I'm a newbie and don't have a bunch of money to blow on gear. However, the Big 5 close to my home has a 550-fill down jacket that I can get for under $60. The question is: Is this worth the money, or should I wait and find a deal on something better>

Cameron, one of the standard questions that you will get is "How much does it weigh?"

I suspect that you didn't carry a scale to the store to weigh it.

If I had to guess, I would say that a down jacket like that is going to be considerably heavier than a really high quality, expensive, high fill power down jacket. That is not to say that it is no good.

A down jacket was all that I had on my first trip up a serious mountain, and it kept me alive.

--B.G.--

Hey Bob. Thanks for the response. No, I didn't take a scale into the store with me, but based on feel, it weighs significantly less than my current jacket which weighs about 20 oz. I wish I could afford a nice jacket, but I have 5 kids and live on a military budget so I either get what I can afford or use what I have.

Edited by cameronm99 on 04/05/2011 14:29:20 MDT.

I don't know your budget but I posted earlier that you might want to check out for some Montbell products 3 of which are down jackets for a reasonable price.

http://www.gearzone.com/montbell-s/445.htm

Given that it's a good bit lighter than your current jacket, $60 seems like a fair price. Not great , but fair.

A watchful eye on Gear Swap should yield a nice alternative, as well. But that takes patience! :)

Either take your scale to the store or buy the jacket and weigh it right away when you get home (or take it to the post office). If it's too heavy, you can return it. If there's significant weight saving over what you have, keep it!

unless youre paying under $50 .... get an 800+ fill down jacket

for under $50 ... 650+ fill is acceptable if yr on a budget ... IMO

otherwise you might as well just get synth

Cameron:

If you can wait it out... try to leverage time and patience if you can't leverage money.

550 fp ain't bad actually, but of course, not the best or warmest for the weight either. For me, I'd rather buy a really good quality jacket in used but excellent condition -- than a brand new jacket of subpar quality.

EDIT: I like Eric's idea of buying synthetic. A good synthetic is no worse (and can even be a better buy) than a lower quality down product.

Edited by ben2world on 04/05/2011 14:45:29 MDT.

Keep an eye on Land's End's sales and online clearance department. I got my 10-oz. super-compressible down jacket from them for $50 last summer, which is usually when they dump the last year's winter lineup. I missed out on getting one for $40 in a preferable color.

I think that hubby and I both have the 2010 model of what you are looking at. We both really like them, but I would not trust them to be at all water resistant. I got them with a 20% off coupon in the clearance section. I think I paid $30 each. I'm not sure I would have spent $60 though. They aren't filled with all that much down.

Also keep an eye on Cabelas' website. I got a 550 down jacket that weighs ~17oz for $20 about a month ago. It's back up to $50 now but who knows if they'll have another sale. FWIW, the jacket is very warm. I was comfortable to 12 degrees sitting in camp before, and for that price, who cares how close you get to the fire!

I would say just do your research and find a couple jackets that will work well for you and watch sites for them to go on sale you can get a pretty great deal on stuff if your patient

I tried to PM you but you're not set up for PM. I'm trying to sell a First Ascent 800-fill Downlight Sweater, size XL. PM me if interested. Price negotiable for those in military service with 5 kids.

http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7353

I'd strongly suggest skipping Big 5 and go to llbean.com: like REI they guarantee all items for life and they make excellent clothing. Their Goose Down Jacket is just a little more than an unknown quality Big 5 jacket (I used to prowl Big 5 but gave up due to crappy quality). It was featured in some issue of last years Backpacker magazine so I'd say it probably packs fairly well if not to UL standards:

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/51590?feat=504714-GN2

I own a lot of LL Bean clothes because it's well built, very durable and especially if bought during their sales/closeouts is very cost effective given how long it lasts and if I am unhappy I have a 100% guarantee (which I've never used - always gotten a lot more use than ever expected)

Ditto on the 'what size' do you wear? I've got a Marmot Zeus in LARGE that's too big for me (lost 55#)...and a First Ascent down sweater in MEDIUM that's just a touch too small. Would be willing to part with either for $55.

Darin

Ryan, do you know how much that LL Bean down jacket weighs?
Thanks.

