There is a lot to consider when it comes to choosing the right pair of waterproof rain pants and trousers for your needs. Ultimately, many of the features will be a personal preference (for example, elasticated waist, side zips etc) but many of the fabrics used will make a difference depending on how you intend to use them. You can use our comparison table below to look at the products in our main guide side by side, to help you make an informed choice, looking at fabrics, waterproofing, pricing and various other factors.
Editor’s note: This article is part of our buyers guide to waterproof rain pants. See other articles in this series:
- 10 Best Waterproof Rain Pants for Hiking
- How to Choose The Right Waterproof Rain Pants For Your Hike
- How We Tested Waterproof Rain Pants & Trousers
- Water Resistant vs Waterproof vs Water Repellent – What is the Difference
Looking for other waterproof gear? Check out our buyers guides on waterproof hiking shoes and waterproof rain jackets.
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 | ||||
Weight | 8.68 oz | 11 oz | 5.86 oz | 18.3 oz | 11.28 oz | 4 oz | 7.9 oz | 12.5 oz | 9.6 oz |
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 | Pertex Shield Membrane |
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 | Polyester | 70D 100% Nylon | Polyester |
Pockets | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Side Zip Length | 3/4 Length | 1/4 Length ankle zips | 1/4 length ankle zips | Upper thigh vents and 1/4 ankle zips | Full length side zips | Lower-leg zip | Ankle | None | Full length side zips |
Waistband Fastening | Nylon Belt + Elastic Band | 1/2 Elastic | Elastic with drawcord | Zip fly with integrated belt | Elastic + shock cord | Elastic with drawcord | Elastic waist + internal drawcord | Elastic + shock cord | Elastic waist + internal drawcord |
Fit Over Hiking Boots | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Packable | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Cost | Price not available | $110.97 | Price not available | Price not available | $99.99 | $100.00 | $105.00 | $36.00 | Price not available |
Conclusion
We hope you’ve found our comparison table useful when making a decision about the best waterproof rain pants for your needs outdoors. As you can see, there are a whole range of option available at really varying price points. We’d generally suggest going for the best option based on your budget (you can read more about how to make that decision based on features to price ratio in our buying advice article here. Ultimately, your purchase will be a choice decided by where you plan to use them the most and what you plan to do.
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