Here's a new one to Costco: the Kirkland deluxe down jacket with 20-denier shell and 800-fill down. It's a Patagonia knock-off for 70 bucks, available in Scout Green, Black and Graphite grey. It does not have a reversible zipper for the interior pocket (ie not a stuff-pocket) but it does have a waist cinch and the construction is very nice. The pockets are lined with a very thin, very low pile soft cloth.


This is an XL


MY store stocks them next to the stuffable down youth jackets, on the center-floor.


The shell is like totally tubular, dude


The geese said, "ouch" in Magyar

I'm surprised to see such technical information on those tags.

How much do they weigh?

It looks like a solid purchase, but my thought on handling them was that they were a bit understuffed. They also appear to be 90/10 with down/feathers rather than fully down coats. I can understand that as a way to save money on them.

Compared to my first ascent one, bought on deep discount for the same price, they seem more durable but less warm and cush. The nylon also felt somewhat stiff.

Probably not something I will pick up because I have one already, but a good deal.

Of note - they have kirkland brand soft shells right now that are waterproof breathable soft shells with good details. The cuffs don't have elastic or velcro, so they are right out for me - however for someone looking for a good bang-around soft shell they look like one heck of a value. As with all soft shells, they aren't light but the price is right for a solid jacket.

This is hard for me to swallow seeing this as a deal when I have two brand new with tags Marmot Zues jackets for sale for $75 shipped and I can't even get rid of them. These look to be similar weight/fill also. Cool find, but boo! (boo because I can't sell my jackets) :P

agreed.
Someone is selling First Ascend down jacket for $80 and it is a much better jacket.

The $30 vests may be a decent deal for ladies, but $70 jackets are not that great.

Ironically, if I'd been able to find the Zeus in my size and color before I bought my Patagonia or the Kirkland I just added, I'd have gladly paid $75 for it! I was willing to carry more weight to get a slightly more durable shell, and I like the fit. But, I didn't find one for a deal like that and I scored a Patagonia on clearance, in a positively "visible" color.

One thing about Costco is the ubiquity of retail locations and a return policy very much like REI.

Regarding those informational labels, it looks to me like someone up at Kirkland is getting techy with the gear, and I'm glad to see it. The soft-shell mentioned above has a similar tag and is a very nice looking piece of gear, albeit designed for daily wear, as opposed to UL/backpacking shell use.

FWIW
I just noticed that my new Montbell UL Parka is also 90/10.
small surprise, as this detail does not make it into the specs on the MB site, sadly.
i have emailed them 2 letm know...

Anyone know how much these weigh?

I own two XL's, so I tared out a hanger and put them on the digital scale:


--Patagonia Down Sweater: 16.1oz

--Kirkland Down jacket: 13.1 oz

90/10 is standard.

My Mountain Hardwear Phantom jacket is 90/10.

Costco had the same exact jacket last year but the price was $40 then. This is what a declining US Dollar vs Chinese Forex looks like.

Outer shell fabric seems a little more durable than the First Ascent that i also got at deep discount last year. But the First Ascent is in every way a better jacket--warmer, softer, more fill, still compacts nicely.

+1 on Costco's $25 soft shell. They may not be UL but they are great everyday jackets and very durable, warm, reasonably water repellent (not intended as a rain jacket). In much of the US It could work as your main winter jacket.

Costco also has Timberland fleece. I got two vests @ $26.

I think this product, the soft-shells and the new tech shirts are all new to Costco's line, and that the reference to last year is mistaken. Costco's Kirkland listings appear to agree.

The sky may be falling, but this is still an item that wasn't previously offered. So, if you're near a Costco, check it out. Maybe MontBell or Western Mountaineering is a better product for you, maybe not. In my case, the "fat-gringo cut" of this product (and the Patagonia) make it a nice option.

I'm not really in the market - well sort of casually in the market - for a down sweater/puffer jacket.

But I did see that Cabelas has a variety of jackets in different weights on sale/clearance. My experience with their products overall is quite good - generally not particularly UL - but rugged and well made.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Superlight-800-Down-Jacket-150-Regular/1214789.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch%2F%3FN%3D5102719%26Ne%3D5102719%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Ddown%2Bjacket%26Ntx%3Dmode%252Bmatchallpartial%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts%26WTz_st%3DSearchRefinements%26form_state%3DsearchForm%26search%3Ddown%2Bjacket%26searchTypeByFilter%3DAllProducts&Ntt=down+jacket&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

Edited by PGAsby on 09/11/2012 08:48:25 MDT.

By the way, I looked into the Cabelas "ultra-light" jacket at the link provided and they say the weight is 1.45lbs.

I've got a Costco nearby and $70 for a down sweater/light jacket doesn't seem bad. But I'm wanting the opinions of you who own them - yea or nay?

