I have 11 years of backpacking experience. I typically make 3-5 trips per year. I like to hike the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in early spring and late fall. For summer hikes I like to find cooler (temperature-wise) destinations, mainly the North Cascades in Washington State. I have branched out this year by taking trips to Great Basin National Park in Nevada and Rocky Mountains National Park in Colorado. I carry a moderately heavy pack when hiking with my son. When hiking with adults, though, I try and pack lightweight. I have hiked portions of the AT and PCT and I like to peak bag.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Ultra Light Pants

Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.rei.com
MSRP: US$79
Listed Weight: 11 oz (312 g)
Measured Weight: 11.4 oz (11.4 g)

Manufacturer details:
Size:……………………..….. Men's XL
Inseam……………………... 32" (81 cm)
Weight: .................................. 11.0 oz average (312 g)
Manufacturer: ....................... REI (made in Taiwan)
Year of Manufacture: .......... 2006

Size, weight, and inseam (as delivered):

Size…………………………………. XL
Weight……………………………... 11.4 ounces (323 grams)
Inseam............................................... 32" (81 cm)

BASIC OVERVIEW

The REI Ultra Light Rain Pants are designed for load-conscious backpackers. At an average weight of 11 ounces, they function well as a shell to ward off the rain or as an outermost layer to stay warm. The zippers and snaps at the pant bottoms make for a quick "put on" when an afternoon thunderstorm catches you by surprise.

REI Product Claims:
- Waterproof, breathable 2.5-layer REI Elements®/nylon with microporous polyurethane coating is seam-sealed for complete protection.
- Drawcord waistband supplies a custom fit.
- Front pockets feature lightweight, water-resistant zippers with zipper guards.
- Articulated knee darts provide a comfortable fit, allowing a full range of motion.
- Lower legs have zipper for easy on/off; seam-sealed plackets with snap closures protect zippers.

FIELD CONDITIONS

I have tested these pants on four hikes during my 2006 hiking season:

March
Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee (Spence Field Loop). Conditions ranged from bitter cold, wet, and foggy to moderate cold, dry, and clear. Temperatures ranged from 15 to 45 F (-9 to 7 C). Elevations ranged from 1,807 to 4,887 ft (551 to 1,490 m).

July
Great Basin National Park, Nevada (Baker Lake/ Johnson Lake Loop). Conditions were dry and dusty; temperatures ranged from 35 to 75 F (2 to 24 C). Elevations ranged from 8,000 to 12,000 ft (2,438 to 3,658 m).

July
Olympic National Park, Washington (Upper Lena Lake). Conditions were cool and damp (no rain, just fog, mist, and morning dew). Temperatures ranged from 30 to 55 F (-1 to 13 C). Elevations ranged from 900 to 4,100 ft (274 to 1,250 m).

August
Rocky Mountains National Park, Colorado (North Inlet / Tonahutu Creek Loop). Conditions varied from hot and dusty, to cold and rainy, to hot with a thunderstorm. Night-time temperatures were consistently around 30 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 C), while day time temperatures ranged from 45 to 80 degrees F (7 to 27 C). Elevations ranged from 8,000 to 12,300 ft (2,438 to 3,749 m).

FIELD INFORMATION

I purchased these pants with three things in mind: 1) To use as comfortable, breathable pant protection from rain , 2) To use as an outer shell for warmth, and 3) To keep me dry from the morning dew. It was also important to me that they be as light as possible to replace a heavier nylon rain pant that I owned.
After a full season of hiking the pants have proven to be everything I expected and more. They were very breathable, with no perceivable sweating. They proved adequately waterproof during the one thunderstorm I encountered. They were also easy to access and use; the pants compressed into a very small bundle that packed easily into the rear pocket of my Osprey Aether 70 backpack. The drawstring at the waist and zippered pant bottoms with snaps allowed me to quickly put them on when caught in the sudden thunderstorm I encountered on the Rocky Mountain National Park trip.

INVESTIGATION OF MANUFACTURER CLAIMS

Claim: Waterproof, breathable 2.5-layer REI Elements®/nylon with microporous polyurethane coating is seam-sealed for complete protection.
Comments: I found the pants to be completely waterproof and very breathable. I never found the pants to be "sweaty" or uncomfortable. The seams come sealed from the factory with a thin layer of seam- sealer that is about ¾" across (2 cm); the sealer is thin enough to add very little weight and thick enough to completely seal out any water that might try to seep through the seams.

Claim: Drawcord waistband supplies a custom fit.
Comments: This statement is true, but I had to utilize the live help on the REI website (http://www.rei.com) before I purchased them. My waist size is 38" (97 cm), which warrants a size medium on the REI sizing chart I found on their website. After talking with a representative live on the REI web site, I purchased an extra-large pair to accommodate fitting the pants over my hiking clothes. That said, the drawstring allows for a comfortable fit and keeps the pants up.

Claim: Front pockets feature lightweight, water-resistant zippers with zipper guards.
Zipper Guards

Comments: This is the one part of these pants where REI did not worry about a little extra weight. A thicker material was utilized that does not catch in the zipper when zipping it up; a very nice feature when my hands were cold and I needed to quickly get into the pockets. The thicker material is sewn in also as a physical barrier to rain; it has only a narrow slit showing over the zipper, which is an effective rain shield. They were waterproof during the one thunderstorm I encountered.

Claim: Articulated knee darts provide a comfortable fit, allowing a full range of motion.
Comments: This was a good idea also. A small fold has been sewn into the knees to provide a little extra give, rather than just a straight-leg pant. The pants provided full motion when hiking and I did not notice any difficulty in navigating trails or when rock climbing.

Claim: Lower legs have zipper for easy on/off; seam-sealed plackets with snap closures protect zippers.
Comments: The pant leg zippers had two things worthy of note. First, the zipper does not bind up on the REI Elements®/nylon; the nylon is stiff enough that it doesn't fold over and bind up in the zipper. Second, snap enclosures are really a snap at the pant bottom and a Velcro attachment mid-way up the zipper. Overall the zipper, Velcro, and snap arrangement turned out to be very convenient and easy to use when putting these pants on in the field.

CLOSING REMARKS

Closing Remarks:
In closing, I give these pants an A++ grade. They are lightweight, waterproof, packable, compressible, and, on top of that, comfortable to wear. Additionally, I feel that the MSRP of $79.00 (US) makes these pants an exceptional value for the performance they provide.

Owner Review by James Bertil Warberg Jr

All material on this site is the exclusive property of BackpackGearTest.org.
BackpackGearTest software copyright David Anderson