Meet the reviewer
Columbia Wyldwood Waterproof Hiking Trousers: first impressions
Anyone hiking in wet weather needs a reliable set of rain pants in their backpack to pull on at a moment's notice and this pair gives you a sturdy shield against a proper deluge. Using Columbia's innovative OutDry Extreme technology, which wears the membrane on the outside, they're reasonably light, fully waterproof, breathable and easy to care for.
These rain pants are designed to be over pants, worn over your leggings or hiking trousers and because the membrane is worn on the outside, they're lightweight which makes them a good choice for both summer and winter hiking. The OutDry membrane works a treat against a heavy downpour and we couldn't find any weak spots anywhere thanks to a good design and fully taped seams.
• List price: $180/ £180
• Gender specification: Men's and women’s sizing available
• Sizes: S - XXL Men's, XS - XXL Women's
• Weight (Women's XS, short): 10.5 oz / 300 g
• Materials: 100% Recycled Polyester
• Colors: Canteen, Dark Stone, Black
• Best use: Hiking
We were able to pull these on and off in the field while wearing hiking boots, but the leg zips only go up to the knee and full zips might make things a little easier. An adjustable waist and ankles mean you can cinch these tightly when it's blowing a gale, and three proper zipped pockets are handy if you have to wear them for hours.
They're breathable in milder, wet conditions and roll up into quite a small package (about the size of a regular water bottle) so they're easy to cart around, although they're a little pricey for something you might just bring along as a backup.
The OutDry membrane is a little unusual looking, but it's getting less shiny and more palatable with each passing design, and one of the great benefits of it is that it's easy to wipe clean. This combined with the recycled polyester, lack of PFCs and no need for a DWR make these a good sustainable choice for the eco-conscious hiker.
Columbia Wyldwood Waterproof Hiking Trousers: in the field
I've got to test out a few pieces from Columbia made with their OutDry Extreme membrane in the past couple of years, including their OutDry Extreme Mesh Waterproof Hooded Shell Jacket and the Coral Ridge ODX waterproof jacket. I like the technology. It looks a bit like an old-school oil cloth which takes some getting used to, and the fact that I was sent a cream pair of pants to test certainly didn't help my self-consciousness on the trail, but there's no denying that it works against the rain.
This is the first time I've got to test it out the fabric in a pair of rain pants and I've been wearing these around the UK for a couple of months now.
Here’s how they performed:
Sizing and fit
I am somewhere in between an XS and a small and Columbia's sizing can be a little erratic in my experience. I tested an XS in these pants, which overall fits well, but they sent me them in short, which is maybe a little short. Anyway, I think they run slightly on the large side since they're meant to be worn as an overpant.
The fit definitely isn't the most flattering on me, and I think that's made worse by the fact I tested a pair with a short inseam. I wouldn't usually expect a pair of rain pants to be hugely flattering, but there's something about the design of these that doesn't look great on me. However, they're not too loose or too tight so that's a good start.
Weight and packability
These aren't quite as light as my Hazy Trail Waterproof trousers, but they are pretty light and very packable, rolling up nicely to the size of my Contigo Cortland Autoseal water bottle. That means they're no problem to bring along on any hike.
Waterproofing and breathability
If you don't know, the OutDry Extreme technology puts the membrane on the outside so there's no outer layer of fabric to eventually wet out. That means these trousers, and any other clothing that uses the membrane, will actually keep you dry. That's assuming, of course, that they're well designed, and with taped seams and zipped pockets, I've yet to find any place where water will breach my defenses.
The membrane is also designed to be more breathable, since the fabric part is next to your skin, and that is a surprise, because the touch and feel of the material definitely feels as though it would be anything but breathable. In the conditions I've tested them in so far, however, they appear to be as breathable as the jackets I've tested, which is to say they do a great job.
Functionality and other features
With articulated knees it's easy to move around in these pants (again, they appear stiff but aren't) and I was able to get them on and off recently while wearing a pair of fairly large hiking boots. However, the 3/4 length zips really only go up to the knee so I had to work a little harder than I'd like and I'd prefer a full leg zip.
The pockets, on the other hand, are great. Deep enough for gear, zipped and protected by little flaps. But probably the detail I appreciate the most is how easy these are to clean. I won't lie – I balked when I saw the color, as I wouldn't normally willingly wear anything cream out in the mountains. I made a point of kneeling down in the mud in these while camping in South Downs National Park, however, and was able to wipe them clean with my camping towel, which is a great perk of any garment that uses the OutdDry Extreme membrane in my opinion.
Columbia Wyldwood Waterproof Hiking Trousers: the bottom line
As usual, the OutDry Extreme membrane is a little strange-looking and you can feel a bit conspicuous wearing these on the hill, especially if you wear any color other than black. If you're interested in staying dry though, these rain pants will definitely do the job, though they're a little on the pricey side. If you're in the market for a more traditional look at this price point, check out the Mountain Equipment Makalu Pants which are the same weight.
