[pct-l] Rain Pants

[Scott Williams]

Hey Kailin,

Let me preface this by saying that I think the Z Packs jacket and pants are
some of the best UL rain gear out there.  I used their original jacket on
the CDT, AT, Camino and several other long walks and the thing is still the
best rain jacket I've ever used.  And it's held up incredibly well, given
cuben fiber's limitations where it comes to abrasion resistance.  I thought
it would be a one hike piece of equipment when I purchased it for the CDT,
expecting it to wear out under the shoulder straps, but it hasn't.  The
darn thing is still going strong and will be with me this summer.  Several
of the guys training with me this past winter have been using the newer Z
Packs jackets and pants during a very wet year, and they all love them and
they look a lot nicer than the original I still use.

Mango's option is probably the cheapest and I've seen plenty of great home
sewn or built gear over the years, and it's often how these little UL
companies got their start.  Someone made something really good for a thru
hike and then made it for other people.  So, if you sew, go for it and make
something.

I normally hike in shorts or a swim suit, but I do carry rain pants,
usually used only for cold protection, either wet or dry.  They're "White
Sierra, Trabagon rain pants" and Sierra Trading Post has them listed at $25
right now.

I stumbled on them at the Sports Basement near here and they were fairly
light and very cheap, and I'm still using them.  They are not high tech,
but they are breathable, polyester and weigh only 6 oz, a bit more than the
Z Packs, but then they only cost $25 and they're much stronger than Frog
Togs and other paper like clothes which I've had shred while hiking through
the chaparral of Southern CA.  I was so covered in duct tape by the end of
the deserts that I just threw my paper pants and jacket away.  But my first
pair of the Trabagons, a bit ragged at the bottom, has accompanied me on
the CDT, AT and Camino and I've only gotten a new pair for this summer
because they're so cheap, why not at least start out looking half way
civilized.

So there's another option if you don't want to sew up a pair.  They are
actually very similar in look to mango's rain pants, just black waterproof
fabric.

Good luck with your search and have a wonderful summer!

Shroomer



On Wed, Mar 9, 2016 at 1:53 PM, Jim & Jane Moody <moodyjj at comcast.net>
wrote:

> Kailin,
> I recommend silnylon rainpants if you can find them. Very light (though
> not as light as cuben), but a whole lot cheaper. I used a pair on the AT in
> '06 and still have them. I've had to patch a few places, but they're still
> serviceable. Mine were ordered from dancinglightgear.com, which
> unfortunately went out of business. Brawny (the lady half of the company)
> is still around, I think. Perhaps in the Seattle area. Maybe you could
> track her down to see if she would make you a pair.
>
> Another option is to buy some silnylon fabric ( there are several online
> vendors) and make a pair yourself. If you can borrow someone else's rain
> pants to use as a pattern, this could work. Assuming you have a sewing
> machine and can use it.
>
> Good luck,
> Mango
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "Kailin Collins" <kailin.collins at gmail.com>
> To: Pct-L at backcountry.net
> Sent: Wednesday, March 9, 2016 3:23:01 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] Rain Pants
>
> I am looking for rain pant recs. I'm a thin female who gets cold easily so
> something that is actually waterproof is important. I'm not interested in
> going the kilt route. I've been close to pulling the trigger on the Zpacks
> option but 160$ hurts the bank. Can anyone recommend a cheaper option
> that's tried and true?
>
> Thanks!
> Kailin
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