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There is a moment on every long hike when the rain arrives and you realize you have a choice. It happened to me on a section of the Pacific Northwest trail in October, when the sky opened without warning and the switchbacks turned to streams in the space of a minute. The two hikers in front of me stopped. One of them pulled a rain jacket from his pack and stood there, indecisive, because the rain was also falling on his pants and he did not have the second half of the equation. The other hiker pulled a pair of hiking rain pants from the bottom of her pack and stepped into them. She kept walking.
I watched her disappear into the grey curtain ahead while the first hiker sat on a rock, already soaked from the waist down, and began the slow process of accepting that he would be wet for the rest of the day. The difference between the two hikers was not a matter of rain gear. It was a matter of whether the rain gear was complete. A rain jacket without rain pants is a roof without walls. It keeps the top half dry, and the bottom half pays the price in every step through wet brush, across puddled trail, and under the constant drip from the hem of the jacket.
The principle that guides this article comes from the Dao De Jing, and it is a line about the kind of skill that works without leaving a trace. The Laozi writes that good walking leaves no tracks, and good speech leaves no flaws. The meaning is not about stealth. It is about the quality of work that is so complete it does not create a second problem. The jacket that leaves your pants wet is not a jacket that has done its work. The rain pants that protect you from the rain without making you aware of them are the rain pants that have done their work the way the Laozi meant it. They do not rustle. They do not bind. They do not make you think about them. The rain stays outside, and the trail stays in front of you, and the rain pants that leave no trace of their presence are the rain pants that have walked the trail the way the Laozi describes.
善行无辙迹，善言无瑕谪。 Good walking leaves no tracks. Good speech leaves no flaws. — Dao De Jing, Chapter 27
The Six Hiking Rain Pants at a Glance
| Rain Pants | Weight | Material | Waterproofing | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33,000ft Men’s Rain Pants | — | 100% Nylon, Mesh Lining | 5000mm / 5000g | 4.4 / 5 (5,513) |
| Outdoor Ventures Men’s Rain Pants | — | Nylon Ripstop, TPU Membrane | 5000mm / 5000g | 4.4 / 5 (556) |
| Marmot PreCip Evo Full Zip Rain Pant | 10.5 oz | 100% Recycled Nylon 2.5L | NanoPro C0 DWR | 4.8 / 5 (29) |
| baleaf Men’s Waterproof Cycling Pants | — | 100% Polyester | 10000mm / 5000g | 4.6 / 5 (6) |
| The North Face Antora Rain Pant | — | 100% Recycled Polyester Ripstop | DryVent, non-PFC DWR | 4.5 / 5 (134) |
| Frogg Toggs Bull Frogg Rain Pant | — | 100% Polypropylene | Fully seam-taped | 4.2 / 5 (2,281) |
All specifications listed as they appear on Amazon. Weight varies by size.
The Six Best Hiking Rain Pants
1. 33,000ft Men’s Rain Pants — The Rain Pants with the Most Reviews
The 33,000ft Men’s Rain Pants are for the hiker who wants a pair of rain pants that has been tested by thousands of other hikers and proven itself in the field. They are made of a hundred percent nylon shell with a mesh lining that makes them a lightweight rain shell, and they carry a waterproof rating of five thousand millimeters and a breathability rating of five thousand grams per square meter per twenty-four hours.
The 33,000ft pants use a fully seam-sealed construction with a TPU membrane that keeps water out at the seams. The waist is a fully elasticated drawstring that lets the hiker customize the fit, and the pants have two zippered pockets with flaps that keep the contents dry. The legs have a half-length zip that allows the pants to be pulled over boots without removing them, and the bottom of each leg has a Velcro closure that adjusts the width. The pants also have reflective piping for visibility in low-light conditions.
The Daoist principle these pants carry is the one about the thing that has been proven by time. The 33,000ft pants have over five thousand reviews and a four point four rating, and the number of reviews is the kind of evidence that the Laozi would recognize as the weight of the collective. The pants that thousands of hikers have bought and kept are the pants that have done their work the way the Laozi meant it. Good walking leaves no tracks, and the pants that have been walked in by thousands of hikers are the pants that have left the trail of their own reliability.
