9 Best Ultralight Rain Pants [2025]

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This is a gear evaluation of the Best Hiking Rain Pants for 2025.

I’m an enormous fan of carrying and utilizing waterproof rain pants when out on the path. During the hundreds of miles of mountain climbing I’ve carried out in my life, they at all times discover a manner into my backpack. When mixed with an Ultralight Rain Jacket or perhaps a Backpacking Umbrella you’ll be secure and dry within the backcountry.

Below I’ve reviewed one of the best waterproof pants of 2025, they’re all both unisex or obtainable in ladies’s rain pants sizing and males’s rain pants sizing.

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How We Tested

All the Hiking Rain Pants on this evaluation have been extensively evaluated and researched by the skilled writer who has a few years of expertise in Thru-Hiking, Backpacking, and Hiking. Some of the Rain Pants had been bought by the writer and a few had been equipped by the producer. They have been rigorously examined by the writer in all types of climate. The analysis, testing, and expertise of the writer have mixed to provide you with one of the best rain pants for mountain climbing and backpacking 2025. Read the Review Policy for additional particulars.

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Best Lightweight Waterproof Rain Pants for Backpacking 2025

Here is a listing of all one of the best light-weight waterproof rain pants for backpacking in 2025:

More Rain Pants to Consider:

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The low weight and packability of the Outdoor Research Helium rain pants make them ultimate for actions like mountain climbing and backpacking, the place protecting bulk to a minimal is so essential.

I’ve been utilizing and testing the Outdoor Research Helium ultralight rain pants for thru-hiking many lengthy trails over the past couple of years. They have served me effectively, and I really like their light-weight and compact measurement for reasonably priced ultralight rain pants.

The skinny materials of the Outdoor Research Helium pants doesn’t make it any much less powerful, however I might not prefer to take these waterproof pants bushwacking via areas with sharp sticks and branches.

The small ankle zippers make the pants ultralight, however make them tougher to placed on with out eradicating your footwear.

Overall, the Outdoor Research Helium pants are the most effective rain pants for backpacking and thru-hiking.

If you’re searching for pants which are as gentle as doable, then the Zpacks Vertice pants are an ideal choice.

When I examined these rain pants, I used to be impressed by how extremely gentle they had been. They additionally had extra-wide legs, which implies you could have elevated airflow as you stroll. While they don’t have zippers, it’s simple sufficient to get into and out of those pants without having to take your footwear or boots off. There are a few snap lock buttons that maintain the underside of the leg closed whereas utilizing these waterproof pants.

As talked about above, the Zpacks Vertice Rain Pants are very skinny, which sacrifices a little bit of sturdiness. So greatest that you just use them on trails quite than bashing your manner via unmarked trails. The weight of the pants ranges from 2.5oz to three.3oz, relying on what measurement you’re. And they pack up very small. They are so small you may pack them contained in the pocket of the Zpacks Vertice Rain Jacket or another rain jacket when not in use.

Overall, if you wish to maintain your backpacking gear as light-weight as doable, you may’t go flawed with Zpacks Vertice pants. These are my favourite rain pants for marked trails and one of the best waterproof rain pants for backpacking and mountain climbing. If you’re thru-hiking, then get a pair of those.

The Arc’teryx Beta waterproof pants are a critical pair of pants greatest suited to somebody spending plenty of time within the backcountry or who desires their rain pants to double as a pair of non-insulated ski pants.

The Arc’teryx Beta is made with Gore-Tex may be very waterproof. And includes a lengthy full-length waterproof zip, which isn’t solely useful however can be utilized for venting warmth when wanted.

These waterproof pants is likely to be probably the most useful and most waterproof pants on this evaluation, however they’re additionally the heaviest and most costly.

Overall, the Arc’teryx Beta is a critical pair of rain pants. They are the best high quality and greatest for individuals who spend plenty of day without work marked trails within the backcountry and take their time in nature very severely. If you solely spend your time on marked trails, then these could be overkill for you.

Made with 100% recycled materials, the Marmot Precip Eco Pants are safe and sturdy, due to the twin slider zip on each legs secured by velcro straps on the waist and metallic snaps on the ankles. For additional safety, they are often locked down for final rain safety or opened large on sizzling days for some aid from the warmth.

Marmot Precip Eco Pants makes use of NanoPro waterproofing in lots of its clothes gadgets, and whereas it is probably not as efficient as Gore-Tex, Pertex, or eVent, it nonetheless performs effectively. The ‘Eco’ within the title refers to its environmentally pleasant development, so while you purchase these pants, you recognize you’re serving to the planet!

