Quick Take Review
Dang it if I don’t love the guys at Redington. Why you ask? Great products and great value, simple as that. Their Versi-Pant provides a perfect example. For several years now, I’ve been banging around in a couple of pair. And they served me well on many, many trips to the Sierras and elsewhere. This year, Redington updated the Versi-Pant and we recently had a chance to try them out. Here’s what we found.
For 2013, Redington made numerous changes to the Versi-Pant. It’s a little more streamlined and stylish while still retaining the signature zip-off legs that convert the pant to shorts. Gone are the traditional patch cargo pockets. Redington replaced them with a single and more modern bellowed version with zipper. Also gone are the tippet pockets (previously just inside each hip pocket) and the built-in mesh brief. On the new version, Redington added a second rear pocket and both right and left versions close with a zipper.
So how did they perform? Just like my original Versi-Pants, the 2013 update shed water nicely making them a welcome alternative to waders on warmer days. A pair of Versi-Pants, neoprene socks and your favorite wading boot (maybe the Redington Skagit) should be all you need on a sunny Sierra day. I didn’t miss the tippet pockets, never really used them on the originals. And I didn’t miss the second cargo pocket either.
Specs
Material: Nylon
A couple of notes on sizing. The Versi-Pant comes in two inseam lengths, 30 and 32 inches. Kudos Redington for not forcing everyone into a one-size-fits-all approach. The company also provides five waist sizes: small, medium, large, extra large and double extra large. The elasticized waist band expands to handle varying sizes. I did find it advantageous to size-up if at the upper end of their size ranges. I typically wear a size 34 waist pant. The company’s size chart says that’s a medium, but that size was just too tight to me. My original Versi-Pants were large and I’d stick with that for these more modern versions.
Redington makes the Versi-Pant in three colors, the lightest of which they called Island Sand. I found that color to be just a touch too translucent for my taste. Stick with the darker colors – Gull Gray and Adam’s Tan – and you have a winner.