Light down jackets – fill in my list

The Rab Zero G Jacket looks interesting, but expensive.  The Rab Continuum is more traditional and the the Rab Microlight Alpine Parka is a classic. The Montaine Featherlite is another contender.

NunatakUSA, Luke’s Ultralight

Nunatak. I have a hooded vest coming around next week and I already have a Skaha sweater. Excellent quality, you get exactly what you want (custom) and the prices are fair.

Goosefeet Gear

Crux, PHD and Mountain Equipment are all reasonable options, too.

everyone and their dawg makes em … including costcos kirkland brand which had an 800 fill UL poofay

personally i would try every single one around and found the one which fit best with a midlayer (fleece) underneath

theres no point spending $$$$ to get a 900 fill jacket that fits pooorly vs a 700 fill jacket that fits perfectly …. the latter will likely be warmer even with the same amount of down due to less dead air space or down compression in the wrong places

as to finding what fits … once you try enough of em on youll KNOW which ones fit well

if you need to ask yourself whether its a good fit once you try it … it simply aint

;)

MyTrailCo (new GoLite) has a down jacket & parka.

Black Diamond Equipment

http://blackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/homepage

Cotopaxi

https://www.cotopaxi.com

Marmot

https://marmot.com

REI (their in-house kit is very good, affordable with an incredible warranty)

https://www.rei.com/

Basin & Range (Backcountry.com in-house brand)

http://www.backcountry.com

I have a RAB microlight jacket and I love it. I quite literally havent worn any of my other coats since I bought it last winter. It is hands down the best coat I have ever owned. Keeps me OK down to about freezing, v small and light and fits me well. I am 6’4.5″ with long arms and torso and a bit of a beer belly and it fits me like it was made for me. Only downside is that it isnt waterproof. Blocks wind v well though with its pertex microlight outer. V small amount of down loss (and i mean minimal). I pair this with a RAB lightweight waterpoof layer which works well unless i am hauling a load in which case i perspire too much for the waterproof layer and the down gets soggy.

LInk to the RAB microlight

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/rab-microlight-jacket-p275820?gclid=Cj0KEQiAqdLDBRDD-b2sv6-i6MsBEiQAkT3wAn_AUzRFsGmn4qE_k9EeRhY9WSvUE-MWS5viiojFks0aAjzp8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

Haglövs L.I.M series

http://www.backcountry.com/haglfs-l.i.m-essens-down-jacket-mens

Jottnar Fenrir.

Western Mountaineering. I recently bought their Flight down vest but they have it in a jacket as well. I based my purchase on a review here on the Patagonia Nano Air Light hoody, a very breathable jacket.

http://www.westernmountaineering.com/
https://backpackinglight.com/patagonia-nano-air-light-hoody-review-first-look/

Western Mountaineering.

TNF

Valandre

Feathered Friends

Westcomb

Ben made mine…. and it absolutely rules.    With 10D fabric it isn’t daily wear for me but I pull it out and snuggle in it once in awhile just for fun.    It is the warmest most usable 8.7 ounces I’ve ever carried.

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/93485/

To the best of my knowledge, Luke’s ultralight makes the lightest down jacket and vest given the amount of fill in it. Also I can attest he use REAL 900fill.

Another vote here for GooseFeet Gear. Ben is a great guy, and he makes an awesome down garment! He recently made me a down anorak, similar to the Montbell Ex Light Anorak, but better. 10D inner/outer, 4 oz of 950 Downtek treated down fill, custom sized, and only 7.7 oz! An astounding 52% of the overall weight is from the insulation, and at only 7.7 oz, it’s arguably one of the lightest weight pieces with this much down fill. I love it!  Check it out:

https://sticksblog.com/2016/12/11/gsmnp-phgt-part-3-custom-goosefeet-gear-down-anorak/

I think Borah found another down person, so I think the Borah Down Jacket will soon be available again.

I did a video on mine. I love the thing.

Ok Stick…. yours is 1 ounce lighter than mine.    Way to rub my nose in it.

Ok Stick…. yours is 1 ounce lighter than mine. Way to rub my nose in it.

Haha… At these weights, it’s all good! And like you, every so often when I am not using it, I take it out and snuggle with it too! lol… :)

LL Bean has very nice light 850 fill down jackets in two weights with Down Tek DWR down treatment.The same jackets (for men and women) are also offered in hooded versions.

Both my vest and light down jacket are EB but my new -20 F. down bag is LL Bean. It’s 750 fill Down Tek treated and very well made with attention to details.

Stick – about what size would you be? I’m leaning towards getting Ben to make me one, and wondering whether your finished weight would be close to what I’d get, which would depend on our relative sizes. I’m 5-10 and about 160 or 165.

Paul, I too am 5’10” tall. When I ordered the jacket I was about 170 lbs (I am about 180 – 185 lbs now… that’s what happens after having back surgery and siting around eating for 3 months does… lol!) But here are the exact measurements I sent Ben when ordering the jacket:

Neck circumference: 16″

Chest circumference: 41.5″

Waist circumference: 38″

Hip circumference: 37.5″

Sleeve length (from back of neck to wrist with arms hanging down): 36″

Desired length (from soft spot between collarbones down to desired hem): 27.5″