Columbia Rebel Roamer Review

The Columbia Rebel Roamers are, simply put, the best-performing rain pants for the least amount of money. These very functional rain pants make a few concessions regarding breathability, features, and tear resistance. Still, they offer a similar level of water resistance and comfort as many of the premium options. The Rebel Roamers are lightweight and compact, a boon for hikers and backpackers.

Performance Comparison

Water Resistance

The Rebel Roamer provided exceptional weather resistance and kept our testers dry in our side-by-side garden hose and shower tests, as well as in real-world use on soggy day hikes and backpacking trips. The DWR held up far better than we expected and is comparable to several more expensive pants in our fleet.

Compared to other similarly-priced contenders, the Rebel Roamers are incredible. They offer some of the best weather resistance of any rain pants in their price range.

Breathability

Overall, these pants lacked breathability and were likely the least breathable contender we tested. They do not feature any ventilation options. The Rebel Roamers performed poorly here comparatively, even with the other models having their vents zipped completely closed.

However, for just-in-case rain pants or for someone saving their pennies, they will work fine. In fact, we wore them on three resort ski days, where their minimal breathability didn't prove to be a big issue.

Comfort and Mobility

These pants are pretty darn comfortable. The waistband has a low profile, allowing a backpack's waist belt to be worn over the top with minimal pinching. The Rebel Roamer's shock cord and cinching toggle did not interfere or bother us while hiking or wearing a pack; it functioned as intended and did a fine job of preventing our pants from inching down.

The internal fabric was comfortable against our bare skin, and the wider cut (and overall design) gave the Rebel Roamers a bit more mobility. These rain pants crush most others in their price range. It's worth mentioning that the Rebel Roamers are a little baggier than average, though most of our testers didn't find the issue to be significant.

Features

There aren't a lot of “extra” features on the Rebel Roamer - this pant is as basic as it gets. There are no pockets or side zippers (not even short ankle-length zippers). The only true extra feature is the velcro pant tighteners/closures on the lower cuffs of the pants, which help seal out snow or other debris. Despite this relatively basic feature, our testers found it performed surprisingly well during snow-based adventures.

Weight

The Rebel Roamers clock in at a respectable 12.5 ounces on our scales, weighing less than several of the more expensive pairs. Despite a relatively heavy construction style, they achieve this low weight by not offering many features (like pockets) or zippers of any kind.

Packed Size

This pair offers a surprisingly decent packed size, especially considering their durability and price point. Overall, they are smaller than average and are more compact than many of the more expensive (though more featured) options.

The Rebel Roamers are the most basic pants we tested. They don't have any side zippers (even 1/4 length ankle zippers), though we found it wasn't difficult to pull the pants over lower profile shoes like trail runners or light hiking shoes; this is due to the Roamer's looser fit and slick internal fabric. When pulling over medium to large volume footwear, like more traditional hiking boots, we had to remove our boots in order to put these pants on and visa-versa.

Durability

Despite weighing in on the lighter side, this contender is durable; in fact, the Rebel Roamers are one of the more abrasion-resistant pants in this review. We would easily ski in these pants and use them on trips with off-trail travel.

Should You Buy the Columbia Rebel Roamer?

A spin on the old mantra of “There are better pants, and there are cheaper pants, but there are no better, cheaper pants” stands. If you are willing to spend a little more, you can buy slightly lighter pants that will breathe better and have more features (like pockets). We believe the Rebel Roamers are the best pair of rain pants you can buy in this price range. They're basic with minimal features, and it's hard to pull them on over hiking boots, but they are quite protective, durable, and versatile for everything from backpacking to skiing. These are a no-brainer if you need occasional rain pants or just don't want to drop a wad of cash on something you'll wear infrequently.

What Other Rain Pants Should You Consider?