montbell inner down jacket now has a zipper

Unfortunately, they’ve already run out on the “gun metal” color — the only nice color IMO.

I still haven’t figured out how or where they squeezed the weight savings:

2006 Fall – 800fp down – 6.9oz total weight, 2.0 fill weight, full zip, 2 pockets

2006 Spring – 725fp down – 7.4oz total weight, 2.1 fill weight, plastic snap closures, no pockets

So MB saved only 0.1 ounce of down by using higher fill power. However, MB added 2 hand-warmer pockets plus they replaced the almost weightless (but lousy) plastic snap closures with a full zip. The shell and liner material remains identical (15-denier Ballistic Airlight). How did they achieve the half ounce weight saving? Hopefully, this isn’t a case of “spec optimism”…

Do you know if they’re in the store? I live near there and would be happy to do a little weight comparison for you guys. I was planning on heading up there sometime soon anyway to have the wife checkout the strech sleeping bags.

Chris

I called MB’s Boulder store, and these jackets are available there. They even have the color and size that I want (“gun metal” in Medium) — even though it’s not available through the website.

In any case, it would be great if you can take a look and let us know about the weight, warmth, etc. in comparison with the old model. Thanks in advance!

The older UL down jacket’s shell and lining are made of CALENDERED (flattened) nylon fiber — same as with their down sleeping bags. MB claims this flattening process makes for a far more down proof material.

The new model’s shell and lining are made with HOLLOW nylon fiber! Not that I really know, but I suppose if you don’t flatten the fiber, then maybe you can get away with using less of it — and hence the weight saving! But will the new shell/lining be less down proof???

I remember a few years ago, MB used hollow fibers, and there were problems with “feather” escape — and that supposedly led to the whole calendering process. What gives?

Stopped by on the way back from a bike ride. They had at least 2 mediums on the rack. I could buy one and send it to you if you can’t get them online. They also noted that they were closing that location in 2 weeks to move to the new 29th street mall and that in the process they won’t be open for a couple weeks. The new jackets are really slick and the hand warmer pockets are very simple. I didn’t get a chance to stuff and weigh one but I could if I go back.

In other news I picked up an old style no zipper down super stretch #7 for just over $100! I couldn’t turn it down at that price and I’ll weigh it here shortly and review it a bit when I get a cool night.

Christopher:

Thank you very much… I really appreciate your willingness to take the trouble of buying and shipping the jacket.

I’m a bit concerned about the new jacket’s shell/liner as to whether they may be proned to leaking down (as described in my post above). I will hold off buying for now.

I may shamelessly ask you in the future… there are some GoLite stuff that I am interested in — and I understand GoLite has a pretty big sale twice a year at their Boulder store that’s not offered online. Do you know about this?

Now, if you should find anything on sale in the LA area — just ask away, and I’ll do the same for you. :)

Benjamin,

No problem. I like going into the store anyway and drooling over many of their clothing/items. Plus I get to browse the sale racks for nice finds like today’s sleeping bag bargin. While there are great UL sleeping bags out there, it’s rare to find one for $100 much less new!

As to the GoLite sale, I have heard of it but never gone. I am very interested in some of their 2007 stuff and will be checking it out as soon as it’s available. I’d be happy to stock up on sale items for people in the future so long as I’m not buying and shipping $1000s of things :)

Chris

Chris:

So you bought the bag? Nice!

I talked to Golite, in Boulder, last week and they told me they have 1 sale a year and that it was coming up in November. I’m also interested in some of their 2007 items, but if I could find a few current items on sale, all the better. Good luck!

Dang. Just my luck. I’ll be traveling during November. Maybe I can give my “wish list” to Christopher… :)

Golite had a sale in April…

Hmm, maybe they did tell me 2 sales a year. What I do remember is they told me they were having their next sale in November. Good luck gear hunting….

Yes, I too remember the April sale. Someone posted a list of stuff on sale — that list was both long and deeply discounted! Alas, living in LA, all I could do was salivate…

Robert, did GoLite tell you which day(s) in November?

I remember hearing about the April sale. Some friends of mine at work went. I’ll keep my ears open for the November sale and if anyone else finds out the date feel free to post it.

I called GoLite and was told that the sale is scheduled for November 10-12 — at their headquarters “just outside Boulder”. I assume you lucky Boulder residents all know where that is — or can easily find out.

I’m sure I can find out the location. I want to go over there anyway. My email for anyone is

chris at shiftedthinking dot com

Benjamin I’d be happy to pick you up some stuff and we can arrange details and shipping over email.

I really appreciate it. Thanks!

I own a late 2005 UL Down Inner Jacket–the first year that changed the quilting to a grid rather than diamonds. I’ve been very happy but it does have three weaknesses:

1. The snaps suck. They’re a pain to deal with, and drafts can blow through, particularly if you don’t have a shell on over the ULDIJ.

2. Lack of handwarmer pockets.

3. Shiny/slick fabric. The Montbell fabric can definitely be more “sticky” against the skin vs. the gold standard, Pertex Quantum. I originally ordered my ULDIJ in black but the shiny fabric looked like a lawn and leaf bag! I exchanged for gunmetal which looks a little better.

It’s great to hear that the late 2006 model has fixed the first 2 problems at least, even though it cost a little bit of weight.

> The older UL down jacket’s shell and lining are made of CALENDERED (flattened) nylon fiber — same as with their down sleeping bags. MB claims this flattening process makes for a far more down proof material.

> The new model’s shell and lining are made with HOLLOW nylon fiber! Not that I really know, but I suppose if you don’t flatten the fiber, then maybe you can get away with using less of it — and hence the weight saving! But will the new shell/lining be less down proof???

The 2005 was also the Ballistic Airlight 15 denier nylon, hollow fibers, calendared both sides. It doesn’t sound like that has changed. The 2005 tag actually had a diagram that explained how calendaring works especially well with their hollow fibers because they flatten more than solid fibers and actually get more down-proof as a result.

BTW when I got my 2005 jacket, the shell fabric was shiny, crinkly, and smelled somewhat of petroleum. So I promptly washed it. That definitely helped soften the fabric and make it less shiny and also cut the smell. The label said to dry clean only but I ignored that and used down wash. I assume the warning was because their DWR isn’t all that D. I must say that the DWR is the most extreme I’ve ever seen–even spraying water from several feet above couldn’t wet out the fabric when it was new. But I didn’t mind washing some of that away to improve the feel, look and smell. I don’t understand who would buy a “down” “inner” jacket and then expect it to be stormproof anyway? :-)