By way, I missed a chance to pick up an REI RevealCloud Primaloft-insulated 13oz jacket for $79 onsale a couple weeks ago.

If you hunt around, or use the occasional coupon, you can get the Patagonia version for under $100. I did, I think from a Campmor or similar.

For example , now $99 at ProLite Gear. http://www.prolitegear.com/patagonia-down-sweater-closeout-fall-11.html?opt=alpha%20green%20/%20x-large

Edited by ThreeRidges on 09/15/2012 14:24:45 MDT.

I saw this jacket while visiting the Edmonds, WA Costco with my DIL. A Costco membership isn't feasible for this old lady living alone, but my dog badly needed a new bed and Costco's dog beds last several times longer than the ones at Petco. The jackets look nice, although since I already have a Montbell I didn't bother to try one on.

There are also kids' down jackets for $40. A smaller person could wear a large or extra large child's size for a lot less money! That's the one that was being talked about last year!

They also had some nice looking merino wool hiking socks, 4 pair for $12. I bought a package. The socks run a bit large--according to the package, I should have gotten size Large since I wear a women's 9 1/2 shoe, but the medium (which I bought) are just right for me. I also looked at their Kirkland merino wool socks, which are thinner (and therefore lighter). However, those have a thick toe seam, which would hit the high point of my hammer toes and be extremely painful. For those not bothered by toe seams, they would be good.

There are undoubtedly other goodies for the budget conscious to be found there, too!

Edited by hikinggranny on 09/15/2012 20:43:54 MDT.

Costco had the same exact jacket last year but the price was $40 then. This is what a declining US Dollar vs Chinese Forex looks like.

Andrew, you seem to be the only person that remembers this. When you first posted this, I tried searching for what you were talking about, and only came up with the boy's jackets that the others recall as well. There was also a well priced women's down jacket. I'm sure there would have been a thread on this jacket too if it was around last year. While it isn't a big deal, I'd appreciate it if you could post a link to what you're talking about.

The children's jacket for $40 was being talked about on a number of forums last year, and it was pointed out then that a children's large was equivalent to an adult small. I never saw anything about an adult jacket last year.

First, even if the erroneous assertion about the new adult jacket were correct, I don't known anyone that can time-travel back to score that amazing deal. "Moot" is the term here.

Second, the children's down puffys are $30, not forty, and they're also listed and photo imaged elsewhere in this forum. Great jackets for small people. They were thirty bucks last year, too, when they had the "White Star" label on them. Different "brand" this year, but same item.

Third, I own the Patagonia AND one of the new Kirklands. Although it appears the Kirkland has less fill (see weights, above), the fit, feel and construction is not only VERY similar to the Patagonia but frankly, just plain good.

Costco has been dabbling in higher-tech outdoor clothing lately. Not only are they stocking some excellent tech layers, but the new down puffy and soft shell are clearly nicer that anything they've had before. The new labeling is a bit of an indicator as to which products are in their "high line" in Kirkland stuff -- not every new item have those black, tabbed tags.

Fit is very good, not tight in the shoulders or arms - back length is good. Good zipper that doesn't snag. Good windblock under the zipper. Good waist cinch. Collar fit good. No pokies from feathers and no downy seams. Exterior pockets seem a bit high up, (Chinese have short arms?), but put your hands under the insulation which is nice. Interior pocket seems fine. Color choices are Black (really a dark steel), Steel grey, and Funky green (no idea what to compare it to).

My XXL squished down to cantaloupe-size without issue and would go smaller if it mattered. The jacket/sweater does not have it's own stuff sack, which is fine for me as I would only stuff it into the top of my pack anyway.

It should be considered a light jacket at best. It is NOT a sub-zero puffy down coat. I bought it to be part of a layering system for fall hiking. My guess is that it is fine by itself when sitting around at 40*F. Add a shell over the top and a light sweater underneath and together it should be good for colder than I like.

I have no qualms about spending $70 on it because I'm not interested in making a backpacking fashion statement. The other light jacket I was interested in was the REI Revelcloud, which I missed when it was $79 a month ago. Different insulation but same weight.

Obviously I have no real world use with this jacket yet, so take my "review" accordingly. Hope this helps.

Erik, it's moot for the reason you're thinking of, but there are other reasons for wanting to see it. Finding that old thread, if it exists, can reveal how well this jacket worked, and let us know who has long term experience with it. Also, knowing that that old thread doesn't exist, and could not have existed, or was for a different jacket, means no one else wastes there time looking for something that isn't there.

Thanks for your impressions and comparison of this jacket.

