winston63 

If I want to stay dry on my commute I'll wear some MEC waterproof/breathable rain pants.

I will say that if I'm doing any sort of long/energetic ride I generally forgo the rain pants because I'll sweat too much in them, but they are great if I'm just commuting and taking it relatively easy on the bike.

I see that someone mentioned Showers Pass up thread and I can vouch for the quality of their products. I don't own any of their rain pants, but do have a jacket and some waterproof socks that are great for commuting in rainy weather.

Pratt

I found a rain suit at War-Mart for last Summer's tour. The whole suit cost $20.00 but it was a youth size and only the pants fit. They are simple, elastic waist and ball up small enough to fit in a pocket of my rain jacket. It was a hot tour and in the end I didn't wear them, but a test walk through tall, wet grass left me with dry pants.
Good luck

Kedosto

One way or the other, you will NOT arrive dry. There is no way to avoid it. You're either going to get wet from the rain, or you're going to get wet from your own perspiration. Mostly it will be a combination of both. The best functioning, most expensive brands (many will be mentioned here) will only help somewhat. Your challenge is to decide how wet you're willing to arrive versus how much you're willing to spend.

Focus on fit, BREATHABILITY, and comfort for best results. In general, the most waterproof garments are the least breathable. The most breathable are often not the most protective. The really expensive stuff tends to do better at both, but there are NONE which are perfect.

Invest some time and energy thinking about how you want to handle the reality of arriving anywhere from somewhat wet to soaked.



-Kedosto

rumrunn6

I got a pair from Showers Pass last year? or the year before. solid features & benefits

double wall design provides added strength & a little thermal insulation
reflective stripe
double velcro ankle closure so ankle bands are not necessary
cycling specific so the knees flex well

mcours2006

Having waterproof pants and jacket is the way to go. I know some say that if your fabric can breathe then you'll be wet from sweat anyway. However, if you don't push too hard you'll be fine. These days I hardly ever break a sweat any more on the way to work, even in the summer. So having rainproof gear doesn't mean sweat.

Personally I don't bother with it because I have a clothes dryer and showers at work if I'm soaking wet from the rain.

Litespeedlouie

I can vouch for the J&G mentioned above:
https://www.bicycleclothing.com/Wate...ain-Pants.html
I asked them about sizing, and they were wrong (too big); I had to exchange the first pair, return shipping at my expense. No problems after seven years; made in Oregon.

My commute is only a couple of miles, but I wear the rain pants over street clothes and don't hammer, avoiding excessive sweating. When it's rainy, it's also usually cool, but they also provide warmth when it's just cold. Also, I tend to sweat more on the upper body, and can control that to some extent by layering. Seattle weather is unpredictable and I also use full fenders for commuting. I don't use the rain pants for "serious" road riding.

wipekitty

I ended up with some Showers Pass convertible pants (a good deal on the 'Bay). I use them as knickers if it's just a bit wet or I don't particularly mind the bottom half of my legs getting wet, or full on pants if it's even more wet/sludgy.

Fenders are great for drizzle and after rain, but I prefer to add pants for heavier, cold rain to keep my thighs from getting soaked through (and frozen).

I'm still excited to try out my Gore Shake Dry jacket, but I haven't encountered cool rain since purchasing it ~3 months ago.

bluehills3149

One important thing to remember as a commuter is that you often want to pack rain gear on those "chance of afternoon rain" days so you want gear that is packable and lightweight.
I had a pair of showerpass pants and aside from being as waterproof as fishnet stockings during heavy rain, they were too thick so unless it was cold, they were too hot. They also were big and bulky so if took up lots of room in my bag. Perhaps perfect in cool, drizzly Pacific NW but in New York with tropical-like downpours and humid weather, not so good.
Recently I bought a rain jacket from 02rainwear. Cheap ($25), bright yellow color, breathable, lightweight and packable. I've worn it during hours-long rainy rides and it kept me completely dry (and they make pants too). Only downside is the material is not too durable so will rip if you snag a sharp object so don't expect decades of use.

livedarklions

Not usually. I've ridden in some pretty heavy downpours, and the bike and brakes work fine. Visibility and high winds are far bigger problems than the rain itself.
While riding in thick fog is a whole lot more comfortable than riding in rain, I'm pretty sure it's much more dangerous.

downtube42

Fenders + rain cape keep me dry from the knees up, while allowing air circulation to prevent sweating. Waterproof hiking boots and wool socks keep my feet warm and dry. If it's windy though, all bets are off. If it's pouring rather than the typical Portland drizzle, it's hard to keep the water out.

I also have some RainLegs that cover the front of my legs to just below the knees. Those plus a Showers Pass jacket do a better job of keeping the rain off, but inside the rain jacket it's tough to keep from getting wet with sweat. I've tried various full rain pants, but find them too hot.

These days I wear wool knickers and change at work, and go with the rain cape.

Notso_fastLane

I always wear bike specific riding gear and change clothes at work. There's really no better option unless your commute is really short.

Nachoman

Meh.