MontBell vs Mountain Hardwear

I have the MH Phantom and it is a good jacket: 14 ounces, about 3 inches of total loft and the fabric is rather weather resistant for its weight. I found myself ice climbing while wearing it once due to very frigid temperatures- it rebuffed ice and water rather well.

However, it also has unnecessary features for an ultralight jacket: there is an inner zipped pocket that is not large enough for gloves, and an outer zipped chest pocket; these are in addition to the two zipped handwarmer pockets.
Also, there is a hem drawstring and another drawstring on the inside to adjust girth.
These features are simply not needed for an ultralight insulation piece.

The fleece lined pockets are nice when not wearing gloves, but I almost always am if taking this jacket. Also, the cut is above the waist which really decreases warmth, but may be important if you want easy access to a harness.

For the money, the FF hooded Helios (or Helios and a down balaclava) is the warmth to weight winner and is a jacket I will buy when funds allow.

P.S. I see no need for Event on anything other than a belay jacket. I also see that you are in the Smokies. I am taking the Phantom to western NC with me in January for some backpacking, so I will see how it does in your area.

I would get a Western Mountaineering Flight jacket over any of these. I have a phantom and had a hooded Helios. I think the flight is warmer then the phantom. Plus it's lighter. I didn't like the way the Helios fit.

I have to agree with Robert, I would choose the Western Mountaineering Flight or Feathered Friends Hyperion Jackets before I would go with the Mountain Hardwear Phantom. They have similar fill weights but are much lighter. I don't know that either would be enough for sitting around at 0*F though.

" I didn't like the way the Helios fit."

Robert, what did you not like about it?

I wear a large flight jacket. So I ordered a large helios. It was way too tight across the shoulders. I exchanged it for an extra large and it fit very baggy, from the hood all the way down through the body. I got the nano sphere fabric and thought it was a little stiff.

I know it is a little more money. But, if you want a very warm down jacket that is relatively light for what it is. I would go with the western mountaineering meltdown. It's what I wear when I expect it to be around 0 degrees. I have never been cold while wearing the western mountaineering meltdown.

I recall reading on this site that the Meltdown and Flight have nearly the same amount of down fill, with the only real difference being the fabric and hood. I'm still not sure I buy it as every Meltdown I have seen is very lofty, but you might want to do a search for the thread.

Hooded Helios all the way. eVent shell could be nice if you'll be in weird weather, sleeting "snaining" stuff. But I think you'd be fine in almost anything with the normall shell. On fit, I find that I need to go up a size on FF stuff.

If price is a consideration, I'm selling a WM flight in XL (used) for $150 and a montbell frostline in L (almost new) $130. Either would suit your purposes well. Flight, better warmth per weight, but the frost line is VERY warm and also has a detachable hood. I decided both are too warm for the kind of backpacking I typically do. Frostline strikes me as more of a belay coat. Seems like its built for more layering and has a more durable outer.

I have 4 down jackets ( Montbell, WM,MH, Fugu )and the Phantom is by far the warmest although it weighs a little more. I think all are good choices. I have seen the Phantom on sale after Christmas for $ 150 last year.