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Help identify my puffy!

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Brian Mix BPL Member
PostedNov 15, 2013 at 7:01 pm

So I bought this "summit series" TNF puffy a few years back. Fell in love with the light weight and super cozy warmth. I just weighed it and it overloaded my scale :( so now I'm wondering about specs, ie material weight and down fill weight since I read about other branded puffies on here at less than a pound… Any sleuths able to determine a model name or specs for me? It's made of Pertex Quantum, hang tag numbers are:
rn#61661 and ca#30518
the hologram sticker says et 625558
and a tag on a side seam reads dl #0310604
Google and TNF websites return other garments- rain jackets and fleeces any help is appreciated.
Curiosity…

PostedNov 15, 2013 at 8:59 pm

Could not find a match …
Can you take a photo of the TNF logo only ?

In the meantime…
one of the labels should have the name of the model printed on it, such as nuptse/Thunderdown/Supernatural Down.
Also the zip should be a YKK , can't tell if it is from your pics.
To add, a couple of classic signs that would indicate a non genuine product would be feeling feathers inside (as well as the down) and having a continous thread linking the letters TNF.

Steven Paris BPL Member
PostedNov 15, 2013 at 9:09 pm

Maybe the Catalyst?

I had posted a REALLY long URL for google images but it was driving me crazy. Here's where the original image came from:

http://www.gearscan.com/items/TNF5769

This link leads to a strange (!!) Zappos "product showdown" between some Baffin shoes and the Catalyst jacket. However, there is a useful product description for the jacket:

http://www.zappos.com/product-showdown/7674143/7646604

Oh, even better! A description of the jacket in a gear blog, with a listed weight:

http://blog.tahoemountainsports.com/2011/09/20/down-hoody-roundup-our-favorite-layer-for-staying-toasty-in-cold-temps/

And, finally, an outdoor gear lab review:

http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Down-Jacket-Reviews/North-Face-Catalyst-Jacket

Edit: Beat you, Dale!

Dale Wambaugh BPL Member
PostedNov 15, 2013 at 9:21 pm

I can't come up with a model number match, but by description and appearance, I think it is a TNF Catalyst jacket. That is a discontinued model and differs from the Catalyst Micro model. Is there an alpha model number like
AAPH?

TNF Catalyst

TNF Catalyst

Compare to these specs:

http://www.trekkinn.com/outdoor-mountain/the-north-face-catalyst-black-pertex-quantum-summit-series-man/15685/p
The Mens Catalyst Jacket is luxuriously insulated 800 fill highly compressible hooded down jacket for multipurpose cold weather use. 
A deservedly popular fixture of the Summit Series® range, this warm, lightweight jacket is the ideal companion for any cold weather outdoor adventure. 
Leveraging an exceptional warmth-to-weight ratio, for cold weather walks, climbing and belaying, ski touring or bivouacking, the Catalyst will become a staple item on your kit list. 
It packs down small into the left hand pocket, ready to spring into action when the action stops or the temperatures plummet. 
Feature:
– Luxuriously insulated, highly compressible hooded jacket for multipurpose backcountry use.
– 800 fill goose down.
– Performance fit.c
– Attached insulated hood.
– Brushed neck and chinguard lining.
– Left Napoleon chest pocket.
– Two hand pockets.
– Stowable in left hand pocket.
– Partial elastic cuffs.
– Hem cinchcord.
Specifications:
AVG WEIGHT
460 g.
CENTERBACK
70 cm.
FABRIC:
body: 20D x 20D 35 g/m2 downproof ripstop nylon with DWR abrasion: 30D x 30D 49 g/m2 downproof ripstop nylon with DWRlining: 22D x 22D polyester taffeta / insulation: 800 fill goose down
Tecnologies:
SUMMIT SERIES™ 
Developed for the most serious athletes, the Summit Series™ features our athlete-tested and technically-advanced apparel and equipment. 
This premier collection is designed for expedition use from base camp to summit, where the extremes of weather, terrain and temperature demand the highest level of performance



