Down Jacket options for deciding

Sam Wyman wrote (see)

 ...and i will be layering it under a Millet Golden Axe waterproof shell

No, its very relevant because you're contemplating doing something rather silly

Unless that waterproof shell is cut very strangely  you won't get close to getting most of those underneath it without hugely compressing their loft, and thus their warmth.

And the Yukon and the Helios are basically snow proof anyway so you'd really not be gaining anything in terms of compensation.

As it happens, most of the jackets are more than warm enough for most conditions. Much too warm if planning to use when active. The nitrous is the only one which might be halfway sane for such use.

I think the point is that if it's cold enough to be active in any of them coats it will be unlikely to be wet.  Other than that I've never had to wear a down coat when on the move, even in Norwegian winters, unless it was walking the dog or around the doors at home & don't know any of those jackets so can't comment further

it's 450g and will pack down small.

It's not for UK use is it?

Sam - welcome to the Forum. Addick probably sussed that it wasn't for UK use by the language in your first post ('backcountry'), which is probably why he asked about your layering - our climate in the UK is very different to that in the US and what might be suitable in one place won't necessarily be suitable in the other.

I've got a Yukon down smock and love it. It does squash up pretty small, and I like having the removable hood on mine. But it's so warm I'd never be able to walk in it in the UK!

I can't recall if we've got other Americans on here, but we've a good number of British and Irish ex-pats living over there atm

If you're American I would consider the FF jacket too - the Yukon probably is a little ahead in terms of warmth/weight (it is very good indeed on those terms) - but it won't be such an enormous difference and its from America so no exchange rate/shipping cost etc issues.

(or maybe one of their midweight jackets.).

Western Mountaineering's meltdown looks pretty similar too. Or yes local USA cottage industry.

Metric Kate wrote (see)

I can't recall if we've got other Americans on here, but we've a good number of British and Irish ex-pats living over there atm

Addick wrote (see)

Metric Kate wrote (see)

I can't recall if we've got other Americans on here, but we've a good number of British and Irish ex-pats living over there atm

Don't forget Dan and his intercontinental moustache.