I recently splurged on two Montbell Plasma 1000 Alpine Down Parkas – men’s version in Large for myself, and the women’s version in Medium for my wife. Both were purchased from the main Japan site (i.e. not the US versions). The women’s parka appears to have considerably less loft than the men’s version.
Here is a picture comparing the sleeves of the two parkas:
And another picture comparing an identical 5 inch by 3.5 inch baffle on the very top edge of the hood. Notice the red rectangle that is measuring the loft of each baffle. The women’s hood baffle appears to have roughly 60% of the loft of the men’s baffle, at best. Since the baffle is the size across both garments, I am “baffled” why this should be the case, since in this case, the baffle is the same dimensions across both garments (not attributable to smaller garment size or different baffle pattern).
I e-mailed Montbell about this and this was the response:
Due to the difference of pattern characteristics between Men’s and Women’s, Women’s seems to have less loft than Men’s parka.
Although it appears as Men’s parka is more warmer than Women’s,we enclosed the same surface ratio of down and the warmness of the two parka is about the same.
What do you all think? Is there merit to what Montbell is saying, or should I go with my gut and exchange the women’s garment for the men’s garment? I was especially concerned by the hood baffle, since in that case there is no difference of pattern.
