Winter down jacket recommendations?

Happy with my one of these

http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=2001&p_id=2301189&gen_cd=1

I was thinking of something with a bit more fill weight–around 5 oz of down.  I think my Ghost Whisperer has around 3 oz of fill weight.

Thoughts on the Montane Featherlite?

http://www.campsaver.com/featherlite-down-jacket-men-s

Trying to keep the jacket under 16 oz if possible. A little heavier might be OK if there is increased durability.

You mentioned that the jacket should be long enough and a little more weight is OK if it meant increased durability. Have you considered the MB Frostline? Two inches longer in the back, 30d face fabric and 7oz of down. Baffled construction and within your budget. 19oz.

Ryan

Here is the Frostline

http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?p_id=2301185&gen_cd=1

Another option to consider is Ben from GooseFeet Gear. He can make you exactly what you want…

I have a montbell mirage, 5.3 ounces of down in a baffled construction weighting 12.8 ounces. It’s an awesome jacket with a very high warmth to weight ratio.

“Something I can wear in New York winters for casual use or backpacking in fall/spring when temps drop below freezing”

Personally, if I already had a Ghost Whisperer, I might simply add a down vest to my kit (to layer with the Ghost Whisperer for the shoulder season backpacking), and just find something completely different for the casual NYC weather. A vest would add around 2.5 oz of down to your system, and to your core where you proably need it the most.

I use a Luke’s Ultralight down vest, which I am very fond of, and often use as a layering piece for other garments: https://lukesultralite.com/products/downgear   At $150, you would still have a good budget for something around town (that can singularly handle the cold/humid/wet NYC weather).

Matt

David, I have a GoLite Bitterroot 850 down filled size large, 12.8 oz that I’m just not using . PM me if this might work for you.

Steven M.

I have a Brooke’s Range Mojave down jacket. 16oz total weight, 6 oz of fill, baffled construction. It lists for $299 but I bought mine on sale last year for $150. I see them on sale semi regularly.

How is the durability on the Mirage?  I discounted it because I heard the fabric is 7D and quite fragile for casual use.  I will probably use this jacket more often for casual wear in the winter around town (and biking), since I don’t backpack much in the fall/winter.  Do you think the jacket is durable enough to wear a pack over it and around town?

I’ve owned my Mirage for three years now, and it’s held up remarkably well given how thin the shell is. But I do keep it exclusively for backpacking or winter day hikes. I’d be concerned about abrasion from a pack.

You asked about the Montane Featherlite. It reminds me a lot of the Rab Microlight; the narrow baffles keep the down in place, but there are cool spots because there is so much stitching. Like everything with Montane, it’s a slim fit. I typically upsize Montane, whereas Rab is accurate for me.

“I will probably use this jacket more often for casual wear in the winter around town (and biking), since I don’t backpack much in the fall/winter.”

David, when I read this statement on it’s own and didn’t know you were looking for a down jacket, I don’t think I’d ever recommend one. What I’d bike with and walk around town with would be totally different garments. (At the temps where wearing a down coat on a bike might make sense, I think I’d be equally worried about snow and ice, and probably take public transportation.)

Regardless, looks like you can probably get a Dead Bird Cerium LT Hoody on Ebay for around $200. With synthetic in the more abrasion prone areas,  It might serve as a good candidate for the day to day wear & tear that you might encounter. And speaking from 20 years of personal experience, ArcTeryx has a stellar warranty, even from Ebay acquired items.

the problem with wearing these UL high fill power down jackets every day is that

• the fabric will get worn out … weather its tears, worn patches, worn zippers, stiching coming apart, DWR wearing away … etc …
• the actual down will constantly be exposed to body vapor/oils … and to prevent loss loft over time youll need to wash it much more often … the more you wash, eventually the down will degrade as well as the fabric

contrary to popular belief UL down jacket worn constantly wont last for 10-20 years … these arent your old heavier lower power fill down poofayz with higher denier shells of days yonder …

with constant wearing in town my EB downlight lasted about 5 years or so before it was pretty gone … after the 2nd year you could see it was getting well used …. EB being the great company it is simply gave a credit for a new one (the guy at the store saw me wearing it and said “hey that looks VERY used well give u another”)

my favorite climbing parter has a dead bird thorium … and you can tell its starting to lose some loft, even after proper washing … we got it for her last year and she basically wears it every day

if you want to keep your UL down jackets in tip top condition for the outdoors … it might be a good idea to have a cheaper more durable down jacket for the city where weight is irrelevant

that way your UL down jacket may indeed last for a decade or more

;)

I don’t understand why people want down jackets for every day use. All of the advantages of down are irrelevant for everyday use unless you are traveling on foot or bike and need to store it in a pack. I would much rather have a nylon shell fleece lined jacket. Very durable, functional, and no loss of loft over time.

I suppose people want to down jackets because they are fashionable. Personally I think down jackets look silly.

