I really love the fit of this jacket, the color and it's versatility.....however, the reason I've given it only 3 stars and wouldn't recommend it is because the down fill has some dark feathers in it and they show thru the light blue fabric....resulting in what looks like stains on the jacket. It's very noticeable. In fact, the first time I wore it my friend said to me...."wow, for a new jacket it sure has a lot of stains on it!".
fromBelow the tundra, above the foothills, Colorado
Gender:Female
How often do you shop at L.L.Bean?Frequently
When did you purchase this item?Within 1 Month
Lightweight and compactable
PostedFebruary 12, 2012
Proswarm, lightweight, comfy
I had been looking for a light down jacket to wear by itself or as a layer under a hard-shell jacket and when I read the description for this 850 down, my interest was peaked. Its just right - I can slide the shell-jacket on top and still have room to move my arms. For 20F-35F days its nice and warm. I can tell though that a stiff wind will cut through, however the hard-shell on top solves the wind issue. I see this as an in-between step from the uber-warm Baxter State Parka for the 0F days and the warmer 40F days.
Oh, one weirdness - the wrist cuffs are only bungy-like on one side so air can seep in unless wearing gauntlets.
Being able to stuff the jacket into the side pocket (basically flipping the jacket inside out) is awesome - instant pillow!
I purchased the 850 Ultralight COAT - in the longer length - just yesterday. I tried on many coats both at other retailers and LLBean, since I rather urgently needed to replace my everyday winter coat that had a broken zipper. I was generally disappointed by the low bar for "winter" coats at other stores- jackets with just a fleece lining and no insulation, for example. This is way better. I haven't owned it very long, but there are many aspects about the coat that I love already. The color (blue) is vibrant and visible, which is a plus after dark in winter. The parachute-type fabric has an attractive sheen and is very soft. I don't know how waterproof it is yet. The coat is amazingly lightweight. I can't really attest to its warmth yet, but it was about 30F outside this morning, and I was comfortable. The styling is up-to-the-minute, in a style other upscale sportswear retailers are calling a "down sweater." I didn't even notice before I purchased the coat that it has an interior pocket labeled "stowaway" that inverts into a tote into which the coat can be packed. For next season's redesign - it would be nice to have a "stowaway" rain hood too. I almost never carry an umbrella since I seem to always have my hands full. I would like to see the same rather gender neutral selection of colors in kids sizes (such as "citron").
SIZING: In my opinion, the "coat" version runs a little big. You might consider sizing down if you can sometimes wear a smaller top. I generally buy a medium in both pants and tops but found that the shoulders on the medium coat were wide on me. The size small fits me perfectly, with just enough room for a bulky sweater underneath.
Love this jacket. I didn't realize how much use I would get out of it! Was looking for something more streamlined and sophisticated than my ski jacket for those days when I don't want to wear a wool coat. This is it! I'm 5'5" and 145 pounds (not skinny), and the medium fits well. Great for walks, for wearing to the city, for the ride to work. I've received many compliments on the purple color. I'm so happy with this purchase. By the way, I have not noticed any feathers escaping, as I have on other brand's down products. Also was worried about snags, but haven't encountered any.
