Finally, a modestly priced 800 filll down jacket for the tall

Congrats! I know you've been looking for this for a very long time. :)

Don't those jackets have sewn-through baffles?

Sewn through?

EX Light Down – yes
UL Down – yes
Alpine Light Down – yes
Alpine Down (mentioned by OP) – no – box construction

Thanks Ben. Now to try and find a moderately priced, durable, breathable tall rain jacket. Don't get me wrong, I love my DriDucks but it would nice to have something for the really hairy stuff other than a Marmot Oracle.

I really like MontBell shell jackets — and they are well worth a look, particularly since you now know the MontBell size that fits you!

I have a Peak Shell jacket that's light and breathes wonderfully (only eVENT is more breathable, but not by all that much). MontBell now has an even lighter model that uses the same wp/b membrane: the 9.5oz Outpace parka.

Cheaper and less breathable — but still better than any Marmot or Columbia or Golite wp/b coatings — is the $99 Particle jacket.

Unfortunately the Particle is the only one that comes in an XXL and with a price I am willing to pay. I am not ruling it out but I guess I will have to see if it is what I really need. I guess I will keep using the DriDucks or the Momentuum windshirt.

Ben-

I didn't see pit-zips listed under the features for the Outpace Parka. Did I just miss it or did Montbell ditch them to save weight? What are the other differences between the Outpace and the Peak shell?

Peter:

Removing the pit zips was one of the weight savings. Personally, I prefer having the zips, even though I rarely if ever use them. To me, having them only helps to extend the range of comfort and decrease the need to put on / take off the jacket. Also, to me, the 1 oz. difference isn't really all that noticeable in real life.

OTOH, I should also emphasize that the MontBell Breeze Dry Tec wp/b laminiate is truly breathable — it maintains 100% rainproofness without the need for a PU layer — so it's directly air permeable similar to eVENT. No exieperience with the new Outpace but it does have two vented front core pockets to help with venting when needed.

I can't believe I missed that detail. A boxed baffle construction down jacket at that price (and at that weight) is an incredible deal.

Yeah, lack of pit zips is a deal breaker for me, especially since I do not yet own a wind shirt. I agree with you: 1 oz is certainly worth the gains in ventilation, comfort, and convenience.

First, thanks for the tip on the jackets – I am similar height/weight and have been looking and looking for the same reasons.

Second, I find the eVent shells made by Integral Designs to be worth their extra weight (in UL terms) due to the bomber construction and superb breathability. REI has a new eVent shell out that appears similar too. I agree that Montbell Breeze Dry Tec is also well reviewed for breathability, but I have no personal experience with it.

Brett,
if you want to pick up a bargain in XL (climber build… i.e. long & lean) then you'd be hard pressed to do better than the eVent sales samples that Crux are getting rid of on their direct sales page.

They are, perhaps, slightly on the heavy side for UL fanatics, but the sales samples use a lighter weight face fabric than the production Flak jacket so the weight will be reasonable and you get a streamlined mountain jacket with a really good helmet-compatible hood. Last time I spoke to them, they had one left (and one pair of matching pants) so hurry if you are interested. The price, even including shipping from the UK, is a steal! (£15 so about $25 plus postage… you shouldn't have to pay tax at this end as it's leaving the EU)

http://www.crux.uk.com/en/crux_specialoffers.php

Oh… and in case you are wondering, I have no affiliation to Crux… I just own a Flak Jacket and AK57 & AK30 packs.

John