Year of Manufacture: 2004
Color: Helios (yellow), also available in Eclipse (grey) and Twilight (dark blue)
Size: Unisex 2XL, also available in XS, S, M, L, XL
Fabric: 15-denier ripstop nylon with a DWR coating applied
MSRP: $60 USD

According to my digital scale (0.1 ounce / 1 gram accuracy), the results I measured are:

Listed weight of Cirrus Light Jacket: none indicated
Weight of Cirrus Light Jacket in size 2XL: 4.1 oz (118 gms)*

*For the weights of other sized Cirrus Light jackets, take a look at the other testers' reviews.

2. Red Ledge Cirrus Light Field Report

For an overview of where the Cirrus Light fits into the windshirt market - and comments on windshirts in general - please refer to my Initial Report.

Product Information

There continues to be a complete lack of information regarding the Red Ledge Cirrus Light jacket as of this report. Testers were notified of the retail pricing for the jacket (included above), but information on where to buy them, what they're made of, and just about anything else about them is still virtually non-existent. Red Ledge's website also continues to be under construction.

Testing Conditions

To date, the Cirrus Light has seen primarily warm temperatures. I used it sporadically while on Cape Cod in Massachusetts for 2 1/2 weeks, mostly on dayhikes at the National Seashore. Conditions were warm, with temperatures in the mid 80s F° (mid 20s C°) during most of the trip. Since then, I've returned to Washington to an unusually hot and dry summer. Daily temperatures have averaged in the 80s F°(mid 20s C°), and a few have been in the mid 90s F° (low 30s C°). In addition to the heat, there has been little precipitation to speak of, creating less than ideal conditions for using a windshirt. Generally I've spent the last couple months trying to get rid of as many layers as possible - not add one.

I've spent most of my outdoor time in the Cascades near Snoqualmie Pass. I've hiked daily on local trails in the Cascade foothills about 20 miles (32 km) west of the Cascade Crest and PCT. I did get a couple of more valuable testing days in recently, which I discuss below in the water resistance and breathability sections.

Field Report

Following the feature list of the Initial Report, here are my Field Comments:

The hood has proven to be quite functional. While it takes two hands to tighten the drawstring (one to hold the hood on your head, one to pull the drawstring) - a minor annoyance, it actually works. The small brim has done an admirable job of keeping drizzle and light rain off of my glasses, although it would benefit greatly from even minimal stiffening. Walking into the wind quickly overwhelms the floppy visor. The most notable feature of the hood is the peripheral vision. It is - by far - the best peripheral vision I have experienced in a hood. Even when turning my head fully to the side, I retain the majority of my lateral vision. This is a big improvement over most of the hoods I've used, where turning my head finds me looking at the inside of the hood itself.
The pockets have been used rarely so far. There's just something that doesn't feel right about having an item in a chest pocket in such a lightweight jacket. Unless it is a featherweight item (map or single key or something similar), most items feel really heavy in the light fabric pocket. The hood pocket is unnecessary in my opinion, and a great place for the Cirrus Light to shave a fraction of an ounce.
The front zipper works just fine. I've had no snags or difficulties with it so far. The flap that covers the zipper stays in place, but it is a curiosity as to why it's on the outside of the zipper and not the inside. In a jacket that's not waterproof, little is gained by covering the zipper, and without any kind of closure system, a good side wind is bound to set it flapping.
The elastic wrist cuffs have found a nice balance between snug and too loose. While I generally prefer a looser cuff for ventilation with an option to snug them up with Velcro or something similar, these cuffs have worked just fine so far, causing no noticeable discomfort.
Because of the snug fit of the Cirrus Light, I have not used the waist elastic cord much. I can see this being useful if the jacket were fitted loosely on a windy day, but for me, it's plenty fitted around the waist already, so no tightening has been necessary.

Materials

Performance so far
The materials used in the Cirrus Light Jacket remain a mystery. As no new information on the Cirrus Light has been made available by Red Ledge, we can only guess as to the specifics. Based on experience with other similar fabrics, my guess is that it's ripstop nylon, calendared, and coated with a light DWR. I don't believe any of the more durable water resistant applications - namely polyurethane and acrylic coatings - were used. This is pure conjecture, but the characteristics of the fabric would indicate something along these lines.

As far as where the Cirrus Light falls on the breathability versus water resistance spectrum - the most vital defining characteristic of a windshirt in my opinion - I'd say it is definitely far to the breathability side, and absolutely not anywhere near the waterproof end.

The Cirrus Light performed well during a few recent hikes in conditions that will test any windshirt, including: wetness in the form of drizzle or light rain, little to no breeze, and temperatures warm enough to steam up in. While steaming up the windshirt was not too difficult when temps reached the mid 60s F° (upper teens C°), it allowed enough moisture to pass to not be completely miserable. Based on numerous similar field experiences, I'd say it's more breathable than almost any other thin shell material I've worn - including EPIC by Nextec, the most breathable fabric in my field experiences.

