Anyone have any experience with the brand Red Ledge? I just bought a lightweight waterproof/breathable jacket for 50 bucks. My North Face Mountainguide is way too heavy for backpacking and is rediculously hot and heavy for backpacking in summer in rain. I hope this jacket does the trick, its so light and packable. I figure almost any jacket will make you sweat while hiking through rain in summer but i guess light is best then… A-Train
A-Train
I used Red Ledge’s rain gear when I hiked. The weight is right, but what I had wasn’t breathable. I liked the gear though. I used my rain gear mostly around camp or if I was hiding from the bugs. My pants ripped after many days of walking in them and I did have a hard time getting in touch with the company, but after a while I (my mom actually did it for me) was able to get the pants replaced.
Leif
Hi A-Train… I just bought a Marmot Precip jacket and pants. Looked very seriously at the Red Ledge Thunderlight. Backpacker had a pretty good review of them (you can find it on their website). I was going to buy the Redledge but opted for the Marmot, even though it was more expensive, for a couple of reasons. One, I didn’t like the hood on the Redledge. Seemed a little small for me. I wasn’t totally happy with the way the jacket fit either. However, I wasn’t unhappy enough that I wasn’t going to buy it. I liked the Marmot much better but at $55 for the Redledge and $99 for the Marmot, I thought I’d go with the Redledge. However, I found the Marmot on sale at Campmor for $79. Couldn’t pass it up.
Moose
I used redledge thunderlight and the pants were all ripped up the middle seams by the end of the hike, but at that price… who cares? I had just hikes 2000 miles in them and I wore my pants a lot. I wasn’t as happy with the jacket, but it kept the snow and rain off. I have been contemplating taking the step to marmot or goretex, but I am too hard on my gear to buy something that expensive, and I am too much of a lightweight person to go that heavy.
Buy the redledge.
windex
Thanks for your input guys. Moose, I like the Red Ledge, and for 49 bucks no tax at Outdoor Gear Exchange I couldn’t beat it, but i do agree with its faults. The jacket just doesn’t seem to be fit for big people. The hood is real small, and the jacket fits strangely. I usually wear between a L and XL for jackets, and this XL is kinda short.
Hey Windex, i met you last year on your thru-hike on a rainy day on the Lambs Knoll in Maryland. Your spirits were down but seems you got throught that one. Met Lief the day before while he was looking for you at Ensign Cowall. Peace guys
A-Train
I used the Red Ledge raingear top and bottom. I thought it was a great value and was very happy with it, on the AT and on another long trip later. It’s still going strong.
Colter