Tough down jacket warm enough for Minnesota?

Are you asking for a jacket that will primarily used around town in normal life, but also on backcountry trips? Something to consider is that it's unlikely that you'll be pushing through branches as you wear your down jacket. They're generally worn on summits or in camp.

I can't recommend anything specific. My warm jacket is a Marmot Parbat, which is discontinued. I love it, and would look at the newer Marmot Greenland. My Parbat is actually in the drier right now (still going after 7 hours).

You hit it on the head, Jack. I guess after looking at new jackets the thin material had me a little worried. I guess I can answer myself and stick with the normal layering. Its just that every New Year we tend to do a "early morning" hike and it would be nice to not think so much about what I have on. A little lighter jacket with a tough shell is probably my best option.

Hey Erik,
I am guessing that you also want something light?
For that temp I would try to stay under 30 ounces.

I have a Montbell Permafrost and love it. It has a windstopper in the shell as well as a DWR on the outside. It also has welded seams and comes in at 27 ounces.

The Hyvent fabric from TNF is also pretty tough. Much much tougher than a standard nylon shell. The TNF Prison Optimus would be a good option.

You can also find Goretex and Event fabrics with down.
I just picked up a Ground Pyrite jacket from Backcountry for cheap.
Haven't got it yet but I'm sure it will work for the temp you are looking for.
Hope this helps?

I have an old sierra designs ski jacket with an ultra tough cordura shell, bomber.

Picked it up on the 'bay for cheap. Toasty and tough. Flannel lined pockets are nice for damp hands too.

Light it isn't.

I've been doing research on this very topic the past month and narrowed it down to Montbell, Feathered Friends and Nunatak. The prices increase accordingly as to the shell materials and loft. Montbell is very reasonably priced and has very good reviews.

Another option to consider for Minnesota is to pair two jackets. I live in Bemidji much of the year and on the coldest days pair a Montbell Alpine Light Parka (close fitting in normal size) with an OR Chaos belay jacket (oversized in normal size, synthetic insulation, windstopper shell) over the top. Both have proven themselves up to the occasional bushwhack. The Montbell 40D ballastic fabric of the Alpine Light is surprisingly tough and puncture resistant.

On a recent Boundary Waters trip I wore the Chaos around camp and in the canoe during some tough patches of weather, with little fear about it getting wet, and then switched to the Montbell down parka as part of my sleeping system. If the temps had dropped alarmingly I would have worn them together. With the synthetic on the outside any condensation would occur in that layer, avoiding loft degradation in the down.