OMM Halo Pant Review

Overview

The OMM Halo Pant is a waterproof overtrouser that weighs about as much as a pair of trail socks. It’s built for mountain marathon racers, fastpackers and ultralight backpackers who want rain insurance they will never notice in the pack. The trade is the usual one at this weight: the fabric is thin and papery, and it won’t tolerate heather, scree or a week of hard use.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	80 g (2.8 oz), as listed by OMM
Fabric	OMM Point Zero H2O 2-layer waterproof/breathable
Waterproof rating	10,000 mm hydrostatic head
Breathability	10,000 g/m² per 24 hr (MVTR)
Seams	Taped
Waist	Elasticated
Ankles	Velcro tabs
Fit details	Articulated knees
Storage	Internal stuff pocket doubles as the pack-away sack
Packed size	About the size of a tennis ball
Combined weight with Halo Smock	175 g
Extras	Reflective logos

Performance

Weight and packability. The weight claim holds up. Alex Roddie of The Great Outdoors weighed a men’s large at 88 g. He noted that conventional Gore-Tex overtrousers with side zips often run 300–400 g, so the Halo comes in at under a third of that. Paired with the Halo Smock, the full suit weighs 175 g, which is less than many single rain jackets. Testers describe the packed pants as palm-sized. Roddie found that the flap on the stuff pocket doesn’t always close fully, so the bundle can pop open in a pack.

Weather protection. The 10,000 mm hydrostatic head and 10,000 g/m² breathability are respectable for the class. They aren’t best in class, but they match other ultralight overtrousers and are enough for the job. A reviewer who wore them during the Scottish Mountain Marathon and in heavy rain reported that they kept the water out. Another tester’s pair dried quickly. Because the pants have no side zips, they’re a pull-on layer, and they’re meant to be put on before the weather turns, not mid-storm.

Fit and entry. The Velcro ankle tabs let the cuffs open wide enough to pass over trail-running shoes. Over walking boots they don’t: one reviewer noted that boots have to come off to get the pants on. Articulated knees and an elasticated waist keep the cut simple. There is no waist adjustment and no stretch in the fabric, which Roddie named as a drawback. A few customers on German retailer sites also called the cut poor.

Durability. This is the weak point, and reviewers agree on it. The fabric is delicate. In Roddie’s use in the Pyrenees it showed no signs of wear, and he said he was pleasantly surprised given how thin it is. He also cautioned that extended use will wear the pants out faster than heavier overtrousers. Another reviewer doubted they would survive rock and heather abrasion on Scottish hills. A pair of cuts or a snag on a granite scramble would end their waterproofing, so trail-repair tape is worth carrying with them. OMM’s own retailers frame them as built for running events, not for heavy hiking use. A few customers reported that the pants leaked, though most owners who rate them for rain and wind protection are satisfied.

Value. OMM makes its own fabric, which keeps the price well below that of most branded membrane shells. Reviewers consistently describe it as good value for the weight.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 80 g claimed weight; 88 g measured on a men’s large
• Packs to roughly tennis-ball size, with the pocket doubling as the stuff sack
• Taped seams and a 10,000 mm / 10,000 g/m² fabric that matches other ultralight overtrousers
• Velcro ankle tabs fit over running shoes
• Pairs with the Halo Smock for a 175 g waterproof suit
• Low price for the weight

Cons

• Thin, delicate fabric that suffers on abrasive terrain
• Won’t go on over boots without taking the boots off
• No stretch and no waist adjustment; some owners find the cut poor
• Stuff-pocket flap doesn’t always close securely
• Best for settled summer conditions, not extended foul weather

Who Should Buy This

The Halo Pant suits mountain marathon and trail-running competitors who need to meet a mandatory-kit rule. It also suits ultralight backpackers on summer routes who want something for the odd thunderstorm, and anyone building a minimal rain kit around the Halo Smock. It’s a just-in-case layer that costs almost nothing in pack weight.

People walking in boots through wet, rough country should look elsewhere. So should anyone doing multi-week trips in sustained rain, or anyone who wants something to wear for hours in brush. A sturdier overtrouser with side zips, such as OMM’s own Kamleika, weighs more but lasts longer and goes on over boots.

Verdict

The Halo Pant does what it promises: real waterproof protection for 80 g, at a price that makes it easy to carry as insurance. Treat it as a fair-weather emergency layer, not a daily driver. For racers and summer ultralighters it’s an easy pick, and for everyone else the durability gap is too wide.