http://www.golite.com/BigScore.aspx

I own a Montbell Alpine Light Down Parka that weighs in at 15.5oz with 4.3oz down fill (800 FP).
The GL Bitterroot claims 5.3oz Fill weight (850 fill) at only 13oz finished weight.

Has anyone compared to two for warmth? I may have to replace my old trusty for this price.

I'm also interested in the comparison. I just bought the MB for $17 more than the Golite. Please tell me it's better! LOL!

The Golite is warmer and has a better warranty

Sadly the Bitterroot has a completely flawed hood. It is designed to fit over a helmet but then doesn't offer any ability to dial in the fit when not wearing a helment. The consequence is that hood has huge gaps around your head and would blow off in a second.

Shame, that's what puts me off these Ul parkas, the lack of hood and hem drawcords drive me nuts.

You've mentioned that before, Randy. Maybe we have different shaped heads, but my Bitterroot hood is perfectly snug when wearing a beanie and I zip it all the way up. But maybe someday the elastic will grow weary, and I'll change my stance.

Yeah, it's possible that it will fit certain folks. My assessment was made based on trying on a Men's Small in my local GoLite store. I may go back and see if I wear a couple of caps if that will bridge the gap.

I've read another article about the Bitterroot having flawed hood design. If it is a matter of sewing some velcro in the back I can handle that but I'm not sure about running shock cord through the hem. This may be perfect for my overgrown dome though. I think I'm pushing 24" head circumference.

Most UL Alpine belay parkas have non-adjustable hoods because it's a feature climbers want. The Bitterroot's voluminous hood is not only meant to fit over a helmet, but to also act as faux visor when pulled forward over the forehead.

Edited by rmjapan on 11/15/2012 16:30:13 MST.

"Most UL Alpine belay parkas have non-adjustable hoods because it's a feature climbers want. The Bitterroot's voluminous hood is not only meant to fit over a helmet, but to also act as faux visor when pulled forward over the forehead."

Sorry, but that makes no sense. Why do I want my hood to perform a "Visor" function at the sacrifice of a good fit? I have climbed quite a bit in Alpine very high wind conditions. I don't want my hood moving which the Bitterroot would absolutely do given it's loose fit. I also have tried plenty of Alpine Parkas with fully adjustable hoods. Examples are Patagonia Fitz Roy and DAS Parka, RAB Neutrino Plus Jacket, First Ascent Peak XV Parka just to name a few. So in my opinion GoLite simply made an oversight. It's not like climbing in Alpine = Wearing a Helmet. I frequently climb above 13/14k ft on non technical terrain where a helmet is pointless yet I still need a very warm jacket.

Randy your examples are NOT ULTRA LIGHT parkas. They are meant for more extreme weather. They use more robust fabrics, much more insulation, and baggy chest fit for thicker underlayers vs. the Bitterroots slimmer fit over thin layers. Weight is far down on the list if you need that kind of jacket.

And all climbing is technical, otherwise you are just walking!

The Bitterroot hood has plenty of tension to stay in place over a helmet on an adult-sized head. The excess volume is at the backside. And remember, it is not just climbing helmets to consider, but larger ski/snowboard helmets too. Pulling it forward as a faux visor is an option to take up any excess volume and not necessary for proper fit.

Obviously this jacket was not a good fit for you...but it fits others just fine...not sure why you keep dogging it. Time to move on I'd think.

Edited by rmjapan on 11/15/2012 19:47:57 MST.

Those that have GoLite jackets, do you find them to fit smaller, larger, or the same as most standard sizing. This seems like a good deal for a nice jacket for someone like me who is just looking for a warm jacket while shedding weight if possible

My large Bitterroot fits just like a large should. Not an athletic fit, not too baggy. The thing about the hood is, I don't see how it could fit over a helmet at all--it's not that roomy. I doubt that it was designed to be helmet compatible.

After Randy and I exchanged posts yesterday, I took my Bitterroot down to the basement war room, where I had good lighting and all my small tools. I checked out the elastic that rings the front of the hood. I found that I could probably carefully thread some thin cord through the opening at one end of the elastic (it's not sewn shut, but it's rather a tube that runs the length of the face opening), and add cord locks on each side where the cord leaves the tube. That would allow one to close the face opening dramatically. Then, if one is into it, sew a couple of velcro strips on the back of the hood to add that adjustability option. I won't do this myself, since I like the hood on mine just fine.

I adore my Bitterroot, and it's a steal at $150.