2. Outdoor Ventures Men’s Rain Pants — The Best Value Rain Pants on the Trail
The Outdoor Ventures Men’s Rain Pants are for the hiker who wants waterproof protection without paying for a brand name. They are made of a high-density two hundred and ten denier nylon ripstop outer shell with a laminated TPU membrane, and the seams are fully sealed at a hundred and three percent coverage.
The Outdoor Ventures pants carry the same five thousand millimeter waterproof rating and five thousand gram breathability rating as the 33,000ft pants, but the fabric is a ripstop weave that is more resistant to tearing. The waist is an elastic drawcord, and the pants have two zippered pockets. The legs have a half-length zip for easy on-and-off over boots, and the pants pack into a pouch for storage. The fabric is lightweight and the pants are designed for hiking, camping, cycling, and fishing.
The Daoist principle the Outdoor Ventures carry is the one about the thing that is sufficient. The Laozi writes that the best walking leaves no tracks, and the Outdoor Ventures pants are the pants that do what they need to do without advertising themselves. They are not the most expensive. They are not the most technical. They are the pants that are waterproof, breathable, and affordable, and the pants that are waterproof, breathable, and affordable are the pants that the hiker can buy without thinking and carry without worrying.
3. Marmot PreCip Evo Full Zip Rain Pant — The Most Refined Rain Pants for the Dedicated Hiker
The Marmot PreCip Evo Full Zip Rain Pant is for the hiker who wants the latest evolution of a rain pant that has been refined over generations. It weighs two hundred and ninety-seven grams, which is ten point five ounces, and it is made of a hundred percent recycled nylon ripstop with a two point five layer NanoPro waterproof membrane.
The Marmot PreCip Evo is the next generation of the PreCip line that has been a staple of the outdoor industry for years. The fabric uses a C0 DWR finish that is made without intentionally added PFAS chemicals, which is the kind of environmental consideration that matters to the hiker who is on the trail because they care about the places the trail passes through. The full-length zippers and recycled fabric make this a quality piece of breathable rain gear. The pants have full-length side zippers with storm flaps that allow easy layering over boots, and the zippers are long enough that the pants can be put on and taken off without removing the shoes. The waist is an elastic band with an internal drawstring, and the pants have two zippered pockets. The inseam is available in thirty-inch short, thirty-two-inch regular, and thirty-four-inch long lengths.
The Daoist principle the PreCip Evo carries is the one about the thing that is made from what was already there. The recycled nylon is the material that has been used before and is being used again, and the pants that are made from what was already there are the pants that understand the cycle of the trail. The material that returns to the trail in the form of a rain pant is the material that has done its work the way the Laozi describes it. The C0 DWR finish is the finish that does not leave a chemical trail, and the rain pants that leave no chemical trail are the rain pants that have walked the trail the way the Laozi meant it.
4. baleaf Men’s Waterproof Cycling Pants — The Versatile Rain Pants for the Active Hiker
The baleaf Men’s Waterproof Cycling Pants are for the hiker who wants a pair of trail shell pants that can handle the trail and the bike path with equal ease. They are made of a hundred percent polyester fabric with a ten thousand millimeter waterproof rating and a five thousand gram breathability rating, which is twice the waterproof rating of the entry-level rain pants in this article.
The baleaf pants are designed with articulated knees that move naturally with the leg, which is a feature that benefits the hiker who is climbing steep terrain as much as the cyclist who is pedaling through a wet day. The pants have elastic ankle cuffs that slip over shoes, two waterproof zip pockets, and a built-in thigh pocket that the pants pack into for storage. Three reflective zones on the front and side improve visibility in low light. The waist is an adjustable drawstring, and the fabric is windproof as well as waterproof.
