Salt Lake City, UT – We recently field tested a new outerlayer offering from Sierra Designs, the Rad Jacket, a three-layer waterproof breathable piece with many more features than its reasonable $239 price tag implies.
This oversized shell is a highly waterproof, highly breathable outer layer perfect for long, cold, wet days in the mountains. A Tropozone three-layer nylon shell is coated with with a DWR finish (waterproof/breathable at 18,000/18,000) to shed rain and melting snow while keeping the user warm, dry, and protected. A fully adjustable helmet-compatible hood with visor offers excellent protection from the elements, while five exterior and four interior pockets provide ample storage solutions.
 
The Sierra Designs Rad Jacket. |
Our testers found the Rad Jacket cut with mobility in mind. It also has some of the largest pit zips of any jacket we’ve ever reviewed for ample venting to dump heat on a backcountry tour, running laps at your local resort, or on a winter hike in the mountains. The DWR finish “breathes like a dream, I never felt overheated even on the sunny days,” according to one tester.
The weight weenies amongst our testers thought that designers could’ve used slightly less burly zippers to save a little weight, but at 24 oz. it’s certainly not a heavy garment so this is a minor quibble. We also felt like the Sierra Designs name embroidered on one sleeve felt like a billboard. Our one biggest wish, though, was for a removable powder skirt for those using the Rad as a ski or snowboard shell.
At its $239 MSRP we think that Sierra Designs has a winner with the Rad, and at this price point it has a few more features the other guys might not offer.