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Rain pants: the unsung hero
The rainy season, sudden downpours, and summer in the Northern Alps are approaching
Many people, including this site, have reviewed rain jackets, but there are very few review articles about rain pants, perhaps because they are too plain
Which rain pants offer good mobility and don't get stuffy, but also offer a good balance of waterproofness and durability? And if they're light and compact, that's even better!
In this article, we will focus on rain pants, which are a humble but powerful tool behind the scenes, and field test and review three carefully selected rain pants from the 2024 releases that offer an excellent balance of weight, waterproofness, durability, and breathability!
table of contents
- Field test of three carefully selected lightweight rain pants
- Test environment and field test results
- Impressions of each model
- Overall Best: Mont-Bell Torrent Flyer Pants. Highly breathable and offers great ventilation thanks to its wide silhouette. Recommended for speed hikers
- Lightweight BEST: Teton Bros. Feather Rain Pant. Recommended for minimalist UL hikers who want to save even a little weight
- Best Mobility: OMM Kamleika Pant. Stretch that defies conventional wisdom about rainwear! Recommended for those heading to the snowy mountains as a soft shell
- summary
- Reference: Other recommended lightweight rain pants that made it onto the final list
Field test of three carefully selected lightweight rain pants
We selected the following three items, all of which must be on sale in 2024, weigh less than 200g, and have a side zipper, and are designed for fast packing with excellent waterproofness, breathability, comfort, and ease of lifting your legs
Teton Bros. FEATHER RAIN PANT 140g
Mont-Bell Torrent Flyer Pants 147g
OMM Kamleika Pant 168g
Test environment and field test results
Which rain pants are lightweight but well-balanced?
The field test was carried out under the following conditions:
Test environment
- [Period] May
- [Mountain Range] Omine Okugake Trail (Nara to Mie), Hira Mountains (Shiga), Kyoto Loop Trail (Kyoto)
- [Weather] Sunny, rainy
- [Activity] Fastpacking
- [Layering] Wear rain pants over shorts
Field test results
Here are the test results that interest you:
| type | Highest breathability/all-round type | Minimum/lightest type | Soft shell type/ultra stretch type |
|---|---|---|---|
| item | Mont-Bell Torrent Flyer Pants | Teton Bros. Feather Rain Pant | OMM Kamleika Pants |
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| Outdoor Gearzine Review | |||
| Breathability | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| waterproof | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ease of movement | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Ease of putting on and taking off | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| weight | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Storage capacity | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| durability | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Specifications | |||
| Outer fabric | 12-denier Ballistic Airlite® nylon ripstop | StretchCordura Super Durable 3L | Kamleika |
| Waterproof and breathable membrane | GORE-TEX PACLITE® PLUS fabric | StretchCordura Super Durable 3L | Kamleika |
| Water pressure resistance | Over 20,000mm | 20,000mm | 20,000mm |
| Breathability | 44,000g/㎡/24h | 20,000g/㎡/24h | 20,000g/㎡/24h |
| Actual weight (g) | 147 (Size S) | 140 (Size M) | 168 (Size S) |
| Reference price (as of June 2024) | ¥15,950 (tax included) | ¥25,300 (tax included) | ¥25,300 (tax included) |
Impressions of each model
Overall Best: Mont-Bell Torrent Flyer Pants. Highly breathable and offers great ventilation thanks to its wide silhouette. Recommended for speed hikers
Montbell has unwavering confidence in its rainwear, and the Torrent Flyer Pants offer the ultimate in breathability, lightness, and compactness
It uses Gore-Tex Paclite Plus fabric and is highly cost-effective despite its high performance, priced at 15,900 yen (tax included)
The more I waterproofed and field tested it, the more I liked it!
First off, it's worn
168cm, 56kg, size S, black
I was doing the field test on a rainy day, so I was wearing sandals
The long zipper and slightly wide silhouette make it easy to put on and take off while wearing shoes. Trail running shoes were plenty roomy, and trekking shoes were just about okay
The side zipper is located at the back where it is less susceptible to rain. It has a functional beauty
The next thing I like about it is its breathability and ventilation.
The Gore-Tex Paclite Plus fabric is extremely breathable, and the roomy silhouette allows air to flow in as you walk, creating a synergistic effect of breathability.
This is by far the best of the three items we're introducing today
Yet it is extremely lightweight and compact at just 147g (measured on the small size), making it a perfect fit for fast packing
You can also use it as a wind shell, so it kills two birds with one stone! It would be a waste to let it sit dormant in your backpack
Finally, regarding waterproofing, we tested it by running a shower over it for a long time in the bathroom and sitting in a wet bathtub, and both the waterproofing and water-repellent properties were more than adequate. The water-repellent properties were by far the best out of the three
As expected from the rain champion, Montbell. I was also impressed by the functional beauty that shines through everywhere.
The only things that bothered me were the all-black color scheme and the tendency for the pants to flap in strong winds. However, the cost performance and functional beauty outweighed that, making these great rain pants.
These rain pants are recommended for those who like fast packing and require high breathability and ventilation, while still serving two purposes in one
The 21cm long side zipper makes it easy to put on and take off. It's easy to wear low-cut trail running shoes! I even managed to slip on mid-cut trekking boots. The reflective accents are a nice touch
Montbell's unique Samue system. The elastic at the hem prevents the hem from flapping
The front opening is a must-have. It weighs just 147g, which is great!
Gore-Tex Paclite Plus is in danger of disappearing from sales lines due to environmental concerns. Is now the time to buy it?
