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Looking for a UL Down Jacket


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  • #1219779
    EndoftheTrail
    BPL Member

    @ben2world-2

    I’m looking for a full-zip, UL down jacket with hand pockets that — together with a windproof shell jacket — will keep an average guy warm to 30F when at rest. MontBell has one weighing just 6.7 oz — but I don’t really care for its “checker board” look. Any other recommendations?

    #1364066
    Jeroen Wesselman
    Member

    @jeroenman

    Locale: Europe

    Western Mountaineering Flight Jacket for a full zip jacket. Not cheap but satisfaction and big smile garantied.
    if you are willing to consider a pull over version, the Nunatak Shaka (Plus)is the best out there; just my opinion

    #1364072
    Diana R
    BPL Member

    @mysticmoose-2

    Locale: Great Lakes region

    If you prefer the diamond pattern over the checkerboard, you could always order the women’s version…!

    #1364075
    Benjamin Smith
    BPL Member

    @bugbomb

    Locale: South Texas

    http://gearx.com/product_info.php?products_id=480

    Mountainsmith Super Down Jacket

    It weighs about 14 oz, so it’s in a whole different weight category than the MB stuff. It is very warm, boasts baffled construction, and would definitely keep me warm standing around to 30. I’m a slim guy at 5′ 11″ and 150#. The medium fits perfectly – while I have an impressive “ape index,” the arms are plenty long enough.

    #1364097
    Nathan V
    BPL Member

    @junk

    Locale: The Great Lake State

    I have a Feathered Friends Hyperion jacket with Epic shell fabric, it’s wind proof, quite warm, weighs 11 oz, but isn’t cheap.

    #1364100
    larry savage
    Spectator

    @pyeyo

    Locale: pacific northwest

    The Western Mtn. flight mentioned back a bit weighs 10oz./med,11oz./lg. Patagonia’s down sweater weighs 9 oz…just about the lightest thing in down is Western’s flash vest at 3.5oz. The problem arises when you try to compare fill weights and loft of each jacket. Some of these makers just aren’t saying how much is in their product. The Montbell inner jacket you’re looking at has a fill of 2 oz. Go-lite’s cumulus weighs 12 oz. but has more then twice the fill at 5.36 oz.
    Prolite has the Montbell 2005 jacket on sale at $99.98 and their scale says it weighs 7.9 oz. Good luck.

    #1364104
    Richard Nisley
    BPL Member

    @richard295

    Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

    For sitting in 30F weather with a wind shell over the insulation, you will need about .7″ of single layer loft.

    In addition to other poster’s fine recommendations, the Patagonia Down Sweater will also satisfy your criteria.

    #1364110
    RC
    BPL Member

    @demo

    Locale: PNW

    buying the women’s version is a good suggestion. While I personally own the UL Thermawrap vest (the synthetic version), my wife has the UL down jacket…fits me just fine and is very light.

    #1364119
    EndoftheTrail
    BPL Member

    @ben2world-2

    Thanks, everyone for your suggestions! More things for me to think about…

    #1364617
    larry savage
    Spectator

    @pyeyo

    Locale: pacific northwest

    Old threads never die…just about the nicest down product out there is the nunatak skaha with or without the hood.

    #1364719
    Jason Burnett
    Member

    @jasonjnj-org

    I actually have a size large Mont Bell UL Down Inner Jacket that’s now too big for me (lost a bunch of weight).

    I took it on one trip. If you’re interested, I’ll make you a nice deal so I can buy another one in my size.

    Shoot me an email.

    #1364723
    EndoftheTrail
    BPL Member

    @ben2world-2

    Hi Jason:

    I love deals, but sorry, I wear a size Medium…

    #1364740
    Bill Law
    BPL Member

    @williamlaw

    Locale: SF Bay Area

    I’m on the lookout to buy one of these, also. One I’ve run across in a few places is the Moonstone Lucid.

    Moonstone’s site seems to be down so I can’t look up the specs. I see one place selling it which lists the size M at 10.5 oz (they have only size S, but at $99!).

    That’s at http://www.modernmountainman.com/catalog.php?type=product&id=64171

    #1364747
    Joseph Rothstein
    Member

    @joe_r

    Moonstone’s site is down because Moonstone is gone. I read somewhere that they were bought buy Columbia and then eliminated (possibly due to the overlap with the Mountain Hardwear line?). You might still be able to find the Lucid. If you’re in Seattle, try Second Ascent. I saw a few Lucid jackets there for $100 recently.

