rain Pants

[Kessler10]

Any recommendations for packable, light rain pants that you carry on every hunt and throw on over all your layers if a storm pushes in? then remove once the storm passes.

Looking for something reasonably priced that is 100% waterproof and has side zippers to make slipping them on/off in the field over you boots very easy.

[jmez]

I've been using the Kryptek Koldo. They are heavy and not very packable. They are 100% waterproof but better suited to AK or the Pacific NW.

I bought a pair of the Kuiu Teton rain pants this winter. I have not used them yet but they are light as a feather, have full length side zips and pack down to nothing. I will use them as you will, quick on and off for rain storms. If they hold up they will be perfect for the application.

I would stay away from the Cabelas Space Rain gear. It is light and cheap but it won't hold up. Buddy took a set one year and the first day he wore the pants he cam back into camp and they were essentially gone from the knees down. They don't hold up at all if there is any deadfall where you hunt.

[saddlesore]

That was my experience with Cabelas rain gear. $150 shot to heck in a few days.You kneel down on the knee and you got a leak.

However,it is not only a passing storm. In Colorado archery season ( and l season) usually means rain and tall grass /weeds.

The first 15-20 minutes,unless you are hiking on a trail and you are wet up to your crotch. Makes for a chilly morning at dawn .
I presently have a set of Bass Pro rain gear. Not quite as expensive as Cabelas and it doesn't pack down into little bitty sack, but it hs kept me dry and I am into my third year with it.Only short side zippers that could be longer, but they have fly and pockets. I put the pants on before I leave camp in the morning and take them off 9-10 am.

[husky390]

I've been using the Kryptek Koldo. They are heavy and not very packable. They are 100% waterproof but better suited to AK or the Pacific NW.

These are what I use and they're on sale right now too. The Poseidon's which are lighter weight aren't bad either. I guess it depends on where you're hunting and how much rain is forecast. Last year, I never brought them with me.

[MidwestHunter]

I recently bought the Cabela's MT050 Quiet pack with Goretex. I got them for half that price (I paid $70). I like the bibs, more coverage.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/cabela-s ... Collection

I have only wore a couple days in a steady downpour, but they did well. They aren't very large near the boot, I was able to slip over my big rubber boots, but they were fairly snug.

[MidwestHunter]

I like the 100% waterproof comment. A buddy my dad hunts with always calls them "breathable leakable" raingear, lol. If they aren't breathable you start sweating if you walk in them. I have always had trouble finding raingear to keep me dry, hoping these MT050 w/ goretex do the trick for me.

I didn't buy the MT050 jacket, but instead got the rain suede. Couldn't cough up $160 for the MT050 jacket. The rain suede I felt like my layer underneath got very slightly damp, but the MT050 w/ goretex perfectly dry.

[Backyard]

I use the Core4 jacket, and recently picked up the Sylo pants on CamoFire. They seem to be to exact mate to the C4. I really like 'em. Never had a problem getting wet, and very lightweight and packable. Not sure if I'll get much use of the pants as I hunt Col. and usually only wear gaiters.

[Indian Summer]

Who here hasn't sweated like a human sprinkler in breathable rain gear? I have one criteria and that's is 100% waterproof. If I'm going to get wet from the inside I might as well have the option to stop and hunker down so I don't sweat and know that I'll be dry for sure.

If I had a second criteria it would be how packable it is but I won't sacrifice criteria 1 for that. I just bite the bullet and carry my Impertech. One nice thing about that is I can wrap my bulkiest item which would be my outer jacket in the Impertech and lash it onto the back of the pack and it stays dry. That helps to keep the day pack from being so stuffed and makes it easier to get to things inside. I mainly do that when there is snow on the ground and I tend to have bulkier clothing for the hunt.

[poisonarrow]

I have found a very cool item. I bought a pair of Day One hunting pants in the cowboy suede. He recommended washing them in Nikwax Polar Proof. They are amazing. You can put them under running water and nothing comes through. I am going to leave my gators and rain pants home. This shows how it works. My pants run water off just like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXsoaq3wqMo

[Lefty]

Light weight and and dry I think is an oxymoron.
As Swede mentioned it is easier to control the wet from the inside. I was a framer/project manager in Washington We used fishing bibs. The hardcore loggers I knew wore wool wool and more wool under fishing bibs if they had too. And changed clothes during the day.