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We tested over 20 pairs of the best rain pants from Patagonia, Outdoor Research, Rab, and more to determine the most dependable pairs when the storm hits.
Credit: Zach Joseph Lovell
By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Updated May 6, 2026
When the weather turns stormy, a quality pair of rain pants can be the difference between enjoying your day on the trail and going home early.
The best model for men is the Outdoor Research Foray 3L. This pair of pants offers top-scoring weather resistance and longevity with a relaxed fit that fits easily over other layers.
Our favorite option for women is the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L. These boast a soft interior and provide excellent protection from the elements, whether on a day hike or embarking on a lengthy backpacking adventure.
If you're shopping on a skinnier wallet, we recommend the Rab Downpour Eco Pant for women, with incredible value and low weight. For men, check out the REI Co-op Rainier, which goes a long way for your dollar and has full-length side zippers.
Who this is best for: The Outdoor Research Foray 3L is the ideal rain pant for serious adventurers who willingly head out in sustained, heavy rain and prioritize maximum protection over weight savings. If you frequently hike, camp, or travel in notoriously wet regions like the Pacific Northwest or Alaska, these pants deliver the level of weatherproofing needed to stay comfortable in relentless wet conditions. “While these didn't replace my heaviest grade hardshell pants, the Foray 3L is about as reliable as it gets for a pair of rain pants,” one of our main testers, Zach Lovell, commented.
Why we love it: When the skies opened up, the Foray 3L kept us drier than almost any other rain pants we've yet tested. Its updated 3-layer AscentShell Dry construction, paired with a new Nikwax DWR treatment, provides exceptional resistance to prolonged downpours. This latest version improves on an already trusted design, making it a go-to choice when staying dry is non-negotiable, even in the harshest weather. One of our testers added, “It also offers a great waist adjustment system that kept the Foray high on my waist.”
Should you buy it? If your adventures regularly involve heavy rain, the Foray 3L is a standout performer that justifies its added weight and higher price. However, at 13.7 ounces, it's noticeably heavier than many alternatives, and some users may find the fit around the ankles a bit bulky for technical movement. If dryness is your top priority and you're willing to accept a bit of extra weight and a less streamlined fit, it's a strong investment.
Who this is best for: The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is a great fit for anyone who wants a dependable, no-fuss pair of rain pants that performs well across a wide range of conditions. It's especially well-suited for hikers, travelers, and everyday outdoor users who value durability and versatility over ultralight design. “I absolutely loved how well these performed in dense brush,” one of our women's experts commented, “as one of the few pairs I tested that showed minimal signs of wear and tear.”
Why we love it: Patagonia strikes a smart balance between simplicity and functionality with the Torrentshell 3L. The two-way side zippers make the pants easy to pull on over boots and double as effective vents, adding comfort in variable conditions. The interior fabric feels soft against the skin, while the slightly stiffer construction helps prevent the material from clinging in humid weather, making them more comfortable during extended wear.
Should you buy it? If you're looking for reliable, well-built rain pants that cover the basics without unnecessary complexity, the Torrentshell 3L is an easy choice. It is a bit heavier and bulkier than some lighter options, but the tradeoff is solid durability and consistent performance. “For most users who prioritize practicality and long-term use, I think it's a worthwhile investment,” one of our lead reviewers concluded.
Weight: 10.5 ounces | Side Zips Length: 1/2, to above-knee
Who this is best for: The REI Co-op Rainier is ideal for budget-conscious hikers and backpackers who want reliable rain protection without overspending. It's a worthwhile choice for those who encounter occasional to moderate rain and need a versatile, easy-to-layer pant that works across a variety of outdoor activities. “I loved how much value REI offers with their Rainier pants,” one of our men's experts commented, “with the same features found in models substantially harder on the wallet.” This is a great option for anyone who only uses rain pants a handful of times per year.
Why we love it: The Rainier delivers solid performance for the price, keeping us dry through milder storms in testing. Its full-length side zippers make it quick to pull on over boots when weather rolls in, and the design allows for good mobility while still fitting comfortably over layers. REI's continued refinement shows in the latest version of the Rainier, with balanced functionality and affordability, making this a practical, user-friendly option.
Should you buy it? If you want a dependable rain pant that punches above its price point, the Rainier is a smart buy. It's not the lightest option, and the zippers can snag more than higher-end designs, but it'll save you some extra cash for other gear. “If price is your priority and you don't mind a less durable liner, I'd put the REI Co-op Rainier on your finals list,” our men's lead reviewer concluded.