    As for the jacket itself, I have it and it’s nice. Size large is just over 11 oz. Let me know if you want any more info on it, although I’ve barely used it because I so rarely need something that warm. The Montbell jackets also look good, and the old models of the Inner Down and UL Inner Down jackets are on sale at Montbell’s outlet site for about $110.

    #1364779
    Bill Law
    BPL Member

    @williamlaw

    Locale: SF Bay Area

    I hadn’t heard of Moonstone’s demise. It sounds like one might find the Lucid at closeout prices, now.

    How does the Lucid compare to the WM Flight jacket in terms of insulation value? The Lucid is 800+ fill power down but I can’t find any reports on what the fill weight is. It looks more like the Montbell jacket, though.

    #1364793
    Joseph Rothstein
    Member

    @joe_r

    I expect that almost anything from Moonstone should be heavily discounted, if you can find it.

    I’ve seen the Western Mountaineering Flight once, and it looked warmer (higher loft) than the Lucid. If you’re considering jackets in the Flight’s price range, check out the Feathered Friends Hyperion as well. It looks like it has a lot of warmth for it’s weight, and you can choose the shell fabric.

    #1364857
    Carol Crooker
    BPL Member

    @cmcrooker

    Locale: Desert Southwest, USA

    Hey Benjamin,
    I’ll sell you the UL down inner jacket size medium (reviewed here) for $30 plus $5 shipping. (I have an older version in small that weighs a little less and I don’t REALLY need two :) The medium is in great shape.

    #1364861
    Joseph Rothstein
    Member

    @joe_r

    Carol, I might be interested in buying the jacket if Benjamin doesn’t want it.

    #1364865
    EndoftheTrail
    BPL Member

    @ben2world-2

    Hi Carol:

    Thanks for the offer… but I am looking for something with a full zipper, rather than plastic snap buttons.

    #1364899
    First Last
    BPL Member

    @snusmumriken

    Locale: SF Bay Area

    Or if Joseph doesn’t want it _ I’d love it!

    #1365020
    Carol Crooker
    BPL Member

    @cmcrooker

    Locale: Desert Southwest, USA

    Joseph,
    e-mail me at [email protected] and let me know for sure if you want it.

    #1365023
    Mitchell Keil
    Member

    @mitchellkeil

    Locale: Deep in the OC

    Hey Ben:
    I own both the UL Down Inner jacket and a WM Flight.

    The MB is good to 30 easily if you layer a windshirt over it. I have never had a problem with the snaps, and it is fairly windproof even with the snaps. Layering a UL windshirt over it like a dragonfly makes it seem even more cacoon like. Packs down to about the size of an 8oz water bottle.

    The WM Flight is unbelieveably warm. I feel like the Micheline Man in it and at 12 oz for a large, it is everything that all of the reviews claim it to be. I have been down to 15′ in it with a light shell and been toasty. Packs down to about the size of a 28 oz nalgene bottle. If you chose one or the other you would not be unhappy at 30′. Any colder and the WM Flight wins hands down and it has insulated had pockets, too.

    #1365057
    paul johnson
    Member

    @pj

    Locale: LazyBoy in my Den - miss the forest

    I’ll 2nd Mitchell’s comments.

    Just standing around or walking very slowly/leisurely, I find the MB UL Down Inner Jacket good to mid-to-upper 20’s w/o the windshirt (if there is very little wind). I’ve only been out for around 40minutes in those conditions without much movement, so perhaps some heat build up from previous activity was keeping me warm and toasty?

    The snaps are not a big issue for me – enough of them for proper ventilation purposes and most of the time not too difficult to manipulate with thin gloves. I think i would prefer a zipper though (though, IME, some of MB’s zippers are a real pain to get started unless one pays close attention).

    Don’t have the WM Flight, so can’t compare.

    #1365065
    EndoftheTrail
    BPL Member

    @ben2world-2

    Thanks for your insights, MF and PJ. The urge to buy is always strong… but in my sober moments, I remind myself that I already have a perfectly good Thermawrap. MB claims that the synthetic Thermawrap and the down UL Inner are comparable in warmth (although some have written here that the UL down is a bit warmer).

    #1365085
    paul johnson
    Member

    @pj

    Locale: LazyBoy in my Den - miss the forest

    Have both. Comparable in warmth, IME. Personally, use the Thermawrap more. Only use the down when it’s going to be dry.

    Guess i’m not as sober as you are Ben.

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