Edit--I want to also mention a few features that make this coat unique, vs. some of the other coats mentioned: it has a double zipper, the hand warmer pockets have zipper closures and are lined with a thin fleece (warm and comfy to the touch), and there is one zippered interior pocket that is large enough to hold a 1-liter Platypus. These features add a bit of weight, but they are worth it to me.

Edited by Zia-Grill-Guy on 11/16/2012 10:30:47 MST.

Are the pockets and collar area lined on the Bitterroot?

-Mark in St. Louis

The pockets are, the collar isn't.

A lined collar would have been nice. Lined pockets are not necessary in the temps I'd wear the Bitterroot in since I would have gloves on by necessity. Those handwarmer pockets use "conceal" zippers too, which look cool but have a high fiddle factor when wearing a heavy glove. No way to add a pull cord to them either.

caved. i love and hate you all. will be testing this up against the montbell and first ascent.

Lol @ Adam, I was thinking the same thing. I'm going for the Olive color. For those of you in XL and don't mind "Mandarin Orange" color than there is a New Bitterroot at this link for $119:
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/253609-FS-Gear-Closet-Liquidation

You go, Adam, make us proud to know ya. And please report your assessment.

Thanks for the heads up! My old puffy was begging to be replaced (duct tape gets rather heavy!)

If what Golite claims is true (5 Oz of 850+ fill and the Pertex fabric)the jacket will be warm no matter what, although I am not holding my breath on the quality of cut and stitching. I think there is a reason why its so cheap compared to other comparable jackets.

well for my hiking needs, a tight fitting hood is really a non issue. i would not be wearing that down while hiking, only at camp. so while sitting around a campfire or hanging my hammock the issue of a hood falling back b/c of wind isn't really a concern. man that's a nice, nice jacket for $150...

Or wearing it to extend the warmth of a quilt.

Mamamia, Golite actually produces some decent gear. The reason their prices are so low is that they do not sell to retailers yet they are large enough to have better economies of scale than the cottage manufacturers. Therefore they pass on the savings to the consumer. Before they moved to this direct sales business model they had prices more in line with other companies. The bitterroot in particular was a $350+ jacket (the $350 Mirage parka from Montbell was basically a response to the GoLite Bitterroot, albeit warmer due to box wall construction).

Golite isn't as premium and athletically oriented as some of the other companies (like Arc'Teryx) but their gear is made well enough and they are well regarded in the community. If their cut fits your body type you won't be disappointed.

Those of you that own this, how's the fit/cut? I have a 44" chest measurement so that puts me in the middle of their L/ XL. If it's a tighter/athletic cut that would rule out the large I'd think...Thanks!

I'd say it is more of an athletic cut than, for example, Mountain Hardwear clothing.

Thanks for the quick response! And thanks for always having great info on your blog. Sounds like I'll need to go up to the xl

I ordered a small, thinking since it was a regular fit and can go with a merino base and probably a R1 mid. I fall somewhere between S and M :-/ does anybody know about Golites exchange policy? would like to get a M if S doesn't fit me as expected.

They have a good exchange policy, if you email them they will swap it out.

Basically whatever we have discussed about the short comings of this Jacket is true, the Hood is monstrously big only fits snug with a beanie underneath it. The Zipper is of poor quality, fit is more on slim side than regular, could have been another inch longer.

But hey its warm and the fabric is strong and looks down proof still a good deal for $150.

Now that you have it in hand...how does it compare to the EB?

TIA
-Mark in St. Louis

MY EB Jacket beats Golite in works man ship and quality of construction. But It lacks a hood and has half of the down compared to Golite and the fabric is not fully down proof. I will use it for around the town use and take Golite where cold is the factor.

If you want a jacket for "cold" and back country use, go for Golite, I still feel the it gives the best value for your $150.

I just wanted to point out that if you are looking at the Bitteroot, then consider the RAB Infinity as an alternative. It has a better hood with a more technical cut.

It is possible to get it at a good sale price if you wait it out. I bought mine for $143 at Campsaver (with a coupon) one month ago.

Went back up to 199$ unfortunately. Was just about to commit on one.

I have been wearing the Jacket for running errands and in my home in ~40-33 F temps for last couple of days and have started liking it. It is plenty warm with just a thin layer of cap 1 silk weight and with a fix to the hood (run some draw cord) this is a keeper for me. For those who bought this I'm sure you won't be disappointed with the jacket's functionality.