Weight: 11.3 ounces | Side Zips Length: Full length
Who this is best for: The Rab Downpour Eco Pant is best for hikers and travelers who want a lightweight, packable rain layer for occasional use and are trying to save some money. “It's a great fit for those who prioritize comfort and portability, and I especially liked it as an emergency shell that can live in your pack without taking up much space,” said Lyra Pierotti, our rain pants tester.
Why we love it: These pants strike an appealing balance between comfort and weight. They're soft, breathable, and noticeably more mobile than many ultralight rain pants, making them easy to wear when the weather turns. The minimalist design keeps bulk low, so they're effortless to stash and carry on any adventure, cause you never know when a surprise storm might hit.
Should you buy it? “If you're after an affordable, lightweight pair of rain pants for light to moderate use, I'd strongly suggest the Downpour Eco,” our women's lead tester said. The tradeoffs come in durability and features—the thinner fabric may not hold up as well under heavy use, and the lack of pockets can be limiting. Still, for a budget-friendly and comfortable option that won't weigh you down, it's a worthwhile addition to your kit.
Who this is best for: The Outdoor Research Helium Pant is ideal for anyone who prioritizes minimal weight and pack size above all else. It's especially well-suited for day hikers, alpine climbers, bike packers, and backpackers who carry rain protection “just in case” and want something that disappears into their pack until needed. “This layer weighs only 5.9 ounces, making it a fraction of the weight of lots of competition,” our tester noted.
Why we love it: The Helium stands out for its decent water resistance relative to its ultralight design. During testing, it performed better in wet conditions than its tiny packed size would suggest, making it a reliable emergency layer across a wide range of climates. “Its compactness makes it easy to bring along on virtually any outing where weather could shift unexpectedly,” our tester shared.
Should you buy it? If your top priority is carrying the lightest and most packable rain pants possible, the Helium is a great choice. That said, the tradeoffs are clear—reduced durability and fewer features make this a bare bones model. It's not built for prolonged abuse or the harshest storms, but for those who plan to carry more than wear their rain pants, it's a smart and highly functional option.
Pockets: 1 rear stow | Side Zips: 2/3 length, unzips to upper thigh
REASONS TO BUY
Fairly light
Wide variety of uses
Standout comfort and breathability
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive price point
Side zips don't go all the way down
Who this is best for: The Outdoor Research Aspire Pant is best for outdoor enthusiasts who deal with constantly changing weather and want one reliable layer that can handle it all. It's especially well-suited for hikers and adventurers in variable climates who need a balance of breathability, weather protection, and versatility.
Why we love it: This pant offers an excellent blend of waterproofing and breathability, making it comfortable in both wet and humid conditions. The AscentShell Dry 3-layer construction paired with a PFC-free DWR treatment provides dependable protection, while the zippered design allows for effective venting and easy on-and-off—even over boots. It's lightweight enough for all-day wear yet durable enough to stand up to regular use, making it a true do-it-all option.
Should you buy it? If you're willing to spend a bit more for a versatile, high-performing rain pant, the Aspire is a strong investment. The main drawbacks are its higher price and side zips that don't fully open for maximum ventilation. Still, for those who need dependable performance across a wide range of conditions, it's a well-rounded and reliable choice.
Weight: 9.5 ounces | Side Zips Length: 2/3 length, unzips to upper thigh
Who this is best for: The 33,000ft Regular Fit is best for shoppers who need the absolute lowest-cost pair of rain pants and only plan to head out in mild or infrequent rain. It's a good match for casual users who value a wide range of waist and inseam options to dial in a more precise fit, whether for walking the dog, light hikes, or playing golf on a drizzly day. “While I wouldn't march out into a multi-day storm in these pants, I would strongly recommend these to anyone needing weather protection for the lowest price possible,” one of our rain pants experts commented.
Why we love it: These pants offer standout value, costing several times less than premium options, while still providing enough protection for lighter storms. The expanded sizing range helps more people find a comfortable fit, and for light to moderate precipitation, they might be all the rain protection you really need. These have a more relaxed fit that also offers great range of motion.
Should you buy it? You should consider the 33,000ft Regular Fit if budget is your top concern and you don't mind some tradeoffs in protection and convenience. They're not particularly weather-resistant, may require you to take your shoes off to get them on, and they aren't as abrasion-resistant or durable for bushwhacking or rough use. But if you stick to relaxed hikes, lighter backpacking, and casual outings, they can still last a long time and save you money for other equipment.
Who this is best for: The Showers Pass Transit Pants are tailored for dedicated bike commuters, especially those riding in cool, wet climates where surprise showers are part of the routine. If most of your time outside is spent in the saddle rather than on hiking trails, these will feel right at home. “From work commutes to bike jaunts to dinner, these Showers Pass pants were unmatched for cycling,” our women's lead commented.
