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Droplets

38 reviews
Colour
Jet Black
Size

Three-quarter length rain pants for mountain biking, commuting and bikepacking. Super light and compact to stow when not in use, and easy to yank on over your cycling shoes when service calls. HydroFoil™ Plus waterproof-breathable fabric keeps rain off your thighs and track or road splatter from your bum. Essential bad-weather insurance for any ride.

+Features
  • Lightweight waterproof-breathable 3 layer HydroFoil™ Plus fabric with fully tape-sealed seams for maximum waterproofness.
  • Zipped fly with gripper elastic waist keeps them hitched up.
  • One piece gusseted crutch.
  • Articulated knees.
  • Zipped rear pocket.
  • Turns into itself to form a tidy package in your backpack or pannier.
  • Hazard!™ reflective labels.
  • Waterproofness: 23,000 mm hydrostatic head with a water-repellent finish.
  • Breathability: 33,000 gm per sqm per 24hrs.
  • Weight: 170gm.
  • Designed & made by us in Aotearoa | New Zealand.
+Inseam Length

The garment's inside leg measurement from crotch to cuff.

10 12 14 16
47 cm 48 cm 50 cm 52 cm
+Tech

+HydroFoil™
Specifically developed for high aerobic activities, HydroFoil™ Plus combines a lightweight ripstop nylon shell with a composite membrane that is completely waterproof, totally windproof and extremely breathable. The outer fabric is the latest new-generation Pertex® Shield+ membrane. It is more than twice as breathable as most other quality waterproof-breathable fabrics, and has a small amount of stretch allowing a closer fit. The outer fabric is treated with a water repellent finish that encourages rain to bead up and roll off, while there is a lightweight tricot mesh on the inside for greater durability and improved moisture dispersion.
  • Composition: 100% nylon with PU laminate.
  • Waterproofness: 23,000 mm hydrostatic head with water repellent finish on face fabric.
  • Breathability: 33,000 gm per sqm per 24hrs.

+
Outskirts™ garments are designed specifically for women. However If you're struggling to find exactly what you need in the Outskirts™ women's range, check out our men's products for further size options. Jackets, tights and baggy tops often fit both men and women equally well.

+Hazard!™
Night travel is a spooky experience. Many Ground Effect garments feature our Hazard!™ reflective logo and piping to help remind traffic that we're on the road too.

+More than Kiwi Made
Ground Effect clothing is crafted right here in Aotearoa | New Zealand. Has been ever since we started back in 1994. Manufacturing locally works for us. We operate a quick-response system - holding minimal stock of any one item, but churning out a few more quick-smart when the pile gets low. The upshot is that we are seldom caught with our shelves empty, so orders get despatched the same day you place them.

+Video

+FAQ

+Benefits of 3/4 vs full-length over trou?
We've extensively tested both full-length and 3/4 waterproof pants over the years. In our experience 3/4's provide the best trade-off between functionality and performance in most conditions - especially for mountain biking, bikepacking and touring.
  • They are easy to whip on and off over your shoes.
  • Repel rain from the most exposed areas - your bum and thighs.
  • Avoid 'chain suck' at your ankles.
  • Minimise overheating when pedalling hard.

However full-length over trou are sometimes best - notably for commuting when you want to keep your long pants dry, or when touring to really cold and/or wet places.

+Washing

Like the drivetrain or expensive components on your bike, proper care and maintenance is essential to extend the life of your HydroFoil™ rain jacket or pants and optimise their performance over time.

Wash Regularly
  • Accumulated dirt, body oil, sunscreen and sweat degrade the factory-applied water repellant treatment on the outside of the HydroFoil™ fabric.
  • Wash after about half a dozen outings, or after a particularly grubby ride. If it looks dirty, then your garment is definitely overdue some love.
  • No need for kid gloves - just a warm machine wash at 40º with a mild plant-based soap like Ecostore, Earthwise or Aware.
  • You can also opt for a specific sport wash like Nikwax Tech Wash or Grangers Performance Wash - around NZ$30 online or from most outdoor shops.
  • Avoid cold-water detergents and those with bleach, 'oxygen whitener' or fabric softener.
    • The cold-water varieties have little enzymes that are super-charged to brave the cold but damage technical fabrics like HydroFoil™.
    • Bleach and sodium percarbonate (the main ingredient in oxygen whitener) can also cause damage and make colours run.
    • Fabric softener and wool wash attack HydroFoil's water repellent finish.
Recharge and Restore
  • After washing, line dry or preferably give it a spin in the dryer on a warm (not hot) cycle - this helps ‘recharge’ the factory water repellent finish.
  • The factory treatment does wear off quite quickly. When the fabric starts to rapidly wet out - generally after about four washes - you’ll want to restore with a water repellent solution.
  • Ground Effect recommends TX Direct. It is easy to apply and each bottle is good for a few applications. At just $29 NZD ($10 off the usual retail price), it’s a small and worthwhile investment to keep your expensive jacket or pants humming through the winter.
  • The effectiveness of this restoration process depends on the age and condition of your jacket.
  • Note that while the fabric's wetting-out impairs performance, particularly breathability, the HydroFoil™ laminate will remain waterproof.
Store Dry
  • A damp jacket left to fester for an extended period of time in your bag will suffer. Hang it on a hook or coat hanger in a dry place between rides.

+ Shipping
  • Items are generally packed and sent the same day your order is received.
  • Costs $9 by overnight courier within New Zealand.
  • NZ$12 by tracked airmail to Australia.
  • Around NZ$15-25 by tracked airmail to destinations elsewhere in the world - calculated in our shipping cart as you check out.
    • More shipping and tax details in our FAQ.
    Customer Reviews
    4.5 Based on 38 Reviews
    5 ★
    68% 
    26
    4 ★
    21% 
    8
    3 ★
    8% 
    3
    2 ★
    0% 
    0
    1 ★
    3% 
    1
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    Filter Reviews:
      MC
      02/12/2024
      Michael C.
      New Zealand New Zealand

      Droplets

      Awesome pants Great service

      SC
      10/08/2024
      Sally C.
      Australia Australia

      Does everthing I need

      If I'm just going for a ride or to do the shopping, I don't really care if my legs get wet. I bought these to keep clothes dry if cycling to restaurants / social events. They absolutely do the job, and I absolutely love that I can put them on and off while leaving my shoes on. The very lowest part of trousers may get a bit wet, but noone, including myself really notices that!

      LW
      15/06/2023
      Lynne W.
      New Zealand New Zealand

      Droplets

      These are light and comfortable to wear and very waterproof. I usually take size 12 but bought size 14 on recommendation of friends who say the sizing is quite small. They are good for tramping as well but would be improved with short zip up side leg to go over boots.

      TA
      14/05/2023
      theresa a.
      Australia Australia

      Droplets

      Ordered these pants for a bike packing tour anticipating wet weather. They have worked really well from a functional point of view but the sizing (and waist comfort) is way off. I’m 174cm and 64kgs - normally a size 12. I read the reviews and noted the sizing issue and ordered a size 14. They are still way too small in the waist band (more like a 8-10) and they cut in. All other aspects of the pants are fine.

      14/05/2023

      Ground Effect

      Hi Theresa, thanks for your feedback. It sounds like we need to take a look at those. We'll get in touch with you via email to sort it. Pedal on, Ernie

      JD
      09/05/2023
      Jon D.
      New Zealand New Zealand

      Droplets are the bomb

      Just completed a 50k ride in super wet conditions ….the Droplets kept us dry where it counts.