Shopping help: gear jacket purchase

Hi ladies,

I need some help from the ylf shopping & gear experts. I am crazily about to escape the spring-like weather we are experiencing in Melbourne, and heading north to colder climates. I will also be embarking on high altitude trekking for which my wardrobe and unfit body are ill-equipped.

I already have a Gortex shell jacket that although thin, is rain and windproof. I need a jacket to either pop underneath for warmth, or to act as a layer on its own. I do have several thermal tops of different grading, but have found that whilst camping at night, a cozy windproof layer over the top is still required (my gortex is windproof but not cozy).

I've narrowed it down to 3 options, but have difficulty choosing between them:

1) Helly Hansen puffy jacket
http://www.flickr.com/photos/y.....hotostream
Advantages: colour (love purple), cozy and comfy
Disadvantages: cost$$, bulkier than a fleece

2) Helly Hansen weather-resistant fleece
http://www.flickr.com/photos/y.....otostream/
Advantages: colour (love purple), less bulky than a puffer
Disadvantage: cheaper than 1) but still cost$$, still comfy but not quite as cozy

3) MacPac green puffer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/y.....hotostream
Advantages: cost - half the price of #1, cozy, folds up into its own pocket, colour (still love it although not a versatile a purple???)
Disadvantages: bulkier than a fleece

Some people have suggested that #2 would be better for walking in than a puffer should it cool down enough whilst hiking (which apparently it won't). Other people have suggested I need to get both (Lets call that option 4).

Which do you think is a better option, and why??

xx tam

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14 years ago

sarah

Veteran

Honestly, I like both a fleece and a puffer for this situation (option 4). The fleece is good for layering under the shell and therefore is a great option for hiking. You can warm it up by putting on the shell, but cool it down by removing the shell. A puffer can get too warm for hiking, but it's fabulous to have at night and in the morning around camp, because it's so cozy and warm. I actually love the green on you!

(website)

I was thinking a 3 in 1 system type jacket where you can unzip the insulating layer and wear just it alone or the shell alone or zip them back together. I know Columbia does this, I'm sure Helly Hansen does, too. http://www.Sierratradingpost.com is a great place to look for gear. (that's where I got my Helly Hansen snowboarding clothes)

EDIT: here's the 3 in 1 http://www.sierratradingpost.com/s/columbia-women/

Isis

I love the green on you! I think a fleece and a puffer are great to have; I'd bring both. If you don't have a fleece, you'll probably get a lot of use out of it at home when you are hiking, going for walks, etc.

Some other considerations:

Will the purple fit under your goretex?

What are the puffer's filled with, is one warmer than the other? (the purple looks warmer) How cold will it be, and how much warmth do you need?

Layers are great for stripping off as you warm up while hiking.

Will you be camping at night? The fleece will be great to sleep in too.

missvee

The lightweight puffers that are down filled are very warm, light, and practical for under the Gortex and they are also quite stylish worn on their own. We got one from Eddie Bauer that is excellent, but Mountain Equipment Co-op also carries their own line and it is good too. You might want to take a fleece also, if they're thin enough they fold up to almost nothing, and you can wear them as an underlayer if needed.

Lynne

Tam, whatever you choose, you will have it for a long time, so I would say dig deeper and get what you really like rather than save money on a colour that isn't your favourite.

yublocka

Thanks for all the input ladies. I knew ylf would be able to help me out!

A 3 in 1 jacket does sound like a good idea, however I already own the outer shell, so too late for me to go with that option!

Both the puffers are down. Both just fit under my blue shell. The fleece does fit more comfortably however. The fleece isn't a true fleece though. I actually hate "proper" fleece, I think they just look awful. This one has a fancy windproof and water repellant coating. Here it is on the Helly Hansen website

http://shop.hellyhansen.com/US.....rtner=6005

Man it is less than half the price on the US site as it is in Australian stores. If I had noticed this earlier I would have bought it online as our $$$ are pretty much still equivalent. Unfair!!!

Although I will be up higher than 5,000m I have heard that you still remain hot whilst walking as daytime temps will be 15-20degrees. It isn't the rainy season and the puffers/layers are mainly for night when it gets alot colder. So I guess this is all to say I expect mainly to wear it on its own, rather than layered under my Gortex.

Maybe I should just buy a cheap, ugly comfy fleece for sleeping in and layering in if my thermals aren't warm enough for hiking. Can I call this option 5?? I've heard you can buy stuff like this in Kathmandu so maybe I'll just wait and see what I can find there.

And Lynne you make a great point about colours. Trouble is I like *both* green and purple. Again tempting me to get one of each hahah.

Anyone else want to weigh in??

Vicki

I love the puffer jacket on you in green, and in general I prefer those light-weight down puffy jackets. I live in So. Cal. and I do have a very light L.L. Bean goose down vest in navy and an Eddie Bauer goose down vest in cream. I prefer the L.L. Bean, because it keeps me so warm and is EXTREMELY LIGHT and can be bunched up and packed easily and I've also worn it under coats for added warmth when I'm in colder weather. If you like fleece and that keeps you warm, then that may be the way to go.

catgirl

I run cold, and I wear a down jacket regularly when camping, even in summer at night. The down can get clammy if wet, though. It sounds like layering is the key for what you're doing, so be sure you can fit layers under the down as well as fitting the down into your shell. An advantage to down is that it can pack supersmall, and HH probably has a stuff pocket built right into the jacket.

Sounds like a super-fun trip!

Suz

I like the looks of all of these for the purpose, with a slight preference for the looks of both down jackets, but of course looks are not the primary consideration.

One of my own solutions to this problem was this: thermal underwear, a NON-FLEECE weather-resistant shell, a down VEST, and a goretex shell. Lots of layers, but I could interchange them about as need be. It works great for me.

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