Buying a down jacket - which one?
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| subaru1. 10. 2015 20:27:27 |
Since I'm the type that gets cold easily, I'm thinking of getting a down jacket for cold days - for mountaineering needs (not alpinism). Something light and warm.
Since I have no clue about down jackets, I'd ask for some advice or tip on what to watch out for.
I've noticed that down jackets are filled - some with goose down, others with synthetic fibers ??
Anyway, what are your experiences - maybe even a specific suggestion (brand, model).
Thanks.
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| jax1. 10. 2015 20:32:58 |
I still claim that in Slovenian conditions you don't need it. Of course everyone tolerates cold differently, so I can't absolutize that.
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| SamoK1. 10. 2015 21:35:31 |
jax, I think the same. In any case, it's better to have multiple layers that you can take off and put on as you like. A down jacket is only useful here if you're bivouacking outdoors.
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| palček plezalček1. 10. 2015 23:30:39 |
Some of you are lucky and never get cold, I even carry 'Atomčka' in my backpack in mid-summer (http://arcteryx.com/product.aspx?language=EN&gender=Womens&model=Atom-LT-Hoody-W), which I use as one layer on warm winter days. If it's cold (and for my fingers that starts around +18, not to mention at -10  ), then over Atom comes Fission (http://arcteryx.com/product.aspx?language=EN&gender=womens&category=Insulated_Jackets&model=Fission-SV-Jacket-W) and of course gloves and protectors, and hand warmers are in the backpack lid. Of course I bought both 'jackets' at a good discount - they're great. Subaru, I'd recommend synthetic materials more than down. If a down jacket gets wet, you won't dry it easily, and it'll be heavy too. Btw, before Arcteryx I had an 18-year-old Montbell down jacket, and it's still good for shorter trips 
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| Zebdi2. 10. 2015 07:59:37 |
Down jackets are the best for me. I hike in a thin t-shirt and if needed a thin windbreaker, on top I put the down jacket. Nothing better. Synthetic fibers unfortunately don't convince me; I have one like that too, but it can hide in front of real down. I currently have Sir Joseph, but if I were buying again, I'd probably take the one from Decathlon for 100e. It can easily compete with many much more expensive alternatives 
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| Marky2. 10. 2015 12:08:23 |
I think both down jackets (goose or synthetic) will warm you equally. Difference is only in weight (goose is lighter) and moisture (goose absorbs it sooner).
I'd recommend a Polartec® Alpha variant down jacket, as it allows good breathability while maintaining temperature. You can read more here. Currently, or at least as far as I know, Millet and Patagonia have this variant. If others do, I don't know.
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| Trobec2. 10. 2015 12:11:46 |
Luckily I'm not the cold type either, so usually in winter softshell is enough. Even in that I often get hot
But my girlfriend bought a down jacket this winter, I think this one http://iglusport.si/trgovina/skupine/ws-hi-loft-down-sweater-hoody/ (of course when heavily discounted) and she's extremely satisfied.
It's light, packs small and really warm.
When talking down jackets it means down not synthetics. And difference between goose and duck. Goose is warmer, but those are more expensive too.
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| ljubitelj gora2. 10. 2015 19:57:45 |
You mustn't sweat in clothes and even non-mountaineering clothes will be suitable for winter ascents. Watch your fingers, mandatory good gloves and don't forget spares, mandatory goggles (ski ones preferably) and sun cream.
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| subaru6. 10. 2015 14:59:30 |
Thanks everyone for the advice. In the end I went with Marky's recommendation. Rab's Polartec-Alpha variant.
Ordered from GB, much cheaper than here.
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| puma6. 10. 2015 15:05:54 |
Difference between down and synthetic fillings is also that down warms much less when wet. Synthetic down jackets perform much better in that regard.
I have in winter for hills long active shirt and softshell. When moving you don't get cold anyway, rather the opposite. Regarding sweating - I always sweat, if not elsewhere then on back because of extra heating - backpack. Down jacket is always in backpack, because indispensable at summit or wherever you stop, as you cool down very quickly. I suggest you buy one you can always carry in backpack in winter. Better quality softshell seems more important to me, one that wicks moisture well.
Suggestion:
http://www.gornik.si/puhovka-simond-light-down-p-1056.html
They also have synthetic one, which is much cheaper.
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| lino6. 10. 2015 15:24:15 |
Lg - "You shouldn't sweat in clothes and even non-mountaineering clothes will be suitable for winter ascents." Nicely said in theory, in practice it's a bit harder to achieve.
Subaru - "Ordered from GB, significantly cheaper than here." If you're so kind you'll post the final price difference once you've settled delivery costs and customs too. Curious if the math works out here. Thanks!
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| Zebdi6. 10. 2015 15:40:07 |
@lino: no customs
@puma: that Simond down jacket at Decathlon costs 100 eur. This gornikova price is the rip-off of the century
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| lino6. 10. 2015 15:47:22 |
Zebdi, thanks. I can hardly believe there's no customs. Obviously I mixed it up a bit and customs costs are calculated if you buy online outside the EU area (e.g. USA).
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| Zebdi6. 10. 2015 15:54:50 |
That's right, lino. For purchases outside EU you need to pay customs and VAT (except small value purchases), while for purchases in EU there are no additional duties (except postage of course).
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| subaru6. 10. 2015 18:11:42 |
Lino - England is in the EU, so no customs. Also no postage with this company where I ordered. Applies to all customers in GB and EU members.
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| subaru6. 10. 2015 18:16:17 |
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| lino6. 10. 2015 20:26:28 |
Zebdi, Subaru: you've almost convinced me of the benefits of online shopping (almost!). What if there's a hidden defect (sloppiness)? For me the dark shadow of online shopping in Slovenia still lingers. In Tržič (company name omitted) I bought some technical product with a hidden defect. Despite complaint they strung me along for 45 days and returned the product that didn't work again. Same with the second complaint. Only on the third complaint did I get a new product with help from market inspection.
Can't imagine how to handle such a complaint abroad. Just this much, briefly - the whole story is too long. Regards!
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| ljubitelj gora6. 10. 2015 21:18:13 |
Lino like anyone, why save on gear if you can buy quality mountaineering stuff, but you can also walk normally in mountains in winter with non-mountaineering clothes. Practice matters to me, I leave theory to others.
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| Zebdi6. 10. 2015 21:21:12 |
lino, here's what I'll tell you: it totally depends on the seller. If you check the online store, there's almost no risk. I buy quite a bit of stuff via ebay, and so far no problems. There every buyer leaves a rating for the seller and they really try hard to avoid negative feedback. If you pay with PayPal, it also gives some guarantee and sometimes even refunds return costs. My experiences are even that foreign online shops are much more responsive than local ones.
I've bought everything - from books, clothes, to tech stuff like photo lenses and even air dehumidifier. 250 eur in Slo, 120 from Germany (postage included!). Once with a lens purchase they forgot to stamp the warranty card, so I nicely contacted the online shop, they apologized, covered costs to send the card back to Germany, sent stamped one back, and on top added a 10% discount coupon for next purchase. Colleagues have no bad experiences either, true we always buy from verified online shops.
A bit of common sense and you can save quite a bit
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| lino6. 10. 2015 21:38:41 |
Zebdi, in your post there are lots of experiences with online business. But I fell for a nicely designed Slovenian website with fine words. Honey and milk were practically dripping from the screen until I sent the complaint. The rest of the story is in my post above.
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