The elastic waistband will stretch to suit effectively, whereas the velcro at your hips secures the zipper and makes certain the pants match round your waist. The waterproof pants have an off-the-cuff dishevelled match, which supplies you loads of room for layers.

The full two-way zippers will let you open the pants from hip to foot, making them much more breathable when it is advisable vent among the warmth build-up. The pants have two zippered hand pockets and a zippered again pocket that’s simple to entry.

Overall, the Marmot Precip Eco Pants are barely heavier than among the different waterproof pants on this gear evaluation, however their environmentally pleasant heritage makes them an ideal selection.

Comfort is essential with breathable rain pants, which makes the Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic a sensible choice. The mushy, stretchy cloth isn’t solely simple to maneuver in but additionally quiet to maneuver round in.

The Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic pants even have full-length zippers for air flow, which additionally makes them simple to placed on or take off.  The mushy, stretchy cloth permits for relaxed, unrestricted motion.

Despite its compact design and good air flow, it’s a bit heavier and bulkier than ultralight pants. They do pack up fairly small into their pocket for storage, however I might have preferred to see higher pockets, and solely the boys’s pants have a built-in belt.

Overall, I just like the Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic. The quiet stretch materials is nice, and I believe we are going to begin to see many extra gear corporations making high quality rain pants from materials like this sooner or later.

A great minimalist choice, Montbell Versalite pants are extremely light-weight and pack down extremely small, making them good for thru-hiking and backpacking. 

While the fabric isn’t as sturdy as some others, they’re nonetheless breathable regardless of having no zippers for air flow.

The small zippers make the waterproof pants ultralight, however make them tougher to placed on with out eradicating your footwear.

Overall, these are the most effective ultralight rain pants for thru-hiking, however they lack the sturdiness for use off marked trails.

Affordable, sturdy, and solidly made, the thicker cloth utilized in Patagonia Torrentshell 3L makes it extra protecting in opposition to brush and heavy rain than different ultralight pants.

They additionally function handy pockets the place you may retailer your keys or pockets. These are significantly suited to front-country use. Their thick cloth protects in opposition to heavy rain.

If you need light-weight rain pants for the backcountry the place the paths finish and the bushwacking begins, the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is price contemplating. These supply good safety and are simple to tackle and off.

The pockets are good and work higher than most on this gear evaluation. 

Overall, the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L are nice light-weight rain pants however in contrast to different rain pants they’re bulkier and the fabric is a bit stiff.  Buy these if you would like strong rain pants which are sturdy and waterproof.

The Outdoor Research Foray 3L rain pants are like the large brother of the Helium Pants besides they aren’t a lot stronger.

The pants use high-quality and light-weight 3-layer recycled nylon cloth that isn’t solely very waterproof however permits the pants to pack all the way down to a small measurement into the again packet.

The Outdoor Research Foray has waterproof 3/4 zip which not solely works effectively to will let you placed on and take off the pants without having to take away your boots, however in addition they work effectively at venting warmth when wanted. Not all pant zips are in a position to do that.

Overall, the Outdoor Research Foray 3L pants are good high quality light-weight Rain Pants.

The Marmot Minimalist rain pants are an attention-grabbing pair of pants. They nearly bridge the hole between rain pants and mountain climbing pants.

The Marmot Minimalist has options normally solely present in mountain climbing pants akin to facet hand pockets, a zipped fly, and articulated knees for elevated vary of motion. These useful options work in favor of the person.

The Gore-Tex Paclite is a light-weight 2-layer cloth that does an excellent job and protecting you dry and providing an above-average stage of breathability. The ankle zip is nice sufficient that you just don’t must take off your boots when utilizing these pants.

Overall, the Marmot Minimalist is an effective pair of useful rain pants for somebody wanting pants which have options just like regular mountain climbing pants.

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Other Waterproof Pants to Consider

Here are another pants that aren’t on the checklist however worthy of consideration:

• REI Co-Op Essential rain pants: The REI Co-Op Essential rain pants are a funds light-weight choice.
• REI Co-Op Rainier Full Zip pants: The REI Co-Op Rainier Full Zip pants are a full function full-length zip choice that also comes at worth.

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Rain Pants Comparison Table

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Ventilation

You can by no means have an excessive amount of airflow, or at the very least, the choice of getting extra airflow. Zippers alongside the edges of rain gear imply you may let extra warmth out for those who get too heat. But they arrive at the price of weight and sturdiness. Zips are a weak level on one of the best rain pants, simply as they’re on a rain jacket.

However, some ultralight rain pants zippers (particularly these with a roomier match) breathe nearly as effectively with pants that includes zips as a result of they’re usually product of thinner supplies. 

