REI Co-op Talusphere Pant - Women's Review
Our Verdict
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REI Co-op Talusphere Pant - Women's | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
Price | $90 List | Check Price at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $129.00 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $80 List | $63.96 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Stylish, soft, stretchy | Inexpensive, recycled materials, lightweight, great zipper and vent design | Optimized for cycling, thoughtful features, durable, comfortable | Inexpensive, comfortable, durable | Inexpensive, lightweight, compact |
Cons | Heavy, bulky | Heavier 3 layer material | Thicker fabric better for cooler temperatures, no vents, no pockets | Heavy, less breathable, less versatile | Clammy feel inside, less versatile |
Bottom Line | A city savvy model that will fit over most pants layers | Simple and lightweight, they are impressive in many regards, including their price tag | An excellent choice for bike commuting in wet weather | Comfortable, soft, and supple, they are ideal for hiking in the rain | An excellent update to a longtime favorite for the price |
Rating Categories | REI Co-op Taluspher... | Patagonia Torrentsh... | Showers Pass Transit | The North Face Vent... | Marmot PreCip Eco Pant |
Water Resistance (25%) | |||||
Comfort and Mobility (20%) | |||||
Breathability and Venting (20%) | |||||
Weight (15%) | |||||
Packed Size (10%) | |||||
Features (5%) | |||||
Durability (5%) | |||||
Specs | REI Co-op Taluspher... | Patagonia Torrentsh... | Showers Pass Transit | The North Face Vent... | Marmot PreCip Eco Pant |
Measured Weight | 9 oz | 11 oz | 11 oz | 6.5 oz | 8 oz |
Waterproof Material | REI Elements waterproof breathable laminate | 100% recycled nylon | Nylon | DryVent | NanoPro Eco |
Face Fabric and Layer Construction | Polyester, 2.5 layer | H2No Performance standard shell | Artex 3-Layer | 100% nylon ripstop, 40D and 70D DryVent | 100% Recycled Nylon Ripstop |
Pockets | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand | None | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand |
Side Zip Length | Ankle | 3/4 zip | Ankle | 1/2 zip | Ankle |
Put On Over Hiking or Mountaineering Boots | Hiking | Mountaineering | Low top hiking/casual | Hiking | Hiking |
Inseam Length, Size Small | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 |
Stows Into Pocket | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Clippable loop | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Waist Band Style | Waist drawcord + elastic back | Elastic waist + internal drawcord | Elastic waist + internal drawcord | Elastic waist + internal drawcord | Elastic waist + internal drawcord |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Since we tested the Talusphere, REI has released the Talusphere 2.0. This updated pant has a slimmer cut, added stretch panels at the knee, and bluesign-approved materials. The Talusphere we tested is shown above on the left, followed by the new Talusphere 2.0 on the right. We're now linking to the 2.0 pant in this review.
The REI Talusphere is a very comfortable rain pant that looks like a pair of dress pants and feels like sweat pants. It was much less versatile than the rest of the pants in this review, but might still be an excellent choice for you. These pants are best suited to rainy urban use and light hiking. They will fit easily over most pants and shoes, but they are not lightweight and packable enough to carry with you on backpacking trips.
Performance Comparison
Water Resistance
The Talusphere performed well in our rain tests. The REI Elements 2.5 layer polyester fabric performed up to par, with taped seams, and was even stretchy, which is an unusual and very nice feature in rain pants.
The short cuff zips allow you to put the pants on without taking your shoes off, and the minimal length helps to reduce weak areas in the fabric where moisture can creep in. The Velcro on the zipper flaps also helps keep them closed to prevent moisture from hitting the non-waterproof zipper.
Comfort and Mobility
These were very comfortable pants due to the stretchy fabric used. But they lost some points for a few reasons.
First, they are heavy and wider at the cuffs, which made them flop around more than most. They look more stylish and fit over more clothing as a result, but they were cumbersome for anything beyond walking and mellow hiking. The waist has elastic in the back and is smooth in the front, which makes them look nice. There is an elastic drawcord which ensures a good fit at the waist. The looser fit of these pants makes them easy to slip on over warm clothing and remain comfortable even when you put them on over jeans.
Breathability and Venting
There are no vents on these pants, but the two zippered hand pockets can provide some venting. They breathe very well, however, and have enough airspace due to the loose fit to ensure airflow.
Weight
At nine ounces for a size small, these were among the heavier rain pants in this review. As such, these were not our go-to pants for backpacking or outdoor use but were a good fit for urban use with their comfortable feel and sleek look.
Packed Size
These were the bulkiest rain pants in this review, so they lost some more points in this category. They didn't feel bulky when wearing them, but they certainly were bulky enough that we wouldn't want to take them backpacking.
Features
These pants have relatively basic features. The short ankle zips allow you to put them on while wearing shoes, but the velcro tabs that hold the zipper flap closed were pretty annoying. The cuff zippers have Velcro tabs that got in the way every time we went to unzip them. This helped keep water out by more securely closing the flap over the non-waterproof zipper, but we found this feature to be pretty annoying.
The side pockets are super stylish and comfortable, and the left-hand pocket turns inside out so you can stuff the pants into them. This helps protect the pants from dirt, grime, and sharp objects when traveling with them. There is no clippable loop, but we don't think rain pants need that feature.
Durability
These pants are made of durable polyester. The 2.5 layer waterproof laminate design ensures they are lightweight, but they can be less durable than rugged 3-layer or simple 2-layer fabrics.
Value
These pants are a serious bargain. If they were lighter and more packable, they would have given the best buy winner a run for the money.
Conclusion
While we appreciated the stylish and comfortable REI Talusphere pants, they didn't make high marks in this review. If you don't need to carry them long distances on backpacking or climbing trips, however, they might be a good fit for you. They are great for hiking and walking around town in rainy climates, and hold up well to rain and wind, but also breathe well enough to be useful in milder weather.
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