I am in the market to improve my rain gear. I am not sure but do most guys just wear a rain jacket and forget the pants? It seems most guys talk about jackets but little is mentioned about pants. If you skip the pants why?
I come from the "Better to have em and not need em" school of thought.
You guys should really consider a trial/test of changing how you wear gaiters in wet conditions. I can walk through wet brush for 2 days straight in well waxed leather boots while wearing a pair of OR Crocs (or Verglas) gaiters over my socks and under my pants, and have completely dry legs and feet. Just cinch the gaiter up against bare skin just below the knee. A good long rain jacket with sealed cuffs, can keep you dry everywhere else except for the exposed lower thighs. If it is really brushy, rain pants are going to get trashed anyway, so I only put them on if it is really cold & wet, I am sitting, or I have somewhat of a trail to hike.
Mike7, your from Washinghton so im taking your word on wet conditions, and am curios. i have always run OR Crocs and love them but they never struck me as a breathing item.how does your perspiration alone not soak your socks when strapped straight to your skin?