Down vest - suggestions?

[Onestepmore]

I'm planning on buying a black down vest, that can be worn under a shell if needed, in camp under a down hoody if needed for extra warmth, in my sleeping bag if it's particularly cold, and so that I can pair it with a pair of Jacks R Better down sleeves and a hood for vesatility
If Blackrock made a woman's cut, that's be the one I'd get, but i have written to them and while a female shaped vest is planned eventually, it's at least a couple of years away

I'm a little undecided regarding the baffle size, and hoped to get others' opinions. I'm looking at the lighter types of vests - I already have my fat heavy puffy North Face one for general wear and car camping, but it's too big and bulky to take bushwalking. I am careful with my gear and this is not at all intended as a walking outer layer!
I can't find any specific women's vest gear comparisons, though I know I can extrapolate from the down jacket ones
Are the vests with the smaller finer stitching better for what I want it for, or are the puffier types of wider baffles warmer, due to more loft/ I'm really only considering the 800 850 or 900 fill types.
i am looking for a fitted look, not baggy and boxy, which is why the men's/unisex cuts don't suit - they are tight around the boobs and saggy around my waist, and the hips are too tight
It needs to have a collar, not a V neckline
(For instance this is made in a women's cut, but has no neck to attach the hood to http://www.westernmountaineering.com/in ... ntentId=61)

Mainstream ones I have looked at

Patagonia ultralight Down vest
Trim fit, 150g/5.3oz, 800 fill, 10D shell, narrow quilting - this is the one i'd like any coments from those that have tried it on or perhaps have one? It's lightm but is it going to to be warm enough??

Patagonia Down Sweater vest
http://www.backcountry.com/patagonia-do ... c3RzOjA6Nw
Trim fit, 9.2oz/260g, 800 fill, 22D shell, wider quilting
Odd - Campsaver has this listed as 6oz, while Backcountry has it at 9.2 oz

Mont bell Ultralight Down Vest
http://www.campsaver.com/u-l-down-vest-women-s
Regular fit, 136g/4.8 oz, 15D shell, 800 fill, diamond pattern quilting - I have found Mont bell fit and styling to be loose and boxy, which is my main concern, as the stats look good

MontBell Alpine Light Down vest
http://www.backcountry.com/montbell-alp ... c3RzOjA6Ng
Fit not specified, 7.9oz/224g, 800 fill, 30D shell, diamond quilting
This jacket and parka of this style has won several awards, so I'd be hoping the vest is good too, just worried about the cut/fit again

Rab Microlight
http://www.campsaver.com/microlight-vest-women-s
Medium cut, 230g/8.1oz, 750 fill, shell 30D, narrowish quilting - - I think I've ruled this out on the basis of weight and the fill type

Feathered Friends
Women's Ellia Vest
http://featheredfriends.com/down-garmen ... est-c.html
This looks fairly fitted, 850 fill, 68g fill weight but the complete weight isn't listed (of course all the men's ones are....), shell is Pertex Endurance LT, wide quilting
Has anyone tried these?


Men's lightweight vests - much bigger choice

i like the look of Feathered Friends gear
The men's Daybreak looks good - 6 oz/130g but no women's fit
http://featheredfriends.com/daybreak-ve ... ano-c.html
The Helios looks wonderfully warm and puffy - 10 oz/283g, mens' cut only.....
http://featheredfriends.com/down-garmen ... -lt-c.html

Other mens' ones that look good - once again nothing for women
PHD
Wafer Down vest
130g /5 oz 10D shell, too expensive though (150 pounds)
http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/product_info ... cts_id=356

Nanatuck
Skaha vest - part zip, 5.5 - 6.5 oz depending on the shell type, again exe - $300 US
http://www.nunatakusa.com/site07/garmen ... a_vest.htm

Does anyone else have any suggestions, or personal recommendations?

[Onestepmore]

Found another nice men's one, can't add it to my above post

Western Mountaineering
Flight Series jacket and vest
185g/6.5oz, says unisex cut (lol so OK for stick figure 20 year old women with no boobs nor hips!)
http://www.westernmountaineering.com/in ... ntentId=55

Flipping annoying I can't edit stuff!!!

I missed this
Patagonia Ultralight Down Vest (the first one I described)
But I forgot the link
http://www.backcountry.com/patagonia-ul ... 3RzOjA6MTU

[GPSGuided]

Bugger! This came too late and I missed an opportunity to more objectively guide my recent down vest purchase. It's somewhere in the mail already and should arrive any time now. Good luck with your search!

[stry]

I have the flight and like it. I do think that it would be a bit snug around the average woman's hips. What's average you say ? Well not an anorexic supermodel

I like the snugness of a collar, but for the application that you describe, I don't think that you would miss a hood. May not miss a collar either.

Getting something designed for a female shape is a good idea. Sort of leads you to something like the Flash, although it won't be as warm as the Flight.

[stry]

I overlooked responding to your question about compartment size - sorry.

I think the trend to many rinky dink little stitched through compartments is a (styling?) fad. Those who have slept in stitched through bags without a liner or inner will know how much cold is felt through stitch lines.

The compartment size in the Flash is as many stich lines as I would tolerate. Some of the offerings are simply ridiculous in this regard.

If the design uses so little down that all that stitching is necessary to hold the down in place, simply buy something with more fill and bigger compartments.

However, I did, for many years use an old European vest (Egge ??) that had no collar, no hood, stud front closure and square, but not small, stiched thru square down compartments. I used it for exactly the applications that you describe, and it was wonderful, although almost certainly not as good as what we have available today.