The Daoist principle the baleaf carries is the one about the thing that adapts to the moment. The pants that are designed for the bike and the trail are the pants that do not know whether they are a cycling pant or a hiking rain pant, and they are useful precisely because they do not know. The articulated knee moves with the leg, and the leg that moves with the pant is the leg that is not thinking about the pant. The reflective zones are the feature that the hiker does not notice until the light is low, and the feature that is there when it is needed is the feature that has done its work the way the Laozi describes it.
5. The North Face Antora Rain Pant — The Rain Pants for the Hiker Who Expects Reliability
The North Face Antora Rain Pant is for the hiker who wants a rain pant from a brand that has been making outdoor gear for over fifty years and who trusts the engineering that comes with that history. The Antora is made of a hundred percent recycled polyester ripstop with a non-PFC DWR finish, and it uses The North Face’s DryVent fabric for waterproof and breathable protection.
The Antora has a relaxed fit that leaves room for layers underneath, and the waist is an elastic band with an internal drawcord for adjustability. The pants have two secure-zip hand pockets, and the knees are articulated for better mobility on the trail. The fabric is lightweight and packable, and the non-PFC DWR finish is the kind of environmental consideration that the hiker who is on the trail every weekend appreciates. The inseam is thirty-two inches, and the pants are available in a range of colors.
The Daoist principle the Antora carries is the one about the thing that is reliable because it has been doing the same thing for a long time. The North Face has been making outdoor gear for fifty years, and the Antora is the product of that accumulated experience. The rain pants that are made by a company that has been making rain pants for decades are the rain pants that have been refined by the years, and the years of refinement are the years that have made the rain pants into the thing that works without asking to be noticed. The Antora is the rain pant that the hiker reaches for because the hiker has reached for the same brand before, and the reaching that is a habit is the reaching that the Laozi would recognize as the walking that leaves no tracks.
6. Frogg Toggs Bull Frogg Rain Pant — The Durable Rain Pants for the Hardest Use
The Frogg Toggs Bull Frogg Rain Pant is for the hiker who wants a rain pant that is built to take the kind of abuse that a trail can throw at it, and who does not want to pay a premium for the privilege. The Bull Frogg is made of a hundred percent polypropylene non-woven fabric that is lightweight, breathable, waterproof, and wind-resistant, with a high-density construction that provides increased puncture resistance.
The Bull Frogg has an elastic waist with an adjustable cord lock for a secure fit, and the pants have pass-through pockets that allow access to the pockets underneath without compromising the waterproof seal. The leg openings have zippers that allow the pants to slide on and off easily over boots, and the seams are fully taped to keep water out. The fabric is durable enough for the toughest jobs, and the pants are designed for hiking, hunting, fishing, and outdoor work.
The Daoist principle the Bull Frogg carries is the one about the thing that is useful because it is always there. The non-woven polypropylene fabric is not the most refined material, but it is the material that does its job without pretension. The Bull Frogg is the rain pant that the hiker can throw into the bottom of the pack and forget about until the rain arrives, and the rain pant that is there when it is needed is the rain pant that has done its work before the rain starts. The pass-through pockets are the feature that lets the hiker reach their gear without breaking the waterproof seal, and the feature that lets the hiker reach their gear is the feature that has understood the lesson of the Laozi.
The Standard, Applied
The standard this article has been built around is the same question that any hiker faces when the rain begins: are you prepared to keep walking, or are you about to start looking for shelter?
If you have rain pants that fit, that are in your pack, and that you can put on without stopping, you keep walking. If you do not, you are already wet from the waist down, and the hike becomes a negotiation with discomfort instead of a conversation with the trail. The standard is the difference between the hiker who is in the rain and the hiker who is watching the rain from inside a dry layer.
The mindful roaming gear system asks of every piece of equipment that it serve the hiker without becoming a second job. Rain pants that you have to wrestle with, that bind at the knee, that add weight without adding protection, are rain pants that have become a job. Rain pants that you step into, that you forget about, that keep the rain out and the trail in, are rain pants that have done their work. The shell that forgets itself is the shell that has earned its place in your pack. The same principle applies to the best waterproof hiking jackets, and the rain pants that complete the waterproof system are the rain pants that let the hiker stop thinking about the rain and start thinking about the trail.
