Possible to alter raingear (pants)?

[Finch]

So I have a pair of the Core4 Torrent rain pants but the inseam is way too longer. Otherwise, I really like the pants. I'm wondering if you anyone has ever successfully altered these? Almost seems not worth the risk due to the full length zipper and the flap closure at the bottom but I'm hoping for a better fit. Whatcha think?

 

[Where's Bruce?]

So I have a pair of the Core4 Torrent rain pants but the inseam is way too longer. Otherwise, I really like the pants. I'm wondering if you anyone has ever successfully altered these? Almost seems not worth the risk due to the full length zipper and the flap closure at the bottom but I'm hoping for a better fit. Whatcha think?

Most of my camo gear has been altered in one way or another however the cost and trouble for this particular alteration wasn't worth the risk so I just wear my gaiters with em. Problem solved.

 

[chindits]

Yea I altered some Kuiu x large pants they were clearing out for $75. I just took the seams in and used that heat seal tape. I can't vouch for the effectiveness yet as we only started getting some good rains around here after a pretty dry winter. I can look up where I got the heat seal tape if you want. I intentionally made the alterations so I wouldn't have to mess with any zippers.

 

[chindits]

When you say the inseam is way too long, do you mean your crotch is hanging around your knees gangsta style or your pant leg bottoms are dragging on the ground. I could see if your pant's crotch is hanging about your knees, that could be a tricky alteration to get right. I'd definitely take my time studying that and taking it in with binder clips first to get a good idea of where the new seam will go and how it will effect the overall fit of the pants.

 

[7-Pointers]

I looked into getting my pair professionally altered for the same reason, but none of the seamstresses I found would touch them. I'm very interested to hear how chindits handled the zipper issue...seems like it would require some sort of new "stopper" on the end of the leg zipper after you cut off the bottom of the legs. For my solution, I just unzipped the pants about 4 inches from the bottom, then folded the bottom 4" of material inside the pants. Then I used the strongest duct/gorilla tape I could find to keep the bottom of the pants folded up inside. Last I warm ironed the new crease at the bottom of the pants (4" up from where it used to be) to make them sit on my boots nicer. The zipper works just like before, but I only bring it down as far as the new crease at the bottom. Hope that helps, if you need pics let me know.

 

[Finch]

The crotch is fine, it's the legs that are too long. It's nothing I would attempt but something I was going to take to a seamstress. I was just curious if anyone else had done this before I took it her to ask. Yeah, check on that tape for me if you don't mind. Thanks!

 

[chindits]

I never had to chop the end of pant legs being long legged I have the opposite problem. My alteration was making lard *ss pants into a wiry person's pants. So I focused on taking out material and thinning the entire length and butt of those elephant pants. In my mind you have the easiest aleration possible. You don't have to worry about the bottom seam being waterproof as water migration is inevitiable and that's why we wear gators. You don't need zipper stops because when you cut your bottom cuff up, you are still going to fold in a seam to sew it up. That folded seam will be your zipper stop because the zipper will be folded too. It won't be pretty, but who is really admiring your pant cuffs in the rain. I also believe if you want to cut the zipper higher then the new seam you can actually buy zipper stops and crimp them in with plier, but that would be wasted effort in my simple mind.

 

[chindits]

If you want to shorten your zipper first and then sew it into a pretty bottom seam, look here:
http://www.zippershipper.com/store/pg/17-How-to-Shorten-a-Zipper.aspx

 

[chindits]

Here is a link for seam seal tape: http://www.rockywoods.com/Hardware-...s/MELCO-Seam-sealing-tape-for-2-layer-fabrics

They also sell all kinds of outdoor fabrics: http://www.rockywoods.com/

 

[7-Pointers]

Finch, I used the most expensive "professional" grade duct tape by 3M in my local Orchard Supply Hardware store, the kind that takes a layer of skin off when you're peeling it off. It's held up flawlessly for a year, but I have yet to really test it out in a sustained downpour where the pants stay wet for several days. Kind of figure who cares if all of a sudden my pants are 4 inches longer because the tape came loose. Thanks for zippershipper link chidits.