The best rain pants 2023: stay dry in even the worst weather

Anyone who explores mountainous backcountry knows the full value of the best rain pants. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking a waterproof jacket is essential, yet somehow standard hiking pants will do when it comes to protecting your legs. Serious adventurers carry both waterproof jackets and waterproof rain pants in their pack, just in case.

Some of the best rain pants are over-trousers, designed to fit over your normal hiking pants, while others are fully featured trousers that can be worn alone. They feature the same waterproof membranes as premium hard shell jackets, designed to keep the wind, rain, sleet and hail at bay.

Over-trousers usually feature zips and/or buttons up their length, to enable you to fit them quickly while still wearing your hiking boots. After all, the last thing you want to be doing in a deluge is taking off your footwear! Some are light and extremely packable, while others feature thicker, robust fabrics designed for truly biblical conditions.

One disadvantage of some over-trousers is that, unlike the best hiking pants, they don't have pockets for stashing valuables. This is something to look out for when making your choice. For more on how to choose rain pants, see our guide at the bottom of the page.

Best rain pants overall

Made with mountain exploits in mind, these mega-protective pants from high-end Swedish brand Haglöfs are constructed from Gore-Tex Pro stretch, the toughest type of Gore-Tex out there. Completely water- and windproof, they laugh in the face of even the most ferocious elements, keeping the wearer warm and dry in the wildest weather imaginable, while remaining impressively breathable. They feature full-length, top-quality side zips, which means you can quickly and easily pull them on over the top of under-trousers and boots when the sky starts to darken and drop towards you. 

The leg-ends button up tightly around boots, and they synchronize with top-layer jackets in the L.I.M. ZT range, with a storm lock that connects to the back hems. The material is (as te name suggests) stretchy, and the excellent design also includes a seam-free gusset and pre-bent articulated knees and bum bits to make movement easy. In fact, once you have them on, they’re so comfortable and breathable that it’s entirely feasible you will opt to keep wearing the L.I.M. ZTs even after the rain wanes and the storm stops. Impressively, they are also pretty quiet to walk in, with very little rustling and crinkling while you stride along. Generous flight navigator–style thigh pockets on both legs accommodate sheet maps and much more besides, and they both close with weatherproof zips. 

As with the rest of the design, these pockets are carefully placed to avoid getting in the way of a climbing harness. These waterproof pants are a serious investment, but the fabrics employed are highly robust as well as technical, and reinforced panels strategically placed in high abrasion areas such the bottom of the leg will vastly improved the lifespan of these trousers. 

Check out our full review of the Haglöfs' LIM ZT Shell GTX Pro Pants.

It’s a triumph of fabric technology (with a dusting of marketing genius) that many hikers go into an outdoors shop and ask for a Gore-Tex jacket, rather than a specific brand (other breathable waterproof fabrics are available). For any hiker who wants similar confidence in the waterproofness and breathability of their pants, the Montane Pac Plus tick all the key boxes. They are made from Paclite Plus, a two-layer waterproof and breathable fabric designed to be thin, light and packable. For all-day, every day deluges there are heavier, more robust versions of Gore-Tex, but as a balance between performance and packability these are hard to beat. They are also available in both regular and short leg lengths. 

Read our full Montane Pac Plus Waterproof Pants review

These medium-weight waterproof trousers are designed to pull on in a pinch, making them perfect for a sudden storm, though they may let in a little rain and wind through the access pockets.

The fit leaves plenty of room to wear these rain pants comfortably over your hiking pants, while the lower leg unzips all the way to your knee to allow room for the biggest of boots to pass through. Once they’re on, they offer plenty of protection from the rain with taped seams, as well as sheltering you from the wind.

These lined trousers are medium-weight and pretty packable, presenting no question as to whether or not you should stash them in your backpack. The waist is elasticated with a simple drawcord plus belt loops, so you can tailor these to fit. Once you’re walking in them, two access side pockets allow you to reach any gear that’s in your pants pockets. A range of sizes and lengths means almost any hiker can find a pair to suit.

Read our full Keela Rainlife 5000 waterproof trousers review

Designed for days and weekends when you know the weather will be hostile, the Rab Kangri rain pants use three-layer Gore-Tex for waterproof protection, with an outer fabric made from recycled material. The result is a pair of pants as rugged and robust as any waterproof jacket that you’d rely on to protect you from the elements on a winter’s walk or multi-day hike. 

The full-length side zips make them easy to pull on quickly over walking boots, while poppers mean you can leave the zips undone for ventilation when conditions allow. And when you need to batten down the hatches, the waterproof zips with internal storm flap will keep the heaviest downpour at bay. 