I posted weight of 13oz. for the large with tags here.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=68036&skip_to_post=581441#581441

I bought one a few days ago and just used it on a weekend trip in the North Cascades. Size Large, 12.6oz on my scale. I'm 6'5" 180lb, and I bought it because the arm length is longer than the Patagonia or Montbell jackets I've tried on. Cut is generous, to say the least (they are selling them at Costco, after all). I used it over a lightweight nylon hiking shirt (columbia), and was comfortable sitting around in a socked-in camp between 45-50 degrees. The dwr is no joke, beaded like drizzle and the constant misting like a champ, shook right off. For 70$ and a tall-guy fit, I'm stoked on it. Packs down to about softball size.

Just want to say that I also found the sizing to be on the large side. I'm 6'4" and around 176lbs, and size L fits perfect in arms, but is too big and has a lot of space in arms and torso. Size M is slightly short in arms...

Either way - i don't think this is a great deal compared to deals on here or on some other discount type sites.

I guess I'm not following why you don't think it is a good deal. This is Costco's everyday price - so folks can buy it now, later, anytime. The amazing, magic deals you refer to happen when? And for how much?

No offense, but I suspect that at 6'4" and 176lbs you are going to have a difficult time finding a perfect fit.

:) I was built like Zorg when I graduated high school, although an inch taller. I swam in shirts that weren't "slim fit", just like he does, and often had to pick between adequate sleeve length vs. tent-like fit with gear. Of course, he's going to swim in an "L" jacket designed for a 44-inch chest when he's fit like a cross-country runner. And as with anything, the beauty of being able to fondle and try on the product is that we can figure out what fits us, very quickly.

In my case, my sleeve length, chest size, shoulder width and massive lipid storage component make the XL appropriate and it feels just like my Patagonia XL does, too. At $70 plus local tax, this is a very good deal, even though it doesn't have a chi-chi label on it. I'm gonna call Mont-Bell and beg up some stickers.


Hey, those hot dogs are only $1.50... I can afford several! Oink

800 fill jackets are being commoditized along with every other good piece of outdoor gear ... IMO this is a GOOD thing as it means lower prices for good quality and return policies ...

theres no reason why the teaming masses shouldnt have warm poofays ... just like fleeces, softshells, rain jackets, shaved sheep, etc ...

There is another down jacket available at Costco. Womens Calvin Klein XS-XXL 90% down 10% feathers No notation of fill amounit. No hood, Two zippered hand pockets and two interior pockets. $39.99. I am 5' 11" 210lbs. and the xxl fits awesome. Needs a waist cinch to make it a less feminine cut. Will post pics soon.

Edited by gon2srf on 09/30/2012 17:37:45 MDT.

over a baselyer with some room to spare. i thought it was a pretty nice jacket. costco is located in issaquah, washington, maybe they have somebody on staff that wants to grow their outdoor clothing line.

How water repellent can this or any other down jacket like it be made?

See, while this looks like a nice jacket to throw in my pack for post-hike, say down to 40 insulation, I would most likely use it just as much travelling. I like a nice light jacket when moving between terminals, airport to transportation, cab or car to store or restaurant, etc. Problem is, I've been caught in some serious downpours at times, though not for long periods of time. I've been kinda laser focused on synthetics such as a nano-puff because of this, but can a down jacket be made to be just as suitable?

The DWR in the shell allows water to (hopefully) bead up and roll off, making it decent in a light, brief drizzle. This is the same for the synthetic. The absorbency, and sustained loft, is the issue. When the garment becomes SOAKED through, the synthetic maintains more of its loft, and thus warmth. So the DWR isn't really the issue, as in a downpour either garment will become soaked. The down garment just requires a bit more forethought than the synthetic. For this reason, I believe down is generally well suited to backpacking, being thrown on at rest stops and in camp, and stowed most of the day in your pack liner.

I just revisited this thread and am a bit surprised at the fuss.
Yes, in 2011 I bought at my local Costco a $40 down kirklands jacket exactly like the 2012 photo posted by this thread's OP. Bought it, took it home, compared it to my First Ascent jacket , kept it about a month & reluctantly returned it since the FA already covered my needs. Mine was black; IIRC the other options were blue and green, neither in shades I liked.
All the observations about the 2012 jacket also are correct for that 2011 jacket, including weight. I had a men's XL which fit me well at 6.0 and 180. It was NOT a child's jacket, although I believe the posters who say those are also good buys.
I agree someone at Costco is, happily, interested in offering some good quality technical gear.
So far this year thatvsame Costco branch has not had any men's down products, although they have had the $30 women's down mentioned elsewhere.
Part of Costco's success formula is focusing their store demographics. Of the two Costco's near me, one is noticeably upscale ( where I found that 2011 down jacket) and the other trends much more blue collar. They will have very different offerings in apparel, electronics etc. Products also only get a short rotation life: badabbing, some items are only there 7-10 days and gone. Most of their product lines, including apparel, never appear in their online catalog--this is not REI or LLBean with long product lives.
As for why the same jacket was in one of my Costcos last year and again more widely in 2012, my affluent outdoorsy East Coast store could have been selected for test marketing to gauge demand or was just deemed more likely to respond to a Patagonia knockoff.
I liked the 2011 jacket a lot BTW and would have kept it if I hadn't already had the FA jacket. The Costco jacket was packable, not under filled to my eye, had good long sleeve length as it should, and was cut to layer well. Outer shell fabric less luxurious than the FA (doh) but nice enough and felt reasonably durable.

