Expensive waterproof trousers is worth it?

[Kumi]

I'm thinking getting a new waterproof trousers for my long trip, but I can't decide which one to buy.

I have in my mind a few - cheap option from Decathron or expensive option from Gore tex.

Price is totally different but is anyone have an idea, Gore tex brand is expensive but is it worth it?

Thanks

[profpointy]

I'd not wear waterproof trousers at all on a bike - if that is your question.
There may there is a case if commuting in your suit or whatever, but not for a "long trip" - proper cycling shorts / tights will be much better - and if you get wet, so be it.

If you want them for walking then Paramo knock goretex into the proverbial cocked hat and are definitely worth it. Too warm for cycling though

[mjr]

I've got some cheap waterproof trousers but they rustle a lot and easily catch on top tube, down tube, cables, cranks and so on, even when clipped, wrapped and/or tied back... so unless it's torrential, I make do with Rainlegs (which allow the backs of my thighs to get air!) and just let my lower legs drip-dry when I get somewhere dry.

[FarOeuf]

I use the Berghaus Deluge (I think) trousers. They are excellent, so long as you keep them out of the front mech area. I've motorbiked in all weathers for years, cheap waterproofs are a false economy (unless they're just for emergencies).

not everyone wears lycra or tights.

EDIT: I think they were £50. And I've just spent the last 2 days cycling in them (Edinburgh to Newcastle), over a pair of 'normal' trousers.

[thirdcrank]

We've had various threads about overtrousers. If you are going for that level of protection, remember that the water runs off at the bottom and into your shoes, unless you have suitable overshoes as well. One result of all this is that getting togged up can take a while and isn't necessarily easy at the roadside. Putting the stuff on can help pass the time it takes to stop raining, then it all has to come off again. (By which time ....)

Another consideration is condensation. It's possible to end up just as wet inside waterproofs, although usually warmer, than without. IME, nothing has really been invented which copes with the demands of cycling: struggling slowly uphill and then zooming effortlessly down the other side. That's a demanding combination of sweaty effort and windchill.

I am to Goretex togs as Imelda Marcos was to shoes. I have two pairs of Goretex cycling overtrousers. One is the standard Grimsby trawlerman style, which goes over any sort of trousers and the other is made from stretch Goretex and is close fitting, so ideal over tights or shorts.

I'd say that my main use of both pairs has been to encourage me to go out on cold wet rainy days, when the warm central heating beckons and the little voice in the ear is saying it would be silly to go out.

You know what suits you, but unless you are going on a three months tour of Bradford in January I'd recommend shorts and wet legs.

[Edwards]

I bought some expensive Gore Bike waterproof trousers and I really liked them, I did not find them to hot or sweaty in the rain. Sadly I do not use them anymore.
MrsE tried them and has claimed them for her use.

Now I use Aldi lined cycling waterproof ones or if I am going to be wearing them for hours then Sprayway Lined Waterproof Rain Pants.

It all depends if you like wet legs and find waterproof trousers uncomfortable. Having worked outside for many years I hate being wet so I use them.

[horizon]

I'm thinking getting a new waterproof trousers for my long trip

Kumi: I'm not sure the length of your trip makes it that much wetter and colder, except that you might overrun seasons if by long you meant a long time. Where you are going and the time of year matters far more (as others have said). If you are travelling, you also have to consider the extra weight of something that might rarely be worn.

FWIW I always worry about Goretex (a) because even Goretex cannot be 100% waterprof and breathable (b) it's very expensive (c) it can get worn, lost or damaged easily. Having said that, if you used it everyday for commuting in winter you may well get your money's worth.

[NUKe]

Check out rainlegs as an alternative to waterproofs
http://www.rainlegs.com/en/home

my own personal choice though would be bare legs in Summer and softshell fronted bib tights in winter.

[Richard Fairhurst]

I have a pair of these - http://www.showerspass.com/catalog/men/ ... storm-pant - which I bought reduced in Portland, but which are available for a reasonable £40 over here. They're a good compromise between bargain-basement stuff and the expense of Goretex. Wet legs appeal to me not at all, and lycra even less!

