I forgo the added weight and hassle of an extra pair of limited use rain pants in favor of zip-off hiking shorts that are made of 100 % nylon. For four years now, I have been wearing successive pairs of REI's "Sahara Convertible Hiking Pant."
In fact, I just bought three more pair, but two inches shorter in the inseam this time. As I age, I am "shrinking" and the trouser hems had been dragging in the dirt on Camino
. Plus, my weight varies
and I need to have two or three pair in two different sizes to accommodate. and I tore a pair on a fence two Caminos ago.
Living in South Florida when not in Spain, I find these are my daily "go to" pants as well.
If you are curious or interested, see them here:
www.rei.com
IMHO, I've tried alternatives and they are the best. Among the unique features I cannot find anywhere, at any price, is a second (vertical) leg zip that allows you to remove your lower leg panels when they are mud caked, without removing your hiking boots. REI calls it the "no sit zip." They are available for both men & women.
When you end the walking day with muddy or wet & dirty leg bottoms, but clean uppers, just zip them off, wash the bottoms. They dry in 30 minutes, well enough to zip back on...
I found this to work as well as specialty rain pants, with less dead weight and hassle. The final point in favor of ditching the separate rain pants for walking is that your lower legs do not experience hypothermia. As long as you keep your extremities (hands, feet, head) and torso warm, you will be fine. I have walked hours upon hours with sodden lower legs and never had problems.
If I accept that I will be wet below the poncho I wear, from the knee down, all day, while I am walking, I can accept the rest of what the day rings. Besides, if the rain showers are on again, off again, the lower leg panels frequently dry while they are being used.
I hope this helps.