Rain pants - yay or nay

What time of year are you going? We've been to Ireland twice--November and June. We brought rain pants in June. There was a record heat wave that year. We carried them around for nothing... We brought them again when we went back a year later in November. I was very glad to have them one morning when there was a heavy rain. But that's the only time we used them.

We’re going end of July. I sure don’t want to spend the money if they’re not needed. We’ll be a few days along the west coast.

Are you going on any long hikes? In general, the only time I find rain pants necessary is when on extended hikes. For tourist activities, a raincoat is generally sufficient.

If you don't already have rain pants, don't buy them. If you had them and had room, I'd say toss them in.

Do you have a full-length raincoat and/or rain poncho? I feel best if I pack either rain pants or my rain poncho.
Good luck!

I also hit Ireland in a dry spell and heat wave when I went a number of years ago, lol. The first time I visited Scotland I did not take rain pants and regretted it for the one day on the Rick Steves tour that it poured and was windy. I took them with me on my latest trip to Orkney and Shetland (August) and wore them every day as we were out hiking and sightseeing outside for the majority of our time. (Very little indoor time)

I think it also depends on what you mean by walking and light hiking. Are you going to be doing walks or light hikes that are an hour or so or do you plan to do things that involve being outside with no shelter for 4-5 hours. The latter, even if not strenuous walking, I'd have the rain pants.

IF you do decide to get them, I recommend spending the extra money for ones that zip up the legs. I went cheap and my Columbia brand just has a wide leg that you cinch in with velcro. I cannot pull them on over boots but if I'm sitting down I can get them on over my waterproof athletic shoes if I work at it. Next pair....full zippers.

You can also purchase them from a reputable company, leave the tags on and return them if you don't use them. This is an item I recommend trying on anyway as they fit differently. If you have some place like an REI they usually have a couple of waterproof options.

Dependo…..We were in Ireland last July for an week and wore them most days and glad I had them. It rained so hard in Killarney that the streams were brown and flooding in certain sections. Our friends were there last October, the husband didn’t take his and his wife has pictures of him in very wet jeans and not too happy. Three years earlier we only wore them once on a RS tour. I have a pair of Patagonia but then living in Oregon, I wear them for more than just traveling. I stuff them in the zippered front section of my carryon where not much else fits.

We have been to Ireland twice. The first time we were in Ireland it rained every day but one. Sometimes it was a “soft” rain but other times it poured. Our second visit in 2022 we had gorgeous sunshine with the exception of one night in Galway and before we boarded the ferry to return from Inishmore. Rain pants weigh next to nothing. I would bring them.

I find rain pants to be a very unnecessary item. Every time I take them I never use them. I use hiking pants (Prana) that dry pretty quickly.

I am with Pam on this. How long you going to be out. If it is pouring rain, why would you stay out unless you are on a hike and no shelter. Rain pants are cheap. They pack well. They will be a small extra that will be worth its weight in gold if you are caught out for extended timeframe. Muddy trails, grass heavy with water brushing your legs, wind and rain sideways coming from the sea, all the norm on a hike. Otherwise head for the nearest pub. Why would you not?

Thanks for the varied replies. Was Murphy of Murphy’s Law Irish? From the different experiences I think if I don’t bring rain pants I’ll regret it. I do hope to do a bit of walking/hiking while on the west coast. I might just leave the tags on too just in case I never use them.

Another place they might come in handy is out on a boat. We wore them in Scotland to Loch Coruisk and Staffa/Lunga and were quite happy with the results, especially as one of the boats was more or less open.

FWIW, we found rain pants to be particularly handy while out hiking along narrow trails which required us to brush up against wet foliage still dripping from a previous shower. Would have resulted in soaking wet hiking pants had we not had the waterproofs.