The Best Waterproof Women’s Hiking Pants

Last Updated on 02/2025 by Mom Goes Camping

Having a good pair of waterproof pants has been a game-changer. Aside from being able to jump in puddles with my kids, it means I can go hiking in the rain during colder months without worrying that I’ll get drenched and end up hypothermic.  I also use them in summer for camping. I can stay outside during a downpour without worrying that having to deal with drenched clothes.

Regardless of your budget, finding waterproof hiking pants for women can be tricky. There aren’t nearly as many options for women’s rain pants as men’s, and “unisex” waterproof hiking pants don’t always fit well. I’ll go over the best options for 2024, including cheap picks and higher-quality options.

Quick Picks:

Keep reading for full reviews and buying guide!

• Best Overall: Berghaus Deluge– 3/4 zips plus snaps allow you to customize ventilation, the material is light but durable, they come in tons of sizes and don’t cost a fortune
• Runners Up: REI Rainier Pants and Marmot Eco Precip – Full zip makes them easy to get on/off and they comme in lots of sizes for great fit
• Budget pick: iCreek Waterproof Pants– Probably the most breathable rain pants you’ll find at this price, plus have a boot zipper
• Non-black option: Little Donkey– Lighter color means you can see ticks crawling on you!

Comparison

Do You Even Need Waterproof Pants for Hiking?

Fully waterproof pants are not very breathable.  They are also made from a slick material, so you can’t wear them directly against your skin. You’ll need to have another layer underneath.

If you wear rain pants while hiking in very hot, summer temperatures, you will end up sweaty and get wet from the inside-out. You are better off wearing water-resistant hiking pants. Downpours usually don’t last long in summer, so your water-resistant hiking pants will dry quickly after the rain passes.

Waterproof hiking pants make sense if:

• Hiking in rainy spring or fall weather. These seasons are cold, so sweatiness isn’t a big issue. Rains also tend to last a long time and there’s little chance of your layers drying without rain protection. 
• Inactive. Such as sitting around camp, since getting sweaty isn’t an issue.
• Waiting out a summer rain storm. You can quickly pull on the waterproof pants, wait out the storm, and then take them off again when you re-start hiking. 

Why Do Some Waterproof Hiking Pants Cost So Much?

My first rain pants were very cheap. They made crinkling sounds when I walked, had almost no breathability so I would get swaety in the, and looked like MC Hammer pants.  But, they kept me dry.

I later found some very good waterproof hiking pants in a secondhand store. They retail for over $250 new (!!!). I still wouldn’t pay that much money, but now that I have them, I can understand why hardcore adventurers would be willing to pay so much for good waterproof pants. The expensive pants have features like high-breathability and ventilation, so I can keep them on while hiking instead of constantly taking pants on/off when the weather changes.  They are much more comfortable and practical than my cheap rain pants!

You don’t need to spend a fortune on rain pants. But be realistic. A $15 pair of pants will not be comfortable for serious hiking.  For around $40-$60, you can get something very decent. 

Pro Tip: Check out REI Outlet for rain pants. You can often find really good gear at massive discounts.  

Best Waterproof Women’s Hiking Pants Reviewed

1. Berghaus Deluge Rain Pants

Best for: Great ventilation and breathability, don’t cost a fortune

These are an all-around great pair of rain pants for women. They are comfortable to wear because of the 10,000 breathability rating. The material is a bit crinkly, but it is still soft. If you want a quieter pair, Berghaus also makes the PacLite women’s rain pants from Gore-Tex.  They are pricier though and don’t seem as durable, but even more breathable.

The two-way zipper goes all the way up to the wasteband, so you can easily get them on/off. Unlike all of the other rain pants here, these ones have zippers and snaps. This means you can completely unzip them and just snap some areas closed, allowing even more customizable ventilation.

Get Them Here

2. REI Rainier Rain Pants

Best for: Full zip, great quality and fit

The standout feature of the REI Rainier pants is that they have a full zip going down the sides.  This means you can easily get them on/off, even over muddy boots.  The zip is covered to prevent leakage and there’s a snap to ensure the pants don’t unzip as you hike. REI doesn’t list the waterproof or breathability rating of these pants, but they are breathable enough to wear hiking. The two-way zipper also allows you to adjust the ventilation of the pants so you don’t end up all sweaty. 

As for the fit, the knees are articulated.  There is Velcro around the waist for closing the pants but also allows you to adjust the size a bit. The main downside is that these rain pants are made from a thin material. They will rip easily if caught on thorns or sharp objects.

