Everybody's different. Me, I like knickers because I get too hot and clammy in most "rain gear," even if its 35 degrees. So, I go to Goodwill, find a couple pairs of old wool dress pants a couple of sizes too large, and shrink 'em to fit in the wash. Hem them 4-6 inches below the knees with some elastic tape (or find a seamstress to do it for a few bucks). Wear 'em with cycling shorts or compression shorts under. Wool socks with silk liners on the feet, layers of wicking fabric and a breathable waterproof jacket on top. Wool breathes and shrinking it tightens the weave enough to exclude the pis8y mist we get most of the time. The knickers rarely get really wet unless its a downpour. If they do get wet, the wool maintains warmth. If its 30 out, I wear a wicking base layer. And mittens in the morning. My hands freeze easily, even in gloves, so I have to have the ski mittens.