Patagonia Wind Shield Pants Review
One of our favorite weather-resistant wind pants and running pants
June 18th, 2025
Home → Gear Reviews → Outdoor Apparel
Our verdict
The Patagonia Wind Shield Pants outperformed our expectations, smoothly delivering a stretchy, comfortable, and weatherproof pair of pants that kept our testers warm and dry in extreme conditions. In cold situations where gear must work well and not detract from managing technical trails or challenging trail conditions, these pants shine. They’re ready for any high-effort adventure when rain, slush, snow, or high winds are a distinct possibility.
The pants are a lightweight softshell with a non-PFC DWR finish to protect from wind and water. They’re constructed of majority recycled fabric, with the breathable back-of-knee panels made from bluesign-approved fabric. The pants are also made in a Fair Trade Certified factory.
The Wind Shield Pants are offered in a wide range of sizes, from XXS (womens, 24.5” waist/34” hips) to 3XL (mens, 45” waist/51” hips), and the pants have a soft quick-dry lining, for an excellent feel if worn directly against the skin. The pants have gusseted zippers for easy removal over shoes, and two zippered side pockets to hold a phone, snacks, or keys.
With the addition of a wool or synthetic base layer, these pants perform well for high-intensity activities into the single digits. While these are not the pants for warm weather, they will protect you on any desired cool or cold-weather adventure.
If you’re looking for a durable solution to comfortably run, hike, Nordic ski, snowshoe, or do any other high-effort activity outside in high winds, cool or cold rain, or various forms of frozen precipitation, these are the pants for you.
Find more of our favorite pants in our Best Running Pants, Best Men’s Hiking Pants, and Best Women’s Hiking Pants guides.
Patagonia Wind Shield Running Pants
Men's
Women's
We create reader-supported, objective gear reviews independently selected by our editors. This story may contain affiliate links, which help fund our website. When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission — without costing you an extra cent. Thank you for supporting our work and mission of outdoor coverage for every body! Learn more.
Specs
MSRP: $179
Sizes: XS - 3XL
Weather Resistance: Water resistant
Materials: Body:100% recycled polyester interlock-knit; backer: Capilene Cool Lightweight 52-100% recycled polyester with DWR; panels: 68% recycled nylon/15% polyester/17% spandex stretch knit
PFC-Free DWR Finish: Yes
Number of pockets: 2
Comparison tables
Men’s
| RUNNING PANTS | MSRP | SIZES | WEATHER RESISTANCE | POCKETS | MATERIAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patagonia Wind Shield Pants | $179 | XS - 3XL | Water resistant | 2 | Body:100% recycled polyester interlock-knit; backer: Capilene Cool Lightweight 52-100% recycled polyester with DWR; panels: 68% recycled nylon/15% polyester/17% spandex stretch knit |
| REI Swiftland Hybrid Running Pants | $90 | S - 3XL | Wind and water resistant | 6 | 90% polyester/10% spandex; waistband, sides, inner thighs and ankles: 71% nylon/29% spandex |
| Arc’teryx Incendo Pants | $130 | XS - XXL | Water repellent | 2 | 50-denier nylon stretch plain weave |
| Patagonia Terrebonne Joggers | $99 | XS - XXL | Water rersistant | 3 | 90% Prevented Ocean Plastic recycled polyester/10% spandex stretch plain weave |
| Janji Atlas Pants | $124 | S - XL | Water resistant | 3 | 77% recycled nylon, 23% spandex |
Women’s
| RUNNING PANTS | MSRP | SIZES | WEATHER RESISTANCE | POCKETS | MATERIAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patagonia Wind Shield Pants | $179 | XS - XL | Water resistant | 2 | Body:100% recycled polyester interlock-knit; backer: Capilene Cool Lightweight 52-100% recycled polyester with DWR; panels: 68% recycled nylon/15% polyester/17% spandex stretch knit |
| REI Swiftland Hybrid Running Pants | $80 | XS - 3XL | Wind and water resistant | 6 | 90% polyester/10% spandex; waistband, sides, inner thighs and ankles: 71% nylon/29% spandex |
| Craft ADV Essence Training Pants 2.0 | $75 | XS - XL | Not stated | 2 | 72% recycled polyester, 28% elastane |
| Patagonia Terrebonne Joggers | $99 | XS - XXL | Water rersistant | 3 | 90% Prevented Ocean Plastic recycled polyester/10% spandex stretch plain weave |
| Janji Atlas Pants | $124 | XS - XL | Water resistant | 3 | 77% recycled nylon, 23% spandex |
Who is it for?
