Empty trails. Ambiance. Quiet. The delusions of the optimists who find a way to love hiking in the rain. Us realists aren’t buying it. Our socks are wet, the trails are slippery and those scenic vistas are obscured by low-hanging rain clouds and misery. Though the Jack Wolfskin River Road pants ($145) may not have the power to turn rain into sunshine, in South Greenland they proved to be a lightweight, minimalist rain pant intended for trekking on rainy days.
What I Liked
Lightweight and minuscule pack size. This was the selling point for me because of the nature of what I needed them for: backpacking in South Greenland. Weight was critical because I would literally be carrying them with me everywhere. Whether it was in my big pack on my back (with a 26L daypack strapped to my chest) when I walked from airport to boat dock or to lodging, or in my daypack on day hikes, every ounce in my pack mattered.
First few steps in Greenland. An Osprey Xena 85L pack on the back and a wee Deuter Airlite 26SL on the front; a Jack Wolfskin River Road pants were in one of ’em
The Jack Wolfskin River Road pants packed down to the size of a can of Surly One Man Mosh Pit. However, keep in mind that this minuscule pack size and weight is because it made from the lightweight, 2.5-layer Texapore Ecosphere fabric instead of GoreTex or a lightweight hardshell designed for alpine climbing. They’re truly a lightweight hiking rain pant. Thus, the minuscule weight of seven ounces for the size small.
Made from sustainable materials. Texapore Ecosphere, a Jack Wolfskin propriety material, is made of 100% recycled polyester, making the entire pants 100 percent PFC free. In fact, Jack Wolfskin’s entire apparel line is 100 percent PFC free. That’s a lot of 100 percent’s there, but it points to a substantial focus on sustainability. They also try to use recycled or natural materials where possible.
Accurate sizing. Due to waterproof construction, rain pants have little to no stretch. You want to make sure that rain pants fit over your hiking pants and that the allow for full range of mobility. The Jack Wolfskin River Road size small fit comfortably and easily over my hiking pants, with enough roominess to not feel constricted or like I was dragging a dead body. They also have wide-enough legs and side zippers to fit over my hiking boots without removing them. Once on, the leg cuffs are highly adjustable and secured with the most burly and durable and Velcro I have ever seen.
Excellent mobility. Hiking in South Greenland means navigating trails through boulder fields, boggy marshland with boots schlorped in mud and dodging piles of sheep crap that require quick reflexes. I’m pleased to say that the Jack Wolfskin River Road pants allowed for full range of motion over a pair of hiking pants.
Rainproof. This came as no surprise–they are rain pants after all. The key to their waterproof’ness is the 2.5-layer Texapore Ecosphere fabric. Both the outer fabric and the waterproof breathable membrane, which are both recycled polyester, are laminated together. And that’s what makes the Jack Wolfskin proprietary Texapore Ecosphere fabric waterproof and breathable.
Breathable. To be perfectly transparent, I’m limited in how much I can report on this category. I never felt hot or clammy when wearing the River Road pants. I don’t know if that’s because of the Texapore Ecosphere fabric doing its job or if it’s because the temperatures in Greenland ranged from low 40’s to low 50’s when it rained. Venting options are somewhat limited due to the side zipper that comes up to just below the knee.
Side zippers zip just below the knee
What I Didn’t Like
Long inseam. Wow, it’s a long inseam! The size small has an inseam of 32.5 inches. This is easily five inches longer than I need and I had to roll the waistband a few times to keep them from dragging in the mud and sheep crap. Hardly a deal-breaker though.
No drawcord at the waistband. Not a big deal now because they’re new. But I suspect that after time the elastic waistband will likely stretch from all the rolling I have to do because of the long inseam. Should that happen they won’t stay up on their own.
Final Thoughts
The best rain pants are lightweight, have a small pack size and are effective at keeping you dry. Breathability is also critical. This makes the Jack Wolfskin River Road rain pants, which come in both women’s and men’s versions, hard to beat when weight and packed space is at a premium.
Did they keep me dry when I hiked in the rain? Yes. Did they move with me rather than against me? Yes. Could I pull them on over my hiking pants and boots? Yes. Did they pack down to the size of a can of Surly One Man Mosh Pit? Oh heck yes!
One final note. If you live in the U.S. and can’t find the River Road rain pants in your local specialty store, head over to Moosejaw.com orAmazon.com (The hot links in those go directly to the River Road pants pages).
