Best value rain pants for hiking and backpacking

Value shopping for the best lightweight hiking rain pants? We recommend the Marmot PreCip Eco to get the most bang for your buck. At $80, they’re at least $50 less than all of the other rain pants on our list, and at 8.3 oz, they’re only a tad heavier than average. A pretty good deal. Shop now.

• Weight: 8.3 oz
• Price: $80
• Fabric: Nanopro 100% recycled nylon
• Side Zippers: Ankle
• Pros: Lightweight. Hand Pockets. Recycled Fabric. Good value.
• Cons: Average waterproof/breathability.

Features

Marmot’s PreCip line has been around forever, and by now has been proven on the trail as a solid budget/value rain gear option. But now, the PreCip pants are constructed with 100% recycled nylon, doing a huge solid to the environment. Thanks Marmot!

There’s nothing at all fancy with these hiking rain pants, but we’ll call out what we can. Just to confirm, they are built with a waterproof breathable membrane and do have an eco-friendly DWR finish. Gotta check the basics with budget gear.

As far as features, they have a drawcord adjustable elastic waist, and ankle zippers, which is a feature we’ve never loved on any rain pants. But a feature we do love is hand pockets! Rarely ever are lightweight hiking rain pants given hand pockets, and we were delighted to note that Marmot included them while still keep the weight and cost to a minimum.

Perhaps the biggest downside is the mediocre waterproof breathable fabric. It’s fine, but they do tend to get a bit clammy. Not the end of the world though, because honestly, that’s true of all rain pants.

Verdict

If you want the best value hiking rain pants, this is it. We’re pleased to recommend the Marmot Precip Eco.

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Compare these to the other best rain pants of the year, and don’t miss our guide to the best rain jackets.