Ordered LL Bean Ultralight 850 baffled doen parka

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Like the subject header says I just ordered Bean’s 850 fill DWR treated baffled down parka. IT was on a double sale for a total of 45% off!  Like the -20 F. sleeping bag I got from them 2 years ago it is a screaming deal. BTW, that bag is THE best designed winter bag I’ve ever seen and I’ve owned 4 winter bags, 3 of them -20 F bags. I’m hoping the Ultralight 850 parka will also exceed my expectations.

After reading the BPL article on down parkas I ordered mine in Large, my normal size, but in Tall B/C even at 5’10” I want that extra coverage. It was only available in black or slate gray so I got black B/C I didn’t want the orange zippers on the slate gray parka.

I think this parka, with proper base and mid layers, can take me to at least -20 F. B/C sometimes ski areas can get very cold at the highest elevations. Plus I often winter camp above 9,500 ft.

 

 

[Ken Larson]

Eric……Was interested in the LL Bean “Ultralight 850 Baffle Hooded down parka you just purchased and contacted L.L.Bean Chat concerning two question I had.  Connected with Ann who is in the PSS Soft Goods Department who sent me the answers to the two question below::

How many ounces of 800fp down are in the the LL Bean “Ultralight 850 Baffle Hooded down parkas?

>>>” down weights in ounces per size: S- 5.00 M- 5.30 L- 5.60 XL- 5.92 XXL- 6.24”

I the parka sewn through OR baffled construction?

>>”sewn through”

Do not think this is what you wanted in the parka you purchased. :(

[Tipi Walter]

That’s some pretty low ounces of down for a winter parka—“parka” in my mind being more beefy and warmer than “jacket”.  My winter down parka has 15 oz of 800 fill down.  After years of winter backpacking and camping—if I ever have to replace my parka it will have at least 15 ozs of down, maybe more.

[Ken Thompson]

nm

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Yeah LL Bean’s Ann is wrong. She gave specs for a sewn-thru parka and mine is the baffled parka. I called Bean’s “Product Specialist” and he had no info on either down fill weight OR total parka weight. SO… I estimate there is likely 8 to 10 ounces of 850 fill down in my Large Tall baffled parka.

After looking through the web at many other baffled down parkas I have to say this men’s “Ultralight 850 Big Baffle Down Jacket” is still the best quality and design for the amazing 32% off sale price. I got a $309. parka (men’s Large Tall) for $209. and free shipping.

Sure the hood is sewn-thru and has no insulated “ruff” around the face but I plan to make a detachable coyote or fox fur ruff using Velcro. There are a few very good places to buy pre-made ruffs. One is in Canada.

[stephan q]

Hmm. Says “big baffle”. I’m thinking that is baffle size. Don’t see the key words “box baffle” anywhere. Hope I’m missing something and it’s all good.

[JCH]

It certainly does *look* sewn-through, but Eric usually knows what he’s talking about :)  Hopefully he will post a review once he puts some miles on it.

[Ken Thompson]

This one.

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/121488?page=mens-ultralight-850-down-big-baffle-hooded-puffer-jacket-mens-regular&csp=a&feat=504714-category_page.t_recsbottom

[Edward John M]

Given your previous post Eric which synthetic insulated parka are you / would you layer over this one?

Or are you assuming this one will be warm enough on its own?

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Ken, Thank you for the link. I am only semi-literate with computers. Yep, that’s the parka I ordered.

Ed, I would only wear my GTX mountain park over this down parka. It is large enough and will cover the Tall size down parka entirely. If I’d need another insulated parka over it that would mean -50 F. temps and I would avoid being exposed to them if at all possible B/C that is dangerous territory.

I have been warm at -40 F. only because I wore insulated synthetic alpine ski parka and bibs over my entire XC outfit. (And insulated boot covers as well.)This was when I was a Nordic ski patroller at the 1979 Lake Placid Pre-Olympics. Gauntlet mittens with Dachstein boiled wool liners were also necessary.

PARKA UPGRADES: Take a look at my post on the DIY forum for these. This parka does not meet all the criterion laid out by the State of the Market Report for Down Parkas so I will need to do some mods like a detachable fur ruff and new zipper baffle.

 

 

[Eric Blumensaadt]

The LL Bean “baffled” 850fill down parka arrived today, 3 days ahead of schedule.

(See my reply to Kevin below.)

[Kevin B]

Eric, can you confirm this jacket has true box baffles. Some doubt expressed in other threads.

I was surprised when my montbell “box baffled” jacket, model ?, had true box construction across torso but was sewn thru along the side of torso seam and arm baffles.

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Kevin,

WOW! What a total cluster you-know-what this has been with this parka. Well made with all the niceties EXCEPT it has NO baffles despite the description.

In talking to a Bean “product specialist” today he actually went and got the parka and could see that there was not one d@mn baffle in the parka!

So he says to me, “Well, the people who wrote the add copy must have meant BIG CHANNEL but confused channel with baffle. This parka is ‘going away’ and will no longer be sold.”

So I’m returning what appeared to be, and was advertised as, a BAFFLED parka. Thankfully Bean’s always encloses a pre-paid shipping label so back it goes.

Aaaarrggghh!

Andt hanks for threads up on the Montbell parka. Don’t want that one either. BAFFLED means BAFFLED entirely.I would only accept sewn-thru in the hood area.

[Edward John M]

Sounds like you need the parka I have grown out of except probably too heavy for you.

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Ed,

Today I ordered an Eddie Bauer PEAK XV parka. It is baffled and has a light Cordura fabric shell with a WPB laminate. EB does not say which WPB laminate and I’m hoping it’s not a cheap polymer version that requires interior wetting before it begins to transmit vapor.

The parka has DWR treated down, so for at least for half its life it will be more moisture resistant. Good enough for me. Also it has a nice down filled hood “ruff” that will have the detachable coyote ruff attached.

Since I will be using this parka for backcountry ski camping and alpine skiing weight is not as much of a consideration as if I was using it for climbing. It will likely need a beefed up insulating zipper baffle. Not sure how I’ll do that but it will be added.

UPDATE: The parka arrived today. It is as advertised and fully baffled, torso, arms and hood. Many nice details and only a few quibbles.

See my description in the “State of the Market for Down Parkas” for the many PROS and few CONS.

Overall I’m very happy with this parka and it was well worth the $299.price.

 

[Edward John M]

Looks like a reasonable parka at the sale price, no way I’d pay $500USD tho. Important question tho, what size XL or XXL to layer underneath? Or a Large to get it close to your body?

The zipper guard looks a bit thin but only time will tell, and a simple layer of fleece tacked on would work

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Ed,

I got a size Large PEAK XV parka and it is just right with a heavy polyester base layer and a heavy Norwegian wool ski sweater. In fact I could still easily fit a 100 weight fleece vest inside but can’t see when I’d ever need it with a parka this warm.

I took it on a short ski camping trip this week and it felt like a cocoon as the sun set at 9,500 ft. Nice to have that kind of “insurance” on a winter trip.

Yep, the zipper baffle is thin and must be filled with down AND another down filled baffle sewn to the other side, just like the Patagonia Grade VII belay parka with its double zipper baffles.

The upper arms will also get a bit more down that I’ll insert through an opened interior seam.

SO… I’m buying 3 oz. of down for this “upgrade” project. That should be more than enough.

Plus I already bought a beautiful coyote fur ruff ($60.) to put on the hood with Velcro so It can be removed when I ski. I’m making it so when it is flipped forward it will create a “breathing tunnel”.

[Author]

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