Montbell’s Versalite Pants are 2-layer ultralight waterproof/breathable pants that weigh just 3.7 oz (in a men’s XL.) They can be used as rain pants or wind pants or when you want light layer to keep your legs warmer in camp. Montbell’s Versalite Pants have been available for many years, but the company recently switched from an in-house waterproof/breathable membrane to Gore Windstopper, resulting in a big improvement in their water resistance and breathability (more below). That, coupled with their extremely light weight and minimal features, make the Versalite Pants an attractive option for anyone wanting to reduce their gear weight.
Montbell Versalite Pants (2018 Model)
Water Resistance
Breathability
Comfort & Mobility
Weight
Durability
Packed Size
Specs at a Glance
- Gender: Men’s and Women’s models available
- Weight: 3.7 oz (men’s XL)
- Sizing: 4 sizes available
- Water Pressure Resistance: 30,000 mm
- Breathability: 43,000 g/m²/ 24 hrs
- 2 layer Gore Windstopper with DWR
- 10 denier ballistic rip-stop nylon
- Price: $139
Fabric upgrade
The previous generation of Versalite pants was a 15d rip-stop nylon, 2.5 layer pant that used Montbell’s proprietary waterproof layer called Super Hydro Breeze (Water resistance: 20,000 mm / Breathability: 15,000 g/m²/ 24 hrs). The new Versalite Pants, reviewed here, is a 10d ripstop nylon, 2-layer pant made with a Gore Windstopper waterproof layer (Water resistance: 30,000 mm / Breathability: 43,000 g/m²/ 24 hrs). The waterproofing and breathability performance of the new pants is considerably better.
Design and construction
The Versailte Pants are black and with a grey coating on the inside to protect the waterproof/breathable membrane from oils, suntan lotion, and dirt. The interior of the pants does not feel clammy, even when worn over shorts and directly against the skin. However, the grey coating is easily scratched off, particularly near the ankles if you put the pants on while wearing shoes or boots. Gravel stuck in the shoe sole scrapes against the coating and tears it off.
The pants are cut from a single piece of fabric, which reduces the number of seams that have to be taped in their manufacture. This reduces the chance of water leakage and helps reduce gear weight. The pants do have one taped seam down the centerline, running down the crotch and up the backside.
The fit is relaxed but not baggy in the legs. The rain pants do run a bit long, though it’s hard to tell how long the legs are on the size you order since they vary and the length listed on the Montbell website is for a size medium. The pants don’t have any pockets and there are no zippers, including ankle zippers.
There is an elastic waistband, augmented by a drawstring. The drawstring does not run all the way through the waistband and is sewn in near the front, which limits your ability to tighten the waist. The drawstring itself doesn’t come with a cord lock to hold any tension, so I added one to keep them snugged tight.
Sewn-in drawstrings are also a common point of failure in pants because they tear out easily and it is quite difficult to sew them back in unless you’re skilled in sewing repairs. While the sewn-in drawstring on the Versalite Pants has resisted my tugs and endured field use, I’ve had such bad experiences with pants (from other brands, too numerous to list) that use this type of drawstring anchor that I avoid it whenever possible.
Field performance
Montbell’s Versalite Pants are a dream to use in wind, rain, and cool weather to retain warmth in camp. The factory DWR sheds rain very well and they breathe well when worn over shorts and lightweight long pants. The legs are also wide enough that I can put them on and take them off easily without removing my shoes (size 10.5 men’s trail runners), with some room to spare.
While the legs are a little bit longer than I prefer, the elastic cords at the bottom of each leg can be used to hold them at ankle height, preventing the hems from dragging on the ground, while sealing out drafts and splash-back. You simply pull on the exposed portion of the cord, twist it once, and pull it over your shoe so it rests around your ankle. The elastic cord doesn’t restrict blood flow and is hardly noticeable. Montbell calls it the Samue Leg Closure System and it harkens back to the technique used by the Zen monks of Japan to adjust traditional work clothing using ties sewn inside clothing instead of elastic cord.
However, the Versalite Pants are easy to tear and my pair already sport tenacious tape patches on the lower legs. I wouldn’t recommend them off-trail or wearing them on the trail if you had to walk through waist-high vegetation. The 10 denier fabric is simply too thin to rebuff contact with the point objects you find in forests.
