What down jacket? Patagonia down sweatshirt? Montbell ultralight down parka?

Camp USA has some very good deals on their closeouts page right now.
A variety of down jackets and parkas, with or without hoods, etc.
Way lower prices than their normal retail.
http://www.camp-usa.com/products/categories/CLOSEOUTS.asp

I would definitely suggest a down piece with a hood, but I'm biased here as all my insulation pieces, save for one lone synthetic vest, have a hood. You mentioned summit use and idling around after a peak bag, having a hood is almost requisite in my opinion for hanging out on a chilly wind swept topout. Trying to mitigate cold wind creep down the back of your neck via balaclavas and beanies can get downright silly.

Patagonia's Down sweater doesn't come with a hood (unless you get the hooded version of course) and I think there are better warmth to weight ratio's to be found for your hard earned dollars. The Marmot Zeus full zip jacket is comparable and costs less than the Pata Down Sweater if you do decide to go hoodless (Backcountry.com has it on sale for $105 in L or XL (blue), originally $175). The MB UL Down Parka is a great jacket for moderate 3-season temps, and layers really well under a shell. I found the UL Down Parka to be surprisingly warm down into the 30F's for it's weight and size (it fits slim unless you size up) layered over a wool base/midlayer. Only downside to the MB UL Hoody is the shell, which errs on the side of "flimsy". I had a snag in mine which had to be repaired. Comparable to the MB UL Down Parka is the Eddie Bauer Downlight Hoody, people seem to like it and the warranty is exceptional. Grab one in size Large for $119 while they're still on clearance.

If you can find a Montbell Alpine Light Parka on sale that would be another great option to add to you list. This is my only down piece and it covers me year round here in NM. My only knock on the jacket is the cut in the rear, which doesn't give me much rooster tail in the back to cover me up when I'm moving around setting up tarp or bending over collecting wood. Warmth wise, it's good into the 10's/20's if layered properly.

Hopefully this helps some, or at least gives you a few options.

Check out the Costco down jacket thread in this forum.

I'm 5'8", 185 lbs and the largest of the boy's jackets fits me snugly. Cheap,warm and light (under 12 ounces with hood). Good for sleeping or standing around camp if it fits you….and it has a hood.

Oops. I'm describing the one I got in the last batch. Sounds like the new ones aren't exactly the same.

If you are a med take a look at this great deal!

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=68070&skip_to_post=581443#581443

Super light and super warm. I absolutely love mine.

Chis…thanks for the heads up, but I definitely want something with a hood. I find that an insulated hood adds a lot of warmth and it is often more comfortable than wearing a baclava etc……only when it gets super cold will i put on a baclava.

Just to add one more detail…..this will be used mainly for summer high altitude alpine environments like Colorado.

Also, I am 6'2" 175 pounds, so that medium would probably be a bit too small.

http://www.moontrail.com/montbell-alpine-light-down-parks-p-12632.php

Steepandcheap.com has had both the Patagonia down sweater hoodie and the Stoic Hadron on sale recently. I got the Patagonia for $125, retail is $250.

Read Will Rietveldt's review on down jackets (if you're a member) and you'll find the
Eddie Bauer "Down Sweater" a very good buy for the money. I've had one for a few years and it is very high quality construction with 800 fill European goose down.

You can often find them on sale. Check EB online.

I have their hooded ul jacket as does my wife and we love them. The hood does limit vision as there is no way to snug it up and turning your head gets you an eyeful of hood, but other than that, the warmth and weight can't be beaten.

I'm really hoping to get a lighter option down hooded jacket with a zipper (8-12 oz.) like the "Montbell ultralight down parka" (9.3 oz.) or the " Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoodie Jacket" (9oz.). This is especially because……as I said earlier, I have good heavier synthetics.

Multiple people, have suggested the Montbell Alpine light (15.7oz.) and Patagonia "sweatshirt" (15.2oz). Are the above two jackets "too" ultralight? Which one is warmer or more durable among the ultralights? Thanks for the help guys!

This might be a little old, but it really helps explain the relative warmth for down jackets etc:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=18950

I dont think you can go wrong with either the montbell or the patagonia. To decide which version you want decide how much down you want and pick the ones tat meet your requirements. I find Montbell in general to be cheaper and lighter than the comparable patagonia product

The other factor is fit which ever one fits better is probably best.

Michael,

> Also, I am 6'2" 175 pounds, so that medium would probably be a bit too small.

Yes, you'd need a Large.

I am the same size as you (6'2" 175 41" chest), which is considered "slim" in US sizing. The Patagonia jackets are much too big in the chest for me, as are Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, and most other US brands. Meanwhile the Montbell Large (Japanese XL) is a perfect fit. Unless your chest size is much larger than mine, go with Montbell for the sizing! I have both the Ultralight hoody and the Alpine Jacket (non-hooded) in size Large. I agree with you and others that the hood is definitely worth the tiny bit of extra weight given all the warmth it adds.

BTW like others here I've made the Montbell Ultralight hoody part of my sleep system. It's fantastic–like wearing the most luxurious and warm PJs. You can spin around in your bag at night and never catch a draft, and hop out if nature calls, all without a shiver. And the weight of the jacket basically cancels to zero because you can use a sleeping bag that is rated 5 or 10 degrees higher than what you'd otherwise need.

-Colin

I´m very happy with my crux halo smock – and they have an even better version out now – mine does leak some down. Their new latest model the pico weighs 6 oz. Which is pretty good!

http://www.crux.uk.com/en/down-clothing.php?range=16&product=20

Ah – but you want a hood, and it might be overpriced in the US. Still – an excellent UL-down option!

The two jackets mentioned in the OP are pretty darn similar. If you can one much cheaper than the other, go for it. Otherwise it will come down to fit and feature preference.

Be aware that the fit of the Patagonia UL down hoody and Patagonia "regular" down sweater are different. The former is quite a bit slimmer all around. My medium fits like a medium, but I don't find it comfortable to put more than a few baselayers underneath. The fabric is excellent, very weatherproof, downproof, and tough. Not worries about durability under reasonable use.

Hi,

I compared this jacket with several Montbell jackets and decided on the WM in the end. I think that WM are higher quality products generally. I'm very, very happy with the jacket.

Good luck,

rhz

"This jacket will mainly be used backpacking at night to supplement my sleep system, as a pillow, around camp"
Those are the reasons why I bought the WM Flash and pants and it works for me.
I like a lot getting into my dry clean night clothes with a wool base layer and WM Flash jacket and pants at camp and then just getting into the sleeping bag with that on.
Because I use a lighter sleeping bag the weight of the Flash system becomes multi use.
As a happy WM user I was naturally attracted to it , I would think that there are several others that will work just as well..
The down side is that it is fragile (the pants are reinforced where they should) and they lose a feather or two every time I use them but that is not a problem once you get over the cosmetic bit.
Franco