These are a great pair of rain pants. They have excellent waterproofing and breathability and knee-high ankle zippers, making them easy to pull on.
Buying options:
- Excellent breathability
- Very waterproof
Cons / Reasons to Avoid
- No bag or pocket to pack them into
- No pockets
See the Rab Downpour Eco Pants in more detail:
Rab has a reputation for making high-quality products at a reasonable price, and these hiking pants are no exception. They will keep you dry and comfortable in all weathers. Sustainability is important to Rab, but they have managed to use recycled fabrics and fluorocarbon-free DWR that still deliver high performance.
There are intelligent design features such as knee-high ankle zips that will accommodate even the biggest hiking boots. If you are looking for a mid-range pair of hiking pants with excellent breathability and waterproofing but you don’t want to spend too much, these are the perfect choice for you. These are a great pair of rain pants, and we think the Rab Downpour Eco Pants are the best value rain pants for women.
Compare to Similar Products:
Product | Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic Pants | Marmot Minimalist Pant | Outdoor Research Helium Pant | Arc'teryx Beta AR Pant | Mamot PreCip Eco Pant Full Zip | The North Face Men's Antora Hiking Pants | Rab Downpour Eco Pant | Columbia Rebel Roamer | Showers Pass Transit |
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Buying Options | |||||||||
Our Award | Women's Performance | Women's Best Lightweight | Men's Performance | Women's Best Rain Pant for Hiking | Men's Best Value | Men's Best Cycling | |||
Waterproof Fabric | 2.5L Dry.Q Stretch Ripstop | 2.5L Gore-Tex with PacLite Technology | 2.5L Pertex Shield Diamond Fuse | Gore-Tex Pro | Nono Pro Eco | 2L DryVent Seam Sealed | Pertex Shield Membrane | Omni-Tech Waterproof/Breathable | Nylon |
Face Fabric | 100% Recycled Polyester | 100% Polyester | 30D 100& Nylon Ripstop | N40r-X Gore-Tex Pro | 100% Recycled Nylon Ripstop | 100% Recycled Nylon Ripstop with DWR Finish | Artex 3-Layer | 70D 100% Nylon | Artex 3-Layer |
Cost | $110.36 | $184.95 | $129.95 | Price not available | $59.99 | $97.00 | Price not available | $59.40 | Price not available |
Read our main guide: 9 Best Waterproof Rain Pants for Hiking
Analysis and Test Results
These are a well-designed pair of pants made with high-quality components. The 2.5-layer Pertex Revolve fabric is very waterproof while also being highly breathable. The ankle zippers are world-renowned YKK zippers. Unlike many pants that only have ¼ length ankle zips, the Rab Downpour Eco Pants open up all the way to the knee. Anyone who has ever found themselves struggling to fit their hiking boots through a small cuff opening will appreciate the extra length provided.
The zips are well protected by storm flaps that are secured at the bottom with a press stud. To help create a good fit to your boots there is an adjustable drawcord in the cuffs. The waist is fully elasticated, and it also has an adjustable drawcord.
The ‘Eco’ in the name of these pants refers to the efforts Rab has taken to make them as sustainable as possible. This includes using recycled polyester and a fluorocarbon-free DWR coating. The Pertex Revolve fabric is designed to be easier to recycle when the pants are no longer usable. While we are recommending the standard Rab Downpour Eco Pants, they are also available in a full-length zipper version.
Performance Comparison
Water Resistance
These hiking pants are very waterproof. The rating of the 2.5-layer Pertex Revolve fabric is 20,000 mm. Although the DWR (durable water repellent) coating is fluorocarbon-free, it does a great job. The zips are protected with storm flaps, and you can cinch in the cuffs to make them water-tight. These pants will keep you dry for hours, even in heavy rain.
Breathability
The breathability of the Rab Downpour Eco Pants is impressive. The fabric has a breathability rating of 20,000 g/m2/24 hrs. There is no build-up of moisture inside them, even when you are exercising hard. These are some of the best pairs of waterproof pants when it comes to breathability.
Comfort and Mobility
These waterproof pants are lightweight and easy to walk in. The knees are not articulated, so the material can pull a little when going up very steep slopes. However, the cut of the trousers and the suppleness of the material mean they are comfortable to wear, and they don’t restrict your movements.
Materials
The primary material used to make the Rab Downpour Eco Pants is 2.5-layer Pertex Revolve fabric. The face fabric is 50 denier polyester that uses 100 % recycled material. This is bonded to a single polymer polyester membrane that is made from 75% recycled material. The membrane has a print on the inside (the 0.5 layer) to make it more durable and soft against your skin.
The DWR coating is fluorocarbon-free. The zips are top-quality YKK zippers, and the cinches are plastic.
Durability
Rab has a well-deserved reputation for making practical, hard-wearing products. These hiking pants are well-made from quality materials. The material is not very thick, but the face fabric is 50 denier polyester, which is tough and more durable than the typical fabrics used for waterproof pants.
Rab’s guarantee covers your item failing due to a manufacturing defect during its usable lifetime. They will first try to repair it, but if that is not possible, they promise to provide a swift replacement.
Weight and Packability
The 2.5-layer material helps to make these pants thin enough to fold up easily. However, they don’t have a pocket or bag to stuff them into. They are very light, which makes them ideal for carrying in the bottom of a backpack ‘just in case’. They weigh:
Men
225g / 7.9 oz
Women
205g / 7.2 oz
Features
There is an elasticated waist on these hiking pants that also has a drawcord that can be cinched. The drawcord can easily be secured with one hand. The waistband isn’t bulky and sits comfortably under a harness or rucksack belt.
There is a knee-high zip to make it easy to pull them on quickly when it starts raining. To keep out the rain, there is a flap over the zip that has a press stud on the bottom to keep it in place. The cuffs also have a drawcord to pull in the bottom of the pants that can be cinched in place.
Sustainability
Rab says they “have a deep love and respect for the planet and through our business operations work to combat climate change, reduce waste and protect the environment.”. They provide Material Facts tables so it is clear what their products are composed of. Most of their materials use recycled materials, and the Pertex Revolve fabric is designed to be easy to recycle. They have been a Climate Neutral Company for several years and also a Fair Wear Foundation Leader.
Conclusion
These are some of our favorite pairs of rain pants. They strike a good balance between being intelligently designed with high-quality components while not requiring a hefty investment. The reasonable price combined with the high standard of waterproofing and breathability makes these the ideal pair of pants to keep in your backpack, confident they will keep you dry and comfortable no matter what weather you encounter. They are also lightweight and easy to pack down. It’s a shame they don’t come with a bag to keep them neat when you are not wearing them. There are no pockets, which can be inconvenient. Apart from these minor niggles these are fantastic hiking pants.
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