Down jackets

Northern jock

Northern jock

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The technology of down jackets has developed significantly over the last 30 years as manufacturers strive to make them lighter, warmer and more weather resistant. The top end ones are used at altitude, eg above 8000m just to survive, also carried to help stay warm in snow holes or tents high up. And some folk want them to keep them warm walking to the pub.
Mountain Equipment have been a leading manufacturer for years and make some very good stuff, a mate of mine has been supported by them for years and they continue to develop and push.
Rab is another good brand in the UK, not still owned by Rab but good heritage.
PHD is the top of the line, rather expensive but life saving stuff.

This is a good review of two of the current top jackets, Mythic Ultra from Rab and the Kryos from ME. Very, very light for what they do.


I’m perhaps a little biased towards ME (I have three of their jackets of varying vintage). They all make down and synthetic.

Men's Insulated Jackets | Men's Down Jackets | Men's Synthetic Jackets

Shop men's down jackets and synthetic insulated layers, with waterproof and hooded options. Built for mountain and cold-weather use.
www.mountain-equipment.com www.mountain-equipment.com

Men's Insulated Jackets | Winter Coats | Rab® UK

Rab men's insulated jackets. Born from decades of climbing and expedition experience. Find your perfect winter jacket now.
rab.equipment rab.equipment

You decide what you need it for, what parameters you have and choose from there. Mostly, they are used for sitting outside tents socialising. So if you go to cold places or suffer from the cold, it’s worth investing, they last for a lifetime. And ME at least guarantee that.

Wife with her Rab jacket, forget the model but top stuff

This is a ME Lightline at -35, did the job but not quite enough when not moving.

Followed by the ME Annapurna Goretex (35 years old and still working perfectly) at similar temperatures. Warm when stationary.

IMG_6533.jpegIMG_4665.jpegDSC_1138.jpeg
 
I have several Down jackets

One of which is a RAB expedition that I have had for maybe 10 years now and wear it when the temps drop below -2º ( I feel the cold) and that is a true Everest rated coat
I have a RAB Down parka that I dont wear as it isn't brilliant for me TBH a bit too snug in the arms.

My real issue is that the materials that most Down jackets designed for warmth are made of material that rips easily or go anywhere near a spark and you have a hole and they are not exactly waterproof.

I have had a Canada Goose and thought it was well over rated TBH

I really want a PHD Ventile jacket as that would be tough and "damage" resistant but at well over £2k I cant justify it ( although I may do next year)

I have recently bought the Thru Dark End of days Parka which is totally waterproof, perfectly warm and is made of some seriously strong materials where they are needed Dynema I think. Very good design features and pockets galore,It really is a substantial bit of kit - maybe too heavy for alpine work but perfect for walking the dog etc etc
 
RedRick Esq. said:
I have several Down jackets

One of which is a RAB expedition that I have had for maybe 10 years now and wear it when the temps drop below -2º ( I feel the cold) and that is a true Everest rated coat
I have a RAB Down parka that I dont wear as it isn't brilliant for me TBH a bit too snug in the arms.

My real issue is that the materials that most Down jackets designed for warmth are made of material that rips easily or go anywhere near a spark and you have a hole and they are not exactly waterproof.

I have had a Canada Goose and thought it was well over rated TBH

I really want a PHD Ventile jacket as that would be tough and "damage" resistant but at well over £2k I cant justify it ( although I may do next year)

I have recently bought the Thru Dark End of days Parka which is totally waterproof, perfectly warm and is made of some seriously strong materials where they are needed Dynema I think. Very good design features and pockets galore,It really is a substantial bit of kit - maybe too heavy for alpine work but perfect for walking the dog etc etc
Click to expand...
Phd do appear on eBay occasionally, worth a look from time to time though generally not late in the evening when you come home from the pub
 
Wapping said:
Looks more like an exotic jungle, than the north face of K2.
Click to expand...
Indeed and as you know one of my pains is Susans garden which is incredibly sheltered - at the from there was a very severe frost

I have said this many times

Any idiot can get cold
 
You dont look very happy have you been locked out all night? Thank god you got a decent jacket on :LOL:
 
Mountain Equipment and RAB are two great makes. I have quite a lot of their down kit including a full sleep system which is :-
1. Down boots
2. Down trousers
3. Down jacket
4. Down hood

These are all designed to be slept in and not day ware. I have separate stuff for the daytime.
It’s a complete game changer when sleeping in a tent in sub zero temperatures. :thumb2

This improvement in down technology has also massively improved in sleeping bags.
They’re not cheap but again, make a massive difference in getting a good nights sleep.

I’ve not had the -40 and colder like up in Finland but have had quite a few -10 nights up in the Scottish mountains.
 
I've got 3 down jackets. A very lightweight one I got from REI in the States. It is great for 0-10c. Cost about £40 10 years ago. I can squish it up really small so it's great tot take cycle camping or stuff in a bumbag.
The mid temp one is from Decathlon. Great for minus 10 and warmer...again, cost bugger all, comparatively speaking...perhaps about £60. Had it 6 or 7 years and it is still very good.
I then bought a RAB one last April, (from their great factory shop) on our way to Northern Scandinavia. Expecting lots of sitting about of an evening...well, it never dropped below about 10c so it remains unworn...doh.
 
Bonus is though with ME, they do their own repairs (so colour matching is almost guaranteed and a whole whack cheaper than other down repair specialists. £30 , incl free postage and a wash!).
 
I usually ask myself, what do those who have to be out in the cold/wet wear? Farmers and soldiers have little choice but to be out in the shittiest of weather and I don’t see either of those groups wearing down kit. Not robust/weatherproof enough and doesn’t keep you warm when it gets wet.

Ask most army vets what they retained from their kit when they left and most will pick out their Sleeka (source: ARRSE), made by Snugpak of Silsden. Alright they’re made mostly in China these days but they hold up their design brief of staying warm, even when wet, thanks to the Softie filling. I have had an ex-army green/sand one, now awaiting donation to a homeless shelter, and bought myself a green/black Elite Sleeka that now lives in the car boot ‘just in case’ these days. They’re not overly expensive and take a beating while still doing their job, but it’s worth knowing that Snugpak have a 2 day factory sale each Dec where everything is half-price. The queue must have been 40 deep at the door for day 1 last month. I went to buy a waterproof and windproof hooded coat for a trip to Iceland in March - 10000mm waterproof, Softie filled, and £105.
 
I have been a big fan of a german brand Welleynstein. Was originally made for the boatmen in the port of Hamburg and went commercial about 15 years ago ( fact check). Big in Germany but not really known outside. I am not an expert so minus 35 degrees no experience but find in normal winter conditions minus 5 or so they are great. T shirt underneath is fine and many styles. Most experts probably call it commercial crap just like Canada Goose….
 
grantmac said:
I have been a big fan of a german brand Welleynstein. Was originally made for the boatmen in the port of Hamburg and went commercial about 15 years ago ( fact check). Big in Germany but not really known outside. I am not an expert so minus 35 degrees no experience but find in normal winter conditions minus 5 or so they are great. T shirt underneath is fine and many styles. Most experts probably call it commercial crap just like Canada Goose….
Click to expand...
As long as you buy something fit for purpose it doesn’t matter what brand it is. But when you’re really cold, it matters.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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