Montbell Versalite Review

[@isometricmax]

I think that elastic loop you mentioned is so you can tighten the waist from the insides of those pockets, so you don't have to unzip the jacket while it's raining.

[@GrizzleGear]

I figured that out the day I posted the vid. 😁

[@zachary8989]

Patagonia does the same for some of their jackets

[@ObjectiveMedia]

Yeah also no external cord/cord locks to get caught on stuff (door handles, branches etc) like with most rain jackets Edit: sorry just noticed this comment was from 3 years ago ❤

[@joshuaerwin3533]

Mannn. I have been stuck between the vertice and the visp for like 2 damn weeks. I think the versalite may be where it's at. Thanks, brother

[@insatiabletreehugger7870]

Montbell was my gear go to when I lived in Osaka

[@jonomichi2262]

Haha weird rope... question sir, how the skin contact feel?

[@wxjunkie]

Montbell is great. I recently replaced a horrible Kuhl rain jacket that wetted out on me in ONE DAY (Kuhl refused to warranty it by the way they just gave me a store coupon!)

[@jesseklansek2151]

I have heard that in most of the world the "left hand zipper" is the norm.

[@GrizzleGear]

Outside of the US, I've only been to Canada. So I wouldn't know. I just know that all my previous rain jackets had a right-handed zipper. So I found it a little odd. But, I believe Montbell is a Japanese company so it makes sense.

[@MoonbeameSmith]

@@GrizzleGear I always thought that the zipper on one side was Male while on the other side female

[@mikelambrou4462]

That’s right, we’ll certainly in Europe and Japan and Montbell is a Japanese company.

[@tiger2too18]

Get some zipper lubricant. Good review. Thx.

[@juliannacyr3538]

I really want that rain jacket. I’m just waiting for the one I have to blow out. I have a lot of Montbell stuff and love everything they make. Enjoy the Colorado Trail! I can’t wait to see your CT videos. It’s my favorite trail ❤️

[@seanparchem6722]

Did you ever figure out what is going on with the shock cords? I think it is to pull the waist into a snug position? That's my assumption.

[@crazyadrian1770]

You the bomb 💣

[@k.whiking4372]

Thanks man, I've been looking for a reasonable rice light weight rain jacket. I will check this one out.

[@brib9716]

I will never forgive you for not telling me you got a new jacket. You are dead to me.

[@GrizzleGear]

🤣

[@lorigrenier1786]

Fantastic! I’m a lefty 😜

[@hanskirk-hiking9697]

Great review - the thing about the cord is so you can adjust it from inside of the jacket - try it 😊 I like the field shots - subscribed 🇩🇰

[@GromtKromkakejern]

I would actually say that is a right handed zipper. The thing that is on the right side of that jacket is what you need to steer in to the zipper, and if you are right handed it is easier to have it on the right side.

[@Impalaontrail]

Awesome video dude and like the look of ya channel, chucked you a sub and will have a scout round!! The versalite is an amazing well designed jacket.. Its all about the pit zips!! Stay safe n happy trails 🤜

[@southface06]

Thanks a lot for this excellent review! Very helpful

[@behindenemylines9033]

Just came across your channel and subbed. I've an OR rain jacket that wets out super fast in moderate rainfall, waste of money. But I will be making a purchase of this jacket, thanks for the review.

[@GrizzleGear]

Thanks for the sub!

[@SA-mf8gq]

Hey man, could you please let me know how the jacket has held up so far. I am thinking about buying this jacket but I have doubts if this thing will last with a 20 pound backpack. Cheers

[@GrizzleGear]

I used it for my CT thru last year, and am using it right now on my CDT Thru. Fully loaded I'm around 26 lbs with a laptop..lol I've resprayed it with dwr once to increase water repellency. Still holding up lime a champ. Over 800 miles into the CDT and 490 on it last year from the CT. I also have the Versalite pants. Love the combo.

[@SA-mf8gq]

@@GrizzleGear and how often would you use it while hiking?

[@GrizzleGear]

@@SA-mf8gq whenever it's rained or gotten windy

[@Reese842]

Thanks for the review.

[@jonomichi2262]

Beautiful place you are living ..

[@Dnlrmrez]

for the string I think tie the knot inside the pocket

[@cheri7828]

Are those weird strings placed in the pocket so you can adjust the hem from inside your pockets?

[@GrizzleGear]

That would make sense... If they put the cord lock inside the pocket. But they didn't. It's really weird.

[@ScottKent]

@@GrizzleGear But if you pull hard you can cinch the hem without opening the jacket...not something much needed, but a consideration if you're in a harness or something on the side of a mountain and can't open the jacket. thanks for the report...I use to live on O'ahu and now in Florida...I'm seriously tired of ultralite rain jackets that wet out in minutes.

[@Jingle2018]

Thanks for a great review Grizz. It seals the deal for me to get Montbell. I hiked with you in 2018 on the AT. Jingle!

[@MoonbeameSmith]

Now I need to know how you keep your backpack/contents dry !

[@GrizzleGear]

I now use a mostly waterproof DCF pack. I use an Exped sleeping pad and it came with a large silnylon pump sack. I put the pump sack in the bottom of my pack and put my sleeping bag, and all my clothing and things that need to stay dry in it. All my other stuff, I just put in my pack normally. The other way to go is to just line the inside of your pack with a trash compactor bag before loading it. That'll keep everything dry. :)

[@henrik7062]

Hi. thanks for a good review. I'm thinking of buying this jacket. how is the fit and size? I am 187 cm tall. if you recalculate, it is about 6.2 ”. I think! should I buy an L or XL? keep up the good work. best regards from Sweden.

