Women's Torrentshell 3L Rain Pants - Regular

Actually a good pair of rain pants

Rain pants as a concept are awful, and there is a reason most hikers forego them altogether. Most rain pants are two layer and don't breathe, so as soon as you start to sweat, the pants just turn into a permeable membrane, letting all the rain in and leaving you hiking through the bush in a sopping weight plastic bag. These Patagonia pants are three layers, which means they're as breathable and as waterproof as your good raincoat. They actually keep the rain out (I just wore them in a massive storm on top of the Bogong High Plains, the ultimate challenge), and they're comfortable enough to pass as hiking pants on cold windy days. They were so good I plan on wearing them cross country skiing next year, and they'll be a staple in my pack when hiking alpine areas. These pants made me believe in pants again, five stars.