Edited by mamamia on 11/25/2012 09:50:46 MST.

Ok, I have tried on all three now and can give my personal opinion. I ordered a large at 6'0, 175.


Bitterroot vs. MB Alpine Light Parka - tie

Reasoning:
The bitterroot might have an extra ounce of down, but the montbell's zipper draft guard and synching hood make up for it in my opinion. also, montbell's quilting style seems like it leaves less cold seam spots. as far as fit, the alpine light is a much more tailored fit (less dead air space to warm up.) The bitterroot does come down about an inch or two farther.

Bitterroot vs. EB First Ascent Downlight Hoody - winner: Bitterroot

Reasoning:
The bitterroot feels like it has substantially more down than my fa hoody. as far as the hood goes, they are very similar, but the golite hood is wider front to back. both hoods fit fine with a brimmed hat under, something that I like to do to keep the sun out of my eyes. The cut is similar, but i find the bitterroot cut more generous especially in the arms. as far as torso, the FA was more of a boxy cut. the bitterroot is about an inch longer. the waist drawstring on the bitterroot is something that the FA hoody desperately lacks. bottom line, it seems the bitterroot will keep you much warmer at an ounce less.

Some Caveats:

I almost returned the bitterroot right out of the package due to the sticky zipper. what good is a jacket if you can't zip it up quickly? It took me a minute to figure out, but you first need to line up the zippers, then hold the black, bottom zipper and pull up on the upper yellow zipper up. it's all about holding the black zipper and pulling the yellow one. smooth as silk on the zip up and zip off now. scared me for a second.

Also, as everyone pointed out, the hood should be adjustable. will someone show me how they sliced and diced and added drawcords? would love to see a picture with it on and synched down as well. thanks all.

Bottom line, I have a montbell alpine light hoodless, and now a golite br parka for the colder nights. my fa hoody will be listed on ebay.

Edited by rbeard on 11/27/2012 18:35:12 MST.

So I added a picture of the modification I did. Super simple, and much lighter than velcro etc.

So mine just arrived. I haven't tested it for warmth but you can refer to the clo value and your own experiences to infer its comfort range. I just wanted to comment on fit, features, worksmanship etc.

For reference I'm 5'7'' 180lbs with broad shoulders and some molson muscle for Canadian winters ;) - I have the medium sized br.

I am very happy with the length of the hem and sleeves. I have the roan plateau in medium as well and the hem is an inch or two shorter on the br. - sleeves about the same length. The hem length on the br is sufficient to prevent your lower back from being exposed when sitting which is really all i care about.

As others have commented the sleeves are generously sized, however I have big arms so this was a welcome feature. Fit through the body is slimmer than the roan and I find no need to tighten the br waist hem like I do on the roan. Because of my broader shoulders both jackets are a little tight in the armpits, particularly when my arms are extended. This is a problem I regularly have so more likely me than jacket design.

Hood IS deep at the back. I find the elastic closure of the opening to be perfectly tensioned when I pull the hood back an inch or two such that the opening is resting against the outside of my face. This makes things easier because I didn't want to have to deal with threading drawstrings etc. My strategy is going to be to just mimic a rear drawcord with a strip of tenacious tape along the back of the hood (any jacket, tent etc repair tape should work). This way I can avoid sewing, creating holes in the fabric and otherwise damaging the integrity of the jacket. I think a thin strip to fold a bit of the hood over at the nape of the neck area will dial this in.

As far as workmanship I am very pleased with the exception of the 'hidden' style pocket zippers. These were clearly a poor choice and are prone to snagging. I doubt I will use them and just keep those pockets open. The interior drop pocket is very large. Larger than necessary for a 1L nalgene because they are trying to double it as a stuff sack for the jacket. On me I think the jacket would be too tight with a 1L nalgene and appropriate midlayers on so I will likely use a 500ml bottle. The pocket is too tight for useful stuffing of the jacket in my opinion. I find these jackets sit at the top of your pack anyways so stuffing in them into sacks or pockets isn't really a necessary feature anyways. There is a separate stuff sack also included which fits the jacket quite easily. I have no problem with the two-way zipper. You just have to remember its a two-way zipper. I have yet to ever find a two way zipper that is as easy to use as a one-way zipper so this comes with the territory.

Down distribution seems excellent. Wrist cuffs are tensioned appropriately. Collar can come nicely up over chin with hood up and sits under and seals neck when hood down. Overall I am pleased. Hell of a nice jacket for $150 and the hood depth issue seems to be an easy fix without breaking open the sewing kit or embarrassing yourself.

