Last month I bought the new Beat the Sleet Pants from Lululemon but have been debating whether to keep them. On the one hand, they're exactly what I've been looking for: a waterproof shell I can wear running, hiking, or walking the dog. The only other waterproof pants I own are a 12-year-old men's XL pair that I bought at a sporting goods store that look beyond ridiculous on me. On the other hand, they're expensive (surprise, surprise) and have a plain, boring design. They just look like plain black pants. Plus, there is a zipper on each thigh for venting that I thought looked silly and would never use.
They have stayed in my drawer, tags on, until this morning. It's a dark, gloomy, rainy day, with rain continuing all day. I don't love running in the rain, but I also don't have easy access to a treadmill, and the ones I can use shut off automatically at 30 minutes. I didn't want to skip my run, and with the Beat the Sleet Pants tag promising me I'd stay warm and dry, I couldn't resist anymore. I ripped the tags off, put them on, and headed out for my run. I loved them! I think they're worth the price, especially considering I can wear them hiking, walking the dog in the rain (I never carry an umbrella when walking him because it's too cumbersome), and would also wear them as a windproof layer on very cold days.
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Black Beat the Sleet Pants
Heathered Plum Swiftly Long Sleeve
Pretty Purple All Sport Bra |
Here's a breakdown of the fit and performance.
Fit
- I ordered a size 8, up from the size 6 tights I usually get from Lululemon, so that I could layer them over tights. My weight is up now from what it usually is, so the pants weren't super loose on me. Like most pants on me, they were tighter in the thighs and looser in the waist because that's just how my body shape is, no matter my weight. I think they will fit looser once I get back down to my normal weight, though the fit is comfortable at my current weight.
- I'm 5'7" and the length was perfect. You can snap the bottom to make the pants tighter, but with them unsnapped they cover the top part of my shoe, which was perfect for keeping the rain from getting into my shoes.
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| Shows how long the pants come on my shoes |
Details
- The fabric is water-resistant Glyde Ultra. I have two Lulu raincoats made of the Glyde fabric (one for running, one for casual wear), and it's durable and keeps the rain out. The Glyde Ultra is very thin, lightweight, and stretchy.
- The waistband is made of Luxtreme fabric, so it's soft and stretchy at the top.
- There is a drawstring in the waistband.
- There are three zippered pockets--one in the back waistband and two side pockets.
- There are zippered openings on each side of the thigh for venting.
- The bottom of the leg has two snaps if you want a tighter fit at the ankle. Otherwise, it's a straight fit through the bottom of the leg.
- The black color is slightly different than the black Glyde fabric of the Lulu Raindrop Jacket, the running jacket I have, which is unfortunate.
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| Zippers on the side open for venting |
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| Showing how the bottom can be snapped for a tighter fit |
Performance
- I wore these over running tights on a 34-degree day with light to medium rain for a three-mile run. In this temperature, I would not normally wear a jacket or many layers, and since I was also wearing a rain jacket I soon got pretty hot. I thought I'd try unzippering the vents. Wow! What a difference! I immediately cooled down and felt comfortable instead of hot the rest of my run. I wore the zippers open for the entire run then zipped them up on my cool-down walk back home. The part of my tights that were exposed with the zippers open did not get wet.
- The pants kept me very dry. I wore the bottoms unsnapped, and they kept rain from getting into my shoes.
- The bottom of the pants unsnapped didn't flop around at all.
- The pants were very comfortable. It didn't feel stiff or awkward like rain-resistant material can feel.
The Verdict
Worth the money! The functionality of the zippered vents work really well to prevent overheating, so these are great for running but look basic enough to wear hiking or walking the dog in the rain. They kept me dry and warm. Because they're so comfortable, I will also wear them as a windproof shell on really cold days. Labels: Fit Review, Lululemon, rainBla