Down jacket comparison for PCT thu hike? MB Ex-light/MH Ghost Whisperer Wm Quickflash/FF daybreak/Arcteryx Cerium LT

I have the Cerium and the Flash. The two are very different coats. The latter is far warmer. For warmth per ounce, the Flash is in another league.

Richard,
This isn't what you are asking for, but I was recently on the same quest as you are… to find a down jacket for the PCT. I considered many of the same options as you are considering right now.

After quite a lot of deliberation, I decided on none of them, opting instead to use a Patagonia R2 fleece (12.5oz) that I already own as my primary insulation piece.

I am well aware that it is not nearly as warm as a comparable down jacket, and that it weighs a few ounces more to boot, but a few things tipped the balance in favor of it:

1) Layering all the clothing that I already plan on taking on the PCT and adding on the R2 fleece kept me warm sitting down outside in 20 degree weather (while it was snowing and slightly breezy, by the way). My layers were: Capilene 2 crew top baselayer, polyester t-shirt, R2 fleece, and hooded windshell, along with appropriate head and leg insulation. I figure I will never be sitting out idly in weather colder than 20 degrees fahrenheit on a PCT thru hike.

2) The fleece can be laundered readily and repeatedly without much fuss, in contrast to down (something that I think will be very important on a long trip like the PCT).

3) I already had the R2 fleece (always a bonus).

4) The fleece is a more versatile piece that can be used while active, not just while in camp.

5) I don't have to worry as much about getting my clothing insulation wet as I would with down (more important in Washington).

I'm not trying to dissuade you from getting a down jacket– they sure are nice, but just know that there are lots of different options out there, and layering even thin layers can drastically add more warmth to your clothing system then you might otherwise expect.

Anyway, good luck with your search.

Of the jackets you mentioned, I tried on the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer and really liked it.

Unfortunately you can't help but feel like you are paying a whole of money lot for very little down with these UL down jackets. Most of the weight is in the shell, and since I'm already carry a wind shell in my kit, simply layering in my fleece just started to make more and more sense…

I used a MH Ghost Whisperer Hooded Jacket on my 2013 PCT thru, May 19th to October 29th in full winter conditions and loved having it — kept it in a Zpacks Pillow drysack and it was my nightly pillow when I wasn't wearing it.

Great weight to function piece.

2) The fleece can be laundered readily and repeatedly without much fuss, in contrast to down (something that I think will be very important on a long trip like the PCT).

the other thing to note is that some of these UL shell down jackets may not survive an encounter even with a front loading washing machine on delicate

ideally one should wash high fill power down more often to keep it clean and lofty … the problem is that some of these shells dont launder too well

;)

I really really like my ex light. I don't mind not having a hood, because that's what my hat is for. And it layers well under both my rab cirrus windshirt and my kinetic rain jacket…which have pockets. So for what it is..insulation…it's perfect.

I'm generally a very cold person around camp in the mornings and at night, and for me, during August along the JMT last year, and this winter in New Mexico and some below freezing nights in big bend in December and January, it was perfect.

For the PCT I'm not sure how much colder you could expect…I mean, my low in that jacket was probably low 20s with a light grid fleece under and the cirrus on top and I was ok. Not toasty, but not miserable either.

And for 5 oz holy crap it's like you don't even have it.

I get what you're saying about needing to launder, but how often will you wear it? and you'll have clothes underneath it so it won't be right next to your stinky body.

i own and use an EXL …

IF you do decide to wash it, make sure you hand wash it as per the instructions … and honestly i wouldnt stuff it in the dryer unless it was by itself and in a wash bag … perhaps not even then

the OP should probably ask himself if he wants a jacket just for occasional use when hes on the trail … or if he wants something he can wear all the time even in town and have it last a while

if the latter, a down jacket with a bit more durable shell may be more ideal

one pays $$$$ for these very UL down jackets, for less durability … which is fine if yr looking to go as light as possible knowing the tradeoffs

the other thing to note about the dead bird cerium … how will the synthetic coreloft hold up in the long run? … as we all know synth degrades faster with compression, this is not a down jacket thats built to last a long time IMO without the synthetic going flat eventually … of course by then the UL shell may be worn out enough to warrant retirement

;)

A light hooded down jacket is what I'd bring for the pct, no question. Nothing will be as warm for the weight & the relatively dry pct conditions don't warrant the extra weight and size of a fleece IMO. You pretty much mentioned all the nicest UL puffies, and I don't think you could go wrong with any of them. I have a cerium that I got at a decent price & I think its awesome. Full retail is pretty ridiculous, but its def one of the nicer down jackets I've seen. There's only synthetic insulation in a few select places away from the core & to be honest I'm just not worried about it. That said, compressability & longterm insulation durability are two of the more compelling reasons for down. I've also owned a flash which is a great piece, but the fit as better on the arc. The arc is very warm for the weight, & having owned the flash I'm having trouble imagining it being much warmer. Again, any of those you mentioned will work great. I'd pick something with a hood that fits you well, & wait till you find a great deal on one. You could prob find the MH ghost for around $180 if you're patient.

In 2009, I carried the Montbell Ex-Light down jacket with a wind jacket and rain jacket. I also had lightweight thermals + wind pants + a lightweight balaclava (since I used a quilt without a mummy hood). I found that was more then enough to keep me warm at all times; while hiking and while in camp. To give you further info:I finished on Oct.2 in off and on snow since I left Stehekin and cowboyed camp all but 9 nights on the trail. A few days earlier at Dolly Vista in Glacier Peak Wilderness, we had a low around 20F. Was plenty warm, though my body does tend to generate heat. A more cold blooded person might not agree.

I found the down jacket too hot to hike in for more than a few minutes so I only wore it in camp. Normally you get in your sleeping bag after you get into camp(covering your lower half as you sit) and cook dinner or whatever other chores you do in camp. So you really don't need alot of layers after you set up camp.

I never washed it on the trail as it never needed it since I didn't hike and thus sweat in it. I never slept in it either as it was my trusty pillow for most of the trail stuffed in my clothing sack. I still have that jacket and its in great shape. I plan on using it for the CDT next year.

I would not get a down jacket with a sewn in hood. It would be better to get a warm hat or even a separate down hood if you feel the need for one. Then you can leave it in your bounce box or mail it home when you don't need it.

This is the review I wrote in my journal after my PCT hike:
Montbell Extremely Light Down Jacket: Very lightweight and very warm. Other then my baselayers and rain jacket, this was the only insulating layer I had. It was too hot to hike in, even in the snowy weather I had in northern Washington. I usually only wore it in camp under my 2oz. wind jacket and removed it when starting to hike or I'd quickly overheat. I never had a problem with the down getting wet. I'd definitely carry it again on another thru-hike. It also made a nice pillow. I had a stuff sack with some extra clothing and with this down jacket stuffed in on top, it made a very comfortable pillow at night.

ever consider a
http://www.canada-goose.com/products-page/mens-hybridge/hybridge-lite-jacket-3/

They are supposed to be the bees knees.