Rain Pants Recommendations Please!

[Nanci]

So now I'm reading the forecast for next Saturday and there is a 60% chance of rain. I don't want to be wet and cold for 15 hours, so I am thinking about rain pants. Right now I have Performance fleece wind pants, which are water-resistant, and I haven't gotten cold in them yet, but worry about a real downpour.

So from doing a search, it seems like people like:

Marmot Precips (can you really ride a bike in those, and do they really breathe?)

REI Rainpants (but which specific model, the Novara Express? Novara Stratos?

Thanks a lot,

Nanci

[DeniseGoldberg]

My experience with rain pants have been awful - as in I really, really hate them. They always seem to stick to my skin, and I hate that feeling. Once I realized that, I switched to just wearing tights in the rain as an extra layer.

I do end up riding in the rain sometimes when I tour though, and I was fascinated when I saw some info on Rain Legs, so I went ahead and ordered a pair. Unfortunately, they are still sitting waiting for a rainy riding day.

But here are links to a review, and to the manufacturer's site. They are not currently sold anywhere in the US. I ordered my directly from the manufacturer in the UK, and had them in my hands in less than a week.

Review: http://www.shecycles.com/news/articl...98972342796266

Manufacturer: http://www.rainlegs.co.uk/

--- Denise

[Nanci]

I know what you mean- but I HATE being cold more than anything- would rather ride in the greenhouse effect than be cold. My Performance thermal pants would _probably_ be fine, and I'm sure it isn't going to rain _all_ day, and probably it would be in the warmest part of the day, which is forecast right now a week away to be 75...

But there's a huge difference between surviving a ride and being comfortable, and I will already be at my max time ever, so don't want to be cold and wet, too.

I love the rain here in the summer when you can just wear shorts and the actual rain falling out of the sky is warm.

Those Rain Legs look cool- too bad the website has so many annoying pop-ups, which are even getting through Firefox.

Nanci

[DeniseGoldberg]

Those Rain Legs look cool- too bad the website has so many annoying pop-ups, which are even getting through Firefox.
Nanci

How odd - I don't get any pop-ups from either site, and my Google toolbar doesn't log any as blocked either.

[DebW]

I have a Precip rain jacket for hiking, and yes, it really does breathe. Well, nothing waterproof breathes perfectly, and I don't sweat alot, but Precip does come well-recommended by lots of hikers. I haven't tried the Precip pants, but it's the same material (without the benefit of pit zips or other ventillation though).

[Nanci]

Well, I went with the Precips since they were about half the price of any cycling rain pants, and if they suck for cycling, I can always use them for hiking. The very light weight and fold-ability was a plus, too. I'll do a review on them if I get to use them. I hope they stay unworn, though!

Nanci

[CorsairMac]

sorry Nanci - I just saw this today. I have the REI Novara Express and I love them. I do tend to layer under them since they are my "last-defense-coz-it's-really-cold" pants but I"ve worn them for 2 winters now and would highly recommend them.

[Melody]

sorry Nanci - I just saw this today. I have the REI Novara Express and I love them. I do tend to layer under them since they are my "last-defense-coz-it's-really-cold" pants but I"ve worn them for 2 winters now and would highly recommend them.

Like Corsair I also have the Novara Express and love them too And like Corsair I also layer. I don't like wearing them when I have bare skin underneath since they do stick when I get sweaty

Mel

[Nanci]

Well, we'll see what happens! I have a substantial Marmot jacket that I love, (not for biking) which is WATERPROOF and does not breathe, but has huge pit zips. Anyway, the inside of it, and I think the Precips are the same, has tiny dots that are supposed to cut down on the sticking.

Since I got the "cheap" pants, I splurged on a waterproof case for my cell phone and one for my camera, which I am always putting in ziplocks and then worrying about.

And a new pair of Louis Garneau ErgoAir gloves. My old gloves are so old the gel is sticking out, and the black terry has faded to a sort of weird brownish gray. But I love them so much- I just thought it would be nice to have a second set tucked away in case one gets wet.

And a LG helmet rain cover.

I must be afraid of 15 hours of rain, or something! :-)

Nanci

[Nanci]

The Marmot Precip pants got here, and they are too small :-( And they were very swishy-sounding. Tight through the thighs. So I tried riding around on my bike with my mega-buck Mountain Hardwear hiking rain pants. Comfy, but they've always been too long, so I have to do some weird rolling up thing, which would come undone on the bike, plus down at the ankles there's like an inner gaiter or something, so two layers down there. Anyway, not suitable.

Well, I know Nashbar can ship overnight if the order is received by 5PM. So I should get my new size XL Women's Goretex Extreme pants Friday, still in time. They were on sale, I hope I like them.

I also ordered another taillight, since one seems to be frowned upon, the thought being if you have two, and one dies and you don't notice, you still have the other lit.

And some rainproof gloves.

And some Goretex socks.

And a headlight, since I want to be able to see my computer.

I figure with all this added expense, there is no way it is really going to rain now. :-)

Nanci

[Nanci]

I see, by my hourly weather check, that after my purchases, the chance of rain has now dropped to 20%!!! My shopping dollars hard at work.

Nanci

[wabisabi]

Those rainlegs look interesting but would never work up here with our constant rain, even with a cycling rain jacket, I think. I have the REI pants, and they have worked fine, and they close with velcro and zip off over shoes, which is nice. I also have the REI rain jacket with the long tail that velcro-s in when not in use, and that really helps to channel the rain. I also really appreciate having waterproof shoe covers, and need to get a helmet cover also.

[bentforlife]

Come to North Texas. It's so dry that the trees are whistling for the dogs to come over and..well you know what I mean.

We are in one of the worst droughts in over 40 years. Some of the lakes have dropped over 9 feet!! If we don't get rain soon it will become one of the worst droughts since the Dust Bowl days.

Does make it easier to ride, if you don't mind dust, pollen, insects, etc. I think I'm going to invest in a fairing on the recumbent. Bees hitting me in the chest are not fun!!

Have a great ride!!

Donna

[MomOnBike]

I think I'm going to invest in a fairing on the recumbent. Bees hitting me in the chest are not fun!!

Yet another reason for a fairing. They do work against insects on the chest. And they look cool.

[CorsairMac]

It's so dry that the trees are whistling for the dogs to come over and..well you know what I mean.

We are in one of the worst droughts in over 40 years. Some of the lakes have dropped over 9 feet!! If we don't get rain soon it will become one of the worst droughts since the Dust Bowl days.

roflmao - I have never heard that expression and was in stitches!! It's been real dry here in NM too - everyone whining about the lack of snow/rain/moisture and I'm thinking "we live in the desert ya'll" until someone very politely pointed out: lack of moisture increases the chances of bad summer fires! Ok - so now I"m hoping for some moisture too! It's Really windy today as in 31 mph with 41 mph gusts which usually means a weather change. Thank goodness it'll be tailwind going home - I'm thinking I'll wear my jacket backwards, climb that mountain and be home in 10 minutes or less!