Runners and hikers looking for lightweight wind and water-resistant pants.
Backcountry athletes who need reliable breathable, quick-drying wet and cold-weather protection.
Any all-weather endurance athletes who prefer slim-fit pants with stretch and mobility that will withstand any weather.
The Wind Shield Pants offer lightweight weatherproof protection with excellent stretch and comfort. Photo by Aubri Drake.
How we tested
Trail running, hiking, and cross-country skiing: One of our testers was located in Colorado and the other was located in the Northeast, frequenting the New Hampshire White Mountains. Both of our testers used Wind Shield Pants for winter, shoulder, and spring season trail running, hiking, and cross-country skiing in a wide variety of conditions. They were used as protection from 0-degree winter cold, flooded trails, rotten snow, and thirsty mosquitoes. Find more of our favorite running pants in our Best Running Pants guide.
Peakbagging: Our Northeast tester also used these pants for numerous peakbagging trips in New Hampshire’s White Mountains in shoulder season. The pants (and our tester) experienced everything from 10-degree windchill in a spring snowstorm to waist-deep, icy-cold wades across swollen creeks in 45 degrees and pouring rain.
Cold-weather performance: Both of our testers pushed the temperature limits of these pants. Outdoor adventures happened in spite of cold rain and snow. With the addition of wool or synthetic base layers, both of our testers were comfortable during high-intensity exercise down to the single digits. Both testers note that despite being out in very wet conditions, the pants protected them from the wind and prevented evaporation and the rapid cooling that goes with it. The current version is slim-cut but still allows for base layers to be easily added.
Breathability: We tested these pants in spring conditions as well, running in temperatures up to the mid-60s. The pants vent heat quite well, despite their robust construction. However, they understandably struggle with releasing enough body heat once the temperatures rise. Despite that, they only show light to moderate sweat-staining on the leg panels and not on the rest of the pants. In cooler conditions, they breathe very well, wicking away sweat and moisture created during high-effort activities, like uphill climbing while hiking, trail running, Nordic skiing, or snowshoeing.
Durability: Our Colorado tester has owned the older version and current version, and both have survived the test of time. Our Northeast tester wore these pants for foul-weather running all winter and then used them for shoulder-season peakbagging in the White Mountains. The White Mountains are notorious for how rough they are on gear, but the Wind Shield Pants have shown no signs of wear.
What we liked
Outstanding weatherproofing
Wide size range
Excellent durability and performance
Non-PFC DWR finish
Uses majority recycled and bluesign-certified fabric
Made in a Fair Trade Certified factory
What could be better
Less stretch in the waistband than expected
Back of knee panels lightly show sweat stains
Expensive
The Patagonia Wind Shields are manufactured with an eye on sustainability, and offers durability and performance in a wide size range. Photo by Aubri Drake.
Features
Fit and mobility
The Patagonia Wind Shield Pants are cut like slim-fit pants, with some room in the legs for additional base layers or shorts underneath. The cut does favor a more long-and-lean body shape, so those with short legs may have extra fabric at the ankles and those with larger thighs may have more compression on their upper legs.
The fabric is elastic and stretchy, providing excellent mobility with no restriction. They’re offered in a range of sizes, from XXS (women’s, 24.5” waist/34” hips) to 3XL (men’s, 45” waist/51” hips). Patagonia recommends purchasing based on hip size, rather than waist size.