See http://www.tahoemountainsports.com/product/the-north-face-catalyst-jacket-mens/the-north-face

The The North Face Catalyst Down Jacket is a super warm and light down puffy jacket for the most extreme conditions
A lightweight nylon body lets the down loft to its full potential for trapping heat, while a DWR coating repels moisture and wind
800 fill down gives an incredible warmth to weight ratio – just one ounce of this down fills 800 cubic inches of space!
An alpine fit is ideal for layering in the mountains
A fully adjustable fixed hood cinches down tight to seal in the warmth
Two hand pockets let you warm up chilly digits
The jacket packs down small into its own hand pocket for easy packing
Elastic cuffs keep the wind from sneaking up your sleeves
Hem cinch cord for a complete seal
Part of The North Face Summit Series, the best apparel for the most challenging environments
Stay warm all winter long in this great down hoody from the North Face

Material: 20D 35 g/m2 (1.0 0z/yd2) 100 percent nylon ripstop cire Pertex with Durable Water Repellent finish
Abrasion patches: 30D 49 g/m2 (1.4 oz/yd2) downproof ripstop nylon with DWR
Insulation: 800 fill power goose down
Average weight: 18.77 oz (532.01 g)
Center back length: 27.5 in
The North Face item # AAPH

PostedNov 15, 2013 at 9:55 pm

It is a Catalyst or meant to be a Catalyst..
Here is the one listed as 2011 Catalyst that matches Brian's :

Catalyst
the weight listed by Dale (within a few ounces) a should settle it.
(Brian's photo does not clearly show the Napoleon pocket)

Brian Mix BPL Member
PostedNov 15, 2013 at 10:07 pm

I knew you gear heads could figure it out! It is a true TNF unless the TNF store was selling impostors (oh the morality, the children, the taliban). Looking at the links it was listed at 13 to 19 oz and my bathroom scale said it was 1.5lbs for an XL. The fabric is 1oz/yd2 but I didn't see fill weight listed- those two details I wanted to know. I really like the jacket but it's not really light by today's standards. Oh well, keeps me warm… and it's not a knock off so I will sleep well tonight!
Thank you guys.
ETA, after looking again it does have AAPH on the hang tag. I've been able to identify some of my older Marmot items and they were always numerical so I made an assumption…

Dale Wambaugh BPL Member
PostedNov 15, 2013 at 11:23 pm

Interesting. So do you enjoy it less now that you know the weight? :)

By the time you need something that warm, I would rather haul a couple ounces more and be comfortable. That's not a horrendous weight for the loft and feature set. Might as well wear it out!

Brian Mix BPL Member
PostedNov 16, 2013 at 8:11 am

Silly Dale, it's still my favorite puffy by far and I will wear it until the down is falling out my repairs. I'm just eyeballing gear I want to take on my next hike and trying to minimize the weight I'm carrying. It is very warm and when back packing typically reserved for in camp duties only.

Dale Wambaugh BPL Member
PostedNov 16, 2013 at 8:39 am

I hear that. It would have to be ccccold to wear that on the trail.

My message was really more concerned with how our perception of gear changes with weight awareness. All of a sudden, a favorite item falls out of favor because it weighs 4oz more than the latest greatest whiz bang version. I've certainly gone through my own trials and tribulations on gear lists.

There is a phenomenon with assembling an UL kit that I call a "gear bracket," where you have a reasonably light peice of gear, but the next ratchet down in weight costs a great deal more. Insulation is probably the best example. For myself, if I want to drop the weight of my sleeping bag significantly, it's going to cost $400. The work around is to make sure that the less expensive items have been replaced with lighter items and wear out the heavy one while plotting and saving for the lighter alternative. For example, getting a few ounces off my cook kit weight may be a lot less per ounce than the sleeping bag. It's all a little chess game of cost, functionality and weight.

As with your jacket, I think any gear list can survive one heavier item. If everything else is really light, what the heck! As it is, winter gear lists tend to make the SUL sub-5 pound base weights dissapear until spring.

Have fun wearing out that jacket :)

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