Anyone hiking in wet weather needs a reliable set of in their backpack to pull on at a moment's notice and this pair gives you a sturdy shield against a proper deluge. Using Columbia's innovative , which wears the membrane on the outside, they're reasonably light, fully waterproof, and easy to care for. These rain pants are designed to be over pants, worn over your leggings or and because the membrane is worn on the outside, they're lightweight which makes them a good choice for both summer and winter hiking.
The OutDry membrane works a treat against a heavy downpour and we couldn't find any weak spots anywhere thanks to a good design and fully . We were able to pull these on and off in the field while wearing , but the leg zips only go up to the knee and full zips might make things a little easier. An adjustable waist and ankles mean you can cinch these tightly when it's blowing a gale, and three proper zipped pockets are handy if you have to wear them for hours.
They're breathable in milder, wet conditions and roll up into quite a small package (about the size of a regular ) so they're easy to cart around, although they're a little pricey for something you might just bring along as a backup. The OutDry membrane is a little unusual looking, but it's getting less shiny and more palatable with each passing design, and one of the great benefits of it is that it's easy to wipe clean. This combined with the recycled polyester, lack of and no need for a make these a good sustainab.
