Winter Cycling - Rain/Snow Pants

With Winter fast approaching, I am looking to pick up some waterproof pants. I would most likely just get a shell pant rather than insulated and wear some long johns under my jeans under the shell when it gets cold so that they can double as a rain pant when it's not too cold.

If you know the QBP catalog, something they carry would be best (as I work at a bike shop and can get a nice discount if we order through QBP).

Any recommendations or considerations that I should be making?

I'm all set with a jacket, shoe covers, and face mask. Just need something for the legs!

With Winter fast approaching, I am looking to pick up some waterproof pants. I would most likely just get a shell pant rather than insulated and wear some long johns under my jeans under the shell when it gets cold so that they can double as a rain pant when it's not too cold.

If you know the QBP catalog, something they carry would be best (as I work at a bike shop and can get a nice discount if we order through QBP).

Any recommendations or considerations that I should be making?

I'm all set with a jacket, shoe covers, and face mask. Just need something for the legs!

Your better off with some cheap breathable but water resistant shells over jeans. The jeans will soak up moisture like a towel and anything really waterproof will not breath well enough. You'll be wet from your own sweat when you get to work.

A better idea is to get a couple of pair of convertable nylon or polyester pants like backpackers use. The heavier weight kind will be better to work in since they are more rugged. And wear a lightweight cycling tight under them to ride to work. Take off the tights at work and wear either the shorts or long pants at work. Since the convertable pants are wind resistant they will work pretty well as an outer layer on mild days. On bad days take along another light shell to wear on top.

Another good approach is to make your own cheap messenger pants out of thrift store polyester microfiber slacks. They breath and are pretty warm. I got 4 pair for 25 bucks the other day. Use these to work in and layer a cheap cycling tight underneath and a shell over the top for the commute. And you will be good for bad weather. You can also carry your jeans in a backpack to work if you are dead set on jeans. And wear cycling gear or breathable alternatives on your legs.

I bought these http://tinyurl.com/5p4xkn from LL Bean and they work very well. The price is right, they fit over my work pants and stow easily in my pannier. Some complained bacause they don't have pockets, but I feel they are less bulky without them...

I should have noted, my new job will be in a machine shop, so oil-stained jeans are going to be the standard. Thanks for the LLBean link. Those look pretty nice.

You can pick up decent splash/wind pants in Walmart. That's where I got a pair or two of mine.

I run softshell pants all winter. They take about 95% of the slop and crap thrown at them if you use fenders. At present I'm using some wonderful jobs from Patagonia.

i just spent a mint of the shuksan eVent waterproof pants from REI.

i wear them with insulated tights underneath and change into work clothes when i get there.

a lot of money but a great mix of bulletproof weather resistance and breathable comfort.

Showers Pass is apparently developing several new eVent fabric based pants for the spring.

i just spent a mint of the shuksan eVent waterproof pants from REI.

i wear them with insulated tights underneath and change into work clothes when i get there.

a lot of money but a great mix of bulletproof weather resistance and breathable comfort.

Showers Pass is apparently developing several new eVent fabric based pants for the spring.


Bulletproof weather resistance? For that price, they should just be bulletproof!

Checkout www.Cabelas.com

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/subcategory/subcategory-index.jsp.7_A&_DAV=&returnPage=&rid=&returnQueryString=&navAction=push&navCount=0&parentId=cat21082&id=cat601888&cmCat=MainCatcat21082-cat601865

These are under the category "rain" pants, but the Gore-tex ones work very well in colder weather and especially when it comes to cycling and you generating heat. I have a pair of the pac-lites.

You can pick up decent splash/wind pants in Walmart. That's where I got a pair or two of mine.

Can you actually get wind pants that have a narrow leg? I have a pair of wind pants, but the legs required elastic bands (or.. failing that... long wool socks).

This Fall I splurged on a pair of $45 REI rain pants. As soon I they arrived, REI put them on sale for $32. :mad:

Can you actually get wind pants that have a narrow leg? I have a pair of wind pants, but the legs required elastic bands (or.. failing that... long wool socks).

This Fall I splurged on a pair of $45 REI rain pants. As soon I they arrived, REI put them on sale for $32. :mad:

Yep. I had two pair like that ... narrow legs with elastic in the cuff. They cost about $10 each. I wore one pair out, and picked up another almost identical pair in a Value Village for about $5. They work quite well.

In a pouring rain, they let water through, but they block the wind so that even if I'm a bit wet, I'm warm. And in winter they block the wind which reduces the windchill factor.

I did a lot of searching and finally settled on a Boto cargo pants from Protective in Germany. Bought it off Edinburgh Cycles in UK. Its black made out of 100% ripstop nylon with a polyester inner liner. So it should be both waterproof and windproof. At 56 Euros it appeared to be reasonably priced for a well made German-made cargo pants with a specific right leg cut to avoid dreaded chain suck. It should go well with my Marmot winter top clothing outfit.

The Showerpass eVent pants are great! I think they are available at campmor (that's where I got mine a few months ago), they were the only place that carried them.