Lightweight Down Jacket for camp

I'm leaning towards the EB jacket since it has DWR down, but the Fitz Roy is likely warmer. Best price right now is the Down Sweater but will it really keep me warm down to freezing, sitting about camp?

ALPINE LIGHT DOWN JACKET MEN’S in all sizes on sale for $140.00 and free shipping if you don’t like the sale color you can get it for the regular price$159 in other colors with free shipping ALPINE LIGHT DOWN JACKET MEN’S . They have a number of down jackets on sale in their OUTLET

Good find, don't know how I missed it. I'm reading that the MB Alpine Light is 4 oz of down vs. 3 or 3.5 in the Pata Down Sweater. Anything else I should consider other than down weight?

A little out of your price range at $247 but a great deal is the MIRAGE PARKA with a fill weight of 5.3 oz and a total weight of 12.8 oz, it is fully baffled which the others are not(the Alpine and the Pata are sewn through),you will not have cold spots with the baffled that you will get with the sewn through construction and it will be warmer.

Two others I’m considering as well – Marmot Zeus – RAB Microlight (advertises 4 oz of down, but reviewers say it has tight arms, which is a problem I run into a lot) The Montbell site isn’t very clear on shipping (e.g. 2-4 business days) and time is short so I might need to go for something from Backcountry, Amazon, etc. that can deliver fast.

Anything at Costco?

whatever fits you best … the snugger it is (providing you can still fit something like a fleece under it), the warmer itll be 4-6 oz of 800+ fill down depending on yr metabolism i own and use the EB (pre dridown) and it works just fine … as a bonus its a riskless purchase as EBs unlimited warranty covers it (keep the receipt) also make sure that your uniqlo can fit either over or under it just fine (over is better so that the uniqlo takes any damage) for an extra boost in insulation for static use get a hooded version ;)

Sadly no Costco membership (yet). Thanks Eric. My Uniqlo is quite snug, anything under needs to be a light fleece or base layer only. Due to weight lifting I’m starting to sadly outgrow my hiking jackets, I could comfortably fit my Alpha hoody under my Uniqlo but now it’s just too tight to be comfortable. I know for sure a Large Pata Sweater would fit on top. Hooded is nice, but I’ve got a decent beanie and balaclava for sleeping in my quilt. I’m also reading about heat loss due to lack of seal around the neck and how hooded jackets can have a problem there. Very personal, I’ve mostly done hoods, thinking of switching, so not decided either way. There is a hoody option for the RAB microlight…

I think the Montbell jacket is the best option. Most warmth for the weight. FWIW, I ordered something from Montbell this past Wed afternoon. Within 2 hours, I got a tracking number. And on Friday, it was delivered. It shipped from Colorado. I'm not saying all orders will ship that fast, but I was impressed. You could always call to check

Paul, I sent you a PM. – Todd

Can anyone comment on the sizing for the Alpine Light? I read the earlier years they ran small, but now not as much. I'm around 200 lbs, 5'10" 43" chest, so not sure if I would want a large or XL. I'm pretty much large in most jackets, the Patagonia Down Sweater was roomy enough to fit a good sized mid-layer underneath.

Can't comment on the Alpine Light specifically, however in general Montbell stuff designed as mid layers — such as the Ex Light down sweater and Chameece fleece — are cut pretty trim, whereas the jackets/parkas intended as outer layers are cut more generously to accommodate mid layers. This is true IME of the Thermawrap Guide and even with the Dynamo windshirt, which is a medium and under which my Ex Light down sweater, also medium, fits perfectly. I'm 5-9, 170… ok maybe a little more right now :^) If on a short fuse time-wise, probably better to order both and send one back. I wish I had done this last year with my EB Stormlight Dridown parka… ordered a M and needed a L for layering. Got it done and ended up very happy, but mailing and waiting was a PITA when I was all set to test-drive it in some nasty weather!

I'm 5-6 and 160# with a 42" chest. I've got a L Alpine Light Down Jacket which fits well with a fleece hoodie under it (I've not worn it like that in the field, I tried it at home to see if it would work). I suspect you'd be fine in an L with a 43" chest unless you want lots of layers under it.

