cjstobbs

So it is suggested that you wear something a little heavier weight for protection. Has anyone found something better than jeans?

atravelynn

If it rains you may get soaked and not dry out with jeans because they soak up water. Of course you can take waterproof rain pants.

I wore a lighter fabric trouser that resists water but is not water proof. I had no problem with thorns ripping through the fabric. Jeans would have been too hot in Uganda, but ok as far as the temperatures went in Rwanda in July.

Chris_GA_Atl

We wore waterproof hiking pants and they worked out quite well. They also resist stinging nettles, which is a giant plus in Rwanda.

Chris

MonicaH

I wore lightweight pants (bought for $8...in case I ripped them up on the hike), but they held up just fine. No tears and no nettle stings on my legs. Jeans would have felt heavy and restrictive. I did get stung on the arms because it was getting warm and I decided to hike part of the way in my t-shirt. While the nettles hurt like hell, it was worth it!!!!

cjstobbs

Oh, thank you so much. I did not want to hike in jeans. I wasn't sure how puncture-proof the pants needed to be. Waterproof hiking pants sound like the ticket.

Chris_GA_Atl

Based on our experience, puncture resistance isn't that big of a deal. There are some plants with thorns and spines, but they did not seem unusually large or numerous. What is numerous, especially in Rwanda, are stinging nettles, but those don't have spines that can penetrate clothing -- they sting by releasing a liquid onto your skin, so the waterproof pants keep that from soaking through onto you.

I will add that we saw the rangers in Rwanda put on waterproof hiking pants when we entered the forest, and one of them (Francis Karenzi) commented on mine as being the right thing to wear.

Chris

cjstobbs

Thank you!

Cheweyhead

What are waterproof hiking pants? Brandname?

Thanks

Chris_GA_Atl

REI carries several lines of them. I am sure that there are other places to get them too, but just go to REI's web site and search for waterproof hiking pants, and you will get them.

Chris

richardfh

I wore an inexpensive pair of Khaki's that were perfect. As I ended up on my butt a few times, I had several grass stains. Made it easy for me to leave the pants in Rwanda, giving me some needed room for gifts... I would not recommend jeans...

Richard

gshah18

i wore cargo pants and thought they worked fine. Looked to me to be far superior to jeans.