Which down jacket? Hood or no?

[cjdunn]

Getting ready to buy a down jacket and wondering if a hood is worth the extra weight/bulk/cost?  Looking at Montbell Ultralight Down Parka. Any others that are in the $200 range?

[tanadog]

Why buy a down jacket? No use if it rains, can't really wear it if your riding... get a synthetic - you'll use it 10x more. Way cheaper, and only a fraction heavier/ bulkier/ less warm these days. Oh, you live in AZ.... maybe down is better there.

[dh024]

Why use a down jacket?

Because they weight nothing, they pack down ridiculously small, and they are super warm.

You can also wear them under a rain jacket and they won't get wet.

I love mine.

Never saw the need for a hood, though.

[SkinnyTraffic]

I'm a big fan of down jackets- the rain issue is easily solved by throwing a soft shell rain jacket over the top, and then you have a syn w/ a comfy, lightweight lining. I'll do the same to gain extra warmth too. You do have to be a little careful, as the fabric tears easily and feathers start flying out. (I once instantly destroyed a $200 Patagonia down sweater when I took a spill on concrete.) I use a needle and thread to sew up small holes that inevitably occur.

As for the hood... my winter down coat has a removable hood. 3rd winter and I've never once put it on. On the other hand, my synthetic work coat (I work outside at 11,000ft) has one and I use it a lot when it's blowing/snowing/frigid. I prolly wouldn't want to bike with it, though.

[bpeschka]

Getting ready to buy a down jacket and wondering if a hood is worth the extra weight/bulk/cost?  Looking at Montbell Ultralight Down Parka. Any others that are in the $200 range?

JC Penney, this weekend, $30.  No hood.  Has worked well for me.

[SlowRide]

I went with a Sherpa Cho Oyu Down Jacket as a mid-layer, and a Sherpa Lithang Jacket as a rain jacket/shell. I couldn't have been happier with their performance. I didn't have a hood on my down jacket but did on my rain jacket, the hood on the rain jacket fit over my helmet which was nice and had a wire rim so I could shape the brim, that was nice as well. I didn't feel that I needed a hood on my down jacket.

[Couloirman]

For down I am a huge fan of the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer, and for synthetic those new North Face thermoball jackets. Can't go wrong with either

[sfuller]

I've never been able to ride in my down jacket without it getting soaked if it's under a rain shell. On a cold winter day, I'll use the rain shell as a vapor barrier, and then put the down coat over the top. Otherwise, my down coat is used in camp, for both walking around and for sleeping. I'll also use it if I'm sweating a bit, and have to stop for some reason (change a flat, drink some coffee, take a break) etc.

[SlowRide]

I've never been able to ride in my down jacket without it getting soaked if it's under a rain shell. On a cold winter day, I'll use the rain shell as a vapor barrier, and then put the down coat over the top. Otherwise, my down coat is used in camp, for both walking around and for sleeping. I'll also use it if I'm sweating a bit, and have to stop for some reason (change a flat, drink some coffee, take a break) etc.

I actually was going to revise my post to say just exactly this last night. Mostly I used the two layer system if I stopped and needed to keep warm while idling, the down puffy alone I put on without fail the second I got in to where ever I was camping. I'm very slender and lose core temperature easily so it was important for me not to catch a chill. The down puffy also served very nicely as a camp pillow.

[Sparkyga]

Honestly no hood for a cycling down jacket. Personally not a fan of wearing a hood while wearing a helmet as I find it uncomfortable and constraining. Also can flop around if your wearing the jacket but not wearing the hood.

I use a Ghost Whisper Down Jacket (orange, no hood). Tiny, pretty durable, decently resistant to light rain/snow and very warm for its tiny size. I believe it's one of the lightest down jackets on the market. These can be found for around 160-200 USD on sale.

[Kevinscamps]

Down jacket is useless for actually riding in. Down jackets are for packing small and light to wear at night. Hood definitely. It is much lighter, smaller, and warmer than a hat.

