Best Waterproof Hiking Pants of 2023

JUMP TO: OUTDOOR RESEARCH FORAY / MARMOT MINIMALIST / OUTDOOR RESEARCH HELIUM / MONTBELL VERSALITE / ARC'TERYX BETA AR /  MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR STRETCH OZONIC / ENLIGHTENED EQUIPMENT RAIN WRAP / REI CO-OP ESSENTIAL / BUYING ADVICE

Author: Steve Edgerton / Photos: Sam Brilleman

The Short Version

The Long Version

Packing waterproof pants for hiking or backpacking trips can feel like an extravagance if the sun is shining, but they quickly become essential when the weather turns.

A good pair of rain pants protect you from biting winds and cold rain. They help hiking clothes stay dry and conserve body warmth, helping you stay safe and comfortable in the face of unpredictable backcountry weather.

And with new materials and product design, rain pants are no longer sticky, humid, and comparable to being wrapped in a garbage bag. The best pairs are breathable, lightweight, and comfortable, all while providing the weather resistance that backcountry travel requires.

Inevitably, there are tradeoffs between weight vs. comfort, price vs. performance, and ventilation vs. weather resistance. For trips in drier and warm climates, opting for ultralight and packable rain pants make sense. For cold and wet conditions, where rain is practically a guarantee most days, weight is less of a consideration. Priorities shift to rain pants that are weather-resistant and comfortable enough to wear every day.

Whatever features matter the most to you, whether performance, price, packability, or poundage, these are the best rain pants for this season.

If you love reading this review of the best waterproof hiking pants, then you'll likely love reading some of our other hiking and backpacking content:

Need To Know What To Look Out For?

Want to learn more about the different waterproof materials, fit, and features you are choosing between Jump to the bottom of the page to check out our buying guide for rain pants.

Best Overall: OUTDOOR RESEARCH FORAY

MATERIAL: Gore-Tex Paclite, 50D 100% Recycled Polyester

CLAIMED WEIGHT: 10.7 oz / 302 g (men’s medium)

PROS: Lightweight, durable, comfortable, with effective zippers

CONS: Expensive, one small pocket not very useful

PRICE: $$$$

The Outdoor Research Foray (men’s)  and Aspire (the women’s equivalent) pants offer every feature you could hope for in a rain pant: they are light, durable, breathable, comfortable, weather-resistant, and well-designed, with just the right amount of features.

Gore-Tex Paclite offers stormworthy protection from rain, wind, and snow—all without feeling stifling. The waterproof-breathable fabric is also quiet and slightly stretchy. Unlike many ultralight pants, these are comfortable for extended wear while still being light enough that you will never hesitate to toss them in your pack, even if they are rarely needed.

The Foray’s ¾ length zippers make them easy to put on and take off. A second zipper allows you to open them from the mid-thigh up for ventilation while keeping a secure and protective fit. The pants have one zippered pocket, suspender attachments, and a waistband drawstring.

These rain pants land on the more expensive side of the spectrum, but they are worth it. They do everything well. You get high performance, comfort, and durability, all at a respectably light weight—enough to make them our choice as the best overall rain pants on the market.

Best Allrounder: MARMOT MINIMALIST

MATERIAL: Gore-Tex Paclite, 50D 100% Recycled Polyester

CLAIMED WEIGHT: 10 oz / 288.5 g (men’s medium)

PROS: Excellent fit and mobility, durable, weather-resistant, zippered pockets

CONS: No venting or waist tightening/belt loop option

PRICE: $$$

The Marmot Minimalist rain pants (men’s and women’s) make few compromises. They are breathable yet offer excellent weather resistance, feature-rich yet streamlined and functional, and durable yet relatively light and packable.

This is largely accomplished through excellent design and Gore-Tex Paclite, which is fully waterproof and breathable. The pants fit well and eliminate extraneous features like belt loops and ankle cinches, only a drawback if you prefer a tight or especially precise fit.

