Today was the first opportunity to use these rain pants -- and they were just great. Easy to pull on over hiking boots and jeans and although a few inches longer than would be ideal for me, the Velcro fastening at the ankles allowed me to keep the legs snug enough. I'd recommend these to anyone needing a lightweight and completely waterproof pant.

OK, no illusions, if you wear these sailing off shore you are going to get wet. And I have gotten soaked to the skin in these in heavy rain. However, for someone who back packs in Europe a lot and requires a full suit to drop into the day pack, we stay dry enough in a moderate rain inside the Venture Jacket and pant. And if you stuff in the 11 oz 700 count down fill Western Mountaineering Flight Jacket as well, you will be toasty warm even outside at a concert in the gusty winds at the farthest Western point of Europe. I was just checking in for a sale price on my third pair of this pant, however, as the durability factor is not high with heavy (daily) use; the waterproof lining starts to break down and tear away from the shell after about a year. Still I have not found another that is sharp enough looking to get me by in most circumstances from beaching it to museum, monument and palace hopping and North Face packs just enough elegance into the venture line.

I purchased these pants before a long backpacking (hiking) trip in the Alps last year. I never had any leakage of water through the pant. Through rain, sleet, hail, and snow, these pants have kept me dry. The zippers at the bottom of the pant makes it easy to get them on and off over my boots, which is great for quick switches on the trail. The tab with hook-and-loop fastener allows for adjustment of the width of the cuff, so i could tighten the pants on the top of my boot if necessary.

The pants pack into a pocket, which makes them a tiny little package which fits into odd spaces in my pack, or into a side pocket with my jacket.

There is a tear on the bum of my pants - I must have caught them on something sharp.

Overall: great waterproofing, excellent features, but not the most sturdy fabric for heavy abuse.

Actually, these are nice pants, but I am 5'10" and they were way too short for me. I ordered a medium which fit fine elsewhere. Was disappointed that North Face only makes long sizes in the large and xlarge and that would just be way too baggy.