Starting out?

Hello everyone

Is anybody able to help recommend a good long lasting waterproof down jacket that i could buy. I have come across several makes and am getting confused as to which one too buy. Is Northface the best or is mountain equipment better? Please, any make is good enough for me what is more important is that it lasts and it can hold up to cold weather. Which is the best make? i am on a budget of up to £120.

Hello, moisty, welcome to the Forum.

What do you want your down jacket for? Is bulk / weight an important issue or do you want small and light?

Thing is there are some excellent budget down jackets like the Alpkit Filo or the Berghaus Manaslu (exclusively from Cotswold) that are both on the bulky side (as is the TNF Nuptse), so not so great if you're a gramme/square mm counter.

What do you want it for?  Just asking because unless its a very cold place a down jacket will be too hot for any activity, so therefore most of them don't have waterproof outers, because they are used in places that are too cold for rain (just snow).

There are a few exceptions, such as rabs microlight alpine event, which is a lightweight down jacket with an event outer, but as a case in point, that specifically doesn't use a lot of down, just enough to keep you warm in cold wet conditions whilst you are moving - and its an active "alpine" cut, which means your bum will get wet.

If you are just standing around in the cold then a down parka will be your best bet.  Not really made for the hills as they are too heavy to cart around.

If you're worried about wet, then presumably the jacket isn't for use in serious cold. You might consider instead getting a synthetic insulation jacket (eg something stuffed with Primaloft) instead. It'll be a little heavier and might not last so many years of use, but they can be more than warm enough and have much less issue with getting damp or soaked.

If you're not worried about wet, don't bother with a waterproof outer! Just adds to the weight, bulk and expense.

If you can wait a month or so, we're due a PHD end-of-winter sale and you might pick up a Minimus jacket in your price range. No guarantees of that, though!

Alpkit Filo as several have already said.

Gets my vote.

NickNick wrote (see)

Alpkit Filo as several have already said.

Gets my vote.

When Pandas go Bad wrote (see)

NickNick wrote (see)

Alpkit Filo as several have already said.

Gets my vote.

is it waterproof?

If you're after something to wear round town or some such (as your specifications suggest) then I'd have to reccomend getting something else. Really.

The only thing that down does better then say fleece is warmth/weight - which you've mentioned as not mattering to you! - and it does a large bunch of other things worse.

I'm also afraid that waterproof/long cut both tend to mean either very high spec technical stuff or purely life style, because neither makes so much sense for the general uses for down bits.

One of Montane's extreme jackets (a lot under 120 in fact) might well make sense. Massively durable, very warm. Bulky/heavy to pack but you're not going to do that by the sounds of it.

Or if you do want insulated and you're female and small (only 10-14 left it seems) then this isn't so far off. Not waterproof but the fill won't mind getting wet like down and there's enough that it'll be warm.

There are plenty of waterproof down parkas and jackets in the usual high street shops, if you're not looking for something too technical. Timberland, Hilfiger and Helly Hansen have been known to produce such things and can be had for about £100 in end of season sales. There's also the TNF offerings, of course but a McMurdo Parka will set you back about £200.

Years ago, I had a waterproof down parka but I found that it was definite overkill in all situations I encountered in this country's climate. The down, more often than not, ended up damp and smelly, while I became extremely uncomfortable, from the vast volumes of condensed sweat that resulted from quite minimal exercise.

This has a DWR finish but is not waterproof.

When Pandas go Bad wrote (see)

NickNick wrote (see)

Alpkit Filo as several have already said.

Gets my vote.

is it waterproof?

So I bought a medium-weight hooded down jacket, a Montbell Alpine Light. What is not apparent is how much weight of down is inside the jacket, but they all mention the fill-power. For the aforementioned item is weights very little and packs very small, to get that level of insulation in synthetic is not possible. If I only wear when it is so very cold it will not encounter rain and so the light breathable windproof inner/outer are fine. 

It has to be about -10C for me to be able to move around in it, but standing still it is good for around 0C. For -15C I have to layer.

I paid 85ukp for mine. I doubt it will ever get worn in UK as its simply never cold enough apart from at altitude and I have to pass through damp areas and to carry that weight just for stationary times, as it is too warm to wear when moving, a better approach is a layer of synthetics.

I'd recommend Montbell on a cost/quality basis, if you're going to be relatively inactive in cold situations.