ProsGreat Value, Comfortable, Performing as Expected
I have zipped this jacket into the shell of another company's waterproof breathable shell with 3 in 1 capability and come up with the perfect winter coat without the puffy/shiny look. Having the Ultralight as the liner makes for an incredibly light winter coat. In addition to the lightness, the comfort of the Ultralight as a liner is so nice I will likely not remove it until spring. All other coats and jackets in my closet may not ever see much use.
The 850 Down jacket is extremely light which makes it great on the go however, it is not as warm as I had hoped. During a walk around 30 degrees I expected to be rather toasty but luckily I had some extra layers on as the Ultralight did not have the typical warmth of a down jacket.
ProsDurable, Great Value, Comfortable, Performing as Expected
Bought this jacket last year and have to say I am more than pleased with it. Wanted a jacket that was warm, light and didn't make me look like the Michelin Man! Great when its cool, even better when its cold. Keeps you warm without needing anything under it...simply amazing. Family and friends are buying it this year!
First of all, make sure you get the right size. I'm 5'8" and about 175 lbs. I have a 42" chest and regularly have to jump back and forth between medium and large. I ordered the large, but had to send it back for a medium, which fits amazingly. I've worn it in light snow, windy conditions, and recently in a downpour. Note: In the rain the water did bead up over the coat and didn't soak in (not that I noticed anyhow). I walked for about a 1/4 mile in the rain. I wouldn't recommend it in any length of rain and a little water repellancy spray might help. I found out, though, that my Marmot Precip rain jacket (size M) fits perfectly over this coat (also a M). So, if you plan on using it on the trail or in camp and expect rain, don't give up on it without checking to see if your rain shell will fit over it. I tried it with a medium sweater on and while it was close, it wasn't tight or too snug. The features are great. It's a little awkward to stuff it into its pocket. The zipper kind of sticks out, too, as does the chest pocket. I use the chest pocket way more than the hand pockets. The hand pockets are fine with the great fleece lining, but there is no depth from the end of the zipper, so I feel like I need to keep the pockets zipped so nothing falls out. It looks great and is stylish. I have a black one and regularly wear it with business casual on my way to/from work. I'm very happy with the purchase. I don't know how well it would do at 0 degrees, but below freezing is just fine and it does block the wind quite well. Bottomline: you could hit the trail or go camping, shovel snow, hang out in the cold weather, maybe even take it on the A.T. in the winter, but you're not going to climb Everest with it.
