Main Entry: cir·ro·stra·tus
Pronunciation: "sir-O-'strA-t&s
Cirrostratus clouds are high-level clouds composed primarily of ice crystals. Though these clouds can cover the entire sky, and can be up to several thousand feet thick, they are nearly transparent. Cirrostratus clouds can be seen when cool, dry air meets warm, moist air. This is often an indication of rain.

Personal Biographical Information:

Name:	James E. Triplett
Age:	44
Gender:	Male
Height:	6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight:	193 lb (87.5 kg)
Chest (relaxed):	42" (107 cm)
Shoulder circumference:	49" (124 cm)
Sleeve length:	35" (89 cm)
Email address:	james_triplett@hotmail.com
City, State:	Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Date:	January 5, 2005

Backpacking Background:

I grew up car camping all through my childhood. I later managed to continuously hike the lower 1/3 of the Appalachian Trail, with an external frame Kelty Tioga (loaded to over 50 lb / 23 kg) and some rather massive Vasque boots. Currently, I spend many weekends backpacking and camping and am out on a daily basis on shorter hikes. I try and take at least one one-week backpacking trip each year, in addition to several one to three-night weekend trips.

My style can best be described as lightweight, but not at the cost of giving up too much comfort. I am continually looking at lighter replacement items for gear I own, which is generally not that hard, since a lot of my equipment is rather dated. I prefer a tent over a tarp, but have not yet tried a hammock.

Manufacturer Information:

Manufacturer:	Red Ledge
Phone:	1-800-722-7345
URL:	www.redledge.com (still under construction)

Product Information:

Year of Manufacture:	2004
Date Item Received:	June 7, 2004

Item being tested:	Red Ledge Cirrostratus Jacket
Size:	XL
MSRP:	$65 US
Listed Weight:	None given
Actual weight:	14.20 oz (403 g)

Additional Product Information:
(from the Spring 2004 Red Ledge catalog)

Fabric:

30 denier ripstop nylon with T-Core(R) and a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish

Features:

Micro-tricot lining
Hood with peripheral vision adjustment and roll away function
Left chest zip pocket
Two lower zip pockets
Elasticized cuffs with adjustable Velcro closure
One-hand adjustable drawcord at hem
Center back length: 28" (large)

Colors and Sizes:

Available in Black, Mercury (Greyish-looking), and Aqueous (blue)
Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL

REVIEW:

Test Location and Conditions:
The Red Ledge Cirrostratus Jacket has become my jacket of choice for any and all outdoor adventures through the fall and early winter seasons. I have hiked and packed with it in Iowa and Missouri (elevations under 1,000 feet / 300 meters) and have taken it on non-hiking related trips to Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Basically any time the temperature requires a jacket I have worn the Cirrostratus, with a few, more formal occasions, being the only exceptions. Temperatures have covered the wide range of 70 F (21 C) this past summer, down to -12 F (-24 C) a couple of weeks ago. The jacket has seen rain and snow, and been layered as outlined below for cold temperatures.

Test Results:
Fit and Comfort:
As stated in my Initial Report, and Field Report, the size XL Cirrostratus is none too big. It fits very well with a base layer of one or two shirts, but is a little lacking for room when additional layers are added. I have worn the Cirrostratus over a light polar fleece jacket with success, although the fit of the Cirrostratus has been pushed near its limits when doing so. I have also used the Cirrostratus as an outer layer over a rather thick polar fleece jacket, and felt that the Cirrostratus was not really large enough for this usage. I'll talk about this more in the section below. The cuffs and hem have been adequate for all the applications I have tried. The unique hood seems to work well over a stocking cap, or without a cap, but a baseball cap provides a challenge. With a baseball cap the draw string of the Cirrostratus hood doesn't seem to ride low enough on my forehead, causing it to be difficult to keep in place. I have been able to do it though, it just takes some fiddling around to get it in a secure position.