Material and construction
The pants are primarily made with recycled polyester. While the outside of the pants is a bit scratchy in texture, the inside of the pants are soft thanks to the bonded lining. They’re machine washable, can be placed in the dryer, and even ironed. The brushed-terry panels on the backs of the knees are a mix of stretch nylon, polyester, and spandex, and treated with odor control to keep things smelling fresh for longer.
Durability and weather resistance
The Wind Shield Pants have outstanding weatherproofing–they have kept our testers warm and dry in pouring rain, driving snow, and high winds, often in backcountry situations where body temperature maintenance is of critical importance. Our testers have used these pants extensively in all kinds of tough conditions, and they have seen no degradation in the quality. It is good to remember that all fabrics with a DWR treatment benefit from a periodic DWR refresh like Nikwax’s Tech Wash or TX.Direct to continue providing outstanding water resistance.
PFC-free DWR treatment
The magic of these pants is in their lightweight softshell nature. Water beads on the fabric, and is easily shed during foul-weather adventures. These pants performed best on water resistance of all 10 running pants we tested.
Capilene Cool Lightweight lining
The internal lining is soft against skin, avoiding any sticky or clinging feeling. The lining is attached to the softshell very well, and our testers have had no issues with the lining separating from the primary fabric. The lining also assists with the pants' ability to quick-dry, and has never felt soggy, despite testing in intensely rainy and flooded conditions.
Brushed-terry panels for warmth & ventilation
The backs of the knees feature brushed-terry panels to optimize ventilation and temperature management. The panels are soft against the skin, flexible, and easily vent moisture and heat.
Stretchy, adjustable waistband
The Wind Shields have a soft stretchy waistband, with a drawcord to adjust the tightness. One of our testers had no complaints about the waistband, finding it comfortable. Our other tester found the waistband to be minimally elastic and a bit challenging to secure, though the waistband was comfortable once in place.
Zippered side pockets
The Wind Shield Pants have a zippered side pocket on each leg above the knee, parallel with the thigh. The pockets are large enough to fit a standard cell phone without much more space, so the phone doesn’t bounce. The internal part of the pockets are made with mesh and positioned inside of the pants, so the phone is protected from the rain but exposed to sweat.
Zippered cuffs with gussets
The pants’ cuffs are zippered with generous gussets to allow for easier on/off of pants during activity without removing shoes. They’re also useful for rolling pants up to below the knee, or to better access and adjust knee-high or calf-high socks.
Reflective logo and tape
The pants have a reflective logo on the left thigh and a small piece of reflective tape on the left and right calf. While these elements can help with visibility, they’re not substantial enough on their own to be visible in low light around vehicular traffic (e.g., cars, dirt bikes, ATVs). For lower visibility environments, we recommend additional reflective gear. Learn more in our guide on Best Reflective Gear for Running in the Dark.
Performance in the field
Cold weather: How effective was it at wind-blocking and mild insulation?
For windy running, particularly in cooler temperatures, the Wind Shield pants performed very well. They kept our testers warm and protected against evaporation. The pants’ double layer offers a nice wind barrier and holds warm air in while allowing moisture out. The pants are warm on their own, without any additional layers.
For our Colorado tester, she runs around the Breckenridge area and it can get very windy. She noted that these pants were really awesome for higher output escapades in cold or windy conditions.
For our Northeast tester, he happily used these pants on windy running and hiking days, and remained comfortable. The pants’ performance in windy conditions was particularly appreciated while peakbagging in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, when becoming chilled can quickly lead to a backcountry emergency.
Find more tips about cold-weather hiking in our What to Wear Hiking in the Winter Gear List.
The Wind Shields kept our testers warm in cold or windy conditions, which was especially important when out on long exposed routes in the mountains. Photo by Aubri Drake.
Trail and town running: How was it at high-exertion activities?
The Wind Shields were our testers’ first choice for cold runs or runs with precipitation. Despite exposure to intensely wet conditions, the pants never took on water. They always provided wind protection, while allowing heat and sweat to escape.
