I have a North Face Everest spec down jacket. Were I to put that, even if I could, under my motorbike jacket it would double up as an air vest. Must be a saving there 
Poverty Spec Down Jacket
- Thread starter Arsey
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Picked up a €20 puffer jacket in Dunnes Stores. I use it instead of the liner that came with my Oxford Mondial. I run pretty warm so don't need it that often. But it's very handy as it doubles up as evening wear when off the bike. Lord, I'm a cheapskate! 
That's the advantage of these jackets - they replace your liner, make a decent evening jacket or sleeping bag extra season.But it's very handy as it doubles up as evening wear when off the bike. Lord, I'm a cheapskate!
Picked up the Decathlon own branded jacket today for £70. Very lightweight and fits into a small bag slightly bigger than my hand. Very nice!
Works perfectly for my needs
Works perfectly for my needs
I can do better than all of these. 'Frederik Anderson Copenhagen ultra light down' £15 second hand off ebay and when it arrived it was like new! Works great under my jackets and keeps you nice and toasty at camp or nipping down the pub.
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@Arsey
Have you looked at Eddie Bauer, in advance of one of your flights to USA? (Go to PDX and pay no sales tax!)
There's frequently a sale (next big one will be Thanksgiving, I guess) but there are intermittent promotions....I got one in their Labor Day sale.
These sales/promotiond make their 650-fill and 800-fill, to be less expensive than the Klim options...
The two options below, as an indication, don't have high collars that might otherwise interfere with helmet or over-jacket.
Have you looked at Eddie Bauer, in advance of one of your flights to USA? (Go to PDX and pay no sales tax!)
There's frequently a sale (next big one will be Thanksgiving, I guess) but there are intermittent promotions....I got one in their Labor Day sale.
These sales/promotiond make their 650-fill and 800-fill, to be less expensive than the Klim options...
The two options below, as an indication, don't have high collars that might otherwise interfere with helmet or over-jacket.
https://www.eddiebauer.com/p/38832402/men's-microtherm(r)-2.0-down-jacket?sp=1&color=Deep%20Mahogany
You are not getting a heated vest for less than the cost of the Decathlon down jacket. Plus its useless away from the bike without then getting expensive batteries.
I use down (duvet) jackets in winter in the forest whilst teaching chainsaw courses. I always buy them secondhand from eBay. I’ve been lucky to find very good jackets over the years and have always managed to get at least one winter out of them.
I will be using a marmot one for the second winter this year and have a Superdry one waiting in the cupboard for when I tear or otherwise damage this one. They are quite often a less popular colour but I don’t care about that. The superdry one is bright Orange.
As can be imagined I do damage them easily in my line of work so have never spent more than £50 on replacements.
I will be using a marmot one for the second winter this year and have a Superdry one waiting in the cupboard for when I tear or otherwise damage this one. They are quite often a less popular colour but I don’t care about that. The superdry one is bright Orange.
As can be imagined I do damage them easily in my line of work so have never spent more than £50 on replacements.
Not at all. A good one can be worn as a gillet over a shirt or jumper and a decent battery is about £20. I use a Tucano Urbano heated gillet which is windproof and warm as toast out and about with a 10,000mAhr battery lasting a good 6 hours or more on low. Total cost was around £100 mark in my case. Yes, you can get a cheaper down gillet for less but the heating in the gillet means it's great on the bike without adding much bulk and great around the house on colder days where central heating can be left switched off. I have a down gillet and reckon the heated vest is actually a better all round solution for me. It's certainly an option worth considering anyway.
does it have 2 way zips, are zips chunky and easy to use. Does it have a hood or preferably not. How tough is the outer shell is a concern I looked at. Ended up with a Marmot one. £80 on discount. Down will dry better if wet and will also withstand water longer if used as an evening jacket
Not been in an Eddie Bauer for a few years . Good stuff though .
But very happy with the Rohan I bought in their sale which I mentioned earlier in this thread , I think .
Thanks but no thanks . Had a Keis but sold it as never used it .
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Missed that one, sorry!
I was going to say you can't beat a Buffalo Special Six shirt, then I looked at the price, GULP. I think I paid £30/40 for my first one and got my second issued for free. They are the DB's but at that price they should be. It looks like Montane make a copy, and I'm sure they'll be others.
I like pile insulation, it doesn't pack down well for carrying, but because it doesn't compress easy, it insulates better under heavy bike gear, where down and synthetic will compress, so lose insulation.
It also performs better if wet, and dries quick.
The price of Buffalo stuff is eye watering, but it's still made here, I've an ancient one that's still serviceable. Alpkit do a copy.
Go for a synthetic filling as it still keeps you warm even if it gets wet, a wet down filling won’t.
I wear a Rab Cirrus, which are a bit pricey but made in the UK. Very lightweight and warm, and scrunches down easily to pack away in a small bag. Washable without special detergents, dries fast, and doesn’t need tumble drying with agitation to ensure the filling doesn’t lump up.
I wear a Rab Cirrus, which are a bit pricey but made in the UK. Very lightweight and warm, and scrunches down easily to pack away in a small bag. Washable without special detergents, dries fast, and doesn’t need tumble drying with agitation to ensure the filling doesn’t lump up.
Raab or Berghaus synthetic. I have the Klim and it's nice but the other two don't feel any colder.
A few points to add to this thread.
High quality down is by far the best at retaining body heat, but……
but I’ve spent a fair chunk of my working life on this stuff.
High quality down is by far the best at retaining body heat, but……
- it works best when its relatively close to the heat source, so not over multiple existing layers
- you need space in your outer jacket to allow it to loft - so cramming it into too little space will limit its efficacy
- down doesn't work well when wet …
- stretch microfleece - low bulk so works well if you haven't a lot of room for layers
- Primaloft is an excellent quality fill.
- For insulation to work it has to have maximum fibre surface area and via that, be able to trap air.
- With some exceptions, cheap insulation is just that.
- Its the trunk of your body, housing most of your critical gubbins, that has the greatest need for insulation
- Core body temperature doesn't have to drop by much to start the onset of hypothermia
- I use a Mountain Equipment Gillet (forget the name but will look it up) and it’s excellent.
but I’ve spent a fair chunk of my working life on this stuff.
A quick search and:
www.tog24.com
- The Moutain Equipment Vest is the Frostline either M or F
- Whilst I’ve not actually seen or tried one on, this one from Tog24 is the kind of thing
North RDS Mens Jacket - Dark Indigo
Product DescriptionPerfect for adding a layer of warmth without any bulk, our North down filled mens jacket is incredibly warm, while also being breathable and lightweight. It packs down into a zip up chest pocket and then springs back to shape when unfolded again, which makes it ideal for...
www.tog24.com
- Hi Fill power - 800
- RDS - Responsible Down Standard
- Inset sleeve
- No hood
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