It can be stored as compactly as a 500ml PET bottle. It is the second most compact of the three
Black goes well with any outfit
I've come to like the wide silhouette
Lightweight BEST: Teton Bros. Feather Rain Pant. Recommended for minimalist UL hikers who want to save even a little weight
These rain pants are extremely lightweight, weighing just 140g (measured in size M), yet are a 3-layer garment
The weak point of lightweight rain pants is their durability, but this season this weakness has been overcome by updating the material to "StretchCordura Super Durable 3L."
First off, it starts with the shoes on
168cm, 56kg, size M, light gray
I was doing a field test on a rainy day, so I was wearing sandals
The three-dimensional cut creates a beautiful silhouette. The side zipper is a minimal 18cm. Low-cut trail running shoes can be put on and taken off while wearing them. However, the sole catches slightly around the knee, so you have to be careful when putting them on and taking them off. It's a trade-off for a beautiful silhouette. Mid-cut trekking boots are difficult to put on and take off while wearing them
The silhouette is sleek even when viewed from behind. Just as you'd expect from Teton Bros
The three-dimensional cut silhouette is a perfect example of Teton.bros' style, and you'll feel comfortable lifting your legs from the moment you put them on
The lightweight weight of 140g is thanks to clever features such as a minimal drawstring at the waist
However, the material itself is uncompromising, and is both breathable and durable, so these are not just lightweight rain pants
I tested it in the bathroom to check its waterproofness, and it was waterproof and water-repellent enough. It also seems like it could be used as a wind shell when the temperature is low
One nice thing about these rain pants is the wide variety of colors available in the unisex lineup. While many rain pants are brightly colored, the light gray color is quite unusual.
One thing that bothers me is that they can be a bit difficult to put on and take off while wearing trail running shoes. However, if you take it easy, they are easy to put on and take off.
These rain pants are recommended for minimalist UL hikers who want rain pants that have all the necessary performance features, but also want to keep them as light as possible
Minimal elastic waistband with only a drawstring!
Drawcord at hem
The hem can be tightly tightened
Durable CORDURA material
The beautiful silhouette and pale colors are one of the charms of Teton Boros
It can be stored as compactly as a 500ml PET bottle! Of the three, it is the most compact by a small margin
Best Mobility: OMM Kamleika Pant. Stretch that defies conventional wisdom about rainwear! Recommended for those heading to the snowy mountains as a soft shell
Made from durable nylon, with 4-way stretch and excellent breathability, the OMM Kamleika Pant is made for mountain running
The moment I put them on, I was surprised by how soft and stretchy they were, unlike rain pants. I was truly amazed. Rather than calling them rain pants, they are more like waterproof soft shells
First off, it's worn
168cm, 56kg, size S, Gray
A perfect fit. Features a side zipper that wraps around from the side to the front
Functional silhouette with integrated orange stripe and side zipper
The brand name is placed in a balanced manner, also serving as a reflector
To reiterate, the four-way stretch performance is excellent, so you won't feel any tightness even when wearing long pants underneath
At the same time, the slim silhouette means you don't have to worry about them flapping around even when you're caught in a strong wind on a ridge, so I think they are one of the ideal rain pants
Above all, it has that OMM-like sexiness
It was also waterproof enough
One thing that bothers me is that it feels a little sticky against the skin during high-intensity exercise, but if you wear thin, breathable pants underneath, you can stay comfortable
You can also wear them underneath and use them as rain pants when walking on snowy mountains, killing two birds with one stone
These rain pants are recommended not only for hikers in the snow-free season, but also for those heading to snowy mountains
Soft shell feel
Diagonal side zipper
The zipper is 16.5cm long, the shortest of the three, but I was able to put on and take off low-cut trail running shoes without the soles getting caught. Mid-cut trekking boots are difficult to put on and take off while wearing them
Zipper pull with hook that can be attached to shoelaces, etc
It packs down as compactly as a 500ml water bottle, but it doesn't fit in the stuff sack of the Trent Flyer Pants. It's third in compactness, but it's still within acceptable limits
Four-way stretch means no stress when lifting your legs!
summary
After field testing three pairs of lightweight rain pants, the one I wanted most this season was the Mont-Bell Torrent Flyer Pants
The deciding factors were the excellent breathability, high ventilation, and ease of putting on and taking off. Personally, I think it's important that rainwear be easy to put on and comfortable to wear, and the Torrent Flyer Pants meet these criteria beautifully. At the same time, they have high waterproofing and excellent water repellency, so there's no need to worry about durability
The sexiness of the Feather Rain Pants and Kamleika Pants was appealing, but what really stood out was their functional beauty
However, while the Mont-Bell Torrent Flyer Pants were the best for me this time, when I compared the other two carefully, each had its own unique features and appeal. For example, the feather rain pants are beautifully cut and are the lightest, while the Kamleika Pants are so stretchy you'd never think they were rainwear. The best model will vary depending on the mountain range, season, activity, etc. I hope this comparison review will be helpful when making your decision
Reference: Other recommended lightweight rain pants that made it onto the final list
For your reference, these are the "rain pants with a side zipper that weigh less than 200g" that made it to the final list in this comparison review
Salomon Bonatti Trail 95g
MONTANE Minimus Nano Pants 100g
THE NORTH FACE Futurelite Trail Peak Pants 115g
Salomon BONATTI WATERPROOF 123g
THE NORTH FACE Strike Trail Pants 125g
Mont-Bell Storm Cruiser Pants 195g
Haruki Murakami
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