particleman42

With fall approaching I'm again looking for rain pants that fit. I weigh about 200lbs currently and have wide hips so I decided to post this in the clydesdale forum first. I should mention that I live in Portland so in the winter I have to deal with the threat of rain nearly every day.

Any rain pants pants that fit over my butt are way way too long, leaving tons of loose fabric to get caught in my chainrings. Any rain pants that are the right length do not fit over my butt (and whatever pants I hope to keep dry). Currently I wear size 36 waist and 30 or 32 inseam pants.

For example, the IllumiNITE rain pants list a Large as 34-36 waist: too small. The XL fits waist size 37-40 but the inseam on those is 34-35! I'd have to pull those things up to my armpits to avoid the fabric near my right ankle getting all ripped up. This seems to be the norm for rain pants. I've tried on maybe 15 pair at various cycling and sporting good stores and they all seem the same.

In past years I've managed to keep a few pairs of rain pants from being ripped for a short while by folding them up and using multiple velcro 'pantleg protector thingies'. That only works for so long, once they get caught and ripped once, they become harder to keep under control. Last year I gave up and refused to buy a pants that didn't fit. Instead, if there was a good chance of being rained on I just wore winter cycling tights for my commute and changed when I got to work. This worked great when it was actually raining but I need a solution that allows me to ride in my normal clothes when it isn't raining, and if I get caught in the rain I can stop and throw on some rain pants. I tried to fit my tights over my jeans but it didn't work out very well.

So... Does anyone have any suggestions for pants that might actually fit me? Am I the only one with this problem? Any 'outside the box' solutions?

krazygluon

In a world of few sizes...adaptation favors the reflective ankle strap.

I didn't mind extra inseam on my rain pants (i'm 38-40 depending on mfr and a 32-34 inseam) because it took less energy away from pedaling, but I do heavily encourage the use of those ankle straps for saving one's pants from the chainring's vicious bite.

Wogster

How about this, look in the phone book under tailoring, get the tailor to shorten the leg for you, if there is a zipper to get them over shoes or boots they can move the zipper as well. Go to an outdoor store and get a bottle of seam sealer, go over the seams the tailor made, and you should be good as new......

There was a place online that did custom stuff, I forget the name of it, but that might be another solution, go to the tailor and get properly measured, then you send them the measurements, and they send you the garment.

Tom Stormcrowe

col 'dlizard

keithm0

I use Foxwear rain pants (https://foxwear.net/). They work very well, even here in the Pacific NorthWET. Send email to Lou, and he'll custom make them to any length you want.

particleman42

Thanks for the suggestion y'all. It's very cool that there are folks making taylored rain gear. I might try getting some pants and having them tailored if the cost of custom stuff is too extreme for my bank account.

btw, I do wear reflective ankle straps, two of them even and I still can't keep the foot and a half of extra fabric under control, hence this post.

geo8rge

Any rain pants pants that fit over my butt are way way too long, leaving tons of loose fabric to get caught in my chainrings.

I wonder if plastic glue or some other adhesice.

particleman42

I've now been in contact with Lou from Foxwear.net. He's super helpful and has replied to me within a few minutes.

Just for others who might find this thread later, one of my co-workers suggested fleece pants instead of cycling tights. They're somewhat less dorky, keep him warm (though not dry) and he changes when he gets to work. His other favorite rain protection is the bike poncho. He says it keeps him plenty dry and is not nearly as hot as rain pants.

Barrettscv 

I recently purchased a pair Castelli rain paints from Chain Love. I'm 230 lbs with a 40 inch waist & 33 inseam. The XL fits well.

The ankle has a 12 inch zipper that takes up the slack fabric and this helps avoid interference with the chain. A Velcro strap just above the elastic ankle closure further tightens the fit.