Western Mountaineering Hooded Flash Jacket Review

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I tested the Flash Jacket over a five month period while backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, tent and igloo winter camping, day hiking, and spring backpacking. In cold weather, I wore it as a mid-layer with a shell over it, and on warmer days I wore it on breaks and in camp. I typically wore it in my sleeping bag for extra warmth.

It's important to note that I did not test the Flash in temperatures colder than 0 F, and that was only briefly on a cold morning at the igloo while getting ready to go skiing. On another occasion it was 9 F with a 12 mph wind après-ski, and I had to wear another jacket under the Flash to stay warm.

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Viewing 17 posts - 1 through 17 (of 17 total)

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Aug 11, 2009 at 2:50 pm #1238516

Addie Bedford
BPL Member

@addiebedford
Locale: Montana

Companion forum thread to:

Western Mountaineering Hooded Flash Jacket Review

Aug 11, 2009 at 6:18 pm #1520194

Jay Wilkerson
BPL Member

@creachen
Locale: East Bay

I have used the WM Down Vest(XL-7oz) for years with alot of success…But I think it is time time upgrade and I will put the Hooded Flash jacket on my MUST have list for the upcoming Fall and Winter season….. Thanks for the review Will!!!
-Jay

Aug 11, 2009 at 7:37 pm #1520211

t.darrah
BPL Member

@thomdarrah
Locale: Southern Oregon

I have this jacket and I'm looking forward to trips this fall when the temperatures will warrant taking it along. It looks great in the gear closet. :)

Aug 11, 2009 at 7:47 pm #1520212

Ashley Brown
Member

@ashleyb

Thanks Will, great review.

I'd be interested in how the jacket fits compared to the Montbell inner jackets… is is longer and slimmer, or pretty much the same? I find my Montbell jacket to be an ok fit, but I would prefer a tighter fit around the torso and a bit more length.

Also, I guess the flash jacket would be not as warm as the Montbell Alpine Light, but somewhere in between that and the down inner?

Thanks again, Ashley.

Aug 12, 2009 at 10:53 am #1520327

Dan @ Durston Gear
BPL Member

@dandydan
Locale: Canadian Rockies

Nice Jacket, I just don't know where I'm going to get $260 from. Time to break the the piggy bank.

Aug 13, 2009 at 11:15 am #1520596

Mitchell Keil
Member

@mitchellkeil
Locale: Deep in the OC

Any thoughts on how the flash might compare to the slightly heavier Flight jacket which I own. I have found that the Flight can be worn as the Flash can be worn down into the 20s easily. With my Patagonia dragonfly wind jacket over it and a 200g merino wool crew under it, I am usually warm into the low 20s when inactive.

Aug 14, 2009 at 4:08 pm #1520949

jonathan hauptman
Member

@6hauptman6
Locale: A white padded room in crazy town.

The only advantages that I can see over something like the skaha plus down sweater(pocket version) are the full zipper, elastic and hand pockets. The skaha has fully baffled construction and can be gotten in epic fabric. If you could get them to make a custom skaha plus down sweater(pocket version)with full zip, elastic cuffs/waist it would probably only weigh around 11 ounces. The fully baffled construction and extra ounce of down fill would make for a considerably warmer jacket and the epic fabric would mean far better weather protection. All this would come at a minimum weight increase of about 2 ounces. I only mention this, because this review got me fantasizing about my perfect down jacket for spring,fall, and winter(aka-the real 3 seasons)use in the lower 48.
p.s., the only downside, price related heart attack$$$$$$^-^-^-^^^^^^^^^^^

Aug 27, 2009 at 5:25 pm #1523287

Bill Poett
Member

@wpoettaol-com
Locale: Santa Barbara

Anybody know a good online source for this Jacket, I have annanversary comming up and I just might have earned it ;0)

Thanks

Bill

Sep 9, 2009 at 9:28 am #1526224

Michael Heeley
BPL Member

@mheeley

Bent Gate mountaineering carries them and last time I was in the store (couple of weeks ago) they had a full selection.