Edited by sam_smillie on 11/27/2012 19:25:36 MST.

GL Bitterroot Vs. Montbell Alpine Light Parka

Test Subject: Human, Male, 6'2" 185lbs, No Chest Hair, Tends to run on the colder side. ;)

*GL Bitterroot: Size Large (14.25oz)

Pros - Warmer Despite Cold Spots, Lighter, Dual Fleece Lined Pockets, Longer Torso (I'm tall), Better Compressibility, Higher Quality down and Fill Weight.

Cons - Hood (everything about it), Fragile Fabric (too shiny for my liking as well), No Draft Collar.

*Montbell Alpine Light Parka: Size Large (17oz)

Pros - Awesome Hood, Tough Fabric, More useful inside pockets IMO, Full Zip Draft Collar, Better Zippers, More Stylish (not shiny!).

Cons - Short torso, Heavier, Lower Quality Down and Fill Weight.

Despite its crappy hood, shiny, much more fragile fabric, and other concerns raised above, I believe the Bitterroot is the clear winner between these two jackets. The only thing that kept me battling between the two is the "style." I got over that quickly after doing some tests outside in 30F weather. The Bitterroot had me very warm while I felt the need for another thin layer in the MB. Tragic because I LOVED the MB but it will now be finding a new home.
I'm going to take apart the seams around the hood and add shock chord pulls and possibly velcro on the back like Montbell does. I'll take pics and upload them when its completed. It should be a versatile beast after this is done.

Enjoy! :D

Edited by Superfluous_Grizzly on 11/27/2012 18:54:44 MST.

Daniel, thanks for taking the first shot on fixing the hood, will be waiting for your DIY guide.

Sleeping in a quilt at low temps can challenge whatever head warming system you're using. One advantage of the BR hood's large size is that it fits almost perfectly over my Katabatic gear Crestone hood (2 oz). The two together should be a seriously warm combination. I'll almost always be using the Bitterroot either for sleeping or for low energy around camp use.

Like the good low back/butt cover for the same reason.

The other thing is that if you do something really great, the huge hood gives you plenty of room to have a swelled head.

awesome stuff. use the clear tenacious tape please! all the trees will laugh at you!

OK, I'll go first. Today, I spent several hours adding a shock cord/cord lock to the existing elastic rim around the face of the hood. The stock rim is actually a thin tube of stretchy elastic nylon. In the first photo, you can see it with a metal rod inserted into the elastic tube.



I thought I would simply attach the shock cord to an 18" flexible titanium rod, and thread it through the elastic tube:



It was quite hard to thread the bulk of the rod + the cord, and I kept getting stuck in the "tunnel." I switched over to a very, very thin titanium wire. I heated the wire on a canister stove, and melted it through the end of the shock cord. Then I wrapped the wire around itself several times. This ended up looking like a suture, with an 18" needle. This passed through the elastic tube pretty well, but it too would occasionally get hung up on the mesh. I had to tug pretty hard at times, and the thin wire finally let go of the end of the shock cord. This was maybe 2/3 the way through the tube. So now I had a choice--blow the project off, or spend another couple of hours painstakenly pushing the shock cord through the tunnel, millimeter by millimeter. I had nothing else to do, so I kept going.

When I finally moved the shock cord to the end, I couldn't get hold of it to pull it all the way out. I had to do a little surgery, and I cut into the end of the tube. I pulled the shock cord out, slapped cord locks on both ends, and then sewed up my little incision. The next photo shows the end result:

(BPL won't let me add another photo, so I'll post what I've done so far, then do another separate post with my final photos and thoughts)

Edited by Zia-Grill-Guy on 11/28/2012 15:16:28 MST.

Finished project:



Ugly model wearing the hood in stock mode, without any cord lock tension:



And with the cord lock at maximum closure:



Here's the deal--when I fully close up the hood's face opening, it adds significant additional coverage. However, it pulls the hood forward considerably. The only way that this will work is either by adding a velcro adjuster (or Tenaceous Tape--I like that idea) on the back to pull the hood backward, or by simply wearing a baseball cap to keep the top of the hood opening off your nose.

I will look forward to others' escapades regarding this hood thing.

Edited by Zia-Grill-Guy on 11/28/2012 15:10:04 MST.

Thanks Gary.

Can you share some details on the tickness of the shock cord you used and which locks. I hope I can buy them somewhere online or in REI.

