Camo pants (waterproof)
When you're shopping for waterproof hunting pants, you are looking for the "Houdini" of gear: a pair that keeps the external deluge out while somehow letting your internal body heat escape. In the hunting world, the debate isn't just about whether they are waterproof, but whether they are "quiet" enough to actually hunt in. Most generic rain pants sound like a bag of potato chips with every step, which is a death sentence for a stalk. High-end hunting rain pants use specialized face fabrics to muffle that noise while maintaining a "bombproof" seal.
What Separates Good from Great
Full-Length Side Zips
This is the single most important feature for a hunting rain pant. A "great" pair has zippers that go from the ankle all the way to the hip. This allows you to dump heat instantly during a climb and, more importantly, lets you put them on over your muddy boots without taking your footwear off when a storm hits.
Brushed Face Fabrics
To solve the "noise problem," premium brands bond a micro-fleece or brushed polyester to the waterproof membrane. This dampens the "swish" sound of the legs rubbing together, allowing you to move through wet timber silently.
Reinforced Seat and Knees
Hunting isn't a walk in the park; you're kneeling in wet shale or sitting on saturated logs. A quality pant will have a higher "denier" (thickness) of fabric in these high-wear areas to prevent the pressure of your body weight from forcing water through the membrane.
Built-in Belt or Suspenders
Rain pants are often worn over other layers, which makes them prone to sagging. Great designs include an integrated webbing belt or, even better, removable suspenders to keep the waistband from sliding down and exposing your base layers to the rain.
The Call
Using GORE-TEX with C-KNIT backer technology, these are incredibly light and packable. They feature full side zips and a streamlined fit that won't snag on brush.
These are the "tank" of rain pants. They use a rugged Toray fabric that is much tougher than a standard shell, making them the choice for hunters pushing through heavy alders or briars.
Specifically engineered for the Pacific Northwest. The fabric is remarkably quiet for a hardshell, and the 3.5-layer construction is designed to handle "monsoon" level rain all day long.
While they don't have the "athletic" cut of the mountain brands, they are functionally waterproof and feature the necessary full-length leg zips at a fraction of the cost.
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