If you have the cash money go western mountaineering. They have a couple with varying degrees of warmth. Flash jacket is probably fine for CT. I have a RAB jacket with hood from Sierra trading post for $100.  Super wind resistant and warm for weight once you remove the hood wire.  Lots of companies make a down sweater which are great, but aren't generally as wind resistant.

[Adam Alphabet]

Feathered Friends daybreak hoody. I did a tonne of homework, as I do with every gear purchase. Having come off many happy years with my montbell thermawrap parka (synthetic) I wanted to go down, yes even in rainy British Columbia. Insulation layers like down and synthetic jackets and hoodys are for stops/at rest, are an integral part of my sleep system and used for riding only if absolutely necessary (rarely, but has been done). And for me a down jacket without a hood is a waste, again sleep system thermoregulation.
Currently touring/bikepacking New Zealand with my FF hoody and loving it.

[cjdunn]

Thanks for the advice.  I'm looking for a very lightweight packable jacket for around camp and sleeping in not riding in.  I'm an AZ native and don't like being cold.  I'm still shopping.

[honkonbobo]

Getting ready to buy a down jacket and wondering if a hood is worth the extra weight/bulk/cost?  Looking at Montbell Ultralight Down Parka. Any others that are in the $200 range?

i can highly recommend the montbell smoke frost w/hood.  its not super puffy but still won't fit under any of my slim fit bike jackets.  i put it on as soon as i get off the bike in cold weather and its like instant warmth.

these reviews were my basis for choosing it... http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Down-Jacket-Reviews/ratings.   good luck

[woody]

Look into Montbell, super lightweight and packable.
http://www.montbell.us/products/list.php?cat_id=2001&gen_cd=1

FWIW - Just be aware that the Ex Light Jacket does not have pockets so make sure you read the specs on their jackets. That's why I went with the U.L. jacket I like to have the pockets.
Woody

[Briansong]

Thanks for the advice.  I'm looking for a very lightweight packable jacket for around camp and sleeping in not riding in.  I'm an AZ native and don't like being cold.  I'm still shopping.

I am in AZ as well. I purchased the MontBell Plasma 1000. Pricey, but it proved to be one of my real "comfort" items in the TD this year. The weather was horrible for the first 6-8 days. I protected it at every chance to keep it dry.

Certainly not a riding jacket but the INSTANT I would stop for any extended period, I would remove all top layers and wear it, and it only. It really kept me from getting chilled when not cranking away. Also slept in it. 4oz and packs into what amounts to nothing.

[Flounder]

Hey Chris, Christophe here.

I just bought a Big Agnes Meaden Down, and while it blows by that $200 mark in a hurry, it is awesome. Filled with DryTek down, I tested it by standing in a rain storm the other day for abbout 30 minutes. It staye totally lofty and dry.

But...

I have one jacket that has gone with me on every single bikepack from the CTR to Iceland, and I even took it to Ecuador. Its the Eddie Bauer First Ascent (their nicer line) Down Shirt. Packs down to nothing. Has stretch panels behind the shoulders, and fits under most bike appropriate jackets.

[cjdunn]

I just ordered a Sierra Designs DriDown Hoody.  It is a bit heavier than some of the $300+ jackets (claimed 14 oz.) but it looks to be pretty decent with 800 fill DriDown and a membrane fabric. Plus I got mine for $130.  Hopefully I'll be able to give it a good test soon.

Christophe, I heard that Eddie Bauer actually invented the quilted down jacket.

[Flounder]

EB did invent the down jacket. And, that SD DriDown jacket is really great. Good choice. DriDown, DownTek and the other uber downs are worth having and represent the most significant advancement in outdoor gear since...GoreTex.

The thing I really love about water resistant down is the ease of washing. Jackets get pretty gross, at least mine around the neck. Washing my DownTek pieces has been very easy. I don't even have to get them really soaked and just spot clean the wear areas with a lot of water and don't worry about getting my fancy feathers wet.