[simonineaston]

For cycle-touring, I bought a pair of Goretex Paclite over-trousers, made by Berhaus a couple of years ago for about £80 (to go with my TNF Paclite jacket). Both are comendably light and compact, especially the trousers and I now take them with me on every tour. The trousers fold down to about the size of a paperback!
They also both perform well in a downpour, and are well worth having with you in the event that it rains heavily and for a prolonged period. However in practice, I rarely put them on. I wear the jacket much more than the trousers and I don't think I'd be without it (again, I'm just talking touring here) considering the balance of packability, water-proof-ness and features. My view of the trousers is slightly different, in that I seldom put them on, but every other trip-or-so, when there's a proper downpour, I can be very glad I have them with me - as I said, they're so light and compact that I take them with me whatever the trip. In that sense I think they were worth the money, however, I do recognize that I 'save them up' for touring and so don't get a lot of use out of them so from that piont-of-view, they're not very good VFM!
I don't use them for anything else, 'cos they give the impression of being quite fragile... for commuting I have tended to buy the heaviest-duty decent mid-range trousers I can find - I've had the same non-Goretex Altura trousers now for 3, maybe 4 years and they're good for another 2 yet easily! Thye were about £40, I think... Bearing in mind they get worn daily in the 5/6 'winter' months, I don't think that's too bad. I'm fairly sure the Paclites wouldn't have lasted, probably going first in the seat area I imgaine.. so ironically, I have spent well over £100 on over-trousers in the past few years, and have spent the most on the garement that I wear the least... I suppose it boils down to my not minding paying a premium for a product that packs down so small and light which at the same time, preforms well when needed.
Or, to answer your question, "Yes!"...

[hazeyblue]

I also use the Berghaus Deluge (over-trouser) pants.

I'm sure they're not the lightest, nor pack away into the smallest bundle but I have found them to be brilliant (for walking and cycling) and you can put them on in no time should be caught in a sudden downpour.

[Kumi]

Thank you guys for all information. Many of you mentioned about how rare to wear a trousers even in the rain.
You are right, I hardly wear trousers but all variant information help me for make my mind up.
Thank you.

[eileithyia]

NO! I had some for work commute so I would not have wet stuff to put back on at the end of a shift... I needed to know I needed them on before the start of my commute so I could wear less underneath. Putting them on part way into a ride meant I was far too hot, sweated far too much! The trousers just got ditched in the end in favour of trousers that generally dry out fairly quickly (I just roll them up in a towel to absorb excess water when commuting and hang to dry).
Longer days often it does not rain all day every day... and I often find when I start out on a ride and it starts to rain, it can be on/off during the ride and cycling longs that get wet often dry out while riding if the rain stops.
Deciding I was going to do a year round award with Audax a couple of years back (200km ride once a month for 12 months) I decided to get a set of rain legs.... never wore them.

What you chose to do may depend on where you intend to ride and the type of weather likely to be encountered, if you are on a long holiday you can afford (often) to stop and reduce your day's riding in severe conditions, take a day off to give time for stuff to dry out/do laundry etc.

[rualexander]

Waterproof shorts as a compromise solution? Pack smaller, weigh less, easier to put on?
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&gl ... 7QaJwoDIAw
Otherwise, Rainlegs are a good option even if they look a bit daft.

[simonineaston]

What you chose to do may depend on where you intend to ride and the type of weather likely to be encountered, if you are on a long holiday you can afford (often) to stop and reduce your day's riding in severe conditions, take a day off to give time for stuff to dry out/do laundry etc.

Agreed - the reason I bought the trousers I did, is for almost the opposite reason - I wanted a pair of trousers that were i) light and low in volume, ii) were also high performance enough to allow me to keep snug and dry in the event that it rained hard and long. The idea was to allow me to continue on my itinerary suitably protected. I should maybe add that most of my tours are in France where it rains pretty much as much as it does here, and secondly I have an incident in mind, when I and 2 companions were heading for Coutances when it started to rain hard and long. When we got into town I was like a drowned rat and we were nearly turned away from our B&B due to excessive dripping on madame's spotless tiled floor... I vowed back then to sort out that issue and was able to do so when Paclite was launched.