Red Ledge Elite Full Zip Pant
Field Report – June 13, 2006
Tester Information:
Name: Jason Boyle
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 6"/ 1.68 m
Weight: 170 lb/ 77 kg
Waist: 36”/ 91 cm
Inseam: 28”/ 71 cm
Email address: c4jc "at" hotmail "dot" com
City, State, Country: Snoqualmie, Washington, U. S.
Backpacking Background:
I have been camping and backpacking for about 18 years. My introduction to the outdoors started with the Boy Scouts of America and has continued as an adult. I have hiked mostly in the Southeastern and Northeastern United States. I am generally a lightweight hiker, but will carry extras to keep me comfortable. I have recently relocated to the Pacific Northwest and spend most of my time hiking and backpacking in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, but I can be found exploring the other wild areas of Washington!
Product Information:
Manufacturer: Red Ledge
Model: Elite Full Zip Pant
Size: Large (received), also available in XS - XXL
Color: Obsidian
Year of Manufacture: 2006
URL: www.redledge.com
Listed weight: None Listed
Measured weight: 12 oz/ 340 g
Fabric Content:
Lamination: T-Core LX® 2.5 layer waterproof breathable with wicking/protective raised microprint
Seams: 100% taped
Shell: Diamond shadow ripstop nylon with DWR (durable water repellent) finish
MSRP: $74.99 U.S.
Country of Manufacture: China
Product Description:
The Red Ledge Elite Full Zip Pant are a simply designed pair of rain pants. For more information please see my initial report.
Field Conditions:
The pants have been used 14 times over the past two months: The trips consisted of a three day snowshoe trip to Dorothy Lake, an overnight backpack on the Taylor River trail, and a day hike on the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie trail. These trips were in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. I also did a three day backpack/snowshoe to Greenwater Lakes in the Norse Peak Wilderness. All of the above trips are a part of the Mt Baker – Snoqualmie National Forest. I also did a two day backpack to the Tubal Cain Mine in the Buckhorn Wilderness in the Olympic National Forest and two day hikes inside Olympic National Park to Lake Angeles, and Halfway Rock. I also wore them while conducting trail work in Karkeek Park in Seattle. I encountered rain, mist, hail, and snow. Temperatures ranged from 30 F to 70 F (-1 C to 21 C). Elevation ranged from sea level to 5500 feet (1676 m)
Summary:
I said previously that I was not much of a rain pants type of guy. I have mostly changed my mind. The Red Ledge Elite Pants are very comfortable and fairly breathable. The dual zipper provides good venting options. The trick is to balance venting options vs waterproofness. If I have the zips open to vent, I get wet and if I have them closed I sweat.
Field Results:
The Red Ledge Elite Pants have proven to be very durable thus far. None of the seams and zippers show any signs of wear. I paid particularly attention to the seams in the crotch area as this area seems to take the most beating between hiking and sitting on the ground. Another area that I am paying close attention to is the cuff area. The pants are a bit long on me and sometimes I end up stepping on them. I don’t do this often, but I will watch to see if the cuffs wear more than the other parts of the pants. I have done a good amount of off trail hiking and the pants have stood up well. I stay away from thorns because they will pierce anything!
I have found the pants to be very useful as rain pants and as cool weather hiking pants. The pants are waterproof when all of the zippers are closed, but they are not very breathable in this configuration. I normally use them in two venting configurations. The first is with the upper zipper on each side unzipped to give me access to the base layer I wear underneath the pants. I like to be able to use the pockets in my base layer shorts in addition to the pockets on the pants. My second venting condition is with both zippers on each pant leg unzipped to about the knee area. This allows the top and bottom of my leg to breathe and because the cuff has a snap closure it is still secured around my ankle area. Both of these venting conditions are good for light rain, but when it starts to rain hard these venting conditions allow water to enter the pants, which make me choose between good ventilation or getting wet. The pants dry fairly quickly after using them in the rain. I can lay them out in my tent and they are mostly dry the next morning.
The pants are very comfortable to wear. The sides are secured through a hook and loop closure and/or two position snaps in the waist. This allows me to wear multiple base layers if necessary. While camping in the snow near Dorothy Lake, I was able to comfortably wear a pair of Primaloft pants underneath the Red Ledge Elite Pants. Lately I have been wearing only a pair of hiking shorts underneath them and that seems to work quite well. I have tried wearing the pants without a base layer and I don’t like the way that the fabric feels against the upper parts of my legs. I like the pockets in the front of the pants and use them to store small items like my keys or chapstick. I have not yet laundered the pants, but will do so soon otherwise they will not be allowed to be brought into the house. They currently smell like a campfire.
Improvements:
I would like to have a choice of colors for the pants.
Test Plan:
I examined the Red Ledge Pants on the following characteristics over the past two months. My answers are in blue.
Durable:
- How durable is the Red Ledge proprietary 2.5 layer fabric in the pants? Thus far it has been good.
- I tend to lean against whatever is available when resting be it a rock or tree. Do I need to worry about easily tearing or puncturing the fabric? I have not had any problems yet.
- Do I need to be overly concerned with off trail hiking? They have performed well while hiking off trail. I am careful to stay away from thorns as they will tear most anything.
Usefulness:
- It can be extremely wet here and rain for days on end. Are these pants able to take rain day after day? Yes, and they dry out pretty well overnight inside of my tent.
- How breathable is the gear? The pants fully zipped up are not that breathable, however, the dual zippers make venting easy in light rain situations.
- Can I hike uphill without getting drenched in sweat? Yes, with the top and bottom zippers opened at my knee.
Pants Specific Questions:
- How adjustable are the pants? Pretty good, they can be adjusted on each side via hook and loop fasteners.
- I am right on the lower edge of the waist size, but like to have room to wear layers underneath. Can I comfortably wear the pants with and without layers? I can wear layers underneath the pants and prefer to as I did not like the feel of the pants alone on my upper legs.
- The pants have three pockets, two in the front and one in the back. How useful are these pockets? Fairly useful. I like to store small things like my keys or chapstick in them.
- What can I comfortably fit in them? Just about anything smaller than an energy bar.
- How well am I able to vent the pants with the full length zips? Very easily.
- Will the zips let in any water? The zippers do not let any water in as long as they are zipped up.
Thanks to Backpack Gear Test and Red Ledge for allowing me to participate in this test.
Read more reviews of Red Ledge gear
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