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Condensation

When carrying a pair of rain pants on a chilly, wet day, condensation might type on the within cloth. When folks see this, they might assume the rain pants are defective, however your rain pants are doing their job.

If you’re feeling wetness forming inside your pants, don’t panic. As lengthy as you’re carrying applicable wicking layers beneath, it’ll seemingly evaporate with physique warmth, and so long as you retain shifting, you need to keep dry and cozy.

But to be as comfy as doable when backpacking, ensure you take care of your rain gear, akin to airing it out at night time. You also needs to keep away from bushwhacking, which is a assured manner of ripping holes in your pants and your rain jacket. 

However, it have to be famous that no mountain climbing gear will ever be really 100% waterproof. If you spend all day in torrential rain, then the gear will change into moist in some unspecified time in the future.

It’s good to know this to keep away from disappointment in case your rain pants do get moist on a very moist, depressing day.

The most essential factor is that your rain pants maintain you dry for so long as doable, however at all times take into account that there’s a restrict to simply how dry they’ll maintain you.

Try to maintain the water beading on the skin of the rain pants by treating them with a top quality DWR. While all of the rain pants on this evaluation have them utilized within the manufacturing unit, they may put on off over time and should be retreated.

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Layers

The variety of layers a pair of rain pants has will decide how waterproof and breathable they’re. It’s extra widespread to search out 2-layer and they’re normally probably the most reasonably priced.

They’re sometimes designed with a Durable Water Repellent-coated (DWR) outer shell and a breathable liner that’s normally made with mesh.

Meanwhile, 2.5-layer pants are sometimes the lightest and made with the identical DWR outer shell. The inside layer is product of a skinny polyurethane laminate or coating that’s designed to forestall sweat and filth from clogging up the breathable pores of the pants from the within. 

A 3-layer rain pant is the best. They have every little thing 2-layer and a couple of.5-layer pants have, akin to a DWR-coated outer shell, a breathable and waterproof midlayer, after which a polyurethane lining of the innermost layer. But they’re additionally heavier.

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Weight and Packability

Good packability and a light-weight carrying weight is so essential in terms of rain pants. Layering might be difficult to get a grasp of while you first begin mountain climbing, and also you be taught from expertise.

After some time, you’ll have it down pat, however it’s possible you’ll be not sure what to take with you at first, or when it is advisable add or take away a layer. Your rain gear is your outer layer, a defend defending you from the weather.

Rain gear will normally be in your pack plenty of the time, solely busted out while you want it.

Therefore, your rain pants can’t be heavy or cumbersome and have to be simple to hold round while you’re not carrying them. They ought to be simple to wrap up and tuck away into your pack.

Most rain pants match this invoice and are packable and light-weight by default. However, some shall be higher and lighter than others. Lightweight, minimalist pants are sometimes all of the safety you want from gentle rain and wind.

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Comfort

Hiking gear has advanced to the purpose the place you not need to accept plasticky supplies, pants that prohibit your actions, or uncomfortable waistbands that dig into you.

There are loads of nice rain pants which are designed with motion, consolation, and hip-belt compatibility in thoughts. All of the gadgets within the gear evaluation are appropriate with being worn excessive of mountain climbing pants.

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Durability

While ultralight rain pants are nice while you wish to cut back the quantity of weight you’re carrying round, the materials do put on out faster. If you’re venturing out into extreme climate or powerful terrain, it’s possible you’ll wish to spend money on a thicker pair of industrial quality rain pants.

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Zippers or Snap Lock Buttons

While I touched on zippers when speaking about air flow, let’s discuss their different perform: the removing of the pants.

Rain pants which have full-length zippers supply probably the most airflow and are the best to placed on and take off whereas protecting your footwear on. But zippers do add bulk and weight. Over the previous couple of years, each set of rain pants that has greater than 100 days of use has damaged the zips. So bear in mind that the zips are in a really excessive put on space and often lined in mud and sweat that may prematurely put on them out.

Another choice for the light-weight rain pants is a snap lock button or cinch wire which opens the underside of the legs to make it simpler to placed on with out having to take away your footwear. I’ve used snap lock buttons and but to have any points however like all issues which are uncovered to a excessive diploma of damage they too can even fail in time.

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Price

A great pair of waterproof pants is fairly priced in comparison with many different gadgets of out of doors clothes. Many of the backpacking waterproof pants on this checklist are priced between $100 to $200, with the high-end rain pants coming in at nearly $500. You would solely spend that amount of cash for those who lived in a moist space and went to the backcountry A LOT.

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Conclusion

Here is a listing of all one of the best backpacking rain pants in 2025:

More Rain Pants to Consider:

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Frequently Asked Questions

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