Hey,
I was recently hiking in the Gila Wilderness in NM and was caught in quite a few downpours. Although my rain gear did work out great in terms of keeping the water out, the pants I was wearing underneath were just soaked from sweat. I am wondering whether I should just wear the rain pants without my hiking pants, so as to at least have a pair of dry pants later? How are you guys dealing with this issue? I don't think I can get a more breathable setup either (have the rainshield O2 performance pants and the ID eVent jacket).
Thanks for your advice.
Sven

I bought a Integral Designs Cape which weighs 5 oz. and Gossamer Gear Spinn Chaps at 1.6 oz. covers me and my pack. Have not had the chance to use it yet but from the replies that I got from my post, I have been told that I have made a good choice.

The combination might be great for rain protection, but chaps are ugly as heck... :)

I use a 2 oz Etowah Outfitters Rain Wrap, and a 5 oz DriDucks Jacket. Great combo IMO. Rain wrap is sil, but is 'open' (like a skirt) so breathability and move-ability are really good. Keeps the bulk of moisture off you in either wet brush, or in a downpour. Driducks are breathable, roomy for layering, and not too durable but at least cheap...

Depending on how warm it is, maybe no pants at all are a better solution.

I also like lightweight wind pants like Montane or Montbell sell for wet rainy days. The pants get wet but they dry out very quickly, usually less than five or ten minutes without any new moisture and they are pretty dry.

yep they are ugly. But then again, when I am getting drenched, all bets are off. LOL

SpinnChaps are ugly? Goofy looking maybe... but ugly never occured to me. Whatever. Here's another idea... if it's hot... and you're wearing shorts... why not make a pair of O2 RainShield shorts? That would keep your butt dry at least. If it's really that warm... I wouldn't worry about me lower legs being wet / cold. Just a thought.

Edited by davidlewis on 07/23/2006 10:37:25 MDT.

Polyester runner's windpants are great for water repellent/quick drying and low cost. I've been wanting to add tabs so I can roll them up to ventilate when needed. New Balance makes excellent ones and I came across some North Face that are about the same-- this is thrift store stuff for $5 a pair.

For warm weather hiking, all the lightweight nylon zipoff pants are great with a poncho/cape. If it's over 60F, I would just go with shorts and let my legs get wet. The rain is just going to run off your rain pants and soak your shoes anyway.

I'm not sure how cold your rain is out there, but I can usually hike comfortably in shorts in the rain down to temperatures the 50s-60s, if I can keep a decent pace. I wouldn't break out pants until I stopped or temperatures dropped significantly. Legs generally dry pretty quickly. Like Dale, I find simple track pants can be a good option for brief spells when it is colder.
-Mark

Since getting cold has to do with conduction, evaporation, radiation, convection, just using wind pants, like the Montane 3 oz. ones suffice for me in most conditions of warmer temperatures. Especially if one is hiking steadily all day. Rain pants are most useful in colder temperatures and high wind situations where the effect of conduction and convection pulling heat away too fast.

Hey Bernard,
do you still wear your wind pants in hot temperatures or do you switch to shorts or other light hiking pants?
S.