Outdoor Research Apollo Rain Pants Review

Outdoor Research Apollo Rain Pants – Dependable Wet-Weather Armour

The Apollo Rain Pants are a lightweight, packable solution for unpredictable UK weather — the kind where the forecast says “light drizzle” and you end up in a sideways monsoon. After months of use on muddy footpaths, misty bikepacking trips, and a particularly damp Dartmoor hike, here’s how they’ve held up.

🧵 Build & Materials

These pants use Ventia™ 2.5-layer waterproof fabric — 70D ripstop nylon that’s fully seam-taped and surprisingly breathable for the price. They’re not Gore-Tex, but they’ve shrugged off hours of steady rain without wetting out. The Pertex-style face fabric has a soft hand feel and doesn’t crinkle like bin bags, which is a win for stealthy pub entries post-hike.

Fit & Features

I’m 5’10”, 75kg, and the medium fits well over hiking trousers or thermal tights. The elastic waistband with drawcord keeps them snug without digging in, and the articulated knees mean you’re not waddling like a penguin on inclines.

The real MVPs are the ¾-length side zips — they make it easy to pull the pants on over boots mid-downpour without a balancing act. The back pocket doubles as a stuff sack, and there’s even a carabiner loop if you want to clip them to a pack.

Performance

• Waterproofing: Excellent for moderate to heavy rain. I’ve stayed dry through hours of drizzle and short bursts of torrential rain.
• Breathability: Decent for a 2.5-layer pant — not clammy unless you’re really pushing pace uphill.
• Wind resistance: Solid. They’ve doubled as wind pants on exposed ridgelines.
• Packability: Compresses down to about the size of a grapefruit. Easy to stash in a pannier or daypack.

Minor Gripes

• No fly zip — not a dealbreaker, but mildly inconvenient on longer outings.
• No ankle zips or Velcro tabs, so you’ll need to cinch the drawcord cuffs manually.
• Not ideal for high-output activities in warm rain — they can get a bit steamy.

Final Verdict The Apollo Rain Pants are a fantastic value-for-money option for hikers, bikepackers, and anyone who needs reliable waterproof trousers without shelling out for Gore-Tex. They’re light, tough, and thoughtfully designed — a proper workhorse for wet British adventures.