Montbell, GoLite, Sierra Designs down jackets…..need help deciding

Well lets look at all 3.
1. The golite is a good jacket, descent amount of fill, but from my experience a bad fit. Also heavy jacket for the amount of fill.
2. Montbell. A little bulkier, more fill and more room for the fill to expand. The parka is heavy but not for the warmth you get.
3. Sierra designs is another great jacket, decently warm, and you like the thumb holes.

what exactly will you be doing with this jacket? a winter jacket, 3 season jacket?

I am looking for a 3 season jacket that will also get me through part of the winter. One that will fit nicely under a shell when needed. This leans me towards the tighter GoLite and Sierra Designs. However I saw a review on the Montbell that mentioned it fit well under an outer layer nicely and the insulation does not crush to some extent. So the warmest and most packable jacket at or around $200 dollars is my goal I suppose. Also, I have dreadlocks so I am wondering about how big of a dome those hoods can fit over :)

The Mountain Hardwear Phantom is an excellent jacket IF it fits you right, especially for shoulder-seasons (too much for summer insulation). The jacket can be a little short in the torso length, although I do not have this issue.

Anyway, here are a few links to sale Phantoms:

http://www.backcountry.com/mountain-hardwear-phantom-down-jacket-mens?CMP_SKU=MHW1907&MER=0406&CMP_ID=SH_FRO001&mv_pc=r126&003=7162907&010=MHW1907-JUN-L&mr:trackingCode=76C1A093-81E3-E011-87D9-001B21A69EB8&mr:referralID=NA

http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/product_Mountain-Hardwear-Men-s-Phantom-Jacket_10164441_10208_10000001_-1_?cm_mmc=CSE-_-GoogleBase-_-na-_-Mountain-Hardwear-Men-s-Phantom-Jacket&ad_id=GoogleBase

http://www.mountaingear.com/webstore/Clothing/Jackets/Mountain-Hardwear/Phantom-Jacket-Men-s/_/R-221744.htm

Here's an 800-fill GoLite Roan Plateau (but I don't know anything about it):

http://www.mountaingear.com/webstore/Clothing/Jackets/GoLite/Roan-Plateau-800-Jacket-Men-s/_/R-229202.htm

I love my Gnar hoody, especially the thumb holes. If you need a L or XL watch Sierra Trading Post and you can find it for $80 to $90 when they have it in stock, only several times a month at best, and use a 35% off coupon they email you.

I own the Montbell you have on your list, I got a large and room for a fleece under and fairly long in both torso and sleeves. No experience with the other 2 items.

I have worn under a lightish windproof to make up for the cold spots on the baffles, and this added noticeable net warmth dispite a bit of squishing, but just remember such high-loft down jackets will squish to nothing under any weight and will be cold particularly down the sides of the shoulder straps., less so on the back and shoulders as the pack itself is providing some insulation if you have padded shoulder straps and padded pack, but typically not badded straps down the sides. Synthetics don't squish nearly as much (why down is good for packing away smaller than synth for same insulation).

So you will need something non-squishy under if backpack wearing and then you need temps overall fairly low.

I find standing/walking its warm but if I sit down the arch of my back and the widening of the hip area acts to squish the insulation away around the lower back, so it needs some thick insulated pants.

The hood, it is very large, it is hard to make it close to the head even with the cinches up tight, I'd say yes get the hood it will squish to nothing under a shell given half the chance but when in use will provide a lot of insulation for its weight.

Montbell, top quality, its not leaking feathers, unlike the Patagonia Down Sweater I own which has less fill of down.

have the GoLite Roan Plateau and love it.

defiantly get a size down tho.

thanks for all the help. I am thinking about a few more now, the Roan that Luke mentioned is appealing but weighs a little more than the others. what about the bitterroot? It weighs 13oz, has 5oz of 850fp down, and is on sale for $200. It looks like it fits tight enough to slide under an outer shell. any thoughts? as always the help is appreciated.

matt

I have the Montbell Alpine Light jacket and it is very well made, and very lofty. I think Montbell makes great jackets for the money. I have been very happy with mine.

