Down Jackets

[CarolinaTrecker]

Preparing for the upcoming camping season, I've been looking into down jackets. Right now I am looking at an REI Generator down jacket. Anybody have experience with this jacket?

Thanks!

[JasonByers]

I don't have any experience with this jacket but if it were me I'd keep looking just from what I see in the specs. Its kinda heavy and it looks like from your profile that you are getting into UL backpacking. I also see that you are a high school student and if you are anything like I was you probably don't have a couple hundred to drop on a really nice down jacket. If I were you I'd look over geartrade.com and the for sale section on backpacking light and hammockforums. I see a lot of jackets pop up there almost daily for a decent price. I myself would look at 800 fil jackets because you get more warmth for the weight and I also wouldnt look over synthetic. I have a montbell thermawrap I bought last year from geartrade for like $70 and that is my go to jacket for all of winter and it's only 10.1oz in xl pretty good for synthetic. I just layer with some thermals and sometimes my windshirt if it's windy and extremely cold...well extremely cold for western nc anyway. I nearly always bring thermals to sleep in anyway in winter and I never leave without my windshirt anytime but summer. So this is weight I'm already toting anyway. I also like having a modular type system for my insulation anyway so it works well for me. Anyway more than you asked for but I figured I'd throw my 2 cents in. Good luck.

Edited October 17, 2012 by JasonByers

[CarolinaTrecker]

Thanks Jason, I will check out those sights. You're right I do not have a ton of money to spend, so I love a good bargain! I started out for down because I have heard it's the lightest, but I will definitely keep an eye open for synthetics now.

[JasonByers]

Yeah synthetic has come a long way. Down is still lighter and more compressible than synthetic but the weight/warmth is getting close with synthetics like PrimaLoft which Montbell and Patagonia uses. I'm waiting on a jacket with climashield apex to come out. I'm a big fan of that. I like syntethtic because I don't seem to baby it as much as down and if i have rain in the forecast I'm not too worried about getting the jacket wet. I also sleep in my jacket in the winter and you often wake up in the morning with a little condensation on you.

I actually just checked out a jacket at REI a couple weeks ago called the Revelcloud. It's comparable to the Montbell Thermawrap in material and weight. It's actually on sale now for about a $100. I'd look at that one before you decide. But if down is what you want there are plenty sub 10oz jackets you can find pretty cheap on the sites I mentioned. Just check out some reviews before you buy. Most of the European/Japanese brands run small.

Edited October 18, 2012 by JasonByers

[CarolinaTrecker]

Thanks for the geartrade.com suggestion, I've been looking around and checking it out and I'm planning on trying to sell some stuff on there. I also found a great deal on a Patagonia 800 fill down sweater/hoody, 75% less than the selling price. I love bargains! Thanks again for the tip.