Large sounds right for me then, thanks for the input. I'm now more tore about hood va no good and DWR. – forecasts are down to 28 and I expect a great deal of wind based on past experience, so leaning towards hood. – my eVent shell likely will have to be layered under the puffy, since it's a very athletic fit. Hence I'm leaning towards DWR down with a decent shell (I live in rainy WA). SAC has the Marmot Zeus on sale which has DWR down, but no hood and on the heavy sure, but the lowest price for sure. RAB Microlight is also DWR but fit and warmth are my big concerns, losing down a secondary. MB Alpine Light is still #1 but I'm hesitating about lack of DWR and price to a lease extent. And the hoody/non-hoody debate. Will need to decide today. :)

As you know there are tons of pro and con arguments about hood vs not. Initially I went with my alpine light jacket and a black rock hat but I constantly misplace the hat and the jacket is often too warm so I decided to save a ton of weight and get the EX Light Anorak for most of my trips. Just another data point…

… from Eddie Bauer I have this one and really like it. I think the down treatment does make a difference. Definitely L size.

Does anyone know the full weight and/or clo for the EB stormlight? Again, looking for something heavier than the Uniqlo which I think is around 2.5 oz. down fill.

I just noticed the microlight parka has 140 grams of down which puts it at over the MB Alpine Light by nearly an ounce. Heavier though and 750 vs 800.

This being BP Light we tend to want a light down jacket, and then end up having to supplement it with layers underneath or on top: light is too cold. I bought a big Brooks Range Alpini anorak down jacket with a hood on sale two years ago. Seven ounces of fill, 13 ounces total weight. Down remains the lightest and most efficient material for warmth. so now even for three seasons I leave layers at home and end up being warmer for less weight, with one big puffy. so think of terms of a system, not just the weight of one piece. But you probably know this. edit: actually now that I do the numbers, I like this piece even more! Plus, the shell is really weather proof.

I'm trying to save weight and bulk by using fewer layers. My active layer will be a 150-200 merino shirt, eVent shell for rain/wind. I have a 100 weight fleece for a mid later, mostly for sleeping. I would use the puffy over my eVent shell around camp as my final layer.

>>anyone know the full weight and/or clo for the EB stormlight Mine (size L) is 16.6oz (471g) on my digital scale, which is quite accurate. Maybe not the lightest, but I put some effort into semi-abusing it last winter (such as wearing it in freezing rain and stuffing it damp) and it was impressively resilient. I used it with other layers down to -6°F and was comfortable, but this is as I like to say "deep into YMMV territory". It doesn't have some features that some folks consider mandatory — hood, hem and wrist drawcords/velcro, for instance — but for me their mean measurements and the elastic in those areas worked out fine.

In my avatar I'm wearing an Eddie Bauer First Ascent Down Sweater. It has been (over the past 5 years) a great jacket for skiing, backpacking and wearing around town. Now they are even better because the 800 fill down is treated with Dri-Down DWR. Wish my jacket had it but I now have a First Ascent vest that does have it.

I would not let DWR down be a primary driver in your jacket selection. You'll be fine with or without it. Just pick the jacket that has the right fill weight, features, and cost for you.

I've had the MB Alpine Light (almost typed Alpinlite because I have that bag!) since Spring and I'm very happy with it. I purchased the previous season's jacket at a significant discount (and 'off' colors – mine is 'Coffee'. I quite like it). This was my first MontBell product and I couldn't be more impressed with construction and performance. Plump with down, but not too plump. It's a fairly sleek jacket, but warm. Sizing was concern of mine when purchasing–I almost went a size larger (I'm normally a size large and heard their stuff runs small). I stuck with the large and it fits perfectly. I still have a very well-used Marmot Zeus (at least 6 years old) that has tears covered with duct tape and a fussy zipper, but it served me very well. I still wear it when I'm not super concerned about damaging my down. Love the Zeus. Obviously there are weight concerns, but I recommend both of these. The Alpine Light is the nicer of the two, but they're both solid.