What are rain paints? you may be thinking. The answer is simple: rain pants are the same as a rain jacket, but for the lower half of your body. Why you need them is a more difficult question to answer. Rain pants are arguably less versatile than an upper body shell; they aren’t the type of garment you’d throw on before heading to your office on a rainy morning — unlike other technical apparel, rain pants are not as socially-accepted beyond the outdoor realm.
But rain pants are useful, especially so if you’re an avid hiker or backpacker. Too often, rain is an excuse to bail on a planned activity, but it shouldn’t be. A quality pair of rain pants along with a rain jacket will allow you to hike through the storm until it clears. Rain pants can also be used as a less-bulky alternative to snow pants when mountaineering or hiking in snow.
Marmot’s PreCip rain pants are among the best available (and they were rated so by Wirecutter). Like a rain jacket, they’re constructed with a waterproof membrane but are still breathable enough for active use. They also have three pockets — two on the side and one rear — and shin-high ankle zips that let you slide them on while wearing shoes or hiking boots (you don’t want to be taking those off if you get caught in a squall). The PreCip Pants also weigh just under nine ounces and can be easily stashed in a pack for those just-in-case moments.
The PreCip Pants are already affordable compared to other rain pants, but right now you can take an extra 25% off when you purchase a pair from Marmot — just use the code FRIENDS at checkout.
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