Justin ….

canadian winters

It easily gets to -30 to -40C at times in edmonton, calgary, winnipeg, regina, etc …

folks even farther north wear canada goose or such, not because its fashionale but because its life critical

when yr caught outside in a blinding snowstorm, or when yr snowmobile breaks down … U need something u can absolutely depend upon

;)

Hi Justin,

I see your point about durability, and I often choose fleece when cool. But when it is cold, given the choice of wearing a heavy fleece and/or a couple of jackets vs down, I often choose down. I find it’s lightness much more comfortable than heavy coats.

Other considerations are:

Am I standing around? For how long? At what temps exactly?

Am I going to be peeling layers on and off constantly and holding them while walking around and/or standing? Much more comfy with down if there’s no place to leave a heavy coat

Any activity that could pose a risk to the down shell?

Around town when it’s cold I often choose down for its very properties.

Disclaimer: Not a fashion minded individual. In fact, while you may see them as fashion, I think it’s only with certain social groups :)

I won’t hesitate to use a down jacket around town if it’s the ‘tool for the job.’ It can get pretty darn cold here in the winter.

And it sure as heck ain’t about fashion, as my wife can attest. :^)

That said, I would definitely use a jacket with a somewhat heavier shell, not a primo UL product such as a Mirage or that new ‘Plasma-class’ MB parka. I have an EB very much like the one Eric mentions and use it quite a bit.

Any suggestions for what I should look for in a “heavier” shell?

I have my eye on the Rab Infinity Endurance

http://www.campsaver.com/infinity-endurance-jacket-men-s

My rationale for having one down jacket for fall/spring trips and winter around town is to simplify the number of items in my closet and also for sake of cost.  Perhaps it’s not the best way to go, but I take the UL philosophy seriously and apply it to my home life as well as backpacking.  Less is more.

By the way, I notice that campsaver has a lifetime return policy.  I’m wondering if one of these UL jackets failed, would they readily accept a return/exchange?  I used to buy everything from REI but these days they only offer a 1 year return policy.

My Brooks Range down jacket has a tough shell and a great hood. Warm as toast. Love it. No feather leaks! got it very cheap on sale at REI.

David I grew up in NYC and instead of commenting on the type of down jacket, I’ll focus on whether you need one at all.

During winter in a very dense city like New York with extensive public transportation, you are often spending short periods walking quickly between sheltered and heated buildings, subways, buses and taxis. For casual use, a warm hat and scarf and a warm durable wind-resistant jacket/overcoat over a fleece jacket, sweater or vest is more than enough. Wind-resistnt fleece or softshell gloves or mittens come in handy too. Add light long johns, synthetic (like Patagonia Capilene 2) or merino, if you’re really cold or plan to stand around. If you are going to get a down jacket for city use, get one with a tougher shell for durability as suggested above.

I used to live just 4 blocks from one of the NY Patagonia stores and the store manager was a friend. We used to crack up watching massive lines stretching well out the door for the most expensive expedition down and synthetic insulation jackets at the slightest hint of snow. Those panic-buyers are subsidizing Patagonia R&D for the rest of us.

I’ve read it takes the body about 2 weeks to adjust to new weather conditions, but I think perception takes much longer to catch up. Friends who moved from the W Coast to New York often felt cold through the season or multiple seasons. On the flip side, when I moved to Northern California, I marveled at the folks wearing puffy insulated jackets on 55F sunny days in winter, when my wife and I were relishing the balmy sunny winter weather in t-shirts.

Justin, Maybe in Santa Rosa, CA… Not in Montana

As to NYC, it can be brutally cold in the winter. I have a MH Ghost Whisperer… Imo it is nowhere near warm enough, and too fragile. Me, I’d go with something with a durable shell first and foremost. And frankly, I’d prefer a nice heavy, tightly woven wool coat over down for day in and day out in the city. Couple that with a scarf, hat and gloves and you’re good to go.

How cold is brutally cold?  At this point, I’m leaning towards a midweight down jacket like a Rab Infinity Endurance

https://rab.equipment/us/infinity-endurance-jacket

or a Rab Electron

http://rab.equipment/us/mens/insulation/electron-jacket-30/

Both of these are in the 16 oz range.  The GoLite Bitteroot used to be a good option as well, but it looks like they no longer offer them.

I understand the thought behind a heavy winter wool coat, but I’m really a minimalist / ULer in my daily life outside backpacking as well.  It is just much easier to have a down jacket that you can stuff in a backpack while on the train or indoors rather than carrying around a heavy wool coat.  Also, since I plan on biking around here, I will heat up quick and it’s nice to have clothing that can be easily removed and put away and has less bulk.  I pretty much exclusively wear technical clothing for casual use these days as it is lighter weight, quicker drying, more packable, etc.  Not very stylish, as my wife will tell you, but I’m all about function these days rather than style.  Less items in my closet if I can wear the same items for travel/backpacking as for casual wear.

i’m a born and raised new yorker. layering is the way to go.