3. Marmot Eco Precip Women’s Rain Pants

Here is another pair of full-zip waterproof women’s pants. They are very similarto the REI Rainier pants in terms of fit and features. The key difference is that the Marmot Eco Precip pants are made from a thicker material, so they are more durable against abrasion. However, the thicker material means they do have a crinkly sound as you walk.  The Eco Precip pants are also more breathable.

4. Little Donkey Rain Pants

Best for: Affordable rain pants which come in colors

At first glance, the Little Donkey rain pants seem great. They don’t look as dorky as most women’s rain pants, and they have zippers. However, the breathability is terrible (albeit better than super-cheap rain pants). Annoyingly, the 3/4 zipper is only one-direction: you can’t leave a gap in it for ventilation. It’s really only to make getting the pants on/off.

So, why are these pants worth considering? They are one of the only decent rain pants that come in non-black colors. I’ve started wearing lighter colors when hiking because I can see ticks crawling on me. If you are in a heavily tick-infested area, these pants are better than black ones!

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5. iCreek Waterproof Pants

Best for: Cheap rain pants which have side zips and okay breathability

As expected from cheap rain pants, these are quite crinkly and the fit isn’t the best – they are quite baggy.  But, unlike with other cheap rain pants for women, these ones actually list their waterproof rating (8,000mm) and breathability (5,000g).  The breathability is better than the Little Donkey rain pants above, but they don’t have the 1/2 length zipper for easy on/off.  They also come in some light colors, so you can spot ticks crawling on you. If you only need to wear these occassionally, and aren’t doing strenuous hiking, they will get the job done.

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6. Acme Projects Rain Pants

Best for: Very cheap rain pants with high waterproof rating 

These rain pants aren’t the best, but the price is very affordable. They aren’t as cheap as the Pakka rain pants but they have a much higher waterproof rating of 10,000mm.  The material is fairly durable so will withstand some abrasion.  The breathability rating of 3,000 also isn’t bad considering the low price. The pants do come in women’s sizes but they are unisex, so expect them to fit baggy.  The knees aren’t articulated so the range of motion isn’t great either.  Still, for the price, they do their job.

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Features in Women’s Waterproof Hiking Pants

Not sure which rain pants to get?  Here’s a buying guide which covers the main things you need to consider, including materials, waterproof ratings, breathability and other important things to consider.  

Leg Zippers

For me, zippers going up the legs of the rain pants is a must-have feature.  Having 3/4 or full-length zippers allows you to get the pants on/off easily, especially over muddy or wet boots. This is important if you plan on pulling the pants on/off when a downpour occurs.  Boot-length zippers are better than no zipper, but you will likely get your pants muddy putting them on.

Ventilation

True waterproof pants are not very breathable. When hiking in them, you will end up sweaty.  If you don’t feel like constantly taking the rain pants on/off, then you will need ventilation.  There are two types:

• Two-way zippers: Some rain pants with 3/4 or full-length zippers have two-way zippers. That means you can open a section of the pant leg. 
• Snaps: This allows for a very customizable amount of ventilation because you can completely unzip the pant legs, but snap as many or few areas closed.

Belt vs. Elastic Waist

I prefer an integrated belt on rain pants. It makes the rain pants look more like everyday pants, so you could wear them around town without feeling too geeky.  The downside is that the belt can interfere with your backpack hip straps, and the fit isn’t always as good as with elastic.

Range of Motion

If you do any climbing on your hikes, you’ll need rain pants which have articulated knees.  Otherwise the knee area will get worn out too quickly.  You’ll also need stretchier materials which, unfortunately, usually means paying more for a good brand of pants like those from REI.

Color (Tick Visibility)

I try to wear light-colored clothes when hiking through tall grasses or other tick-infested areas. It is easier to spot them on light-colors, and remove them before they bite me.  I’ve included a couple rain pants that are available in lighter colors for this reason. Unfortunately, almost all really good women’s rain pants for hiking come in just black. 

The “Dorky Factor”

In theory, the appearance of your rain pants shouldn’t matter.  It’s more important to stay dry than look cool.  But I also wear my rain pants around town.  And sometimes I’ll go for a beer after a hike.  It can be a bit embarassing to enter the bar wearing rain pants which look like parachute pants from the 90s!  My daughter gets really embarrassed when her mom shows up decked out in rain gear. If you want to wear your rain pants in situations besides hiking, no one will blame you for buying a cool-looking pair.  Choose ones with zippered waists and articulated knees as they won’t look so much like parachute pants. 🙂  

Want to learn more about hiking in the rain? Read:

• How to stay dry hiking in the rain
• How to keep your feet dry hiking in the rain
• Essential hiking packing list