DayTrip
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- May 13, 2013
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I have never used down products in my entire life, primarily because of the cost, but have always read that they are awesome for cold weather - but have some drawbacks, particularly in the damp conditions of the NE. As I have become more serious hiking the past few years (and willing to spend more $$ on good gear) I've done a lot more reading on gear and down comes up over and over. After repeated LL Bean catalogs arrived at my house last year hailing their new 850 fill down jacket that resists moisture and receiving Backpacking Magazine honors I caved in and ordered one. When it finally arrived (after a horrific ordering experience from LL Bean which was most unexpected - but that is another story altogether) I took it for a spin on Mt Tom/Field/Willey on a very cold December day and I must say I was most unimpressed.
The coat is warm I guess but it is hardly durable as a exterior layer. After the first trip the threads were already pulling in places. So I decided it would be better as a layer underneath an exterior shell. However the heat from walking makes it sweat right through in the back from being against the backpack where I presume heat gets trapped. It then compresses quite a bit and doesn't seem all that warm anymore. And since it has compressed I'm getting the tiny feathers sticking out of the material in a few places. (The day I went out was around 0 deg F with light winds generally). I have a heavy wool North Face sweater that I would much rather have even though it is much heavier. I've only worn the jacket for three hikes (and not for the duration of any of them).
So to all the down advocates out there I ask: am I using the coat wrong? Should it be an outer layer? Should I only be throwing it on when I am not moving for warmth? This coat has to be the most disappointing piece of gear I have bought in recent years. It eventually "repuffs" if I leave it hanging in the house for awhile but compresses quite easily. Are there things I should be doing to the coat to maintain it when not in use (other than taking it out of pack so it doesn't get all crushed up)? Jacket was fairly expensive so I hate to reduce it to "letting the dog out on cold mornings duty" but I'm not seeing the benefit to having it. What am I missing? I know wool is much heavier but I think it performs WAY better. If the light weight of down is the only benefit I don't think I'll be carrying on winter hikes, just summer hikes where far less clothing is needed and the light weight is beneficial for the warmth jacket can provide.
The coat is warm I guess but it is hardly durable as a exterior layer. After the first trip the threads were already pulling in places. So I decided it would be better as a layer underneath an exterior shell. However the heat from walking makes it sweat right through in the back from being against the backpack where I presume heat gets trapped. It then compresses quite a bit and doesn't seem all that warm anymore. And since it has compressed I'm getting the tiny feathers sticking out of the material in a few places. (The day I went out was around 0 deg F with light winds generally). I have a heavy wool North Face sweater that I would much rather have even though it is much heavier. I've only worn the jacket for three hikes (and not for the duration of any of them).
So to all the down advocates out there I ask: am I using the coat wrong? Should it be an outer layer? Should I only be throwing it on when I am not moving for warmth? This coat has to be the most disappointing piece of gear I have bought in recent years. It eventually "repuffs" if I leave it hanging in the house for awhile but compresses quite easily. Are there things I should be doing to the coat to maintain it when not in use (other than taking it out of pack so it doesn't get all crushed up)? Jacket was fairly expensive so I hate to reduce it to "letting the dog out on cold mornings duty" but I'm not seeing the benefit to having it. What am I missing? I know wool is much heavier but I think it performs WAY better. If the light weight of down is the only benefit I don't think I'll be carrying on winter hikes, just summer hikes where far less clothing is needed and the light weight is beneficial for the warmth jacket can provide.