It would be very warm—like midwinter warm— with a shell over it, and a base layer. Add some light fleece and you would be very toasty.

I haven't used the Sierra Designs. I have a Golite Coal parka and I think the fit is pretty awful, very boxy. Anyone interested in a size large, with polarguard insulation? M

Matt

The Montbell Alpine Light has stitch-thru baffles rather than say box baffles, for weight-saving BUT means there's a hot/cold/hot band going on. To mitigate this a really baggy windproof over the whole thing just raises the air temp at the stitching so less cold-spots, also in effect turns a fabric meant to be not exposed to harshness into more of an external coat, without adding a weight over the down to suppress its loft.

My baggy windproof is a Paramo Fuera, but I can't add it when there's anything thick under the Montbell as then too much loft squishing and negative effect.

regardless of what you choose, for a coat that is being used in shoulder seasons into winter, I think it's prudent to have a hood

the Alpine Light is cut a little large, I believe this is intentional as the typical role of a "puffy" during colder weather is when stopped for breaks and at camp, so typically it will be layered over a base layer and mid layer(s)

I find the Alpine Light very warm for it's weight (16.1 oz in size Large) and have been very happy with it for a shoulder season/winter parka, for "summer" I use something a lot lighter

Matthew,
I agree with Nigel's suggestion of a baggie windproof over the MontBell Light Alpine.
I use mine in winter and use the Dri-Ducks top over it. Dri-Ducks comes supersized. It will fit over just about anything.
Added advantages are:
The Dri-Ducks protects the down garment against rain and snow, against abrasion, against sparks from a campfire and…if you wear trail sneakers and they freeze overnight, tuck them in plastic bags and then under the Dri-Ducks over breakfast. By the time you need to wear them, they'll be soft instead of frozen.
Marty Cooperman
Cleveland, Ohio

I bought the Alpine Light a couple of years ago. At that time they ran small so everyone usually ordered a size up. I don't know if it is still this way.

I only wish I had purchased the parka instead of the jacket.

I bought the Parka Nov '10 and the hood is massive, hard to get snug. I ordered large and its a little loose in the torso but a lot loose in the hood, needs probably something on your head to bulk it up. Cold air circulating overwise and only a cinch down but then its over your eyes, not from behind to reduce volume of the hood.

The hood on my windproof I layer in the coldest situation is more enclosing and so in effect makes the Alpine's hood cosier.

How low will the alpine light down parka take you when wearing a base layer and light shell such as a driducks jacket?

Obvious this depends on the individual and how active one is being.

For this thread of someone being relatively inactive and moving around on short walks in an urban situation (did I get it right?) then I'd say in the 15F region. The longer you walk the more you'd need to take layers off. In urban situations there are plenty of barriers to raising your output, stopping to cross streets, and the general slowness of others on the sidewalks.

Down takes a while to build up its heat, you need to put it on when you are warm and go outdoors just before the roar starts. If you put it on too late there's a good couple of shivering minutes whilst the coat builds up its temperature.

FYI inactive, I've been in my house and wore the Alpine Light in 50F and been toasty. I've also been in 40F sat outdoors in a breeze inactive and was cold.

for me sitting around camp I'd say into the mid to upper 20's

as far as sizing don't size up, I'd order your normal size- the newer ones are definitely cut a little roomy

Jeffrey,
I've worn it down to around 15-20F comfortably with the Dri-Ducks over it.
This while cooking dinner, attending to minor camp chores, basically near at rest or at rest.
Note that I also have Thermawrap pants to insulate my legs and the Dri-Ducks pants over that too.
Also I have the BPL warm insulated hood and down booties.
I add all my layers when at camp, so might have base layer, cap-2 layer, driclime layer top and bottom under the down layer.
I make sure to sit on an insulated pad and use a small 1'X1' pad under my feet when either standing or sitting in place.
Marty Cooperman
Cleveland, Ohio

