Everything you ever needed to know about down jackets:

I have Montbell down clothing. At the time of purchase it was about the lightest and most economical I could find – I am also more than happy with the build quality and its durability (considering its extreme lightness) over the years. I carry a ‘Superior Down’  jacket and a vest, weighing approx 200 + 150 grams. I can see that I could have done better than this (now) but they were on sale (A140 + A$105) at Larry Adler (in Oz) at the time and are otherwise very hard to obtain here, so they were a bit of a ‘steal’ really.

My strategy is to use them in a layering system when it is very cold and to supplement my Montbell Spiral Stretch Ultralight Down Hugger sleeping bag (appprox 600 grams) by wearing the jacket on my top and the vest on my lower body (plus down socks) when it is below freezing. This reduces the temperature rating of my sleeping bag from -1C down to more like -10C without having to carry any extra weight. I also prefer a full-zip in both garments (even though it adds to the weight as compared with a pullover) because it helps with the layering. When you want to reduce the warmth it is just so easy to unzip.

I think 6-7 oz (180-200 grams) is enough in Australia for a down jacket (as long as you also have a vest!) as the heavier garments will mostly be far too hot (unless you are always up in the snow). I mostly camp out in the winter months in the mountains of Southern Victoria (as I am also a deer hunter). I have found the above arrangements fine over many years. We also own Montbell Down trousers. which only weigh a couple of hundred grams – lighter than most thermals! Della wears hers all the time in camp when it is cold (she feels it more than I do), and it is a blessing to her. I confess I only take mine when it is going to be like Antarctica, eg walking up to Everest.

I would recommend a winter mat though. For many years I used the Thermarest Neoair Womens – 340 grams (which I found adequate but not toasty) on cold nights. I now have an Exped Synmat HL Winter M – 430 grams which I find even better and more comfortable. At the moment I am using the pillow I cut down here (<50 grams) which cost me less than $10. It is the most comfortable pillow I have ever used and stays put really well too. I usually sleep in my Deer Hunter’s Tent (which I will soon be making a new, lighter, bigger model of) and carry the Ultralight Deer Hunter‘s equipment. Of course I always have a fire out the front which keeps me nice and warm until well after I have gone to bed.

I found the spreadsheet belowon a Google search so I cannot recognise the author’s careful work (or attest to its accuracy) but it gives a very good ground for comparison.

Down jacket (Male size M < 11oz)HoodZipPriceTotal weight (oz)Fill weight (oz)Fill %Fill power (US)Total WarmthWarmth per ozWarmth per $Weighted ranking
Cumulus primelite pulloverNoHalf$1556,353,0047%9002700425451
Nunatak Shaka UL Sweater hoodedYesHalf$40010,405,6054%9005040485252
Goosefeet Gear jacket (custom)YesFull$4007,583,5046%9503325439193
Borah Gear Ultralight JacketNoHalf$1705,152,3045%8501955380344
Malachowski Zion UltralightYesFull$2609,174,2346%9003809415315
Haglofs L.I.M EssensNoFull$2105,642,4744%8502099372286
Montbell Plasma 1000 Alpine ParkaYesFull$4408,403,4040%10003400405177
Crux New Halo JacketYesFull$30010,054,2342%9504019400278
Crux Turbo JacketNoFull$2608,333,3040%9503135376279
My Trail Co 850 HL HoodedYesFull$15011,004,5842%85038933545010
Rab Zero GYesFull$55011,004,5041%100045004091611
My Trail Co 850 HLNoFull$1009,003,3537%85028483166012
Decathlon Trek 500YesFull$6510,223,3232%85028182768613
Cumulus InverseNoFull$1656,352,2936%90020633253214
Montbell Plasma 1000NoFull$3304,801,6033%100016003331515
Cumulus AcomayNoFull$18011,104,2338%90038093434016
Montbell Ex Light AnorakYesHalf$2706,202,3037%90020703342017
Crux Turbo Top PulloverNoHalf$2457,272,4734%95023463232318
Yeti Strato UltraLightNoFull$4005,501,8734%95017773231319
Western Mountaineering Flight JacketNoFull$35011,004,5041%85038253482120
Stellar EQ Ultralight JacketNoFull$2709,633,1032%100031003222321
Stellar EQ Ultralight HoodyYesFull$30010,833,3931%100033863132222
Mammut Broad Peak LightNoFull$2507,342,4734%85020992862023
Feathered Friends EosYesFull$34010,603,7035%90033303141924
Mountain Hardwear Ghost WhispererNoFull$3257,402,6536%80021202861525
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer HoodyYesFull$3507,802,7936%80022292861526
Stellar EQ Ultralight SweaterNoFull$2305,891,5226%100015162571827
Haglofs EssensNoFull$2309,383,1734%80025392712328
Macpac Supanova HoodedYesFull$5009,883,6036%80028782911229
Yeti PurityNoFull$3609,673,4235%80027362831530
Western Mountaineering Quick Flash JacketNoFull$3658,002,5031%85021252661331
Montane Starlight Pull-onNoHalf$1609,312,8230%80022562422932
Western Mountaineering Flash XR JacketYesFull$44011,003,5032%85029752701333
Patagonia Ultralight JacketYesFull$3009,502,9931%80023922521634
Montbell Superior Down ParkaYesFull$2108,702,5029%80020002302035
Western Mountaineering Flash JacketYesFull$39010,253,0029%85025502491336
Outdoor Vitals StormLoft UltralightYesFull$18010,002,8228%80022562262537
Montbell Superior Down JacketNoFull$1807,301,9026%80015202082038
Macpac Uber LightNoFull$1308,472,6131%65016972002839
Outdoor Research Baja PulloverYesHalf$1909,952,7227%80021732182340
REI Co-op 650 jacketNoFull$10010,503,0029%65019501863841
Montbell Superior Down Round NeckYesButtons$1505,501,2022%8009601751842
Outdoor Research IlluminateNoFull$22010,512,6525%80021162011943
Marmot Quasar NovaNoFull$27510,702,7526%80022002061544

The cumulus range certainly is worth considering. Notice they also make very light sleeping bags: http://sleepingbags-cumulus.eu/

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