Good walking leaves no tracks. The rain pants that do their work well enough that you do not notice them are the rain pants that have walked the trail the way the Laozi meant it. The six rain pants in this article leave different kinds of tracks, but they all leave fewer than the alternative, and the difference between the shell that works and the shell that does not is the difference between the hiker who is still moving and the hiker who has stopped to sit on a rock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I actually need rain pants, or is a jacket enough? A rain jacket covers the upper body, and the upper body is the part of you that generates the most heat. The lower body is the part of you that is closest to the wet brush, the puddled trail, and the drip from the hem of your jacket. If you are hiking in sustained rain, you will be wet from the waist down within an hour without rain pants. A jacket is enough for a brief shower. For a full day of rain, the right pair is the difference between finishing the hike and cutting it short. In warmer weather, you can pair them with a pair of best hiking shorts for a lightweight, quick-drying system.
What is the difference between rain pants and waterproof hiking pants? Rain pants are a lightweight shell that goes over your hiking pants. A fully waterproof pant is a single layer that replaces your hiking pants. Rain pants are more versatile because you can take them off when the rain stops and keep hiking in your regular pants. A shell pant is warmer and more durable, but it is less breathable and harder to pack. For most hikers, a pair of rain pants over a standard hiking pant is the better system.
How much should I spend on a pair of rain pants? A good pair costs between forty and one hundred and fifty dollars. The 33,000ft and Outdoor Ventures options are affordable and functional. The Marmot PreCip Evo is the premium choice at the higher end of the range. The baleaf and The North Face Antora sit in the middle. The Frogg Toggs Bull Frogg is the budget option that is always there when you need it.
Should I get full-length zips or ankle zips? Full-length zips are the more convenient option because you can put the rain pants on and take them off without removing your shoes. The Marmot PreCip Evo has full-length zippers. Ankle zips are lighter and less likely to fail, but they are harder to use with boots. If you are a day hiker, ankle zips are fine. If you are a multi-day hiker who will be putting rain pants on and taking them off multiple times a day, full-length zips are worth the weight.
Can I use cycling rain pants for hiking? Yes, and the baleaf pants in this article are a good example of a cycling rain pant that works well for hiking. The articulated knees and high waterproof rating make them suitable for the trail. The main difference is that cycling rain pants often have a trimmer fit and reflective elements, which are useful for both activities.
How do I care for rain pants to make them last? Wash them with a technical cleaner like Nikwax Tech Wash, not with regular detergent, which strips the DWR coating. Dry them on low heat, which reactivates the DWR. Reapply a DWR spray every season or when the water stops beading on the fabric. Store them loose, not compressed, to prevent the PU coating from delaminating.
Summary
The best pair is not the most expensive, the lightest, or the most breathable. They are the ones that are in your pack when the rain arrives, and the ones that you can put on without stopping, and the ones that you forget about the moment you start walking. The best pair of hiking rain pants is the one that lets you keep walking when the trail tells you to stop.
The 33,000ft is the most reviewed, with thousands of hikers vouching for its reliability. The Outdoor Ventures is the best value for the hiker who wants protection without a premium price. The Marmot PreCip Evo is the most refined, with recycled materials and a full-length zip. The baleaf is the most versatile, equally at home on the trail and the bike path. The North Face Antora is the most trusted, backed by fifty years of outdoor engineering. The Frogg Toggs Bull Frogg is the most durable, built to take the hardest use.
Good walking leaves no tracks. The rain pants that leave no trace of their presence are the rain pants that have done their work. The rain stays outside. The trail stays in front of you. And the shell that forgets itself is the shell that has earned its place in the mindful roaming gear system. These are the hiking rain pants that earn their place through the simple act of disappearing.