[@banana_Udio]

Good ol frogg toggs . Can’t even tell your wearing it.

[@brib9716]

Except for the fact that you're wetter from sweat than from not wearing it at all.

[@walter--]

Don't stand so close to the barb wire with that jacket! ;-). Thanks for the review!

[@janefreeman4121]

Aloha from Hawaii Island. Lived near brenekes pre iniki and did an educational program at the allertons gardens. TA alum. Good to see another hawaii thru hiker. Is the jacket still working out? Ready to pull the plug.

[@GrizzleGear]

Aloha!!! I'm still digging the jacket. After finishing the Colorado trail, I did spray it down with some Nikwax dwr spray to refresh the dwr coating. I've hiked in a rain storm in Kokee with it and have worn it several times here in Wailua during downpours since getting back and It keeps me dry, and I still dig it. I actually broke down and bought the montbell rain pants as well. But I haven't had an opportunity to try them. Whenever it rained on the Colorado trail, I just wore my shorts through it.

[@janefreeman4121]

Hi i ended up purchasing one today! Pretty much geared up for the next thru hike now. I do remember hiking in those places on Kauai. The body surfing at brenekes was wonderful back then but i think iniki may have changed that? That's good to know about the maintenance of the jacket. Mahalo!!! 😊

[@cv6473]

how does it do in the wind?

[@DeliciousBass01]

I’m in the same boat, I think I’m gonna go Visp it’s a 3 layer…still happy with the Montbell?

[@GrizzleGear]

I'm kinda over rain jackets. I still dig the Montbell, but not sure if I trust it. I've retreated the dwr once on it so far and I feel like it may be due AGAIN. That being said, I do wear it at home a lot and I live on Kauai soooooo....😁

[@rodrev_hiking6757]

@@GrizzleGear hi grizzle, get the Nikwax DWR wash. Not spray. Just wash it with that nikwax dwr , washmashine slow cycle. You will still need to do it once a year if u use it a lot. That’s normal for any dwr jacket. Zpacks vertice or visp perform worse in that matter. Only way around it is a non breathable fully waterproof jacket like the lightheartgear rainjacket which is made from sil nylon complete waterproof but non breathable . You can’t really have both . But I wash my montbell once a year in nikwax dwr treatment and that’s ok :)

[@hooptroopers]

​@@rodrev_hiking6757 when you wash a jacket with DWR, will that cause the DWR coating to cover both sides of the jacket? Wait, that would cause the jacket to repel water from the inside too or what?

[@danielgrubb9668]

Ugh. DWR treatments? There’s got to be something better.

[@scottl8416]

Nikwax DWR wash once a year or so is easy!

[@mischiefonthetrail8961]

I love mine but yes it does wet out mostly on the back

[@GrizzleGear]

How long have you had yours?

[@mischiefonthetrail8961]

Grizzle Gear around a year

[@GrizzleGear]

Have you tried reapplying a DWR treatment?

[@astromannnnn]

@@GrizzleGear what DWR do you recommend for it?

[@sureshpathy1422]

@@astromannnnn I really would love an answer to this question, what DWR?

[@TylerCampbellOutdoors]

True to size?

[@GrizzleGear]

Yep. I used the size chart on their website when ordering, and a medium fits me perfect.

[@TylerCampbellOutdoors]

@@GrizzleGear great. thank you

[@phentosz050]

If you don't mind, what is your height and weight to get an idea for how the medium would fit. Also have you tried to layer underneath? Thanks for the great video

[@GrizzleGear]

@@phentosz050 I'm 5'11 and about 170lbs. I usually fluctuate between a medium and a large because my arms are pretty long, but the medium fits my arms perfectly.

[@Dharma_Bum]

@@GrizzleGear if you were to wear a micro puffy under it would you size up?

[@halabujioutdoors]

About zipper, is Versalite coming in male and female version? It looks as if a female version in traditional garment design. Let's get start on CT, already! You on trail, me on KZbin. 👣🗻🏞🏕🌌

[@ScottKent]

It's a Euro/Japan thing...I have lots of gear from there that has the zipper that way. Several companies make gear just for US import with zippers the other way, but a lot of them stick with the European style.

[@Chris-L-sr]

Maybe it was made in Europe ,😁

[@genelucky4002]

Montbell is a Japanese company

[@ras0220]

I wish I could try one on before I order. REI does not carry it and there are no dealers in my state of Maryland.

[@GrizzleGear]

If it helps at all, I am 5'11, about 160 lb, and a size medium fits me perfectly.

[@GrizzleGear]

I did not try one on before ordering either as there were no dealers in Hawaii. I ordered based off of reviews of the jacket I had read, and by using their sizing chart and measuring myself. It worked out perfectly.

[@ras0220]

@@GrizzleGear yes....that is very helpful....thanks. I really enjoy your videos.

[@justriley9157]

Ur really good at complaining about dumb things the string n the zipper really? No problem at all

[@GrizzleGear]

I don't complain about anything at all. I give people honest reviews. But thanks for the feedback. 😁