[wayno]

with a list like that you could just about go eenie meenie minie mo and end up with a winner

this site gives cumulative review results if you want to drill into the various models that are there on your list for reviewers comments.

http://www.gearbuyer.com

[DannyS]

Have you considered the Montane Anti Freeze? It's filled with 750+ European Goose down. It has a box construction which you may not like? These are designed for woman and fit the body very well, I know this because my girlfriend purchased the jacket in the Anti Freeze and it fits her form perfectly(she is curvy but not fat) and has confirmed that it holds good warmth.
At the moment Mainpeak have these on special for 30% off, $139.

[radson]

http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/insulated-clothing.php?cat=111

Have you considered contacting these guys with your specific requirements?

[wayno]

well thats putting the cat amongst the pigeons, as if the choice wasnt difficult enough..

[DannyS]

well thats putting the cat amongst the pigeons, as if the choice wasnt difficult enough..

Yeah! Choice can really be a bugger sometimes Plays lot's of funny games with your head

[GPSGuided]

My Marmot Guides has arrived. So comfortable and warm! And it's 'only' 650 down.

[Onestepmore]

Feathered Friends
Women's Ellia Vest
http://featheredfriends.com/down-garmen ... est-c.html
This looks fairly fitted, 850 fill, 68g fill weight but the complete weight isn't listed (of course all the men's ones are....), shell is Pertex Endurance LT, wide quilting

FF got back to me - the weight is 184g (6.5oz)
The fact that this has the larger puffier quilted panels, plus has a good light weight, and comes in a women's shape makes this the most appealing so far

Has anyone personal experience with Feathered Friends garments?

[blacksheep]

uniqlo. they use Toray 20d fabric with a good DWR and 650 loft. RRP of $49, jackets $69, and the fit is really good.

oh...and check out their merino. Not bad quality (19.5 micron which is fine for mid layer) and amazing pricing. Quality is great. (Japanese standard) I loaded up on merino and cashmere basics last week in NYC and I am really impressed..

[Onestepmore]

The Montane antifeeze looks good too. A little heavier, but it has a baffle behind the zip not just polarfleece, and I am thinking the box construction is going to be warmer than sewn through quilting. Thanks Danny for the suggestion. I've got their down Featherlite hoody and it's lovely.
It's a bit cheaper, and no shipping hassles or delays either...

[forest]

Has anyone personal experience with Feathered Friends garments?

Yes, I had a daybreak jacket. Great quality.

Have you looked at the Blackrock vest. They are expensive now though.
Glad I got mine early on but pockets would be a nice addition which my vest doesn't have.

[Onestepmore]

Hi Forest - yeah Blackrock was my first choice but they only make a men's version, and don't plan on designing a women's cut until a few years' time. I have one of their awesome down hats (with the rasta coloured stitching) and a hammock pillow. Their vest this year is a grey colour not black, but they sold out of the mediums pretty fast anyway. i was tempted to try one and onsell it if the fit was all wrong., but i was too late by the time i started enquiring anyway. I think they only have a few large sizes left now.

[forest]

Hi Forest - yeah Blackrock was my first choice but they only make a men's version, and don't plan on designing a women's cut until a few years' time. I have one of their awesome down hats (with the rasta coloured stitching) and a hammock pillow. Their vest this year is a grey colour not black, but they sold out of the mediums pretty fast anyway. i was tempted to try one and onsell it if the fit was all wrong., but i was too late by the time i started enquiring anyway. I think they only have a few large sizes left now.

No worries, If you ever wanted to try a Large on for camparison/cut shape and are in my neck of the woods your most welcome.

[Mountain Rocket]

Has anyone personal experience with Feathered Friends garments?

My partner has one of their jackets (can not recall which one) and she is very happy with it. Fits her well (she has wide hips) and she wears it all the time.
We also have two of their sleeping bags which we are very happy with. Customer service has been great as well.

Shame their garments are made in China now

[Mountain Rocket]

68g fill weight but the complete weight isn't listed (of course all the men's ones are....), shell is Pertex Endurance LT,

The weights are listed under the 'Details' tab. 184g for medium.

[GPSGuided]

Shame their garments are made in China now

Why? Were you judging on subjective or objective technical reasons? As long as they are from reputable brands and not seeking for cheap goods, don't see the problem with products from China, Vietnam, Pakistan or Nicaragua in our globalised economy.

[Onestepmore]

68g fill weight but the complete weight isn't listed (of course all the men's ones are....), shell is Pertex Endurance LT,

The weights are listed under the 'Details' tab. 184g for medium.

Hi Robert,

Yes thay amended the specs tab after I made an enquiry regarding the total weight, as it wasn't listed. They didn't realise they'd omitted this bit of information. It got added yesterday

Thanks for the comments re quality etc

[Mountain Rocket]

Oh well good to see they can amend (finish) their website so promptly.

To add to the quality of service story my partner and I were going away to NZ for 5 weeks a the start of January and by the time we got our *&%$#! together to buy the sleeping bags (we got a Spoonbill UL and Petrel Nano) it was mid November. They mentioned it would take 4 weeks if we proceeded with the Ruby red order as they would have to sew up a shell and that was the current lead time. I emailed back explaining that we needed them for a trip. Two days later I got an email saying the bags had been shipped and they had upgraded the postage to express air for free. Suffice to say we were/are impressed. Bags are top quality too.