MAN-ifying a jacket

Just wear it. Seen guys on purple Harleys. Nobody will say a word.

M50 would not go good with this jacket unless you are looking for a shiny trash liner feel.
On a synthetic Jacket maybe, but not down.
M90 is awesome but on the heavy side.
Quantum is expensive.
Nobul2 is out of stock.

I would go with the Nobul2, but that makes it the M90.

Then again, Tim from EE swears by the 15d Impetus. I think since the weight is the same as the M90, the M90 (IMO) is top of the line.

Purple's not so bad. It's a lot better than many of the garish colors I've seen out on the trail.

You'll be cold and tired when you really need it. It will make the snags, ember holes, mud and food stains less painful than doing the same to a new $300 puffy.

I think it was about 1964 that purple corduroy pants were in style. My father had fits and wouldn't allow them. Let your freak flag fly :)

Why not just turn it inside-out? You'd have a black jacket with pockets on the inside and a purple collar. You wouldn't have to modify it at all.

If you try making another shell to permanently attach to the outside of the purple jacket, I think you'll be unhappy with the result. It will be impossible to get it exactly the right shape without taking apart the purple jacket to make patterns. Do you use windshirts/jackets (like the Houdini) when you backpack? If so, you could just wear your wind jacket over the purple one.

Well I think that most of you guys agree that the way that jacket looks won't matter as long as it functions for now. Haha look for me out on the trails. Purple it stays!

Wow, I was surprised that this is actually an issue. Colors have no gender. If I saw a pink down jacket and the price was right, I would wear it. I am partial to pink, though. I have twice in my life painted my bedroom bubble-gum pink.

If you were/are considering a shell for it, then why not use your windshirt/DriDucks/Rain Shell over it?

You're carrying one of them anyway so you get the same effect.

Put a strip of duct tape on it somewhere.

Write a random word on it with a Sharpie.

BAM! Instant hipster/ possible free box score = free pass on lookin silly.

As long as you decide you like purple before anyone says anything about the color, you are good. Then they are the ones being picky. :^)

Personally, I like purple stuff. This jacket is a dusky purple and that isn't bad. I have lady's shell gloves because the fit was good and the price was, too.

Now, if you really just don't like purple… That is another story. When do you plan on wearing the jacket? The simplest thing might be to just wear a shell over the jacket. If you are taking a rain shell, that might serve the purpose will enough..?

It's not that purple and if inexpensive, a sacrifice to the eventual campfire spark. Another option may be rotating it in the summer sun and letting the shell turn more gray with UV damage.

Take it from a guy that wears kilts…it's not the clothing, but the man wearing it that is important :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJVFJ2kb62c

Lots of good insight here. I have considered the shell option, however with no prior experience winter camping I am not sure if I will need the extra warmth of the down jacket under my shell while hiking/snowshoeing/skiing so this jacket will mostly be for sitting around camp and as part of my sleep system. In this case the damage will be minimal as far as people seeing me haha. I am interested however about the letting the sun turn the jacket more grey. Could this compromise the integrity of the fabric? Thanks for all the responses everyone.

> the sun turn the jacket more grey. Could this compromise the integrity of the fabric?
Yep. The fabric can go like paper, and shred.

I see nothing wrong with the colour myself.

Cheers

I see nothing wrong with the colour myself.

Are you gonna trust the fashion sense of a guy in zebra tights?

"Are you gonna trust the fashion sense of a guy in zebra tights?"

LOL.

Just wear the jacket.

Whilst I completely agree with the others that, if the coat fits, wear it (purple is just fine), I'm surprised no-one has mentioned this point:

you found a Sierra Designs down jacket in a thrift store?

You lucky %*£(%!

;-)

Combine it with a pair of dirty girls and you'll be just fine.

http://www.dirtygirlgaiters.com/fetish.html

Hope this helps.

;-)

>"you found a Sierra Designs down jacket in a thrift store?"

Oh, it happens. I've scored that and better many times. Whether I'm looking for a dress shirt or kid's puddle boots, or whatever, I look at labels. Dress shirt example: LL Bean, Nordstrom's, Land's End, etc. Jackets: Sierra Designs, Northface, Patagonia, Helly Hansen, etc. Only when I see a quality manufacturer, do I slow down and look at condition, size, etc.

It helps to be shopping for a family of growing kids so there are many more possible sizes and many sizes that can be set aside for a year or two. Also, quality kid's stuff is outgrown before it is worn out.

But the best, easiest deal? Kiss up to a family with older kids. We hand off a lot of great stuff to local friends.

… are obviously better than those in the UK…

I trawl through them for 2nd hand CDs on a very regular basis (to an extent that it's probably OCD…), and I don't think I've ever seen any item of clothing I'd want to wear.

I did once get a reasonable tent for £10; an earlier model of a tent I already have, but the inner design was better (continuous pole sleeves).

I guess it's down to luck of right place, right time.

Maybe you lot just tend to hold on to your stuff longer..? Less stuff goes to thrift store and more stuff used to end of serviceable life?

On the OP's situation, impetus seems pretty nice. I got some samples from DIY Gear Supply added to my last order and I was pretty surprised how much I like the swatches of it. Haven't gotten around to stress testing or anything but I would say it's quite similar to my Nobul that I have. Though, I also don't see much cause to fix what's not broken but if that's what will make you happy it's a pretty inexpensive option when all is said and done.

I think that the thrift stores are a quite a bit more difficult to find good stuff these days (at least the ones by me) so I only go through once a month or so. I had a friend who makes a living going around to the 4 thrift stores and garage sales in town and reselling stuff on ebay. He still does OK but he said that he needs to be a lot more prudent about getting there right when they open on the days when new stuff gets put out or else it's all picked through within a day.

It's also going to be harder when you've got an entire generation captivated by a rap song about thrift store shopping. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK8mJJJvaes

"Are you gonna trust the fashion sense of a guy in zebra tights?"

Don't be silly. Roger would never wear anything like that.

They appear to be leopard skin pattern tights.

–B.G.–