Why we love it: Born out of Portland's famously soggy riding conditions, these pants are thoughtfully dialed for cycling—from the Velcro system that quickly cinches excess fabric at the lower leg to the 1/3-length zips that open wide to slide easily over casual or cycling shoes. This combo makes it simple to pull them on in a hurry mid-commute, keeping fabric out of your chain and keeps you dry when the sky suddenly opens up.
Should you buy it? Choose the Transit Pant if cycling is your primary outdoor activity and you want a sturdy, three-layer waterproof shell purpose-built for life on the bike. The lack of pockets and vents, plus bike-specific features and reflective trim, mean it's less versatile for other pursuits, but still helpful when you do step off the bike. “These definitely are more geared towards cycling, but they can certainly work for some hiking missions as well,” one reviewer added.
Weight: 11 ounces | Side Zips Length: 1/3 length, unzips to below the knee
These cycling-oriented rain pants are uniquely designed for wet bike rides. Credit: Lyra Pierotti
Why Trust GearLab
Our gear experts are some of the most committed and gear-obsessed outdoors enthusiasts in the business. We're a community of alpine climbing guides, backpacking guides, avalanche educators, and climbing instructors who've logged years collectively in the rain, using rain pants on a sometimes daily basis.
We are the type of people who love recreating outdoors, whether it looks like this or it's bluebird. Credit: Zach Lovell
Leading the women's testing is IFMGA guide Lyra Pierotti, based in the Pacific Northwest. Lyra has spent well over a decade exploring mountain ranges from Alaska to Antarctica to South America. She now splits her time between guiding climbing and skiing trips around the world and living on her favorite Puget Sound island, where she enjoys farm-fresh food and coaches climbers at a small local gym.
Our women's rain pants experts thrive in the outdoors, rain or shine.
For men's rain pants, IFMGA Mountain Guides Ian Nicholson and Zach Lovell make up the core review team. Ian calls the rainy Pacific Northwest home, where wet weather is part of daily life. Ian travels the planet with some version of rain pants with him, always ready for the surprise rain event or gloomy forecast. Zach splits his time between Colorado, Alaska, Europe, and other stormy climates, spending plenty of days out in the rain and snow. When Zach and Ian are not guiding, they're chasing their own outdoor objectives, usually with rain pants somewhere in their backpacks.
GearLab's rain pants reviewers on the men's side are full-time guides and product testers who deliberately head out in storms when testing weather resistance.
How to Pick the Right Rain Pants for You
Rain pants can be tricky to shop for because there are so many options on the market today. From burly models built for all-day downpours to ultralight pairs meant for surprise storms, outdoor brands have dramatically expanded their offerings. However, there's a great option for your needs and budget once you've made a few key considerations.
From light-and-fast options to robust storm busters, there are a wide variety of rain pants to choose from. Credit: Zach Lovell
Intended Uses of Rain Pants
First and foremost, it's crucial to consider how your rain pants are going to be used. If you live in drier climates, rain pants might serve as a “just-in-case” option, and either buying a lightweight model or something inexpensive with less weather resistance might be all you need.
If you're needing to count every gram for long hikes, find the lightest and most packable rain pants you can. Credit: Zach Lovell
If you're planning on taking rain pants far from the car for overnight missions or lengthy summit scrambles, every gram matters, and investing in a lighter pair of “what-if” pants can be worth the typically higher price point. Conversely, if you're going deep into the backcountry with a moodier forecast or a generally wetter climate, you might want to choose a heavier, more protective model that'll be more reliable at protecting you from precipitation and wind.
If you find yourself between a more robust and a lighter-weight pair, there are many shades of grey in between at a variety of price points. For dog walks or activties like golfing, an inexpensive budget model might be all you need, where packability and high-end weather protection might not be as crucial.
If you're sticking to around-town adventures, weight might not be as big of an issue, and if the weather gets really bad, you can simply just head home. Credit: Zach Lovell
While a bit more niche, there are even types of pants that are specifically made for cycling in wet climates. If you're a bike commuter living in areas like the Pacific Northwest, cycling in the rain is a likely situation, but these niche rain pants allow you to tighten the lower leg to keep you from catching on the cassette.
When cycling, rain pants that can be tightened at the calves is crucial for safety and to be able to pedal. Credit: Lyra Pierotti
Rain Pant Features
There are some key features in rain pants that can make the difference between buying one pair over another. The two main features our gear nerds look for are side zippers and waist adjustability. Side zippers offer ventilation, and full-length or three-quarter-length zippers usually allow you to slip rain pants on without having to take your shoes off.
