The North Face Thunder Jacket Review

thanks for the review

I'd also like to hear any comments on a comparo w/ the patagonia down sweater

while there is some allure to a slightly lighter jacket, a little more durability and a few additional features is the way I'm leaning

I'd probably wear the jacket a fair bit when not hiking, so a jacket that looks decent doesn't hurt my feelings either :)

Mike and Lapsley,

There is 3 oz of 800 fill down used in the Patagonia Down Sweater at 12.4 oz. By extrapolation, the Thunder Jacket is comparable in warmth at 14.2 oz. By far, the best value in this warmth class is the new Mont-bell UL TEC Down Series for $175 and only 11.3 oz! Prolite has this jacket on sale for ~$140.

Material quality of the new Thunder Jacket is seriously questioned in the review on their Web site.

Here is a 9.17 oz. women's 800-fill Eddie Bauer Downlight Sweater worthy of consideration: http://www.eddiebauer.com/EB/Womens-Outerwear/Womens-First-Ascent-Outerwear/index.cat#ppl={type%3A%22hide%22}

and 13.39 oz for men: http://www.eddiebauer.com/EB/Mens-Outerwear/First-Ascent/index.cat#ppl={type%3A%22hide%22}

MontBell 10.0 oz for women US U.L.TEC DOWN JACKET W'S: http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=70&p_id=2301128

and 11.3 oz for men: http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?p_id=2301127