PHD Mountain Software Ultra Down Pullover Review

I also find the fit of the Minimus pullover to be very good. Less boxy than the Montbell Ex Light, and better for layering than the more athletically cut Skaha. However, for the weight I still prefer the Skaha by a large margin, and since the Skaha is basically a custom piece of gear, you can have it made wider/longer/more or less down etc…to suit layering or body size differences. However both are great bits of gear, and if I lived in the UK, I would definitely buy locally over imported.

"I can't imagine why I would ever buy the jacket when I can get the Montbell UL Down Inner Jacket,"

The PHD is significantly warmer than the MontBell…1.8oz of down versus ~4.5oz for the PHD in size medium.

when comparing down jackets you really need to compare like for like, so the quality of down fill in this is as good as it gets – note the 900 fill is EU fill power, not the US version.
I'm also now looking at the flight or flash trousers. for those in the uk,http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk will be stocking these from March onwards

well a quick google showed this..
http://www.upandunder.co.uk/eshop/catalogue/manufacturer.asp?Activity_ID=27&Description_ID=24

This is the ability of the down to loft (ie its ability to resist compression) and the higher the Fill Power value the better the quality of the down. To calculate the Fill Power a set weight of down is compressed by a specific weight and the volume it takes up under this condition measured. The actual measure is a minimum that must be attained by the down so the values have a + figure at the end. There are two measures of fill power to be aware of: European and US. We have stated European measures next to our down clothing and sleeping bags, but here are some comparisons to help you: 560+ European equates to 610+ US, 660+ European equates to 725+ US and 750+ European equates to 850+ US.

and this

http://www.crux.uk.com/en/crux_sleepingbags_polishdown.php

Although the basic method of measuring fill power is consistent, there is no actual universal standard. Most down products are currently rated according to one of two systems, one European (the Lorch Fill Power standard recommended by the Swiss-based International Down and Feather Laboratory) and one American. Both systems measure fill power in cubic inches. The higher the number (i.e. the greater the volume), the greater the ability to trap air.
500–600 EU (530–640 US) Acceptable quality for mid-market products
600–700 EU (640–745 US) Minimum quality for performance products
700–800 EU (745–850 US) Excellent quality, best performance/price ratio
800+ EU (850+ US) Outstanding quality, limited availability, high price

And finally this from PHD
http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/techdown6.php

PHD's Down

PHD have expanded the range of downs we use from two to three with the introduction of our exceptional 900 quality down. All three downs, 700, 800 & 900 are European goose downs, the best of their kind, backed by our own almost fifty years of experience in the trade as well as by our own Lorch test machine….
Remember that our figures are based on the standard Lorch test as approved by the International Down and Feather Bureau. These figures are roughly 4% more conservative than US Federal tests, as quoted by some other manufacturers.

A small point; VAT increased back up to 17.5% in January in the UK saving you a whopping 2.5%! That's a saving of £4.65!
Just waiting for my Ultra Down Vest to turn up, can't wait!

from the phd site

In view of the recent concerns raised about the plucking of down from live birds, PHD can reassure its customers categorically that all the downs we use come from dead birds and none of it is live plucked.

Of course, new geese haven't been invented. It must be that improved down quality reflects improved methods of sorting–fewer feathery bits, larger, springier clusters (possibly from older birds?–does anyone know more about this?)

According to PHD website, "These figures are roughly 4% more conservative than US Federal tests, as quoted by some other manufacturers."

I think you'll find any difference between a US 850+ and PHDs 900 fp (which they rate at plus or minus 3%) is pretty minimal, and wouldn't be the basis of my decision making.

Mike, the 4.5oz of fill was interpolated by Richard Nisley. He calculated the amount of fabric that was needed to make the shell, plus the few other bits and bobs such as zippers and trim, and was left with 4.6oz for the down.

Cheers Lynn.
Are those figures an educated guess Richard, or direct from PHD? Some manufacturers seem to overfill, and others underfill.

In October I emailed PHD on the difference between the Minimus and Ultra, their reply:

"The main difference is that the ultra is filled with 900 down making it a
much lighter weight jacket, it has been designed with mountain marathons in
mind where weight really is an issue.
The Minimus and ultra are both the same in terms of warmth. The ultra collar
does not have the fleece inner as the idea is to keep weight to an absolute
minimum."

Cheers Richard. I was hoping you had uncovered a PHD secret file of fill weights. :)

Thanks Will. Looking forward to it.
Franco