Just to add a little information: I'm 5'10", 180lb or so (little bit of pudge on me) and about 42.75" chest. Unfortunately, I have a hard time finding clothes that fit me as I am a large medium or a small large.

I had very much wanted a Patagonia Nano Puff, but after trying one one I discovered they just don't fit me. The medium was too restricting and the large I swam in, especially considering the generous cut.

The medium from Costco fits pretty near perfect. Just right around the middle, good arm length and pretty good overall length. Shoulders could be just a touch larger, but then it would probably be too big for most medium people out there.

FYI, just back from Costco in SoCal:

--the adult down jacket, a la Patagonia down sweater, is still on the racks

--the youth down jacket, is still on the racks

--there's a new, girlie-version of the youth down, with fur

--there's a women's down vest, still on the racks, $30

--there's a new 600-fill women's down puffy, $35

I bought the medium size right from Costco.com. I think shipping was $2.99. Shipped from Canada, IIRC. You can even pay a small extra fee (I think it was $3-$4) if you are not a Costco member.

I'm 5'10", 165lbs. The jacket fits me well. I have seen other guys around town with what I thought was the exact same jacket, only for them to turn around and to see the front of the jacket with that ever popular "Patagonia" label. Don't get me wrong, all the Patagucci stuff I've owned fits like nothing else and lasts. But $200 for the P Down Sweater vs. $70 for the Costco one? The Costco is made in Vietnam and on Patagonia's site it says made in Vietnam or China. From the outside, they look nearly identical, the styling. Even the pockets (including the inner one) look remarkably similar.

I have yet to actually try on one of the said Patagonia down sweaters, anyone compared these two, side by side? I do know the P one is supposedly lighter by a few ounces, yes I know, a big deal for us weight freaks. But what a $ deal...

EDIT: The Patagonia Down Sweater is 12.1 oz for size M. Someone here said their Costco version was 13oz for size L. I will weigh my Costco size M later and report back. They are closer in weight than I had previously thought.

Edited by pianodirt on 12/07/2012 15:25:41 MST.

FYI: I am 6.0", 185, 34 pants waist, and in shirts I wear a 35-36 sleeve length usually. The Large fit me just fine, and with plenty of sleeve length to keep my wrists covered with my arms outstretched. Also roomy enough to wear it over a fleece vest.

Nice to be able to buy it online. The black is black, the grey is a sort of muted silver-pewter-grey.

JR, I've compared the Patagonia and Kirklands, side by side, as I own both. I love the Patagonia and have used it well. My only complaint is that the shell is so soft that it tears easily and I have repair tape on both cuffs and inside where the stuff pocket zipper snagged it.

I bought the Kirkland because I could tell it was a screaming deal after I checked it out in the store and I wanted to test it out to see whether I could recommend it to my fellow Scout leaders and some of the larger youth. Since starting this thread, I've worn it many times, stuffed it down twice, managed to find myself in heavy fog without a shell and come to like it very much. The shell is more durable than the Patagonia, oh and the "Scout Green" version is spot-on in terms of color. The interior pocket is smaller, is not mesh and does not have a two-sided zipper--it is not a stuff pocket-- and this is the primary shortcoming of the jacket.

The fit between the two XL's I own is nearly identical and the methods of construction ARE identical. Stitch placement, cuff material, etc... all the same (as if there's much room to vary).

In terms of weight, the Patagonia weighs more. I tared out a hanger and put them on the digital scale:
--Patagonia Down Sweater: 16.1oz
--Kirkland Down jacket: 13.1 oz

I think it must be fill, because I can't believe the Kirkland shell cloth weighs less than the softer, thinner gucci stuff. It hasn't been cold enough for me to discern the difference.

I've been waiting for these to make their way up to MN but I haven't seen any hit the shelves since this thread started. They aren't available online anymore, so it looks like I've missed that window as well. Up here the stores deny that they even exist. I'm beginning to think that these are the down-sweater equivalent of Bigfoot.

Out of curiosity (and hope that I have friends in those areas), are you folks still seeing these in stores? If so, which ones?

Nick, if you're a size large and like green, I have one I could send you. I bought it for my Dad, he wore it for about half an hour and decided it didn't really suit his needs.