Moonstone Nemesis Rain Pants : Rain, Rain, Roll Away

I'm not the type of person to shy away from my afternoon power walk or a hike in the woods just because of a little rain. Or a lot of rain. I need my exercise.

I've always been happy to throw on a rain shell and baseball cap (sometimes I even remember to wear my rain hat) and head out the door. The downside of walking in downpours is that my legs get very cold and wet because I wear jeans. Not ideal when I'm far from home and have to sit in want pants for the drive home.

Moonstone's Nemesis Rain pants have changed my approach to wet weather outings. Made out of the same Gore-Tex® PacLite® Diamond Ripstop fabric as the Nemesis jacket, these lightweight, breathable pants are designed by people who understand the needs of hikers and other outdoor folks.

They have full-length waterproof zips on both legs (plus an underlying rain flap under each zipper), so I can get in and out of the them quickly. For extra comfort, there are velcro tabs along the inside of the waistband that cover the zipper heads. They also have a toggle in each pant leg hem so I can tighten the fit around my ankles, an important feature to me since I'm prone to tripping over my own boots and pant legs. Another excellent feature that makes these pants worth the price--patches of tough backpack material nylon on the ends of the pant legs. I've ruined so many pairs of pants because the ends of the pant legs rub together and rub against the sides of my boots. These touch patches protect the Nemesis from wear and tear. Great idea!

I like the waistband, which is elasticized in the back, but flat in the front. It even has belt loops and a front snap and zipper just like a normal pair of pants. These features helped me find a custom fit.

The most important feature, of course, it how they handle water. After several walks, I decided I hadn't experienced quite enough rain. I wanted a downpour. Since the weather was just throwing mist and scattered showers, I decided to go to the one place I knew I could experience a full blast, steady stream of water: my shower. Dressed in my Banshee jacket, my Nemesis pants, and some waterproofed trail shoes, I stood in the shower and let the water pummel me. I am happy to report that as soon as the water hit me, it beaded and rolled away. Nothing got through the side leg zippers. Nothing got through the material. When I took off my rain gear, I was perfectly dry underneath.

That's my kind of gear.

Bottom Line: I've always been a bit lax about having all the right gear, but not anymore. These pants (which also come in women's sizes under the name "Banshee") are a must have. Nothing beats full-body protection (and comfort).--E.D. (Oct. '05)

Price: $175

Manufacturer's Site: www.moonstone.com

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