RAINLEGS Leg Protector

I'm one of those guys who can't wear a full length rainpant or jacket when I ride hard. I don't sweat profusely, but I sweat enough that even on cool, dry days, I always need a shower on both ends of my 45 commute. When I ride, even 'breathable' jackets/pants become a hot swamp - something I find really uncomfortable.My philosophy for biking in the rain is - stay comfortable, not dry. Dry is impossible biking in heavy rain for 45 min - sweat or rain, pick your poison. Comfortable means maintaining a proper temperature - vent when you're hot, zip when you're cold. I embrace the glorious Seattle rain, a waterproof vest than I can zip/unzip to vent, wool long sleeve shirt and socks, and Rainlegs over bike shots.Rainlegs protect the wettest part of you (only your legs go horizontal in vertical rain), covering your crotch, quads and knees. An open back vents 90% of heat. The rainlegs - chaps really - are easy on/off and pack down to nothing in my pannier. I've used them 30 or 40 times and they have held up very well - literally zero wear issues.The chaps don't really keep you 'dry'. Don't get me wrong, the material is 100% waterproof. But the back of my shorts behind my knees gets wet from dripping down and around the rainlegs. But wet back-of-knees and shins are a small price to pay for not having sweat dripping down my calves.Rainlegs aren't perfect. One improvement I'd suggest in the rainlegs is the strap that starts just below your crotch and buckles on your upper, outer thigh. The elastic strap catches on the saddle sometimes - which is more annoying than dangerous, but could be fixed. They would just need to extend a band of pant material to the back of your leg before beginning the elastic. I don't think that would catch nearly as much.In sum, rainpants aren't for everybody. If you don't sweat much, you might as well use full-protection rain pants. But if you dislike that clammy feeling, rainpants are worth serious consideration.

I did a 12 mile test ride with Rain Legs yesterday in a steady rain from my home north of Seattle. I also had a rain jacket, helmet cover, and gloves. Only my feet and lower legs got soaked even though my bike has good fenders. Perhaps something like Rain Legs could be developed for feet and lower legs the would be quick & easy to put on and take off without removing bike shoes and without interfering with shoe-pedal cleats. Open backs, similar to Rain Legs, would be good for both ventilation and simplicity.

I want to love Rain Legs. They are quick to get on and off, fit over anything, and don't look too weird. I've owned 2 pairs over the past few years and both have the same problem: they are not waterproof.I'll say that again, because it's almost unthinkable that rain gear would have this problem. The nylon material they are made out of is not waterproof. It's not even water resistant. It's basically like having another thin layer of pants on. It soaks through in under five minutes, and then your pants start to soak through, too.With regular treatment from spray-on waterproofer, you can make them reasonably waterproof, but this is an annoying and unnecessary hassle. I have a waterproof jacket and gloves that can keep me dry for hours.Why can't Rain Legs do the same?

I live in Portland, OR and have a 6.5 miles commute each way & rain legs have become a "must carry" item for me. I love that I don't get sweaty as I would with full pants but also stay nearly as dry. I wear convertible pants so they're shorts when riding and everything but my shins stay dry and comfortable. These are lightweight & compact. They are easy on & easy off. They definitely add comfort in rain, wind or both. Possibly one of the best pieces of rain gear I own. Highly recommended.

I can't say I was skeptical about this product as I have had wet upper legs and relatively dry lower legs many times, but I was pleasantly surprised nonetheless. It's a compromise - you will get damp lower legs - but an intelligent one that works for me. If you have mudguards, then I strongly recommend these. I cannot find full length waterproofs that are long enough while slim enough in the waist, and while this is not a big deal for walking it is a problem for cycling because the crotch is too low. With my Rainlegs I found that there was no "friction" or resistance to movement like you get with full waterproofs, or indeed when your upper legs are wet in trousers. No sweatiness (no more than usual anyway!) and while I have not ridden in the cold with them I think I may use them in the dry as a windcheater. I reserve judgement on durability of the press-studs although my first impresions are good. Easy and quick to put on with well thought out straps, they look kinda sexy on me, according to my wife's friend - perhaps a little equestrian if you know what I mean! When they arrived the velcro straps were connected to the velcro hooks on the opposite leg (as it were) which is the way I would recommend folding them up. I bung mine in the side pocket of a bontrager trunk, where they fit with plenty to spare. They can also be squashed into a pocket when you're in a rush. Folded properly, then folded in half (which is easy) they are about the size of a large, straight but exceptionally fat banana. When I say "exceptionally fat" I mean about the girth of a nearly-finished toilet roll. Only Railegs are more useful in the rain.

I had the opportunity to try these today and they worked perfectly well, even if it took me a few minutes to figure out how to put them on: a 30 mins cycle in heavy rain saw my legs still dry (my jacket leaked a lot but that's another story) and surprisingly, despite only covering part of my legs, it was enough to keep my legs mostly dry.Ideal for those quick rides into town.What I don't understand is why they have padding on the knees. It makes them more bulky than the need to be; in fact more bulky than you are expecting. For a product which uses less than one quarter the fabric of a normal pair of over-trousers you would reasonably expect them to pack down tiny and fit into a pocket but because of this padding, and their numerous straps, they are somehow not much smaller when packed than a good lightweight pair of normal over-trousers are.

These are waterpoof but nowhere near to the level people are going on about, being a rather tall man (6'3") I opted for the x-large size.Pro'sKeeps the tops of your legs dry(ish) and warmConsThe top of the rain legs waterproofing doesn't come up to the bottom of your waterproof jacket meaning that it seeps in underneath it and gets you wet.The groin area will eventually get wet as wellIt doesn't really cover you from rain coming in from any direction other than right in front of you.

A truly excellent product. It solves the problems of boil-in-the-bag waterproof trousers and they are small enough to fit in a pocket. In drizzle or moderate rain they will keep you almost completely dry. In pouring rain you will still get a bit wet.