The NYT-owned website Wirecutter recently published an article recommending rainpants for travel in rainy places (such, apparently, as Denmark). I don't think the article is behind a paywall, it's at https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/marmot-precip-eco-pants-review/
I'm curious if people have found rainpants useful for travel?
Hi John,
13 RS Tours...I've ALWAYS taken my Patagonia rain pants...and never regret it! They don't take up much space and I'm a light packer. On numerous trip I've been very happy I've had them...as has been my wife despite her saying on some trips I will not need them.
Didn't read the article but I've learned my lessons...rain pants go with every trip!
I think it depends on time of year and what you're planning on doing. I'm not familiar with Denmark but I have been to Iceland and Norway. Didn't need them for a trip in June. Nor were they necessary for a hiking trip to the Scottish highlands in September. Assuming you aren't point-to-point hiking during a rainy season I would just wear quick dry pants. Just don't wear clothes that are primarily made of cotton. If cotton clothes get wet they'll make you cold and will take forever to dry. If it's potentially muddy or boggy terrain consider gaiters to keep the water out of your shoes and the cuffs of your pants dry.
The one trip I brought rain pants on, I didn't use them once. We went to Ireland in June 2019 and happened to experience their worst heat wave in 39 years. I haven't taken them on a trip before that or since. In July 2024 we were in Germany and got rained on for a few hours at Neuschwanstein. We only had raincoats (no umbrella) and were wearing quick dry nylon pants. As soon as we were inside the pants started to dry. We weren't soaking wet at all. Even our shoes were fine--just damp. I'll probably never take rain pants along again. The reason is because to truly be useful, they have to go in your day bag. They do no good if you take them all the way to Europe but leave them in your room as you are out and about. Our day bag is full enough without two pairs of rain pants.
Never in 22 years of trips to Europe. I can't see needing them not unless you're on a hiking trip in the middle of nowhere versus site seeing in a city. Their just trying sell something you don't really need.
John, thanks for the article and your posted question. There wasn’t a paywall this time. The author said she, “had long ignored rain pants. I thought of them as niche hiking gear, relegated to the purview of the outdoorsy and certainly not to the purview of the stylish.” Well, her epiphany came while getting drenched during a commute by bicycle, and not on a hiking trail. Biking is an outdoorsy activity, even in a city, and it’s not simply an urban means of getting from Point A to Point B. As such, that can warrant extra preparation and gear/clothing.
I stopped being very stylish a long time ago, and at least one pair of nylon “hiking” (not “rain”) pants has come on every trip for a long time, whether to London, or rural Sardinia, or …
On trips where hiking will be a definite part of the agenda, I bring packable rain shell pants. When bicycling is involved, and rain is anticipated, I’ve got bike-specific rain pants from Showers Pass, as well as Gore-Tex bike bottoms.
On a very rainy day in Denmark in October 2023, the multi-purpose hiking pants were good enough, for getting to the Metro stop in Copenhagen, and scurrying between the bus stop and the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde. Walking to the grocery in Ireland earlier that year, holding a borrowed golf umbrella sideways to fend off the driving rain, rain pants weren’t worn, but we had them on other days while hiking. It is mostly a city vs. country thing, unless you’re on a bike in a rainy place, in which case rain pants are advisable, and no one will mistake a pedaling tourist for a fashion model. That said, a soggy person won’t be a stylish standout, no matter the clothes.
We’ve used them in Ireland, England and Italy and glad we had them especially when other tour members were complaining about cold wet jeans and soggy sneakers. I haven’t been to Denmark but two summers ago in Ireland, it literally poured for several days. Again, it depends on where you’re going and what time of year and if you’re on a tour or on your own and can opt out for a day outside in wet weather. And to add, I bring my waterproof Brooks sneakers if it’s a country or time when wet weather may happen. Soggy sneakers is even worse than wet jeans, in my opinion at least.
