Cheaper, lightish hooded down jackets?

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DITRLoYMULHoGBtx_6VYE1LoTtWS2pHbGTodBbdNTMk/edit?usp=sharing

here’s a spreadsheet where I track a lot of hooded down layers.  I don’t track many 650fp down items, and I don’t list prices because they can be pretty volatile.  But I guess it’s a better starting point for you than nothing.

No idea on fill power but the budget options are usually this one from Uniqlo:

https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/men-ultra-light-down-parka-407548.html

Or this knockoff from Aliexpress:

https://goo.gl/FExmrY

I have the Uniqlo jacket. It’s decent for the price. The zipper is reversed like women’s jackets. It’s light.

We haven’t had any really cold weather yet, but I’ve used it a few times and it’s warm.

Are you a Costco member? Might be worth seeing what they have as well.

 
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So I went through the uniqluo data because I had one. Very impressive quality bs price point. My medium men’s nodded parka was 10oz and I want to say that their down rating was a 650, however someone brought up that they use a European standard for down that effectively means the rating is more like 720 not 650. Couple other things – you can’t find out how much down oz are in them, they are sewn through not baffled, and the hood does not have ideal adjustments. The zippers are petite, but work fine. They use a higher denier outer fabric with a dwr that I think is colandared so it’s shiny and blocks most wind. If you are looking for 4oz of down that’s likely not Uniqlo but it still worth buying one – they perform superbly off trail in most conditions. FYI they make a 20$ Simple double layer fleece pant that works great at 11oz for medium size as an alternative to long johns in cold weather.

The thing is things like the Uniqulo and Ghost Whisperer and jackets like them really don’t keep me warm.  I ordered the Aliexpress knockoff and will try it out and can always resell it easy for that price.  Costco is selling the non-hooded Gerrys again for $30 which looks to be in the same ball park as the Uniqulo.  Too bad they don’t make a big puffy knock off you can get on Aliexpress.

My opinion: the best ~4oz fill down jacket for the money is the Montbell Alpine Light.  Not really cheap, or light, but damned warm and reliable.

I guess there is something like this from AliExpress, https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2017-Autumn-Winter-Duck-Down-Jacket-Men-Ultra-Light-Thin-Winter-Down-Coats-Men-Fashion-Men/32791049883.html?spm=a2g0s.13010208.99999999.269.AzzqHH and it looks to be in the 4oz range.

I guess there is something like this from AliExpress,

I could easily be wrong, but the pictures of that jacket look like it has 1/2 (or less) or the loft of the Montbell.

Nice deal

Not bad but I would need a XXL.  Thanks.

Eddie Bauer is having a sale on all of their outerwear and I have always felt that, while not particularly cheap, they’ve had very fair prices on down jackets during their sales.

This seems like it could be suitable. 4.37oz of 800 fill for the 3XL You may want to size up as they run small.

Decathlon 800 fill down hoodie (product page)

some pics of one

They don’t ship to the US, but perhaps a UK/European BPL member could send you one (me for example).

Brett,

based on your “the Uniqulo and Ghost Whisperer don’t keep me warm”, i would suggest that you try one of 2 things, or both: try a jacket with twice the loft as those…then try a jacket with baffle construction. With every 5 degree -or so – drop in temps, the ‘exposure’ at each sewn-thru seam becomes more of an issue.

Aren’t the Decathalon ones “City cut” to wear over a T-shirt and therefore unsuitable for layering over a fleece if needed>?

Somebody locally commented that the cut was skinnier than the Uniqlo and they needed to go up a size for the same fit

I’d say they run one size small. I’m a medium in Patagonia fleece/down, MH ghost whisperer, but large decathlon jacket fits me well.

By uniqlo jacket I assume you mean the actual uniqlo jacket and not the asian sized aliexpress uniqlo clone jacket (which runs maybe 2 sizes small). haha!

I really like Montbell

I bought the Costco Gerry jacket. I think mine weighed 13 oz. I liked it . It would be good spring and fall evenings and perhaps moderate altitude. Except it isn’t DWR fabric. I wore it to take out the trash in a gentle 43* rain. And returned it the next day.  There are a number of down garments on close out this fall. Search Sierra trading post and REI. These seem to have the best prices and selection.

If it helps I have an XXL Uniqlo UL parka, it is sized just big enough to layer over a Patagonia Nanopuff in XL and under the Patagonia Nano-Bivvy in XXL

That combination is as warm as my Patagonia DAS and an unmeasured amount heavier

Got the two Chinese cheap down jackets in.  They are about 11.6oz for an 3XL which is more like an XL.  Still too small to fit me though.  The latter even has the same ‘Ultra Light Down’ stuff sack as Uniqlo.  Makes me thing the Uniqlo 3XL is not going to fit either.  Still, decent quality for what they are.  For the $25 I spent on each I am sure I can resell or gift them.

Would a Decathalon 3XL be the same as a 2XL?

Possibly a 3XL may be the same as a regular 2XL. I’ve got to to return something to Decathlon and I’m probably going tomorrow (Thursday) if I get chance. I’ll measure pit to pit, waist, sleeve length and weight. Are there any other measurements which you’d want?

For me the measurements that matter the most are center of the back fo the neck to the hem and center of the back of the neck to the end of the sleeve.  Thanks!

Ok, got some rough measurements. For the neck measurements I measured from the base of the hood portion at the back (where the base of a collar would usually be). Sleeve is from the top of the shoulder to the cuff. Unfortunately I forgot my scale so wasn’t able to weigh them. The larger sizes seem equally puffy. It doesn’t appear as if they’ve skimped on the down.

2XL

• Pit to pit: 25.5
• Width at waist: 25
• Neck to waist: 31
• Neck to sleeve: 38
• Sleeve: 30

3XL

• Pit to pit: 28
• Width at waist: 26.5
• Neck to waist:32
• Neck to sleeve: 40
• Sleeve: 30.5

They had some other pretty cool stuff most notably some grid fleece tops and baselayers.

• Midweight capilene type thing
• R1 type thing
• grid fleece turtle neck
• thin fleece hoodie baselayer