Ive been doing kinda what you have been, when its raining or snowing i wear shorts under rain pants, if it drops below say like 10f or so ill put some leg warmers on, its been working for me. But those gore pants do look nice i myself wouldn't be able to justify the price(im cheap) but they look like they would work nicely. The third ones dont look like they would be the most ideal choice i dont think they are weather proof. Im not sure of the winters in iowa but if they're anything like the nieghboring states id say go with the gore or showers pass id say other than price they are pretty sim.