Montbell Plasma 1000 Alpine Parka

I tried one on the other day and had to wipe the drool off the jacket, before I hung it back up..

“If i were a rich man……”

Wow!  3.4 oz of 1000FP!  Might be as warm as an Alpine Light at just over half the weight.  I may need to sell my UL parka and AL and upgrade :)

I have always used Montbell clothing for insulation because of its cost/weight/performance metrics. The Mirage is an excellent piece, as is the ex-light, of which I have owned multiple. I am curious as to the thoughts of the resident experts here, as this seems to be a cross between the two pieces. My wife has the original plasma 1000, and it is almost a novelty piece. Even though this is expensive, it is still seemingly a great value when compared to the rip-off that is the ghost whisperer. Should I sell my mirage and put this on my wishlist?

Matthew,

Regarding your reference to the Ghost Whisperer, it’s currently on sale for $180 in some sizes, if you’re interested:

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/mountain-hardwear-ghost-whisperer-qshield-down-hooded-jacket-800-fill-power-for-men~p~8882m/?utm_source=GooglePLAs&utm_medium=PaidShopping&utm_term=Mountain_Hardwear_Ghost_Whisperer_QShield_Down_Hooded_Jacket_-_800_Fill_Power_For_Men&utm_campaign=PCGOOGLES6&currency=USD&codes-processed=true

Thank you for pointing that out. I am not really in the market for a sweater weight jacket right now. Even at $180, it’s not a bargain compared to what MB offers. I wish I lived in CO so I could try the Plasma on.

Based on the areas you have reported backpacking, it should be a reasonable drive to try on Montbell down jackets here: http://www.downworks.com/downworks/Insulated_Clothing.html