Our Colorado tester used the Wind Shields for winter running on snow-packed trails around Breckenridge, CO, and for fall running on high alpine runs and hikes in Colorado’s Tenmile Range. She often gets cold thighs when winter running or Nordic skiing but this was much less of an issue when wearing these pants.
Our Northeast tester used these pants on numerous short and long runs at lower elevation in Massachusetts, where rain, freezing rain, and slush abound. The Wind Shields truly delivered for high-exertion efforts in poor weather with a higher risk of hypothermia, like tempo or interval runs in 40-degree rain. Our tester sweats a lot, and most running pants show visible sweat stains but these pants only show light staining on the lower leg even when worn in warmer weather. Beyond temperatures in the 60s, these pants were too warm for this tester.
The Patagonia Wind Shield Pants are just as outstanding for a run around town as a big day in the backcountry. Photo by Aubri Drake.
Layering: How well does it work over base layers in winter?
Adding a base layer to the Wind Shield Pants expands their use to practically all cold weather for high-effort adventures. The pants offer enough stretch that adding a lightweight or midweight base layer is easy and comfortable.
Our Colorado tester used these pants primarily for Nordic skiing. She wore them on groomed tracks and on backcountry trails. Sometimes it was warm and sunny (like 20-30 degrees) and other times it was windy and super cold and in the single digits. In the colder temperatures, she’d add a wool base layer. She was always comfortable, with the pants nicely halving the difference between protection and breathability.
Our Northeast tester also found these pants to be quite warm on their own, and only used an additional base layer when it was in the single digits or low teens. For high intensity activities, he added a lightweight wool or synthetic base layer. For slower-moving activities, he added a midweight base layer and was comfortable down to zero.
Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability
Made from majority recycled fabric to reduce waste.
bluesign-approved panels ensure responsible production.
Fair Trade Certified factory supports fair wages.
Excellent warranty with Patagonia’s Ironclad Guarantee.
Patagonia Wind Shield Pants vs. similar pants
The Patagonia Wind Shield Pants won our award for Best Rain running pants in our Best Running Pants story. They were a clear leader in water resistance, with a wide size range and excellent breathability and comfort. The pants have two side pockets that comfortably hold a cell phone, keeping it in place and preventing bouncing. They provide ankle zippers to more easily remove the pants without removing shoes, and the fabric doesn't absorb water. Compared with all other running pants we tested, the Wind Shields had outstanding weatherproofing, with the best water resistance of any pants we tested, while also maintaining great breathability.
The Wind Shield Pants have it all – breathability, comfort, flexibility, and water and wind resistance. They’re ready for a big adventure any time you are. Photo by Aubri Drake.
Should I buy the Patagonia Wind Shield Pants?
Buy if: You’re looking for a pair of breathable, flexible lightweight pants for quick-moving outdoor adventures where water- and wind-resistance is of the utmost importance, such as during cold-weather activities.
Skip if: You need fully waterproof or fully insulated pants, or you only need light to moderate water resistance for shorter warm-weather adventures.
Where to buy Patagonia Wind Shield Pants?
The Patagonia Wind Shield Pants are popular, so you have options when it comes to retailers. Here are some of the pros of the retailers.
REI
Pros: 100% satisfaction policy for 1 year; 10% dividend for members.
patagonia
Similar products
REI Swiftland Hybrid Running Pants
MSRP: $90
Sizes: S - 3XL
Weather Resistance: Wind and water resistant
Materials: 90% polyester/10% spandex; waistband, sides, inner thighs and ankles: 71% nylon/29% spandex
Number of pockets: 6
The REI Swiftland Hybrid Running Pants performed well across a variety of conditions and have very similar features and fit to the Patagonia Wind Shield pants, though they do fit more like leggings than pants. However, their water resistance during methodical testing wasn’t as robust. These pants could be a good option if water and wind resistance is less important to you, or if the higher cost of the Patagonia pants is a limitation for you.