The ¼ length zipper fits easily over trail runners and lower-profile hiking shoes, but boots may prove too bulky. Other than these zippers, there are no ventilation features. But the Gore-Tex compensates for this in all but the most humid conditions.

At 10 oz., the Minimalist pants are among the lightest Gore-Tex rain pants available. They are light enough to pack as occasional-use rain pants, burly enough to withstand fierce storms, and comfortable for diverse activities. They are the best all-rounder rain pants for hiking, backpacking, and snowshoeing, or even as a weather-resistant outer layer for cross-country and alpine skiing.

Best Ultralight: OUTDOOR RESEARCH HELIUM

MATERIAL: Pertex Shield, 30D 100% Nylon Ripstop

CLAIMED WEIGHT: 6.7 oz / 190 g

PROS: Ultralight, packable, good fit

CONS: Less durable, short zippers not great for pulling over shoes

PRICE: $$$

The Outdoor Research Helium (men’s and women’s) combination of packability, durability, and affordability is unmatched by any other ultralight rain pant.

Although lighter options are available, they are usually more expensive and further sacrifice fit and durability. The Helium pants are snug, but not restrictive. The lightweight 30D Nylon fabric provides good weather resistance and, while still not as durable as heavier rain pants, this latest iteration of the Helium is more tear resistant and will likely outlast other ultralight options.

The short side zippers fit over trail runners reasonably well but may not provide enough clearance to pull them on or off over hiking boots without muddying them up. Ventilation is also limited. But for trips where you expect to pull out your rain gear only occasionally, the Heliums are perfect. They pack small and offer solid protection at a reasonable price, making them our favorite ultralight rain pants.

Best Ultralight Runner-Up: MONTBELL VERSALITE

MATERIAL: Gore-Tex Infinium, 10D Nylon Ripstop

CLAIMED WEIGHT: 3.2 oz / 91 g (men’s large)

PROS: Ultralight, packable, weather-resistant

CONS: Expensive, sacrifice durability

PRICE: $$$$

Montbell’s Versalite Rain Pants (men’s and women’s) are minimalist and impressively lightweight. These rain pants weigh about as much as three standard envelopes and pack down to scarcely be noticeable in your pack.

The pants are made with a combination of Gore-Tex Infinium with thin 10D Nylon Ripstop to provide ample wind and water resistance with only a few ounces of fabric. Gore-Tex facilitates breathability and ventilation, even with the total absence of side zippers.

These advantages come at a cost, of course. The Versalites are expensive, and the thin Nylon Ripstop fabric is prone to tears and punctures. But if durability is not a top concern and you are looking for ultralight, “just in case” rain pants to get you through the occasional rain squall and thunderstorm, it doesn’t get any better (or lighter) than this.

Best for Durability: ARC'TERYX BETA AR

MATERIAL: 3-layer Gore-Tex Pro

CLAIMED WEIGHT: 16.4 oz / 465 g (men’s medium)

PROS: Rugged, well-designed, unmatched weather resistance

CONS: Very expensive, bulky, overbuilt for occasional use

PRICE: $$$$$

The Arc’teryx Beta AR pants (men’s and women’s) are in a league of their own regarding durability and performance. A three-layer Gore-Tex Pro build makes these pants as windproof and waterproof as possible. They will stand up to the most severe rains and winter storms.

Probably overkill for most three-season hiking and backpacking situations, the Beta AR pants are more of a ski pant/rain pant hybrid. They are geared towards mountaineering, winter expeditions, or days of endless rain—conditions that demand high performance. The Gore-Tex layers are breathable but bombproof, and additional nifty features, like built-in gaiters and an integrated belt, go above and beyond to protect you from nasty weather.

They are heavy relative to other rain pant options at around 1 lb., but that is light considering their robust weather resistance, durability, and feature-packed design. They are also quite bulky, but these pants are never packed not to be used. If you are bringing them, it is because you need them.

Like most Arc’teryx products, the Beta AR pants are also in a league of their own in terms of price. These are a true investment piece, but will serve you well for many years, certainly far longer than ultralight and lightweight rain pants. They are worth it if you spend a lot of time in the alpine, or hiking and backpacking in wintry or endlessly rainy climates.