Field Use:
As I have used the Red Ledge Cirrostratus, and as the temperatures have dropped, I have fallen in love with this garment. I anticipated using the jacket primarily for cool, rainy, situations and didn't really expect it to be appropriate when warmth was the primary concern. I was wrong. The jacket is lightly insulated, or lined, and this makes it suitable on cool, rainy days. But, as it is also waterproof and breathable, I have found it to make an excellent outer layer for cold weather well below freezing, and even below 0 F (-18 C).

I have layered the Cirrostratus in the following fashion. For temperatures from roughly 50 - 60 F (10 - 15 C) I have simply used the jacket over one or more shirts. This could be a tee shirt, a wicking layer under another loose fitting shirt, or pretty much anything I might be wearing on the trail or at home. For a temperature range of roughly freezing to 50 F (0 - 10 C) I have used the Cirrostratus over a light REI fleece jacket. As an example, on a recent morning hike with temperatures around freezing, I wore a base wicking tee shirt, under a long-sleeved synthetic shirt, under the fleece, under the Red Ledge Cirrostratus. Adding to this a fleece cap, and stretchy synthetic gloves, I headed out for a hike of a couple of miles (3 km). Upon starting the hike I pulled the drawstring tight around the hem (one cord-lock on each side of the jacket), securing it against drafts from just below my butt, opened and re-secured the Velcro on the wrists - over my gloves, and made sure the zipper was all the way up around my neck. After less than 30 minutes I reversed the process as my body temperature exceeded a comfortable margin. With the hem, sleeves, and chest zipper loosened I received ample airflow to continue hiking normally. For temperatures below 32 F (0 C) I use the same approach as I just described, but substitute a heavier fleece jacket from Eddie Bauer. As the temperature lowers, and depending on my mental gage of how cold the conditions are, I select heavier gloves and or hats, and for extremes of -12 F (-24 C) I have added a scarf or the Psolar.EX Face Mask. In all but the coldest temperatures I have needed to vent the setup after 20 minutes to half an hour of hiking.

Using the previously mentioned setups, I have hiked in snow and rain, as well as on clear but cold days. In my other reports I mentioned the waterproofness and breathability of the Red Ledge Cirrostratus, and I continue to be impressed with how well the jacket performs in these categories. In temperatures over 60 F (15 C) the jacket tends to feel too warm under heavy exertion. But it continues to breath and has kept me totally dry in rainy conditions. Under 40 or 50 F (5 - 10 C), the combination of warmth, breathability, and waterproofness make this the only jacket I look for.

Additional Comments:
The Red Ledge Cirrostratus Jacket is just wonderful. It looks attractive, and shows no signs of wear after constant usage. There are a few minor areas where I feel it could be improved, however, at least for my use. The soft lining clings to my fleece jackets a little bit, and because of that, I would like the sleeves to be a little roomier. When wearing layers under the Cirrostratus the sleeves also become a bit too short, so I would like them to be about an inch (2.54 cm) longer. Pit zips would be nice, but I understand the trade-offs of complexity, cost, and weight vs. ventilation. The only other thing I would like to mention is the tiny zipper pulls. I don't mind them on the pockets, but with gloves on it can be a real challenge for me to find the chest zipper up under my chin. And the zipper in the collar which stores the hood is all but impossible to find while wearing the jacket - with or without gloves. These are all minor things, but if the Cirrostratus had these changes I would consider it perfect.

Summary:
The Red Ledge Cirrostratus Jacket has met my expectations for fit and comfort, and exceeded my expectations for breathability and waterproofness. Additionally, it has really excelled in cold conditions where the waterproofness makes it great against the wind, and the breathability has made it comfortable under heavy exertion, all while being lightweight and not bulky. Living in the mid-west, I intend to use this jacket nine to ten months a year. I like it that much!

Respectfully submitted,

-James T.

Read more reviews of Red Ledge gear
Read more gear reviews by James E. Triplett

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