Down jackets - mont or macpac

[Sharpy]

Hi all my friends have down jackets.

I note that the Macpac Sundowner and Macpac twilight jackets have gone on sale on the website.
which one would stand up to a bit more drizzle? Also the Mont merlin looks pretty good. does anyone have any experience with these jackets?

I live in adelaide so it would need to keep me warm in this climate - especially on a day like today.

Sharpy.

[ollster]

Hmmn, could that be a certain Mr Sharp that I am acquainted with?

I have the Macpac Sundowner, and it's not at all waterproof, just a nylon shell or something. Looks like the twilight is basically the same.

Is there a Mountain Designs in Adelaide? I think their reactor down Jacket has a water resistant shell. I have been reliably informed they have a sale on very soon too, quite generous % off...

Oll.

[blacksheep]

Sharpy, if you can wait till Wednesday I'm sure you be pleased if you want a Macpac

[sthughes]

I have a Sundowner and find it quite water repellent for incidental wetting like going for a leak in light rain etc. Never been out in proper rain with it but it's not meant for that with its unsealed seams etc. I'd buy one again if I lost it.

[ollster]

Yeah, I guess I should mention that I do really like my Macpac Sundowner jacket, no complaints. Helps that it was 50% off when I bought it...

[Ent]

Content removed by poster

[blacksheep]

does the Merlin use a vislon zipper? otherwise I'd bet 90% off jackets all use the same #5cn YKK zipper. Other jackets (like our twilight use lightweight 15d materials/ 800 lof down and #4.5cn YKK zippers as the weight and compactness/ warmth ratio is important to some customers. Most ompanies moved to coil instead of vislon as they don't get damaged as easily/ are sef repairing (whereas a vislon tool can crack and fall off)

[Ent]

Content removed by poster

[photohiker]

Then of course, there are a few OS jackets worth looking at.

I was tempted by the PHD Minimus Down Jacket recently. You can order it with a variety of shell materials including drishell, and Brett would love this, they will make to order in terms of sleeve length etc. for a 10% premium over list price. Manufacturer claims good for -5 and weighs 360g in standard config. 156 UK Pounds about AU$280, and you can get the VAT rebated on that which will probably pay the freight.

RAB, Montbell and Western Mountaineering are also in the down clothing market. Haven't looked at them yet.

[Ent]

Content removed by poster

[blacksheep]

wow- a temp rating for a down jakcet...that's a new one.

re: what loft power? same as sleeping bag scenario- if you want thicker insulation without adding weight then a higher loft is desirable. If weight is less of a consideration then 600 is a fine standard for a high end jkt.

[melinda]

Have a look at the Mont-Bell U.L. Down jackets or vests (800 fill goose down). I just brought one half price from the States. It's so light I thought there was nothing in the box when it arrived. I haven't had a chance to check it out yet but I think its love!

[Ent]

Content removed by poster

[melinda]

Hi Brett,
How do you get WM gear imported directly???
When I look at the various overseas sites they say that they can't send to Australia because of an agreement with their Aust. importer (ie Paddies)
Cheers Melinda

[Ent]

Content removed by poster

[tasadam]

Sharpy, if you can wait till Wednesday I'm sure you be pleased if you want a Macpac

It's Wednesday... ?

[blacksheep]

Adam, see the ad at the bottom of the page ?
down jackets 50% off...

[photohiker]

wow- a temp rating for a down jakcet...that's a new one.

I guess it is. PHD seem to be a pretty reasonable outfit, and they have a comprehensive page explaining how they arrive at their ratings.

As with sleeping bags we have tried to keep our figures simple. We can't give you a comprehensive figure (or even set of figures), so we've given you an indicator instead, a single figure we call the TOT, Typical Operating Temperature.

The TOT figure means that the item is suitable for people heading into situations where these are the minimum temperatures likely to be encountered, for use from short static periods up to medium/low activity.

It is almost irresistible to go on qualifying this statement:

* The gear would be far too warm for its quoted TOT in periods of sustained high effort e.g.sledge-hauling (at altitude effort is great, but movement tends to be slow)
* It would be OK, but chilly to bivouac in it at these temperatures
* The figures assume you can keep the insulation dry
* High altitude and extreme weather introduce new sets of rules
* Etc. etc. etc.

More at PHD Techtemp page

On balance, I guess it's better to be given a temp rating and an explanation of it than having to guess. I suppose after you have had a couple of jackets you would get to know how much down you need for your expected activity.

Michael

[Ent]

Content removed by poster

[Nuts]

The fill and overall weights dont lie. Like temperature guides for sleeping bags they are a pretty rough guide. There are vast differences in what people percieve as a comfort level. I'd suggest a far greater range than manufacturers like to admit. Anyhow...yer, it isnt rocket science...

I have a mont bell ultralight. It is very light as has been mentioned. Unsuprisingly, it aint very warm....
I have a mont vest but recently bought one from REI... Think it was only $50-60 without checking. It is nice and warm...... and bulky...

[photohiker]

It would have to be extremely cold though before I would wear a down jacket when walking though.

Cheers Brett

Yep. My interest in them is to have something light and compact in the pack for when I'm not walking and cold. After a strenuous day there are a couple of things I must do when I stop or I go downhill rapidly: I have to keep warm, and I have to get some carbs into the system. My BMI (around 21) means I do not have a lot of built-in reserves or insulation. This is simple stuff but it took me a long time to accept it.

Michael

[Ent]

Content removed by poster

[wander]

sharpy, I have the Mont vest and find this does 90% of what I need here in Adelaide and in the snow and Tassie wandering.

I have a very old macpac down jacket now relegated to home use, the wp lining has come away inside the jacket so the fabric is nice and soft but the opposite of waterproof and the down is now somewhat worn out. To replace it I finished looking at another mapac or the Mont but bought the Mont on price. I also have a Mont Icicle jacket for snow camping use only. It is really too big and bulky and warm for anything else.

In comparing the jackets I came to conculsion there were some fine differences but it was swings and roundabout hence price being the decider.

[wander]

Oh I forgot about the waterproof bit. They all shed a bit of water off the fabric ealry in their lives but this deterorates with age. I just plan to have a rain coat if needed. Once the down gets wet it is stuffed so why chance it?