I have a 6.5 mile commute and I got a Gore-tex hand-me-down that makes me feel like it's not raining at all... I just hear this wonderful, gentle tapping of the drops. The pants haven't maintained their waterproofness as well, but I got some "re-waterproof" stuff and washed 'em in that, and that works now... and I just bring a pair of pants neatly rolled, in a plastic bread bag.