ProsGreat Value, Comfortable, Performing as Expected
I wear this thing in just about all temps from 35 down. It's light, but extremely warm at the same time. In fact, this is the second one I've owned. I fell and ripped the sleeve (my fault) and ordered the exact same color.
I have found this jacket to be really warm, lightweight and a good inner and outer layer. Used as an everyday outer jacket and as an inner layer when teaching skiing. How ever I also found that the down leaks out and I end up with little feathers all over what ever I'm wearing underneath. I have given up wearing a light weight fleece underneath as the fleece looks like a gosling. I will be returning the jacket and looking for a different layering option.
ProsDurable, Great Value, Comfortable, Performing as Expected, cozy at -15c degrees, pockets galore, comfy sweater indoors
The temperature in Sedona in late December 2010 dropped to something like 17f degrees. (which is -15c degrees; freezing is 32f degrees).
Fountains in Sedona flash froze as they formed into beautiful water sculptures. My LL Bean Ultralight 850 Down Jacket kept me comfy (even though my face "burned" it was so freezing cold, and hands were still freezing through my supposedly high-tech leather gloves). When I put my gloved hands in my jacket pockets they warmed up.
It's hard to believe that in spite of this painfully freezing cold (and even colder temps when the winds whipped up at high elevations hiking) this jacket kept me toasty warm. Still, I could wear it in warm shopping areas and restaurants because of 850 down's remarkable versaltile properties (which is why I suppose down is the feather of choice with birds, lol).
This jacket is well designed, the only one I've found with comfy cotten lined pockets, hidden chest pockets (one for sunglasses), and interior pockets for gloves, snow cap, etc.).
The metallic sheen of the jacket's outer shell is cool looking, and the blue is true British royal blue. This jacket has everything, looking very cool and performing better than far more expensive jackets with higher fill power.
By the way, I love birds (and have two sweet little lovebirds) and would never buy anything that harmed a bird. Many people are unaware that down is gently plucked from birds, and they are kept warm until they grow new feathers. To my knowledge no bird is ever harmed to bring you a down jacket.