The thinnest shock cord I had was 2.0 mm in diameter. I might have bought it at REI, or perhaps another specialty hardware store in town. The tiny cord locks were purchased from Lawson at Mountainfitter, but I see that he's not carrying them right now. A couple of days ago, someone was selling a bunch of tiny things, including BPL bottles, and those small cord locks--maybe you can locate that thread.

By the way, after I posted about my project, I wore it around outside for awhile, checking out its possibilities. I also wore my Black Rock beanie, which I wasn't wearing in the photos. I had mentioned that a full-on closure brought the top of the hood way down, nearly covering my eyes. It turned out it only did that when I had the top of the zippered front below my chin. When it comes up over my chin, the hood actually fits pretty well. And that's the way I would be wearing it if an icy wind was really howling. So I think I'll have no need to make a velcro/Tenaceous Tape thingy on the back of the hood. And that way, my whole modification is reversible, except for my minor surgery/suture.

Mod on, you guys, and make me proud!

Maybe it's just me, but I got mine in the mail today and I think it fits better than my Patagonia UL Hoody and my Nunatak Skaha Hoody with 2oz. overfill. I'm almost 6'3" and weigh 165...as my friend Monie labels "long and strong" and a medium fits perfectly! It lofts somewhere in between both (closer to the Patagucci)...the big hood fits marvelously over the trucker hats I love to hike in, and the overall construction is quite impressive for the price I paid. The stuff sack seems a little on the cheap, but I won't complain. Stoked.

I love mine! The only funny thing I see is that on GoLite's website, they say that it "packs down to the size of an apple..." - I knew this would not be true, but of course saying this thing gets to the size of an apple is downright comical. They included a stuff sack that I think I could get my 30 degree sleeping bag into! I did manage to fit the jacket into a stuff sack from my Pata Hi Loft Down Sweater. Still nowhere near any apple I've ever seen...

Those GoLite folks must have some HUGE apples!

The jacket stuffs into the inner pocket. Don't quit understand why Go-lite included another stuff sack that isn't needed except maybe for waterproof storage inside a pack.

The stuff sack they provided isn't waterproof. Look at the seams. Idk why the hell they included it... they could have at least color coordinated the SS instead of giving me a bright orange with my green jacket. Strange.

I received a bright yellow stuff sack with my red jacket. I'll use it for something else.

i got an orange one with my black and orange accented jacket. i am super psyched that my jacket and overbuilt stuff sac match.

Edited by rbeard on 11/30/2012 11:34:27 MST.

Some people have all the luck.

Of course Adam's worked out. This guy gets all the luck! I call shenanigans! He's an undercover Golite rep. He probably packaged my bright orange stuff sack with a smerk on his face.

first, i had the children sew on the huge golite back strap, "so it's easier to pull out of your pack." second, i had them cut the last thread, so the first time you yank, it's going to rip off.

mwhahhahahahahaa. :-)

i will say this publicly to the board about my luck (and my affiliation with golite), although i am in-between jobs right now (the life of a creative), i do consider myself very lucky in that I have a beautiful wife, a 2.5 year old little girl, caring family and friends, and plenty of opportunities to sit back (or go forward) and truly enjoy life. and i score some pretty good deals on gearswap. happy holidays to you all.

Edited by rbeard on 12/01/2012 07:46:43 MST.

If anyone bought one or two of these beauties in large and has one for sale please let me know.

Scott

1scottp@gmaildotcom

Bump ill jump on a extra medium as well

Gary, thanks for the head start on modifying this hood.

I found that 1/32" shockcord threaded rather easily thru the majority of the elastic channel (maybe 10mins). Getting it started and finished was a bit more difficult - this took a little "surgery" but none that required sewing repair, just extra time.

Also, I added a snap to the back of the hood to help take in some of the extra volume. With these two changes, I find the hood fits as well as any other (non technical) hood I have.

Total added weight was about .2oz with a final weight of 13.5oz (medium).

This jacket is currently back on sale at $149.99 (with free shipping to boot).

If anyone is looking for a men's small, I inadvertently kept one from the last sale past the refund date. If you're interested I'll sell it for the same price. The color is "smoke".

At 6'2" 150lbs I am pulled between the medium and large? Any suggestions? I really dig the olive color which is only available in large. Thanks

I'd would think the issue with sizes smaller than XL on someone of your height would be the arms and back length are too short.

Pulled the trigger on a large olive color! Let the inpatient waiting begin !