Best for Comfort & Breathability: MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR STRETCH OZONIC

MATERIAL: Dry.Q 50D Stretch Ripstop Nylon, 100% Recycled Polyester

CLAIMED WEIGHT: 10.9 oz / 310 g (men’s medium)

PROS: Well-ventilated, easy on and off, great fit

CONS: Less durable and weather resistant

PRICE: $$$

The Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonics (men’s and women’s) are not your grandparent’s rain pants—these are actually comfortable. The stretchy, breathable, and soft fabric allows for all-day wear without driving you crazy. They don’t limit your range of motion or rustle with the plastic, crinkly sound characteristic of older and cheaper rain pants. Though not fully waterproof, they will effectively keep you dry and warm through everything but the fiercest of downpours.

Full-length zippers allow for added ventilation in hot, humid conditions, and make it easy to take them on or off on the go. The men’s model features a belt allowing for a precise fit. The men’s and women’s both feature one zippered pocket that the pants pack into nicely for easy storage.

The Stretch Ozonic are not the lightest or the most weather-resistant rain pants, but they are likely the most comfortable. They are the best choice for consistently cool and drizzly conditions when your rain pants will more often be on your legs than in your pack.

Best Rain Pant Alternative: ENLIGHTENED EQUIPMENT RAIN WRAP

MATERIAL: 15D Ripstop Silnylon

CLAIMED WEIGHT: 1.85 oz / 52 g (medium)

PROS: Rain protection that is breathable, ultralight, affordable, and packable

CONS: Not insulating or very effective in wind and heavy storms

PRICE: $$

Enlightened Equipment’s Rain Wrap is an affordable, lightweight alternative to pants for keeping your lower half dry. Rain wraps—or kilts—are super packable, easy to put on and take off, and lighter than even the lightest of rain pants.

The airy, well-ventilated design of the EE Rain Wrap makes it a favorite for heavy sweaters or any hiker who wants an easy option for rain protection without feeling constricted. Snap closures and an elastic waistband allow you to have these on and off in seconds. The silnylon fabric protects against rain and wet, brushy trails, but will leave you exposed to insects, wind, and cold.

This kilt is one of the lightest available and is also multifunctional, with tie-out loops allowing use as a tarp or ground cloth. It is perfect for thru-hikes like the Pacific Crest Trail where temperatures are consistently high, and rain is infrequent, but will still inevitably come throughout such a long trip. The EE Rain Wrap gives you all the protection you need at a weight and packed size you won’t even notice, while doubling as a ground cloth for cowboy camping through dry desert nights.

Best On a Budget: REI CO-OP ESSENTIAL

MATERIAL: 40D Ripstop Nylon

CLAIMED WEIGHT: 9.5 oz / 271 g

PROS: Affordable, light, good weather resistance for the price

CONS: Not very breathable, mobility constricting

PRICE: $

For a no-frills pair of rain pants that perform well at an approachable price, REI’s Co-op Essential pants (men’s and women’s) are tough to beat. They punch above their weight in terms of weather resistance with a 2.5 layer waterproof coated nylon design, and are no slouch in weight or packability either.

Quarter-length zippers and a relaxed design mean these pants easily fit over shoes and other layers. However, the fabric can make natural motion feel restrictive, and the pants do not breathe well. With no venting features, they do get clammy. Hiking in these through all-day rain showers can be uncomfortable, especially in warmer temperatures.

Despite their drawbacks, the REI Essentials are the best budget-friendly choice for “just in case” rain pants. They are for trips where you won’t often use your rain gear, but still need to have it. Other rain pants in this review are more comfortable, more waterproof, and more ultralight, but for more than double or triple the price. For occasional use, these pants are a high-value, low-cost way to have your rain gear requirements covered, and nothing more.