I bought this jacket because i needed something cheap and warm, and it has been VERY warm. Weighs 26oz, and does compress reasonably small. It is 750 fill duck down 80/20.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/guide-gear-down-jacket.aspx?a=717266

I thought there was a post titled geartrade.com but I didn't see anything written ... that's my top suggestion.

There might be a caveat on geartrade, but you can usually find high quality gear for really cheap, and you don't have to wait like you do on eBay, BPL, etc because so many retailers use it to sell returned items. The gear is usually lightly used or open-box. I just got a North Face 800-fill, 10 oz down jacket for $63 (msrp $229), it will need a little bit of stitching, though.... But I don't think I could even purchase a jacket's amount of Pertex for that price.

"Ryan, do you know how much that LL Bean down jacket weighs?"

Russ - I don't have this particular coat so I cannot personally measure it (I have a synthetic version I use as a town jacket) but according to BP magazine it's 1lb 6 oz (unsure of size used). So while not UL or super compressable, given it's LL Bean the construction and warmth should be very good for the price.

http://www.backpacker.com/gear-review-ll-bean-goose-down-jacket/gear/14430

"I thought there was a post titled geartrade.com but I didn't see anything written ... that's my top suggestion. "

Yeah originally was going to post about Geartrade but then started to look at going prices for Patagonia's, Montbell's, etc and was seeing them hovering a bit higher than the original ~$60 mark. Didn't think of North Face though - that's a good deal if someone doesn't mind some minor sewing. For anyone that is unaware of geartrade, don't let this put you off - many items don't require any repair and many are new without tags or tried once and returned due to size.

+1 for geartrade if jacket isn't needed immediately and one is willing to spend some time and patience searching for a good deal. GT search interface is poor - I usually go through google shopping interface but have noticed: most items come up through google shopping search but a few other items show up only on GT search.

Edited by rmkrause on 04/06/2011 13:06:36 MDT.

+2 on Cabelas.
Just watch and they will have another sale.

Got an olive XL for $25 and its pretty nice.
2 days later they dropped them to $20.
My luck.

Mine is an XL and it weighs 20oz.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-550-Goose-Down-Jacket/1087164.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dmens%2Bdown%2Bjacket%26x%3D0%26y%3D0%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=mens+down+jacket&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

There maybe a few NEW BALANCE FUGU left at recreational outlet for about 117$.It's a classic.

Sorry. I've been tied up for a couple days and haven't had a chance to check back. To answer a couple of questions/additional info:
1) I wear a medium or a large depending on how I choose to layer. As a climber, I tend to layer out meaning that my puffy jacket tends to be my outermost layer.

2) Price on the jacket, if memory serves, was $49.95 before taxes and it was on a clearance rack. So it may go down in price before they're all gone. I thought it might be worth considering. I figured someone here might either have one, or have seen the same one and could give me an honest opinion.

3) Down isn't a requirement. Especially with the way I layer. A lightweight synthetic may actually be preferable. As I will use it as a belay jacket when rock climbing as well as when I go backpacking.

Thanks for all the responses. I'll have to do some more thinking.

Eddie Bauer has some good sales, nice prices on down/synth if you stay away from their FA gear (and for their FA gear too).

Scott,
How have you liked the jacket from Sportsman's Guide? At $40 it looks like a steal.

Edited by cameronm99 on 04/08/2011 02:28:51 MDT.

synth is preferable for rock climbing i find because ...

- if you get caught out in the rain, just layer it with yr rain shell ... im sure some people here will yadda bout down being perfectly fine in a rain storm on a wall ... IMO theyve never had to do multiple rappels in the pouring rain and the waterfalls that cracks become

- 100-133g/m primaloft is good down to no lower than freezing ... ie micropuff, EB igniter ... 60-80g/m is good to no lower than ~40F for me

- get something with a hood, makes a huge difference in warmth on windy belays

- its very possible that youll get tears or holes at some point ... im sure that there are some people who have never scrapped their belay jackets climbing ... i say the same thing about seat belts, ive never gotten into an accident requiring one, doesnt mean i dont wear it .... if you tear your synth jacket, just patch it up when you get home ... if you tear yr down UL jacket, watch the feathers fly!