REI Swiftland Hybrid Running Pants
Men's
Women's
MSRP: $130
Sizes: XS - XXL
Weather Resistance: Water repellent
Materials: 50-denier nylon stretch plain weave
Number of pockets: 2
These pants are very lightweight and quick drying, but those strengths come with weaknesses. They have a DWR finish but they cannot withstand anything beyond a light rain shower without allowing water through. They’re not suited to cold, rainy conditions. The pants offer good wind protection and are extremely quick drying due to being air permeable. These pants do best in warm (non-rainy) conditions where skin protection and wind resistance are the primary concerns.
Arc'teryx Incendo
Patagonia Terrebonne Jogger
MSRP: $99
Sizes: XS - XXL
Weather Resistance: Water rersistant
Materials: 90% Prevented Ocean Plastic recycled polyester/10% spandex stretch plain weave
Number of pockets: 3
Similar to the Arc’teryx Incendos, these pants also have a DWR finish and only offer light water resistance before allowing water through. They do not offer good breathability and visibly show sweat stains. The pants fabric is also quite rough, which some people will find unpleasant. While the pants do have decent wind protection, the pants absorb water and evaporation of this water can chill the wearer quickly in windy conditions. These pants are best for athletes looking for lightweight hiking or running pants to wear on runs around town.
Patagonia Terrebonne Jogger
Men's
Women's
Janji Atlas Pants
MSRP: $124
Sizes: S - XL
Weather Resistance: Water resistant
Materials: 77% recycled nylon, 23% spandex
Number of pockets: 3
Similarly to the last two pants mentioned above, the Janji Atlas pants have a DWR finish. While these pants are a bit more water resistant than either the Incendo or Terrebonne pants, they are a lightweight pant that favors high breathability and packability over water resistance. They don’t absorb water and have a moderate level of water resistance, along with good wind protection. These pants are a good option for running in warm rain on shorter trails or around town. But the water resistance isn’t substantial enough for cool or cold rain, or activities that require more risk analysis like mountain running or backcountry routes.
Janji Atlas Pants
Men's
Women's
The Patagonia Wind Shield pants are perfect for big efforts in the mountains, especially during shoulder season or rainy, cold conditions. Photo by Aubri Drake.
About the author / Why you should trust us
We tested these pants in a wide variety of conditions in the Northeast, throughout winter, shoulder, and spring seasons, while training for a 100-mile race and summiting dozens of New Hampshire’s White Mountains. We used these pants to do things like run 20 miles when it was 40 degrees and pouring rain. Our Northeast tester wore these pants for an epic (and questionable) 18-mile shoulder season peakbagging hike in the White Mountains that included hours of rain, postholing in thigh-deep rotten snow, snowshoeing, and wading across three swollen creeks at peak gage height, and they were warm and as close to dry as was possible.
----
Aubri ('Data') Drake is a white queer and transgender hiker, backpacker, ultrarunner, writer, and activist passionate about making the world a better place. They discovered long-distance backpacking in 2013 and have been running off to the woods ever since. He’s always looking forward to his next big outdoor adventure, in between working full-time in research administration. He’s hiked the Appalachian Trail, Europe’s Tour du Mont Blanc, Vermont's Long Trail, Nüümü Poyo (twice), Tahoe Rim Trail, New England Trail, New Hampshire's Cohos Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Arizona Trail, and Colorado Trail.
Because 75 mph winds, waist-deep unbroken snow, and ice eyelashes have a strange appeal, Aubri has also completed numerous Northeast peakbagging lists in both winter and summer seasons, including the Northeast 111 4000 Footers and the New England Hundred Highest. For reasons unknown, they've also started running ultramarathon distances up to 100 miles, and set more than 20 Fastest Known Times. Aubri has logged more than 9,000 miles on his feet in the last three years, and in addition to this publication, their writing has been featured in Trail Runner Magazine, Long Trail News magazine, and five research journals.
Website: https://transcendingmountains.blog/
Instagram: @genderqueer_hiker