http://www.bentgate.com

Oct 4, 2009 at 10:42 am #1532868

B. F.
Member

@thrush

*bump it*

As I can't decide whether to buy the Hooded Flash or the Flight Jacket, does someone have both jackets and can compare them? Both jackets look good, but I wonder wich one keeps the wearer warmer. The Hooded Flash is a little bit lighter (arround 1 ounce) but has a hood – and I think maybe with the hood it could be lighter AND even warmer than the Flight Jacket. But, as the Flight Jacket must have a higher loft, I'm not sure about that. Can someone try to compare them? Thanks in advance,

Björn

Oct 4, 2009 at 11:09 am #1532874

Richard Nisley
BPL Member

@richard295
Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

Bjorn,

The best determination of warmth is the comparable down fill weight. The WM Flight has ~5 ounces of 800+ down and the WM Hooded Flash has ~3 ounces of 800+ down.

Another way to categorize the two garments is that the Flash is in the "Down Sweater" class and the Flight is in the "Down Jacket" class. Down sweaters are generally appropriate for inactive use to ~32F range and down jackets to ~0F range. Obviously a supplementary hat is required, in lieu of a hood, for the respective temperature classes.

The "Winter Parkas" class averages about 9 ounces of 800+ fill (-30F range) and "Expedition Parkas" class averages about 16 ounces of 800+ fill (-60F range).

Oct 4, 2009 at 1:12 pm #1532903

B. F.
Member

@thrush

Thank you, this helps. I read much about them but didn't realized that the fill weight is that much different. I will now just have to think about wich temperature range I want to cover.

Björn

Oct 4, 2009 at 4:10 pm #1532925

Franco Darioli
Spectator

@franco
Locale: Gauche, CU.

I have the Hooded Flash but I am familiar with the Flight also, and would agree with Richard .
The hood (INMH) seems to warm up the head almost instantly, quicker than putting a hat on, but overall the Flight is a lot puffier.
Note also there are also about twice as many chambers on the HF, resulting in more "cold spots".
Franco

Oct 15, 2009 at 8:00 pm #1536871

Darin Butler
Member

@darinbu
Locale: Rocky Mountains

Bought one in the Bent Gate store in Golden CO today for $213.99. (They're having a general sale.) The regular price of $260 is what shows on their website (and everyone else's). I heard that Western Mountaineering doesn't let its retailers advertise a sale on their products. Of course, there's nothing preventing ME from spreading the word! I have no idea whether they'll honor this sale price for phone sales, but it's worth a phone call. Good deal on a great jacket. They had roughly 20 of them on the rack in various sizes and colors; don't know if they had more in the back.

I bought a Large which I weighed at 296 grams (10.44 oz). I'm 6'2" and 180 lbs and it fits me well. I found that it fit me better than does the 2009 MontBell UL Down Inner Parka, which is also a great jacket, but whose Large is too small and whose XL is a bit too big for me. Also, the Flash has more down and feels more substantial (especially in its AMAZING handwarmer pockets) despite little or no difference in weight. However, the 2009 Montbell does have a very nice adjustable hem and hood and comes with a stuff sack, all of which the Flash lacks, and is cheaper besides. If you're in the market you should definitely try them both on, as their differences are large enough to make personal preference meaningful.

Nov 10, 2009 at 1:00 pm #1544306

Anthony Weston
BPL Member

@anthonyweston
Locale: Southern CA

I found the Flash zipper split on me several times.

Nov 10, 2009 at 1:19 pm #1544314

Kattt
BPL Member

@kattt

I love this Jacket. I also have Montbell Ul Inner Parka and Mountain Hardwear Phantom, but the Alpine is the most versatile for me. Can barely feel it, very warm…

Nov 10, 2009 at 1:33 pm #1544317

Jeff K
Spectator

@jeff-k
Locale: New York

Do you have the parka or the jacket?

I have decided this will be my next piece of gear, but I can't decide if I should go for the hood or not. If not I would probably get a balaclava from down works. Any suggestions?

Currently I don't use quilts, although it is something I am wanting to experiment with.
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