GoLite Hooded Inferno Jacket Review

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GoLite calls it a hooded down jacket, but it's a down parka by my definition - it has an attached insulated hood, and the body is long enough to cover the bum. A jacket normally comes to the waist. Semantics aside, the Inferno is an ultra-warm down parka, intended for serious winter cold. It's the right class of warmth for those of us who love to get out in winter cold, and even (gasp!) snow camp in mid-winter, but it's simply too heavy and too warm for three-season backpacking.

The Inferno is insulated with 800 fill down with sewn-through construction in a horizontal six-inch quilted pattern to hold the down in place. I measured its double layer loft at four inches across the body and sleeves.

It has a relaxed fit, with enough room inside to wear it over a heavy base layer and lightweight insulated jacket to provide even more warmth. The hood is roomy enough to wear over a climbing helmet and has three adjustors to close it in around the face. Sleeves are extra long and have Velcro adjustors on the cuffs.

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Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

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Mar 3, 2009 at 8:01 pm #1234509

Addie Bedford
BPL Member

@addiebedford
Locale: Montana

Companion forum thread to:

GoLite Hooded Inferno Jacket Review

Mar 3, 2009 at 9:59 pm #1482526

Jesse Taylor
BPL Member

@ahikernamedgq

Overall, I think Golite makes some really great stuff.

Great gear review. Enjoy the parka!

Mar 4, 2009 at 9:24 am #1482621

Kathy Bartosh
Member

@sumo
Locale: Southern Quebec

My next serious purchase is a down parka. Thanks for a thourough review.

On the manufacturer's website there is no mention on the hood in the product details. (??)

Re: additional drop pocket- would it be worth it to sew one in?

Mar 4, 2009 at 4:51 pm #1482792

eric strunk
Member

@cat300

I did not see how many ounces of down were in the jacket. Any information on that?

Mar 5, 2009 at 5:31 am #1482921

Mike Maurer
Member

@maurer
Locale: Oregon

I dunno gang,

For the same 24 oz (and the same price) I could take a really warm Patagonia DAS synthetic Parka with big inside stash pockets. No worries about babysitting the shell, no worries about cold spots from sewn thru baffling and no loss of insulation when wet.

Mike

Mar 6, 2009 at 9:57 am #1483327

Christopher Bumgardner
Member

@quillbone

At 20 oz with pertex endurance outer shell and similar bells and whistles (no fleece in the front pockets though, but also has sewn through baffles) the rab neutrino seems to be right in the category of the golite inferno. Oh, and it is around the same price. Right now I even found it online for as little as $198. I have this jacket and love it (I won't go into a full mini review). It has around 8 oz of 850 fill (US fill test). Does the inferno have more? I see the down fill question was already asked.

I liked the review though Will. By the way, thanks for the Golite VO24 review you did a little while back. I got the pack as a result and really like it. Like you said in the VO24 review, it's load handling is great.

Mar 12, 2009 at 11:35 am #1484969

Will Rietveld
BPL Member

@williwabbit
Locale: Southwest Colorado

Hi everyone, here's my responses to your questions:

Kathy: I believe GoLite has hooded and non-hooded versions of this jacket.

Eric: GoLite does not specify the amount of down in the jacket, just the fill power. It is fairly common for a manufacturer not to disclose the amount of down in a bag or jacket. Unfortunately, that omission makes it harder to compare products.

Happy hiking!
Will

Mar 17, 2009 at 6:24 pm #1486510

Andrew Skurka
BPL Member

@askurka

Just got done with an 800-mile trip from Arches to the Grand Canyon and carried the Hooded Inferno the whole way. VERY glad to have it, especially since I was using the GoLite Ultra quilt and nights in the mid-teens were not uncommon.

GoLite hooked me up with two version of the Hooded Inferno. One for "civilian use," i.e. "you're not allowed to get this one stinky or to chop it up"; the other for "trail use," i.e. "you can do whatever you want to it and it can smell horrible, and that's okay."

I removed the fleece-lined pockets in my trail jacket and cut out the inside lining that seperates the pocket and the wearer (it's a third layer of fabric — there's no down in there) and managed to get the weight down to 20.8 oz, size Men's Medium.

Mar 18, 2009 at 7:48 am #1486658

Matt Lutz
Member

@citystuckhiker
Locale: Midwest

@Andy: I have a similar jacket I have been testing that also has a liner on the inside. Like you said, essentially a third layer of fabric with no down inside. Can you explain why that is done? Seems useless to me.

Mar 19, 2009 at 12:19 pm #1487157

Kathy Bartosh
Member

@sumo
Locale: Southern Quebec

Thanks Will.

Happy trails.

Mar 23, 2009 at 3:31 pm #1488202

Andrew Skurka
BPL Member

@askurka

It is essentially useless, as it provides very little warmth for its weight. I think it's done to keep the pockets from being visible from the inside of the jacket. Not really a concern for me, but I can't think of another reason. I suppose the pockets could snagged on things too if they were out in the open. But, whatever, the third layer of fabric should not be there.
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