Recommend something warm...

Chaps/Ladies

I've had enough of being freezing cold on hill tops, and shivering at trig points. It's time to buy some insulation.

Tried on the Rab Generator jacket and vest, Baltoro softshell vest, Marmot Variant and Montane Prism. Liked the Baltoro, but it's probably not really warm enough.

Looking for summat to shove in the pack for warmth.

Anyone recommend anything better/similar? Thoughts?

Big sale on at Cotswolds at the moment for stuff, quite a few insulated jackets in there.

I have an Alpkit Filo Down Jacket which is very warm and excellent value for money and I have a Mountain Equipment Fitzroy jacket as a synthetic. I use the Fitzroy all the time. It is fantastic! Good pockets, great hood, really snug to be in. Love it... just not as warm and coazy as a big puffer jacket

Looked at the Fitzroy a short while ago, The Outdoor Shop had them on for £99. Very nice jacket, but in all honesty a bit overkill for what I want - not fussed for a hood or anything dramatically big, as it will stay in the pack for most of the time.

The Rab Generator on paper looks the best bet, but I tried it on and wasn't convinced it was durable enough for a hundred quid.

Liked the Montane Prism too. The Haglofs Barrier vest looks a good bet, but I have no idea how Haglofs sizing compares to Rab or ME, say.

Anyone else suggest anything? Share your insulation choices?

The generator's outer fabric isn't super tough and you wouldn't want to abuse it. Stronger than it looks though, so should do fine if just packing into rucsac and throwing on from time to time.

Certainly the outer fabric on the barrier stuff is a little heavier than the generators so should be a very plausible option. There are/were pullovers/jackets about in a bunch of places last winter so maybe some on sale now.

Montane's flux perhaps too. PHDs sigma stuff maybe.The prism too, although thats not hugely insulated. Haglofs fit kind of like RAB, a bit taller/thinner than ME perhaps. They all vary within their ranges anyway. Paramo's Torres stuff uses a really tough outer fabric.

(Variant/Baltoro not really ideal for such use.). 

From the Cotswold's sale the chulu2 and Wolfskin Microheat should be entirely competent jackets.

Nice one sir. Can I ask, do you prefer sleeves, or do you find just a vest is sufficient?

I seem to be lathered going up hills, but the minute I get to a trig or hill top in the cold, and I'm very cold very quickly. Putting a fleece on seems to make little difference, and especially if it's windy obviously.

Hmmm.

What are you wearing at the moment that you're cold in?

And also, are you alone or with friends?  if the latter  abothy Bag can add a lot more effective warmth than a considerably heavier jacket.

Pete.

Baselayer, fleece, Rab Alpine jacket (pertex equilibrium basically).

Absolutely fine layering system for most of the time, but need a warm layer to go on top when it's cold.

Good point... I suppose I just wanted something light and "throw-on-able".

There hasn't been a lot of thought gone into this process tbh!

Im getting cold, wondered what others prefer to do.

I would suggest you get something big enough to just throw over your softshell so you dont have to take anything off. I sweat loads and like to have something very warm to put on when I stop for longer periods of time.

Probably stating the obvious I like hood because you tend to lose a lot of heat from the head and I find hoods make a huge difference to being warm. 

Well you're definetly looking at the right sort of thing.

I've got a thinnish hooded thing, mostly because I've turned minimalist and it covers everything plausibly well. Although something like the 'gorms in full on winter mode would need something rather more serious! 

In fact I mostly tend to not to stop for all that long.

Thanks both!

I'm annoyed with myself now, as it's completely not the right product, but I really liked that Baltoro vest. I will be talking myself into getting two items of kit now. Bugger.

Will expand the search. Anyone know if the ME Fitzroy packs down small?

I should also point out that I wear a beanie in all weathers, so unless it's tipping it down, I'm not fussed about a hood.

Had a quick butchers at the Marmot Baffin range, again though the material really doesn't look worth the coin.

The fitzroy packs down, but not terribly small. It is not going to fill up your whole bag and it does come with a net bag if you can be bothered. I can stick it in its net bag and take a picture nect to a gas canister (for size) if you want. It would not be one for super-light fanatics. But then i tend not to be too fuzzed about how much i carry.

It is very warm so probably not going to be worth carrying anymore before October/November.

http://www.freetime1.co.uk/Models.aspx?ModelID=3159

Haglofs Barrier II, medium, £70...

Like this. Looks more durable than the Rab, packs down...

Anyone any experience of these?

Thanks Nick, I've found a pic - thanks, though.

It's probably a bit beyond what I need looking/reading further.  

Basically, I need Rab to make their Generator jacket out of something a bit tougher and then charge me £30 for it

Grimandave wrote (see)

http://www.freetime1.co.uk/Models.aspx?ModelID=3159

Haglofs Barrier II, medium, £70...

Like this. Looks more durable than the Rab, packs down...

Anyone any experience of these?

No direct experience but I've got several bits of "older" Barrier stuff and I really rate it. I wore a Barrier Hood almost every day over at least two winters and there's no sign of any wear at all. Plenty big enough to throw over the top of other stuff and an Extra Large packs down to the size of a loaf.

Outside of full-on winter, a Montane Prism/LIM Barrier Pullover and LIM Barrier Vest/PHD Mininininm (or whatever it's called) Vest cover most (of my) bases.

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