The most thoughtfully designed winter coat I've ever owned!
first off, this thing is EXTREMELY warm, enough so that it's overkill if the temperature is above 30°F, and enough so that it's a godsend on a truly wintry and windy day. Some describe it as lightweight, but I would not. My guess is that this is a description given by those who don't have experience with down jackets, almost all of which are much more lightweight than this one, and is why down jackets are so popular with "through hikers" — those who are hiking and backpacking multiple days. This jacket is probably a pound or two heavier. But that is because this down filled jacket is easily twice as thick, maybe more so, than any down jacket I've ever owned (about 5, or 9 if you include down vests). But with a typical down jacket, it is necessarily just one of several layers I use/need when the temperatures dip into the teens or lower because, unless I'm doing something with heavy exertion (a brisk uphill hike or trail run), your typical down jacket is insufficient in really cold stuff. This, however, is not a typical down jacket. it alone is the only outerwear I need over my shirt if I'm going out for a walk when Fahrenheit temperatures are in the teens. It's that warm. And that is why it is heavier than most down jackets, even if it's lighter in weight than most winter coats/jackets filled with synthetic material. It also has a thicker/sturdier surface material than most down jackets, which can easily snag and rip went hiking to close to bushes or trees. This one is thicker, and also, because of its thickness aand tight weave no doubt, blocks the wind better than any of my other down jackets – and probably attributes to its overall greater weight. But why did I title this review "The most thoughtfully designed winter coat"? Because of the thoughtful details that make it a better coat. Let me count the ways: 1. A genuinely warm hood – many winter jackets skimp with the installation of the hood. Not this. 2. An adjustable hood — drawstrings that allow you to tighten it to match your head size and keep out more wind. 3. A removable hood — With the design being warmth-first, the hood, in my opinion, is a relatively unattractive element of the design of the coat, but the fact that it's easily zipped or unzipped to remove it completely from the jacket means that I can leave it off if I'm using it on a day above 20°F-ish. 4. The built-in "glove like" thing sticking out at the bottom of the sleeves does a great job of keeping the warmth and and the cold out. 5. Massive & zippable side pockets! "Zippable" is essential if you are being physically active while wearing this so that its contents stay inside the pocket. When I say they are massive, I mean you can fit a paperback or an Amazon Kindle inside it! 6. cinch-able at the bottom via a drawstring that's hidden away inside the left-hand pocket means you can keep the wind from sneaking up from underneath the coat. Thoughtful features. Collectively, they make this jacket almost Arctic-mountaineering-worthy. Any negatives? If you wanted a truly Arctic-style mountaineering coat, you would likely also want zippers in the armpits for ventilation if you are out hiking vigorously and want to prevent perspiration. I didn't count this as a negative on my star rating of the coat since it does not purport to be an Arctic-style mountaineering coat. So, maybe not the right one if you plan to do Mt Everest, But then look at the price; jackets designed for doing Mount Everest typically start around $800 and go much higher. This one, for about 10% the cost, is plenty adequate for just about everything else. Read more
