth. The next day I dropped them in a hiker box (I’m sure some excited SOBO hiker grabbed them and probably carried them back to Springer Mountain – using them just as little as I had). What I do is just make sure my 100 percent nylon hiking pants have a DWR coating, and have a high end parka, and invest money on keeping the rest of my gear dry…Sil Nylon Pack Cover, Garbage Bag Liner, and individual dry storage bags for the important gear in my pack. When it’s raining I am content with getting a little wet and having the knowledge that when I get to my campsite I’ll have a 100 percent dry base layer and down sleeping bag. But, you hit the nail on the head when describing that the decision is based on your comfort zone…I’m a warm hiker/sleeper and try and limit the extra clothing (which is often the heaviest group of items in a pack) to save on weight.