Well I pulled the trigger and got the montbell. I do believe I should have got a large though. The medium fits well. I can pull it away from my chest a few inches and it is not tight with my columbia base layer on. however, when I put my arms straight out in front of me or when I hug myself the back gets tight in the shoulder blade region and the front of my shoulders gets tight as well. Not to the point where my range of motion is limited but there is definitely some compression of the down. I have included a few pictures. let me know what you think. My measurements are Chest – 40 , sleeve – 33, waist – 34. 6'2 175lbs. judge me all you want :)

I think you could probably go w/ a large and be plenty safe

Matt,

I weigh 172 and 2" shorter than you, my Alpine Light fits about the same as yours-right on the edge of needing to go up a size. If I could go back I would upsize so I could layer just a little bit easier. My 60g synthetic vest just fits underneath without compressing. Montbell really cut the Alpine Light to be a trim layering down piece, not so much a dedicated over parka….at least that is my impression based on fit. It is a bit of a hybrid, not long enough in the tail for keeping out those chills, not enough fill for really frigid weather, and not large enough in the cut to go over several layers without having to go up a size or two. Its a great 3 season parka nonetheless, just a bit quirky I think. For the price I paid I am happy.

yes that was the general consensus and judging by your waist and torso and arms you should have gone large. Montbell show the back lengths so you can guess from that. I went large, I'm about 4" shorter than you and about-right in torso, arms but too-large around head.

if anything for your arms/torso… extra large?

looks like it fits fine to me. is what you are wearing underneath that exactly what you would be wearing underneath that at your coldest on a trip?

only you can really be the judge of whether it's too small or not. but decide now and live with your decision while the tags are still on it. if you try to take it out on a trip and then send it back it WILL catch a stray ember from the fire. inevidable…

Nigel and Mike, thank you for your help from the get go…. you have been most helpful…. and I'd like to thank Eugene, Josh, and everyone else. I tried to go as light as possible and ordered the medium. I don't like how it gets tight on my back when I extend my arms but I do like how it has a snug fit. The columbia base layer is what I would expect to wear regularly with the montbell but I would like the option of being able to add another layer. Nigel, when you lean forward ( with the jacket zipped up around the neck) and stretch out your arms do you experience a tightening of the material on the shoulder blade region of your back or the front shoulder area right on the seam?

Matt, I don't feel any tightness anywhere with my large. I just did the posture for you and if I have my hands in the sleeves so the elasticated ends catch the hands I can make a little tightness across the back but if I have wrists at the sleeve-ends then no tightness. You have longer body parts than me so I'm not sure such a posture test is valid. Note that I deliberately when making my $140 Alpine Light Down Parka purchase decision, I researched and was told to up a size, I'm usually a medium so I went large. There is so much room in the large for me it allows me to fit a Patagonia Down Sweater under or place a windproof over the Montbell. Probably I could fit a Down hooded jacket under the Montbell as the hood is large too. I can't do both thick layer under+over unless I were to buy an X-large windproof (but I digress). That means my Large has room all-over, no tightness anywhere plus sleeves so long I can keep them in the sleeves without forcing tightness at the shoulder and keep them in the pockets, toasty.

FYI these 3 items get me from California, through the airport, flight and walking around Chicago in the evening.

http://wslackandsons.co.uk/Naturally-PA-ramo/Naturally-PA-ramo-Mens-Trekker-Hoodie-black/prod_449.html

This provides either little or a lot insulation and wicks, no longer made.

http://www.rathbonesofkeswick.co.uk/item/prod/paramo-fuera-peak-windproof-jacket/290/

A very tough and breathable windproof. Layer over the fleece or not, layer over the Montbell or not. No longer made.

The Montbell Alpine Light.

I joke with family this is my layering system for climbing Mt Chicago, from the warm foothills of California through the chilly aircraft and the peak of Chicago itself. I once though got very cold and tried the Patagonia under the Montbell if I were to visit a very cold place I'd pack both down items being 2L and 3L packed. If I had bought one much thicker down, say the Montbell Frost Line Parka with 6.7oz down vs the Alpine Light 4.3oz and the 3oz Sweater then I'd spent a little less $ but end up with such a warm jacket I'd personally wear only a few days a year typically and the issue of if you sweat in down you eventually kill its insulation.