BUYING ADVICE FOR WATERPROOF PANTS

Waterproof Fabrics

A common thread connecting most of the best rain pants is Gore-Tex fabrics. Gore-Tex is virtually synonymous with high performance, and the company demands a lot from other brands that use Gore-Tex fabrics in their products. Any rain pant with Gore-Tex is in itself a marker of good design.

Gore-Tex is superior because it is fully waterproof but still breathable. The fabric pores are far too small for water to seep through, but large enough to allow heat and moisture to escape. The result is stormworthy clothing that doesn’t get clammy and sweaty.

This dual feature means Gore-Tex pants can be high-performing, durable, and lightweight. But there are different Gore-Tex formulations made to prioritize different things:

Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper, as used in the Montbell Versalite, prioritizes weight and wind resistance at the expense of durability. Gore-Tex Paclite, used in the Outdoor Research Foray and Marmot Minimalist, strikes a healthy balance between weight, durability, packability, and weather resistance. The three-layer reinforced Gore-Tex Pro used in the Arc’teryx Beta AR rain pants is practically invincible but adds weight and bulk that is unnecessary for the average hiker or backpacker.

Brands commonly use their own proprietary fabrics, as well. Enlightened Equipment employs a silicon-coated nylon fabric (sometimes called silnylon) in their ultralight Rain Wrap. The Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonics use nylon with their patented Dry.Q technology, which, like Gore-Tex, is waterproof-breathable.

Rain pants will also carry a Denier (D) rating for the fabrics they use. This indicates the weight of a single strain of fabric used. Higher numbers typically indicate higher durability but heavier weights.

 

You’ll want to check that the materials are both waterproof and windproof — a necessity if heading into backcountry locations where the conditions are changeable.

 

Pant Construction

SEAMS: For most products, the descriptor waterproof is a bit of a misnomer. Very few products, be they tents, jackets, shoes, or pants, are genuinely waterproof. They all have failure points, usually the seams where two individual pieces of fabric come together.

Lower-quality pants often have more seams and more failure points. Well-designed rain pants minimize seams, and seams are sealed with tape along their interior.

2 vs 2.5 vs 3 LAYER: Rain pants usually have 2, 2.5, or 3 separate layers of fabric. This includes a Durable Water Repellent-coated (DWR) outer layer, a breathable liner, and a thin coating to prevent fabric pores from clogging with dirt or sweat, thus reducing breathability. 

As a general rule, more layers equals more durability and weather resistance, at the expense of more weight and greater packed size. All rain pants reviewed here are 2 or 2.5 layer, other than the Arc’teryx Beta AR pants.

ANKLE ZIPS: Most rain pants include zippers starting from the cuffs to allow for fitting them over shoes and boots, but some ultralight models forgo this to save weight. This means taking your shoes off whenever you’re throwing them on. For some, the weight savings are not necessarily worth the hassle.

 

Ankle zips can be worth the weight penalty — so that you don’t have to take your shoes off when wanting to put on rain pants in wet or muddy conditions!

 

Fit

Well-fitted rain pants should fit comfortably over your other layers and not restrict mobility. Many pants have an integrated belt or drawstring at the waist to dial in the fit. All the rain pants reviewed here come in multiple sizes, so check out sizing charts to ensure you get the right waist size and inseam: rain pants that drag in the mud, sag at the waist, or fit too tightly often create more problems than they solve.

If you are typically between sizes, opt to size up rather than down, as cinching up slightly too big rain pants is preferable to dealing with ones that don't fit comfortably!

Care

The performance of any rain gear will inevitably diminish over time. If you notice water soaking into your rain pants quickly rather than beading off, that indicates that the chemical bonds of the DWR coating have degraded and are no longer doing their job. It is time to wash your rain pants with a detergent suitable for technical fabrics, like Nikwax. This removes any grime, allowing you to effectively re-waterproof your pants with a spray-on or wash-in water-repellent coating.

Along with regular washing and waterproofing, storing rain pants out of the elements and out of direct sunlight will extend their lifespan significantly, allowing you to get the most out of your gear.

MORE INFORMATION

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