Depends entirely on where and when you're going, and what you expect to be doing there. Going some places, it's necessary if you're going to be outside much of the time. Other places it would be silly.
Exploring Italy or the Greek islands in mid-summer? No way, that's insanity (if I get drenched by a shower, that'll be a blessing in the heat). But heading off to see puffins in the Faroe Islands or someplace else that gets long stretches of soaking storms? Heck yeah. I happen to live in a rainy place, and know exactly what it's like to be out in heavy precip for extended periods.
My good (expensive, Gore-Tex, light and compact) rain gear, including rain pants, may have saved my life while hiking all day (to chase puffins) during a cold rain in the Faroes. I'll be bringing the serious rain gear along (and will probably have to use it at least once) when I go to Shetland in July. I am NOT bringing it on my trip to Puglia in September.
The answer to your question, like the answer to so many of life's questions, is: it depends.
I bought rain pants for a trip to Iceland. Never needed them.
Maybe it’s just us people from the Pacific Northwest that know how miserable you can actually be soaking wet and cold while outside that bring them along if there’s the possibility of rain…..dependo :-)
My Trip Report title says it all. The rain pants provided much needed warmth on the canal cruises and waiting for the Flower Parade, in addition to protection from the heavy downfalls.
I just purchased a new pair in blue: I- creak on Amazon has them in colors!
Never felt a need to use them in my daily life, assume traveling will be the same. Besides I try and stay with a carry-on when possible. My raingear for travel is a tiny disposable poncho I bought at Disneyland. 8 years old, still unopened. If it rains every shop is selling umbrellas, I buy one then donate it before I leave town so I don't have to pack it.
I packed waterproof trousers/rain pants for a walking holiday in the Outer Hebrides islands in Scotland last June, and I used them multiple days. I think they are useful for hiking/walking in the countryside. In a city I do not think you really need them because you can either use an umbrella or a long raincoat to help keep your legs dry instead.
I wore the rain pants over a pair of synthetic fabric leggings. I would not have wanted to wear them over bare legs; I think they are meant to be worn like "over trousers" (like a jacket for your legs?). The weather in Scotland was in the 40s so the rain pants provided me with an extra layer of warmth.
I bought the cheapest pair I could find at REI as I did not want to overspend on apparel that I would not wear in my daily, non travel life. I packed the rain pants by rolling them and then compressing them with a couple pairs of rubber bands. They fit easily into a packing cube in my carry on backpack.
We certainly did when visiting Iceland and Ireland and rain pants saved many a day unless you like walking around in soaked pants. We also had waterproofed shoes as wet socks and shoes are not pleasant, either. It's a low-cost way to be more comfortable.
If you're visiting a location at a time of year where it's known to be cold and/or rainy there is nothing to lose in having them. They're like an insurance policy.
I take them every time I go on holiday to Wales or anywhere else in the UK if I plan to be outside a lot. It can rain every day for a week and I still want to get out and about for walks. No such thing as bad weather and all that.
margie--True;)
I have never taken my rain pants anywhere except Iceland and the Alaskan bush. We have 7 trips to Iceland so far, with our 8th this summer. Several of these trips were for several weeks at a time. I would never go to Iceland without them, and I learned that after our first trip. I have not needed them on every trip, but when I did, I absolutely needed them. The nice thing is they block the wind too, so they are good for more than just rain.
We were in Denmark in October and lucked out with weather, no rain at all. Then in Bergen in August, nonstop rain. So you just never know. I knew that we could duck into buildings though vs in Iceland or Alaska where I would be out in the elements for longer.
I have the REI brand ones and they have a zipper at the bottom so I can just pull them on without having to take my boots off, which makes it much easier.
I only take my rain pants when planning to do significant hiking. We have done point to point multi-day walks in Wales, England, Scotland and the Ardennes Forest. I was very glad to have rain pants for this vacations. If I am returning to the same lodging and doing day trips around a city, I am comfortable without rain pants as I never wear wear pants at home for my daily activities.