Side zips are a great feature for venting as well as ease of putting on/taking off. Credit: Zach Lovell
Not all rain pants have waist adjustability, but since they're typically looser to fit over normal pants, waist tightening is a nice option to have for keeping pants up during long drizzly hikes. There are many styles for waist adjustments, any of which will be better than not having anything.
Whether using a drawstring cinch system or leaning more on laces, having any method of tightening the waist is a huge asset. Credit: Zach Lovell
Another feature we love to see is ankle cuff adjustability, which can reduce the likelihood of tripping on the trail or while scrambling.
From buttons to drawstring cinches, there are many ways cuffs can be adjusted. Credit: Zach Lovell
Pockets can also be a much-appreciated feature. We most often find these to be hand pockets at the waist, and they often include zippers. We suggest putting your cell phone or other sensitive electronics in an inner chest pocket underneath a protective shell jacket to put more layers between you and the elements.
Rain Pants Construction 101
Rain pants repel water using a combination of fabric construction and surface treatments. At the surface, they use a face fabric treated with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating, which causes water to bead up and roll off instead of soaking in. Beneath that outer layer sits a waterproof barrier—often a membrane like Gore-Tex or a similar laminate—that has microscopic pores small enough to block liquid water but large enough to let water vapor escape, helping you stay dry from both rain and sweat. Sealed seams and water-resistant zippers close off potential leak points, so when everything works together, rain is kept on the outside while moisture from your body can still move out.
From Patagonia to Outdoor Research to Mountain Hardwear, all rain pants have a similar big-picture construction to create moisture protection. Credit: Zach Joseph Lovell
How Many Layers of Fabric Are in a Pair of Rain Pants?
Most modern rain pants are built with either 2, 2.5, or 3-layer fabric, even though they usually look and feel like a single piece of material. That's because the different layers are bonded tightly together to function as one. In every case, there's an outer “face fabric” treated with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) to help water bead up and roll off, and beneath that sits the actual waterproof layer, such as Gore-Tex or a proprietary membrane or coating. While not always the case, more layers can mean less packability.
While 3-layer designs are typically more waterproof, they often lack the packability of lighter options. Credit: Zach Joseph Lovell
The main difference between 2, 2.5, and 3-layer designs shows up on the inside of the pants. In a 3-layer fabric, the waterproof membrane is sandwiched between the face fabric and a full inner backing (often a thin polyurethane film) that protects the membrane and makes the inside more comfortable. A 2.5-layer fabric still uses a face fabric and waterproof layer, but instead of a full backing, it has an exceptionally thin printed or painted-on coating that offers lighter, less robust protection. With 2-layer designs, the membrane is bonded to the face fabric and a separate hanging liner—often a mesh—is added on the inside, so you actually see two distinct pieces: the shell/membrane and the liner.
The most noticeable construction differences are seen in the interior of the pants. Credit: Zach Lovell
Difference Between Hardshells and Rain Pants
Looking at the big picture, hardshell pants and rain pants are the same thing: water resistant/waterproof pants. However, we generally identify hardshell pants as tougher and often more tapered than a traditional pair of rain pants. Rain pants are often lighter, with some of the ultralight models weighing less than even your traditional hiking pants. Our testing team includes some avid alpine climbers, who share that rain pants are great for lower-48 backpacking and above-treeline hiking, while hardshell pants are more necessary for wintry climbing or hiking in the Himalayas or in certain parts of Alaska.
Layering Rain Pants
We typically hike in softshell pants as our primary lower-body layer, and if rain rolls in, we simply pull rain pants over the top. It's most crucial to wear your rain jacket over the waist of your pants so water naturally sheds from the hood and shoulders to the ground instead of funneling into your waistband. On longer climbs or humid days, open any side zips or vents to dump excess heat once the worst of the storm passes, and if conditions dry out completely, don't be afraid to peel the shell layer off again to avoid overheating and clammy legs. On rare occasions, we have skipped the softshells and only worn underwear and rain pants, but the against-the-skin feel of these isn't the most comfortable.
We generally find that rain pants are put on over some sort of hiking pants, though if you must, you can also only wear the rain pants. Credit: Zach Lovell
Conclusion
Rain jackets may get most of the weather protection attention, but the right pair of rain pants can be just as crucial when the weather really turns sour. Throughout this review, we've highlighted options across a wide range of prices, weights, and feature sets so you can match your pants to your trips, priorities, and budget. Whether you're gearing up for multi-week storms in big mountains or just want to stay dry through a quick shower on the golf course, there's a pair here ready to keep you comfortable when the clouds roll in.
