The North Face Thunder Jacket Review

Any thoughts as to how it would compare with the Patagonia Down Sweater? Here is a link to their sweater:http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/product/mens-down-sweater?p=84673-0-083

Thanks for your review.

thanks for the review

I'd also like to hear any comments on a comparo w/ the patagonia down sweater

while there is some allure to a slightly lighter jacket, a little more durability and a few additional features is the way I'm leaning

I'd probably wear the jacket a fair bit when not hiking, so a jacket that looks decent doesn't hurt my feelings either :)

also poking around it appears the jacket your wearing is the older model, the newer one (NF site) looks like this

http://cdn2.thenorthface.com/customers/c566/AGCE/AGCE_viewLarger/main_variation_001_view_1_538x538.jpg?20090825014243

the "older" version lists a a 13.4 oz weight, the new one 14.2

their are some decent deals on the older one floating around :)

Mike and Lapsley,

There is 3 oz of 800 fill down used in the Patagonia Down Sweater at 12.4 oz. By extrapolation, the Thunder Jacket is comparable in warmth at 14.2 oz. By far, the best value in this warmth class is the new Mont-bell UL TEC Down Series for $175 and only 11.3 oz! Prolite has this jacket on sale for ~$140.

Material quality of the new Thunder Jacket is seriously questioned in the review on their Web site.

Hi All,

Mike, I have not used the Patagonia Down Sweater, but there is a review of it by BPL: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/patagonia_down_sweater_spotlite_review.html

Yes, I did review the older model, and mentioned that in the review. That often happens with product reviews, so we have to weigh the pros and cons. Far too often the product gets heavier rather than lighter.

Richard, the Montbell UL Tec Down Jacket is a very good comparison to TNF Thunder Jacket; thanks for pointing that out.

Happy hiking,
Will

Here is a 9.17 oz. women's 800-fill Eddie Bauer Downlight Sweater worthy of consideration: http://www.eddiebauer.com/EB/Womens-Outerwear/Womens-First-Ascent-Outerwear/index.cat#ppl={type%3A%22hide%22}

and 13.39 oz for men: http://www.eddiebauer.com/EB/Mens-Outerwear/First-Ascent/index.cat#ppl={type%3A%22hide%22}

MontBell 10.0 oz for women US U.L.TEC DOWN JACKET W'S: http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=70&p_id=2301128

and 11.3 oz for men: http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?p_id=2301127