Any tough down jackets or a good substitute

MH Stretchdown Hoody

Kevin Strickerwrote:

MH Stretchdown Hoody

You’ve got to be kidding me… literally everyone i know with one of those has feathers busting out of the seams where the arms join the body. My wife, who hardly climbs has one, with like 10 patches.

Moutain Hardwares quality has gone down the toilet since being bought by Columbia. 

Just getting back to service, thanks a ton for all the recommendations I’ll look into them. I’m sure there’s some dramatic improvements to my wardrobe in here

I have never needed to use a puffy in a situation where it would get this torn up over and over. I’ve got maybe 4 patches on my main puffy, 1 from cooking, 2 from a stumble in some talus, and 1 from an ice tool pick.

Assuming you’re climbing in it and that’s how it’s getting torn up, you may want to try belaying with your puffy and climbing without it. Puffys are for when you are standing around imo (ie breaks from uphill travel or belaying)

If you really need to do something like climb a chimney with your puffy id go with a softshell only because theyre probably cheaper to replace than your arcteryx whatever hardshell.

More thoughts

https://www.andy-kirkpatrick.com/blog/view/the-idea-not-the-gear

http://coldthistle.blogspot.com/2011/10/alpine-uniform-aka-action-suit.html?m=1

You might look at the Element jacket made by Kuiu. It's not down but it is a puffy type jacket with a wind proof 50D rip stop poly shell. Also designed to be worn with a pack, pockets above hip belt. You can get with or without hood and solid earth tone colors. I know it's not from a typical "climbing brand" but they do have a few products that crossover nicely!

I'm a huge fan of the Outdoor Research Refuge jacket.  I've climbed in it in 40 degrees temps and found it very warm.  With good layering I think you could easily go down to 30 with it.  I did an 800' route with a chimney in it and walked away with only one very small tear.  Much better than previous results.  OR also makes the Ferossi jacket.  It's basically just a shell like jacket of a tough wind-cutting fabric.  If you buy a larger size I think it would be a great option to wear over a puffy.  Packs down pretty small too.

Cody Paynewrote:

You might look at the Element jacket made by Kuiu. It's not down but it is a puffy type jacket with a wind proof 50D rip stop poly shell. Also designed to be worn with a pack, pockets above hip belt. You can get with or without hood and solid earth tone colors. I know it's not from a typical "climbing brand" but they do have a few products that crossover nicely!

I don’t own any Kuiu but it’s been recommended as a tough-as-nails brand. I think they do hunting stuff. Also Fjallraven is pretty tough but costs next of kin. Have some pants from them and am a big fan of the G-1000 fabric they use.

I just got a coat from a Chinese company called Kalais for like 60% off. It’s a heavier puffy, like 850 down. Anything 10 degrees and above, minus a stand-still belay, is quite warm with it. It feels like much tougher fabric than my old Patagonia. Very high quality too.

Stay away from Mtn Hardware. I’ve had poor luck with the few items I’ve owned from them over the past few years. Overpriced. If you pay that much might as well go Patagucci. At least they have the warranty…

Rumor has it Feathered Friends makes a hell of a down coat. But nothing light. Would have to be -10 or below to be comfortable in a feathered friends. Oh and and they start at 500 bucks….. and haven’t been in stock for like a year. Minor hurdles to cover………

Tanner Jameswrote:

**and yes I know Patagonia can typically repair these items, but I sent this in to get patched up a few months ago (and a few rips less) and they basically laughed at me and sent it back and said you’re on your own sorry. So that seems to not be an option 

I have a rab jacket that is made with gore windstoper. I am amazed at how puncture resistant it is. Maybe look for another with that. At the end of the day the denier of the face fabric is most important. 20d is a lot more puncture resistant than 10 or 15 which is what most light puffy have. It’s also stiffer. Some jackets have sections in key areas with 30 and even 40d. Another way to make your puffy last longer is I got a super light weight softshell, the bd alpine start. I wear this over my puffy which protects it if I’m climbing with it on. 

Epic thread necro.

Anyways, “A man is judged not by the size of his rack, but by the amount of tape patches on his puffy.” -Confuscious or something

Mont. Icicle, Fusion & High Alt. 

https://www.mont.com.au/collections/puffer-down-jackets?srsltid=AfmBOorAUE5x44-YjZ7RfRWXDMaddBUs8Qg0d47Md8yJOsjl3G4xQPGa

I've got the Falketind down750 from Norrona which has reinforced shoulders and lower arms.

https://www.norrona.com/nb-NO/produkter/falketind/falketind-down750-hood-ms/?color=3516

Jabroni McChufferson wrote:

Those cheaper rip stop wind breakers are great protection for puffers and fairly functional layer. I like to get them in a darker fabric to absorb the suns warmth 

At least one other post mentioned covering your "puffy". This is the most versatile option.  On Ebay there's plenty of 30-40 year old Sierra Designs "microlight" wind shell jackets and pullovers. They aren't reall microlight, but reasonably light, reasonably durable, often like new, and cheap! Most newer shells are too snug , "athletic" fit, too light, etc etc. And expensive. I also recommend staying away from lighter than 20d fabric for your puffy. It's only a couple ounces difference, and your down doesn't do anything for you while it's blowing away in the wind. 

Like this, $15 on Ebay.

I have had the same problem. Had a Patagonia puffer for a Christmas gift. Got ripped in a few places and then I heard they would do repairs because of environmental stuff and all that. So I took it in and they repaired it with a couple of patches. The repaired one got more rips and I took that one in and they just gave me a brand new one, which I thought was weird.

Edit: I forgot to mention it got ripped when reached down to pick up a piece of trash under a rose bush. Snagged on a thorn and almost destroyed the jacket! Shell material is tissue thin

Nice work on the patching. Reuse recycle and all that.

Ill throw another thing out there- when i need durable cold weather clothing i usually will wear base layer, montbell equivalent of the patagonia nano air vest, and OR ferrosi. Or ditch the vest if its warmer than freezing. And like i mentioned earlier, puffy for belay.

The ferrosi has been hella durable for me but not super light. The 7.7 oz vest helps make up for it.

Decathlon makes a great inexpensive puffy which compares to the top of the line ones for way less money. I love mine, but haven’t put it in too many scenarios with danger of ripping so I can really speak to its durability in that way. But at the least it would be a lot cheaper to replace after a few good holes. 

Take a look at the Mountain Equipment Kyros which has a Pertex shell that for me has been very durable.Great parka overall, very warm,very nice hood, very water resistant with the petted and nice length and fit.