There’s a fully adjustable, elasticated waistband with a Velcro-style adjustment for a comfortable fit, and loops to attach an under-boot cord to secure the Kangri rain pants to your hiking boots in order to keep your lower legs dry in long, wet grass. All of which secures the Rag Kangri a firm place in our selection of the best rain pants.

Read our full Rab Kangri Gore-Tex Pants review

Slim fitting and comfortable, the robust Berghaus Deluge 2.0 rain pants don’t billow like Zeppelins in a strong wind, so you may find you’ll quickly forget you’re wearing them at all. Their protection comes in the form of Berghaus’s own two-layer Hydroshell fabric, which helps to keep their price competitive compared Gore-Tex alternatives, while still combining excellent rain protection with impressive breathability. 

The three-quarter length zips of these rain pants make them easy to pull on over boots, and the press-stud closures give the option of leaving the zips open for extra breathability when walking through fog rather than rain. The waistband is wide for comfort and there’s a draw cord for a snugger fit.

Read our full Berghaus Deluge 2.0 review

When you have these rolled into their small, neat pouch, it is really very easy to forget that you’re carrying the easily packable Craghoppers Ascent rain pants. 

Fortunately, the designers haven’t forgotten to add a host of useful features. Alongside an elasticated waist with drawcord, Velcro-style tape at the hem keeps them tight around your boots, while two zipped pockets offer a waterproof sanctuary for a phone and wallet. 

The side zips only go as far as the knee, so they are not as easy to pull on as some other pairs in this round-up of the best rain pants, but they will still slip on over a pair of boots. Think of them as more of an emergency pair of waterproof pants rather than an all-day downpour pair, and you’ll be happy with your purchase.

Read our full Craghoppers Ascent Overtrousers review

Tipping the scales at less than 6oz (155g in size Large), the Pakka are exceptionally light rain pants, and ideal for stowing away in a small daypack on a just-in-case basis. Their competitive price (you can find them even cheaper than the already very reasonable RRP) also makes them a useful option if you need waterproof pants for a compulsory kit list but don’t want to invest much in them (be that for a scout camp of an ultra running event). 

If called upon, the Pakka will certainly fend off rain and the taped seams are arguably more waterproof than pants with side zips. However, without zips they can be tricky to pull on over large, muddy boots without smearing mud up the inside. The legs of these rain pants are reasonably wide to although Velcro-style fastenings at the bottom hem stop the ankles from flapping like flares. 

All-in-one waterproof pants

For hikers who can’t bear the rustle and sweatiness of overtrousers, the Paramo Velez Adventure Trousers offer an excellent alternative. Deploying Paramo’s Analogy waterproof fabric system, the trousers are comfortable in wet or dry conditions – they’ve been lab tested to keep out four hours of steady rain. 

Nor will you get wet from the inside through sweat; the fabric is breathable and the thigh ventilation zips provide extra climate control options when the uphill going gets a tad warm. 

A wide range of waist sizes and leg lengths makes it possible to ensure a goof fit, and Velcro-type ankle fastenings make them easier to squeeze below gaiters. To maintain this performance, however, they do require regular care with specialist cleaning and waterproofing products.

As a rule of thumb, the further north a gear manufacturer is based, the tougher its kit will be, which is why many mountaineers turn to Scandinavia for their gear. A harsh climate, long winters and powerful outdoors culture have inspired a number of high performance brands, including Sweden’s Klättermusen. 

The Ran Pant are made from recycled, fluorocarbon-free fabric, which is durable and fabulously waterproof – at least the equal if not the better of overtrousers – and it’s breathable, too (with ventilation boosted by full-length side zips). Two zipped pockets plus pre-bent knees make them even more useful for hiking and trekking whatever the weather.

Read our full Klättermusen Ran Pant review

The Nakuru (men’s) / Berbak (women’s) Rainpants from well-established British outdoor brand Sprayway are classic hillwalkers’ overtrousers made from a soft and supple but reasonably robust 40-denier polyester face fabric. They’re finished with a protective PFC-free durable water repellent (DWR) treatment and utilise a two-layer construction, which means the fabric is bonded to a waterproof-breathable membrane, in this case Gore-Tex.

That ensures solid waterproof performance and reasonable breathability, putting them a cut above cheaper rainpants that use own-brand, PU-based membranes. Inside, they have a taffeta and mesh drop liner to protect the Gore-Tex membrane and wearer aid comfort. As a result, they rarely get clammy, though they might get a little warm.

The semi-elasticated waist has a simple but effective drawcord adjustment, while ½ length side zips ensure easy on and off over all but the chunkiest walking boots. Velcro ankle adjustment ensures a secure seal around your footwear.

