Winter Cycling - Best WaterProof Pants

Ok everybody, I have done a decent ammount of looking around the forum and have not come up with much that tells me what I want to know. I am really in the need for a pair of waterproof pants. In the fall and early winter here in central Illinois, it gets wet. I will be biking a lot and need something waterproof. Eventually, my rides will be 20 mins plus so I will need something that will keep me pretty dry. I will not have the ability to shower normally considering im going to classes and such here at ISU. I was looking at gortex, it sounds good, maybe a little hot, and rather expensive, but waterproof. Pertex also sounds nice accept I have a feeling I would end up a tad damp by the time I got to class. Really, I'm looking for most breathable and most waterproof. Any and all suggestions area welcome! thanks a lot!!

bikerboy

The "best" largely depends on your needs and your budget. I'd go for something with a breathable membrane rather than a breathable coated product.

The "most breathable" will cost you up words of $200. Is it really worth that much money for a 20 minute ride?

Gortex will be good for a 20 minute ride - but as soon as it's soaked, expect the breathability to go right out the window.

I would just go with PVC. cheap, waterproof, stylish... You might get a little sweaty, but everyone else will think it's just rain.

I use Pertex and even in heavy rain it will keep me dry for a commute. The longest foul-weather ride I have done is 8 hours of persistant rain in the Alpes. I was comfortable all day.
It is cheap, light, packs small and lasts a long time. It dries more quickly than wetted-out gortex and in light rain will dry faster than it gets wet!

LL Bean sells very good Gortex pants (http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?page=stowaway-rainwear&categoryId=39663&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=8527&cat4=8532&shop_method=pp&feat=sdp415) that are lightweight and effective. You can take them off in about 15 seconds and be ready for school/office. I've used them for years.

Paul

I got a pair of Gill® Freedom Pants from Performance.
They work great, but you have to wear a base layer in the winter.
If you are riding only 20 min. this might be the ticket, cheap price too 49.98.
You might do a search for a coupon also
http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/150/10_3902.jpg
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=17576&subcategory_ID=1130

How about full fenders and a cape?

Seriously, the best waterproof pants are the ones you don't wear.

Instead, think highly water resistant, stretchy tech fabrics, water resistant construction, active pants from The North Face, Columbia, Marmot, Arcteryx, Outdoor Research. stretchy, dry quick, work hella for biking. Stylish, urban commando look. Way more svelte than rain pants, hello!

OR,

try tailored pants in cotton with Nanosphere, stain resist or other DWR. Roll up to above the calf, and go for it! New fabric tech is doing amazing things with natural fibers.
I have some great, light gauge cotton pants from Filson with DWR that are nice enough to wear with a sport coat, but I can commute to and from work and around town with them. Even after riding in a rainstorm, they dry out within the hour or so after coming inside, its really wierd for cotton. I ride in these in Seattle all thru the winter.

Unless you need to commute in your tailored wool 120's, I'd ditch the waterproof pants idea and look at a better pair of pants.

Depends on what you want...

I have the Performance Triflex BIB Tights, they are much better then the Waterproof pants, but they are MUCH warmer also.

the Marmot waterproof PreCip pants are awesome.

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=32832197&memberId=12500226

I've tried expensive gortex pants too, and liked the precip's much better. They are very well made.

I'm looking around for good waterproof pants, too. To me, they have to perform well in 30 minutes of a cold pouring rain, because that's the only reason I really need them. (And have, several times recently.) In a light rain, almost any pants will do alright.

In a similar thread I recently started on the Commuting forum, Helly Hansen (http://www.hellyhansengear.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=22&osCsid=f0c8591cc14fd785b8b34b0259a80d63) and Red Ledge (http://www.redledge.com/productList.cfm?gID=5&colID=20&bID=2) products were also suggested. Thanks for the additional suggestions here.