Need help from the ladies to help select a down jacket for my wife.

Ohhhhh, I know exactly how she feels! That's my M.O. exactly.

Last August in the Sierras, I found my MH Ghost Whisperer down jacket too cold for the evenings. I'm sad, because it weighs NOTHING. This year, I'll be bringing something warmer (and, sigh, heavier).

You didn't mention budget, so I'll make suggestions at different price points:

Big Splurge: Feathered Friends Ellia Hooded Jacket ($289), a women-specific jacket with 4.9oz of fill and total weight of 12oz. (NICE! That's what I'm bringing this year.)

Middle ground: Montbell Women's Alpine Light Down Parka ($199), 3.3oz fill and 12oz total weight. She'll probably need to wear a fleece under this one, but it's a good jacket. People love Montbell.

Budget Option: Adidas Hiking Light Down Jacket — you'll have to search for this, but it's under 11oz total weight with a lot of fill. I actually have a size Small for sale in GearSwap for $45, but she might need a medium.

Valerie,

Thanks for the tip. Budget? Seriously, as long as my wife wants to go backpacking with me, money is not a major issue. Besides, if she is happy I earn "spousal dollars"!

In terms of Montbell, don't ask me why, but the men's stuff is actually warmer than the women's. I really didn't find the women's alpine light parka to be very warm at all actually. The men's version is actually quite a bit warmer, but even still I'd probably vote for something more substantial for her.

Have a look at the Rab Neutrino and the Rab Infinity. Disgustingly puffy, amazingly warm…maybe even too much.

Maybe the Montbell Mirage?

del

I have the MountainHardwear Phantom and love it, very pricey, I found it on clearance on steep and cheap.

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/womens-hooded-phantom-jacket-OL5729.html

I got the GoLite Bitterroot for both my girlfriend and mother. They both love it. Only $200.

http://www.golite.com/Womens-Bitterroot-Water-Repellent-Down-Jacket-P47082.aspx

+1 on the MontBell Alpine Light jacket
I have the MontBell UL down parka and it is quite warm, though if I wanted to get a bit heavier, bit warmer coater, I would go with the Alpine Light.

Minimal and a great price. I know that there are MUCH warmer coats out there, but in terms of weight, price, and warmth, it works for me!

1. get what fits HER

2. figure out the temp range you want and get something with enough down fill … 4-6 oz minimum if youre using it as the sole puffy in shoulder season

as to specific jackets … thats what shell have to figure out as she tries em on

as a little story … i have a friend for whom i bought a mountain hardwear subzero 600 fill parka … something most folks would snub their noses at as it doesnt use fancy 800 fill and has heavier fabric

a few years latter i bought her a westcomb kokanee 850+ fill jacket which has more loft, is higher quality and uses those fancy UL fabrics …

should be significantly warmer right? … nope … the cheaper MH with the lesser fill fit HER better … with less dead space the "lesser" jacket was significantly warmer …

not to mention it could see much more abuse due to the more durable fabric and fill ….

guess which one she wears all the time now ….

so find something that fits HER

;)

I agree with Valerie. My wife is exactly like yours. She tried multiple jackets. Ended up with the Ellia hooded which she loves. Pay in both price and weight but a very warm, snug fitting, well made jacket. We've owned several FF products and they are a great company to work with.

ha my wife dresses like that before bed every night, fleece socks sometimes a beanie, a hideous housecoat that should have gotten "lost" in the move! lol

Jon — Love your attitude!!! What a good husband! :^)

A few points:

I sold my Montbell stuff (sleeping bag and jacket). I know this is heresy on BPL, but for both items, I could see daylight through the fabric when I held them up the light (i.e., not enough down to fill out the sewn-through baffles). I knew that would never be warm enough for me — but obviously, I am in the cold-blooded minority, since most folks love their Montbell stuff. Jen's point was interesting — but the men's jackets wouldn't fit all women, so that's something to consider.

The GoLite Bitterroot has about the same specs as the FF Ellia, but $100 cheaper — great suggestion by Adam G. And it's a nice slim women's fit. Maybe that's your best bet?

Eric C is absolutely right — 600fp down is WARM, but it's heavy. I was always dreamy-toasty in my old North Face 600 jackets, but did I mention it's heavier?

And for Nathan W — thanks for the hearty chuckle. Maybe I should design a line of sexy down lingerie for extremely cold-blooded women! ;^)

I like both te Montbell and Paragonia down jackets . Both of their synthic piggies are nice too if you're not hard over on getting down.

Thanks everyone!

I haven't bought a jacket yet because it was going to be a surprise. After looking at the feedback, I think that I will have to have her read some of the comments first before going forward.

" I know this is heresy on BPL, but for both items, I could see daylight through the fabric when I held them up the light (i.e., not enough down to fill out the sewn-through baffles). I knew that would never be warm enough for me — but obviously, I am in the cold-blooded minority, since most folks love their Montbell stuff."

Not heresy at all, IMO, merely an astute observation. I found the same to be true when I was inspecting a Montbell Mirage prior to a potential purchase. The same is also true to a lesser degree for my Ex Lite jacket. I still use my Ex Lite, but I would love to see an improved version with an extra ounce of down in it.

Hmmmmmm – so maybe it's not just me… It's Tom, too! :^)

But seriously, I was pretty surprised by the "thinness" of Montbell down. Even my cheapie Costco jacket had no empty spots…not to mention the lushness of the Feathered Friends…