Marmot Precip Pants?

Which is better for a thru, the Marmot Men's Precip Full Zip Pants at about 12 oz, or the Men's Precip 32 in. inseam Pant with just the ankle zips at about 9 oz? Supposedly the full zip makes it easy to get the pants on over other clothes and provides for ventilation options.
Thanks.

If the main idea is to save weight, there must be many lighter/better options than the Marmot Precip. I actually have these pants and they're fine on dayhikes of a few hours, but I'm not sure I'd trust them on a thru...

Legendary gear guru Bill S concurs.

Ummm, I don't know how to take that "Legendary gear guru Bill S" comment. I'm still alive, kicking, and getting out there. Most "legends" are "over the hill" or dead.

Anyway, as the comment that Tom links says, Precip is nonbreathable, for practical purposes. It also delaminates pretty quickly if you get body oils on it, and it does not stand up well to snagging on branches or other sharp objects. You would be better off looking at clothing made of eVent, which can be just as light, but is more durable. Check out Wild Things Superlight Pants. They are eVent 3-layer and 13 ounces. They are zipped to the knee, but you can get them on and off over the type of footwear you are probably wearing on a thru-hike, although not over ski boots or plastic double boots for expedition use (but you can pull the boot's outer shell off and put the pants off and on over the liners). Wild Things makes top quality gear at reasonable prices for the quality.

Full side zippers are better if you are wearing lots of clothing (as on a backcountry ski tour or high altitude expedition on glaciers) and need to get the pants on and off while wearing your skis or expedition climbing boots with crampons. I have the Wild Things bibs, which I have used extensively in such places. If you really want the full side zippers, the Wild Things bibs are about 18 ounces. I also have Marmot Alpinist 3 bibs, which are Goretex - a bit heavier than Wild Things' bibs. Marmot does not make full bibs anymore, but does make pants and sappolets (which are between a pant and a bib).

But on a thru-hike, you aren't going to be wearing much clothing - at most a base layer and a mid-layer (do NOT wear cotton, especially not jeans - it holds water and takes forever to dry, not what you want when it is cool or cold and gets windy). It is no more difficult to get a light-weight base layer plus a synthetic midlayer than if you were wearing shorts. The footgear is the only thing that makes getting your waterproof layer on and off quickly difficult.

Actually, for a thru-hike, I would use a top-quality poncho that fits over my pack and has snaps on the sides so it doesn't fly up in the wind like cheap ponchos. I wished I had taken mine on the hike up Kilimanjaro, since the bibs proved too warm.

Bill: my knowledge of gear next to yours is roughly akin to comparing a coffee bean to a bowling ball.

Sorry, but that makes you legendary in my mind.

I agree that you don't have to be dead or over the hill (unless you're hiking there) to be a legend.

Right now I'm editing one of our thru-hike planning columns in which we call Scott Williamson legendary. He's in his 30s and certainly legendary in long distance hiking circles for his accomplishments.

How about "living legend"?

A poncho is good advice, very versatile. I used mine on the PCT all the time and still carry it with me everywhere i go. It's an integral designs, a very good investment for an awesome piece of gear. I now use a pair of 30$ waterproof rain pants for when it gets cold around camp, it works just fine, but i don't wear them on the trail.

Hey Alicia, how about Flyin Bryan? I read his story a while back, very interesting.

What little thru hiking I have done has taught me that if you are a newbie, you tend to start off on chilly mornings with way too much clothing on. Within an hour you have stopped a few times to unzip, take off, and stow or pack away clothing. If it is a wet day you also have to peel off rain gear / poncho to get the other layers off. You can suffer through being too warm, but you will sweat which is a no-no in cold temps, or you can start off cold and let your body heat keep you warm as you hike. But of course after a couple days you figure out a working system for yourself, provided you have the right clothing.

Rain gear that is restrictive, and / or does not breathe just aggravates any issues you already have with your layering system. I do think ponchos are more forgiving and flexible, and I do like them on open trails. On longer trips, or when hiking in persistent rain you may find gaiters helpful when using a poncho.

I tend to prefer a good rain suit for my own needs, and intend to go with eVent on my next purchase, and I am leaning towards Wild Things after looking at them on Bills suggestion a while back.

trouthunter said:

Hey Alicia, how about Flyin Bryan? I read his story a while back, very interesting.

Also, legendary, at least in my book. It's all a matter of perspective.

Go with the event if you insist on pants over poncho,poncho being a very good option.The precip gear does not breath well and the event out classes even gore-tex,though more money.If i were doing a thru hike during summer the poncho would be my choice also.

I have a pair of Precips and am wearing them in my avatar pic. I use them for exactly what you see-skiing. Depending on what kind of thru hike you are doing (and I've never done one), I don't think they'd be great for that as they are pretty warm, which is why I like them. However, you can't tell from the pic, but I have them unzipped part of the way and I am wearing them over Capilene midweight long johns.

When I was hiking in NZ many years ago, I had a rainsuit with me, but rarely wore the pants. They were a very early version of Goretex and didn't work worth a nickle anyway.

Instead of rain pants, I wore my Capilene with a pair of Birdwell surf shorts over them and that worked out pretty well.

Wow, lots of good stuff, and thanks everyone, especially you, Bill S., for taking the time.

I suppose I should have been more specific.

My wife and I are planning an AT SOBO. We'd probably leave Maine in late June/early July to miss the mud and bugs. We're old and slow and, even when we get our trail legs, intend to take our time. That could put us in Georgia near or in early winter.

Two weeks or so ago we were on the AT in Georgia and got caught in a hard, cold rain. Our old rain jackets wet out and we weren't wearing rain pants, just nylon over silk baselayers (we don't wear cotton). We froze, bad enough that I feared hypothermia. My windward side would not get warm even though we were hiking. Luckily, we were headed for our car and a resupply so when we got in we stripped, cranked up the heat and ate.

So in non-summer situations where cold wind with or without hard rain is possible, I want something that will stand up to that. I have also been considering eVent since the one eVent product I have (a dry sack) does a great job.

When I was a kid I used a surplus army poncho and loved it. It was absolutely waterproof, very versitle and tough as nails. We have tried supposedly mil spec silnylon ponchos and in a hard rain they were worthless. If you have used a dependable poncho, I'd appreciate knowing the brand and model.

Thanks again everyone.

if you still haven't made a decision on pants - check out the arcteryx beta LT - i've had mine for 6-7 yrs and have been very happy - have an almost full side zip (stops a little below hip) and zippers are waterproof, so there's no need to hassle with a velcro flap that used to be common - so it's ridiculously easy to vent and on and off over ANY footwear is no issue. Mine have a flat toggle lock and no bulk in waist so they're very comforable under pack belt, the new ones have a diff closure that looks even less protruding. Very durable and listed at only 10.6 oz. - they WILL NOT double as ski pants as the cuff is not large enuff for ski boot, but is perfect over all backpacking/mountaineering boots - price was tough hurdle, but would buy them again - http://arcteryx.com/Product.aspx?Mens/Pants-Shorts/Beta-LT-Pant#Waterproof_Shell

Thanks pburse, they sound perfect.

I've used golite reed pants for years and love them. My size large weighs 6.4 oz and I've worn them all over new england in 3 season weather. "Breathable" and cost $70 a pair. My winter full zips are marmot precips because they're cheap.