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Red Ledge Elite Full Zip Pant
Long Term Report – July 28, 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
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Product Description:
The Red Ledge Elite Full Zip Pant are a simply designed pair of rain pants. For more information please see my initial and field reports. Field Conditions:
Summer has arrived in the Pacific Northwest and that means a lack of precipitation. Based on the previous statement, I have used the pants on two trips since my last report; a mountaineering trip to the top of Mt. Colchuck, and on a three day backpacking trip. Both trips were in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness a part of the Mt. Baker – Snoqualmie National Forest. Elevation ranged from sea level to 8507’ (2593 m), temperatures ranged from 75 F to 31 F (24 C to -1 C), and like I said falling precipitation was zero.
Summary:
These pants have performed well when used as advertised which means as rain pants. They can be a bit much to wear in warm weather, but the full length zipper helps mitigate this issue. I would not recommend them to be worn during a mountaineering trip or while glissading. |
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Long Term Results:
I have enjoyed testing these pants over the test period. They have performed well for me through the rainy spring with no durability problems. I ran into problems when I used the pants outside of the parameters they were designed for on my mountaineering trip. I started out the trip and the initial glacier climb in shorts. As I ascended it became colder and steeper so I put the pants on. They performed fine until the final scramble to the top. The scramble occurred on granite, and during that scramble I put a nice long slice in the left leg of the pant in the hip area. Then while glissading down the glacier, I tapped my leg lightly with my ice ax point causing a couple of small tears in the fabric. Additionally, I put a small hole in the crotch area of the pants while glissading. So repeat after me, Red Ledge Elite Pants are not made for mountaineering!
I found the pants to be extremely useful during the rainy spring season. Temperatures where still quite cool and combined with rain made for a potentially dangerous situation. The pants did a good job of keeping me dry and warm, sometime too warm. I also like that the pants are windproof. If I had good weather, I would wear them on chilly mornings and evenings. The pants where very comfortable as long as I had a pair of hiking shorts on underneath them. |
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 four months. My answers are in blue.
Durable:
- How durable is the Red Ledge proprietary 2.5 layer fabric in the pants? When used as rain pants they performed well.
- 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 did not have any problems while just resting or normal hiking.
- Do I need to be overly concerned with off trail hiking? No, as long as I stay away from thorns and granite.
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
Read more gear reviews by Jason Boyle
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