Sprayway Women’s Hydrolite W Rainpant Review

DISCLOSURE – THIS ITEM WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW. ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ARE THE REVIEWER’S OWN.
Reviewed by Melody
As we head into Autumn, wetter weather will soon be upon us (although let’s be honest this year, Summer has been pretty wet too!). As a mum of football and rugby players I spend a lot of time standing at the side of pitches on wet and cold mornings so having warm and waterproof clothing is a must. I’ve been thinking for a while that I should invest in some good quality waterproof trousers, so when I was asked to review an item from Sprayway’s Women’s Outdoor Trousers range it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Sprayway was founded in 1974, initially selling cagoules to the sailing industry. Now it sells a wide range of outdoor clothing, footwear and equipment for men, women and children, all available from their website with next day delivery (https://www.sprayway.com/) . I was sent a link to the website to choose which item I would like to review. (editor’s note – this was because the reviewer was doing a review) The Women’s Outdoor trousers collection included walking trousers, leggings and waterproof trousers. After looking at the details of the various products I selected the Hydrolite W Rainpant over trousers which retail at £125.
These trousers have many features including:
• 2.5 layer HydroDRY® Flex fabric is stretchy waterproof and breathable
• 3/4 length side zips with inner storm guard
• Semi elasticated drawcord adjustable waist
• Articulated knees
• Hook and loop tab ankle volume adjusters
• Supplied with a stuff sack
My two main reasons for choosing the Hydrolite W Rainpant was because the description mentioned that they were made of flexible fabric with a stretch construction, which sounded like they would be comfortable to wear. I was also keen on having a “stuff sack” so that I could throw them in my bag to take with me on trips easily.
The trousers were ordered and despatched very quickly and arrived the next day. I was a little surprised that they were only packaged in a plain plastic bag rather than branded or sustainable packaging.
The Hydrolite W Rainpant are black and have a lovely soft feel to them. They have an elasticated waist with a drawstring and were very easy to pull on over my trousers. As the rainpants are made from flexible material they felt comfortable to wear and didn’t feel constrictive at all. There are zips on the side of both legs that run from the ankle to the top of the thigh to make them easy to get on and off without having to take off your walking boots or wellies. This will be ideal for if I get caught out in an unexpected rain storm. There is also a hook and loop fastening at the ankle so that the trousers can be tightened over wellies or walking boots. There is Sprayway branding on the leg and also a reflective “Hydro Dry” detail at the bottom of one leg which is an added safety feature.
I was surprised how lightweight the trousers are, and having checked the website I can see that they only weigh 290g. I was sceptical that the trousers would fit into the small mesh stuff sack that was supplied, however they do fit in very easily. They can be “stuffed” in but I would recommend rolling them neatly so that they aren’t too creased when you take them out! They will be great for just throwing in a bag when going out as they take up very little space.
I got the opportunity to test the trousers out this week in heavy rain when I accompanied my younger son on an expedition with his Cub group in the rain. They kept me lovely and dry and were very easy to get on and off at the start and end of the evening.
One thing I would say is to check the size chart on the website before ordering, I opted for regular length trousers, which unfortunately are a bit too long for me, although they can be tightened with the hook and loop fastening to stop them dragging on the floor. Having rechecked my inside leg measurement the short length trousers would have fitted better.
Overall, I have been very impressed with the Sprayway Hydrolite W Rainpants, they are relatively expensive however they are good quality and should last for several years. They also come with a guarantee so that if you are not satisfied in anyway the product can be returned to Sprayway for a refund.
Rating: 5/5
RRP £125
These can be purchased from Sprayway here.