Comparable Rain Pants
| Model | Venting | Weight | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Research Helium Rain Pants | Ankle-Zip | 6.7 oz | $119 |
| Columbia Rebel Roamers | None | 11 oz | $50 |
| Marmot Precip Full Zip Pants | Full-Length | 12 oz | $70 |
| Marmot Precip Eco Boot Zip Pants | Ankle-Zip | 8.1 oz | $80 |
| Patagonia Cloud Ridge Pants | Ankle-Zip | 10.9 oz | $179 |
| Kuhl Jetstream | Ankle-Zip | 8.8 oz | $175 |
| Arc'teryx Beta SL | Full-Length | 13.2 oz | $275 |
| Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Pants | Mid-Thigh | 11.8 oz | $119 |
| Montane Atomic Pants | Mid-Thigh | 10.7 oz | $175 |
| Montane Minimalist | Ankle-Zip | 5.3 oz | $140 |
| Frogg Toggs Ultralite Pants | None | 5 oz | $15 |
| Montbell Stretch Full Zip | Full-Length | 10.8 oz | $149 |
| Montbell Versalite Pants | None | 3.2 oz | $139 |
| Montbell Convertible Rain Pants | Knee-length | 6.1 oz | $119 |
| Enlightened Equipment Visp Pants | Ankle-Zip | 4 oz | $160 |
Recommendation
Montbell’s Versalite Pants are ultralight waterproof/breathable rain pants that weight less than 4 oz and are made with a thin 10 denier ripstop nylon. They’re very basic with a drawstring waist, but no pockets or ankle zippers in keeping with their minimalist vibe. While pants like this are great to wear in rain or as a lightweight warmth layer, they are fragile and easily torn. If the cost of occasional replacement isn’t a barrier, the weight alone is the main reason I’d buy them. The fact that they have superb water resistance and breathability rating is just icing on the cake.
Disclosure: Montbell provided the author with a pair of pants for this review.
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Please explain why you no longer use gaiters.
I do wear them in winter, but the rest of the year they make my calves sweat too much.
I also wear long pants most of the time and the legs block debris from entering my shoes.
Have you tried any rain skirts? I recently bought one from Enlightened Equipment, but haven’t worn it yet. Been too busy bushwhacking the last couple of months and it would rip them to shreds. Skirts seem like a great way to bypass the whole paradox of taking pants on/off when you get too hot or sweaty.
I wear rain pants for warmth, so a skirt wouldn’t exactly work. I am intrigued by Montbell’s Convertible Rain Pants though.
https://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=25045&p_id=2328157&gen_cd=1
I use a rain skirt from Etowah Gear. I love it. Most of my hiking is on the AT in the Southeast. I’ve used it for extra warmth and it does give a bit of that. Ive used it on windy days, however, I’m not sure how effective it would be in places like the Whites where a person would be more exposed and possibly experience higher winds.
At 6.1 oz those look pretty nice.
Could you layer a pair of down pant beneath them?
No. You’d sweat too much. Down is best “on top,” also because you don’t want to compromise the loft.
During the day, I wear them over my lightweight long hiking pants. At night in camp, I wear them over the mid weight long johns I normally sleep in. That covers all the bases.
How would you compare these to Lightheart Gear pants? I have been looking for lighter rain pants while considering durability/weight/price. Thank you for a very comprehensive list.
The lightheart rain pants are really baggie. I find them unusable.
I bought the Versalite pants for my JMT trip and on my first wear, it ripped leaving me wet and having to turn to a garbage bag “skirt” instead. I slapped on some Tenacious tape to stop the tear from expanding but then ended up carrying them with me the rest of the trip for fear that if I continue wearing them, they may rip in more places and I will end up not being able to use use them and won’t be able to return or get them properly repaired either. Turns out, I won’t be able to return them, since I’ve already worn them. Spent the extra cash for these for their simple design and lightweight. I don’t expect them to last as long as some of my other slightly heavier rain pants but definitely don’t expect ANY product to have such low quality for such a high price. I emailed Montbell and was told to just send them in for repair, so sending them in and see what they can do. I’m just so turned off by this product and customer service that I’m feeling regretful that I can’t return my Versalite jacket and UL Hugger as well. Definitely will stop buying Montbell product from now on and sticking to brands that stand by their products.
Why do you say they’re not standing behind them. That’s not true. They’re repairing them for you, despite the fact that YOU ripped them.