Opinions on a down jacket.

Hello,

I am thinking of getting a down jacket to be a mid layer between merino wool top and my shell jacket. I like to be warm, and these jackets may do the job, I can fit the jacket in y rucksack if I get too warm. Thinking of this one, what do you think?

http://www.tog24.com/mens/jackets/insulated/vidar-tech-mens-jacket-captain-blue.html

Thank you for your help on this,

Keith

Definitely a great idea, am using one all year around for climbing and skiing. Only decision to be made is:-

Intermediate layer:- in which case make sure is snug fitting and not too much down/bulk, so fits under ski jacket. The 600 fill on the one you sent link for should be pretty warm, would try to get to a shop and try it on under jacket. Also good to see how small it actually goes.

Outer layer:- Make sure fits over ski jacket, but can be better is using for belay jacket as well.

If you don't use gloves that come up over your jackets would also be good to see implications of having a bulky layer beneath. Can end up impossible to tuck gloves under outer jacket which will likely lead to cold hands.

I have both down jacket and down vest and prefer vest as an insulating layer, I don't like the bulk from the jacket around my arms. You should try it on to see how it fits under the shell.

Not a down jacket (although they do make them) but I've been very very pleased with a Norrona mid layer that I bought 18 months ago. It's the previous version of this:

https://www.norrona.com/en-GB/Products/3340-14/6800/falketind-primaloft60-jacket-m/

It's extremely light and barely noticeable when worn under a shell. I much prefer this set up to a bulkier insulated jacket.

I have a merino wool base layer and most of the time that is good enough. However, on the last holiday in Espace Killy it was very windy and quite cold and for those days I also wore a thin fleece under the mid layer making it a 4 layer set up.

Yep that looks about as good as life gets for skiing.

It doesn't look bad for the price but, the weight of the filling isn't given so it might not have much down in it. The filling is only 600 fill power (duck?) down and feather which will have probably been sourced in China where it might have been plucked from live birds. The better light weight down jackets are usually filled with about 130g (size L) of 750 fill power European goose down harvested from dead birds.

The warmth to weigh ratio of down really isn't necessary for lift served alpine skiing, a synthetic jacket will keep you warm enough and it will be much easier to wash. Have you tried Decathlon or Sport Conrad?

Thank you all for your replies, plenty to think about on Saturday. It looks to be a good plan, just need to check the fit and other similar options. I like to Norrona kit, great colours.

Keith

I bought a down outer jacket to try this year, it was so cheap I couldn't not get it. So last week it was above 0c in Austria, but the jacket was far too hot, even with just a base and fleece underneath. I imagine they will be good when its very cold though.
I also found quite a few feathers on my fleece at the end of the day :-(