Read our full Sprayway Nakuru Rainpants review

A long-time favorite of many hikers, OR’s updated Helium pants are constructed from a 2.5 layer, tear resistant ripstop fabric with Bluesign approved Pertex Shield Diamond Fuse. Fully seam-taped, windproof and breathable – with a HH (hydrostatic head) rating of 3,000mm, and an MVTR (Moisture vapor transmission rate) of 20,000 – the pants will keep you comfortable and dry when the skies open and the rain pours down. 

Details like an elastic waist and draw cord, gusseted crotch and ankle zippers help tailor the fit to suit your body. Lightweight doesn’t mean fragile, though. In fact, these pants will stand up to a hard day on the trail. When the weather improves, the back pocket serves as a stuff sack. Everyone who loves the outdoors needs rain protection in their gear collection. Matched with a companion Helium jacket, this is a great way to stay dry.

Best rain pants for boating

More than merely rainproof, Helly Hansen’s HP Foil Sailing Pants are storm-deflecting trousers that will repel almost anything the elements choose to lob at you, wherever you are. They are designed for sailors – clue in the name – and work best on boats, but you can wear them anywhere. The solidly water- and wind-proof outer has been reinforced with hardwearing panels in all the areas where people on boats put their garments under severe pressure (the knees and backside primarily), which makes these pants extra robust, and not only will they provide protection, but they should last for years. There is a mesh inner that extends right through the garment, providing comfort and breathability. Both pockets have waterproof zips, the waist is fully adjustable, and you can tighten the bottoms around your ankles with Velcro to keep drafts and water out. 

How we test rain pants

We put each pair of rain pants to the test in real world conditions, usually facing severe weather in the UK. We look for pants with secure seams that won't leak even in strong winds or at the joints, and which will keep your socks dry in a storm. We also time how long it takes to take them off and put them on in a sudden downpour, so you know you won't get soaked if the weather suddenly turns.

For more details, see how Advnture tests products

How to choose rain pants

Whether you’re looking for a pair of the best rain pants for hiking in monsoon conditions, or lightweight overtrousers that you can slide on over the top of your trekking trousers in showery weather, there are various considerations that need to be factored in before you make a purchase. 

Fabric

The material from which rai pants are made is the business end of their performance. While all fabrics should keep you dry in a downpour, ultra-lightweight fabrics are ideal for packing away in your best hiking backpack as an emergency precaution, while heavier fabrics will prove more robust against rocks and thorns and will likely keep you drier for longer. (See also: Waterproof versus water-resistant: fabrics and equipment.)

All rain pands promise that they’re breathable, but if you’re working hard in humid conditions (and rain is 100% humidity), it’s difficult for sweat to evaporate through a fabric and out into the open.

Waist

Generally speaking, the deeper the waistband, the more comfortable a pair of rain wants will be; many pairs also have a draw cord for a more personalised fit. While they tend to come in standard S, M and L sizes, some rain pants are available in the same waist size and leg lengths as denim jeans, so you can find a pair that fits perfectly.

Pack size

How much spare capacity is there in the rucksack you typically pack, and how likely are you to walk when the forecast is for rain? Emergency rain pants can pack down very small into their own stuffsacks, ideal for mountain marathon runners, but don’t expect the same protection and performance as you’ll get from a bigger, heavier pair that will occupy more space in your pack. (See also: how to pack a backpack.)

Zips

The ability to pull on rain pants s in a flash when the heavens open is vital; you certainly don’t want to be hopping around on one leg while you take a boot off to get your foot through the trousers. The longer the side zips, the easier it is to pull on rain pants. Zips also offer ventilation options, but they can be weak points for water ingress, so look for storm flaps behind the zip to keep you perfectly dry.

Ankles

No one wants to walk with the bottom of their rain pants flapping in the wind, rain and mud, so a stud or Velcro-type fastening at the hem is a useful feature to keep the ankles tight.

Pockets

Pockets represent a potential weak point for rain to sneak in, so many rain pants don’t feature them. If you need pockets for a ski pass or phone, it’s easier to find them in a jacket than pants. 

Care

Rain pants don’t stay waterproof forever. The more you wear them, the more frequently they will need reproofing with specialist cleaning and waterproofing agents. This is particularly the case with trousers worn all day, rather than occasional use overtrousers. (See also: how to use waterproofing spray.)

Top tip!

Pack rain pants in a plastic bag. When you need to pull them on, put your boot into the bag – it will slip more easily into the pant leg and will avoid smearing mud up the inside.