It does not keep out the precipitation, however. After just a few minutes of hiking in wet conditions moisture is noticeably coming through. When wearing just a t-shirt underneath, a pattern of wetness is seen in almost all locations. The DWR will keep mist at bay for a few minutes, but anything more than surface fog will get through. Wetness is particularly a problem when the windshirt comes in contact with wet vegetation, as I recently found out on a section of trail that ran through wet brush.

Wetness protection is not why I wear a windshirt, though, and breathability is my top priority. Red Ledge makes no claims that this is a waterproof piece, and this is not my expectation. Based on my preference, the Cirrus Light fabric is almost ideal. I have worn windshirts made of uncoated lightweight ripstop nylon, and the Cirrus Light seems just as breathable as them.

Fit and Cut

The Cirrus Light Jacket continues to fit too snug in my opinion. The shoulder girdle allows normal range of motion without significant restriction, but larger movements can cause binding across the back and in the shoulders. I would go up one size for a more comfortable fit if it were available. This may be something to strongly consider if your backpacking style includes a wide range of motion or layering underneath a windshirt.

High Points

Highly breathable fabric, which is becoming harder and harder to find.
Incredibly lightweight for any windshirt – let alone one with this many features. Most "normal" sized jackets should come in well under 4 ounces (118 grams).
Best peripheral vision in a hooded shell that I've seen.
Reasonable price tag, especially considering the comparable competition - usually priced $20 to $40 more.

Concerns

Continued lack of information regarding the Cirrus Light. As of this writing, the website is under construction, there is nowhere to purchase the product, nowhere to see or try on the jacket, and product information is virtually non-existent.
Snug fit limits mobility and therefore usage.

3. Testing Plan and Location

My continued usage of the Red Ledge Cirrus Light will be hiking, backpacking and climbing in the Central and North Cascades. I will also use it underneath a fleece jacket or softshell while skiing during November and December.

I'll be testing the Cirrus Light with a focus on the following questions:

1) Fit: Does the Cirrus Light's fit allow it to be used whenever conditions allow, or do restriction and other fit design characteristics force it into the pack during certain duties.

2) Durability: With normal trail and moderate off-trail use, does the Cirrus Light survive? Ultralight fabrics naturally bring up durability concerns. Are the concerns legitimate?

3) Breathability: For me, this is the primary concern in a windshirt. If a jacket is not waterproof, it should be as breathable as possible while still resisting wind. Is it a wear-all-the-time windshirt?

4) Water resistance: How durable is the DWR? Can it handle repeated washings?

5) Wind resistance: Almost all windshirts repel wind well. Is the Cirrus Light an exception? Can it handle its most basic function with ease?

6) Bug Protection: More and more over the past few years, I have turned to a windshirt for bug protection instead of chemicals. I much prefer the light nylon feel to the sticky, stinky chemicals. Some nylon clothing I have stops everything that flies, and some I have will let mosquitoes feast as though nothing is between them and me. How does the Cirrus Light handle bugs?

7) Features: Are the features useful or do they simply add unnecessary weight to the jacket? Are the zippers easy to access?

8) Appearance and style: Is the Cirrus Light attractive? While the backcountry is not a fashion runway, nice-looking gear can crossover into day-to day city use and become an integral part of daily outerwear.

9) In the final analysis, is the Cirrus Light a piece of outerwear that makes every trip. An ideal windshirt has the potential to be a foundation piece – something that makes every day hiking, backpacking, skiing, climbing, and outdoor excursion. Is this that piece of gear?

4. Contact and Background Information:

Name: Curt Peterson
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Height: 6'3" (1.91 m)
Weight: 270 lbs. (122 kg)
Email address: curt@boopants.com
Location: North Bend, WA, USA

I live in the Cascade foothills, just 20 miles (32 km) from the Pacific Crest Trail via footpaths leading right from my backyard. The vast majority of my outdoor activities are here in Washington State. During the summer I backpack and dayhike, and continue into the fall and early winter until the snows overtake the Cascades. In the winter, I ski 1 to 2 days per week, and backpack in the Central Washington tundra-like steppe at least once. Spring and early summer I usually climb, most often on the Cascade volcanoes. In addition, I try to go to the coast in Olympic National Park at least once a year, so the range of locations that I test gear is pretty broad. I hike on a forested trail each and every day with my dog, no matter what the conditions are.

I played football in college and like to evaluate products from a big guy perspective, as there is definitely a shortage of both gear and reviews from this point of view. I served on the Product Test Committee for Seattle's biggest outdoor gear retailer for a two- year term in the mid-90s, then guided backpacking tours with my wife in Olympic National Park for a few summers. I've been interested in the most recent shift to lightweight thinking for the past few years and really enjoy checking out new ideas and approaches to backpacking.

Read more reviews of Red Ledge gear
Read more gear reviews by Curt Peterson

Field Report

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