armin Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 I'm looking for an alround, light downjacket. The Neutrino Endurance from Rab seems to be nice, but hard to get in the US. What are you experiences with jackets from Feathered Friends? Quote
Paul_K Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 I've had a FF Helios jacket for a couple of seasons. For Cascade climing I've been very happy with it. It packs down small, yet provides a great deal of warmth. It has held up very well. Quote
tomtom Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 Western Mountaineering also makes a super light down jacket. Pro Mountain Sports carries them. Â Quote
Blake Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 MH phantom is also quite nice.. sometimes on sale as well. Quote
tomtom Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 I'm looking for an alround, light downjacket. The Neutrino Endurance from Rab seems to be nice, but hard to get in the US. What are you experiences with jackets from Feathered Friends? Â Whoa, the Rab jacket is pretty pricey here in the US. For that amount of money you can get FF to make a Volant jacket to your specs, even in Pertex Endurance. Quote
armin Posted October 3, 2005 Author Posted October 3, 2005 The Rab jacket includes a hood though. If you buy the Volant with hood you pay 310 US$. But I agree, pretty pricy. Quote
tomtom Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 If you make a trip to Vancouver, check out Taiga. Quote
Fromage Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 I have a FF Helios jacket in Pertex Quantum. I like it a lot. Packs down to the size of a Nalgene, and the pockets are more comfy for keeping my hands toasty than any other down jacket I have tried. I think it is reasonably priced, and the quality is excellent. Â Quote
Alasdair Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 Just a feature to look for suggestion... Large inner pockets that will easily hold either water bottles or bladders securly. Unless of course you are buying your down jacket so you can look cool belaying at the base of morning glory wall. Quote
featheredfriends Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 they cost alot. Â Feathered Friends would like to point out the following price differences: Â TNF Nuptse $199 Western Mountaineering Flight (in taffeta = poor water resistance) $215 Mountain Hardwear Phantom $225 Feathered Friends Hyperion 800+ fill (in Epic = good water resistance) $182 Feathered Friends Helios 800+ fill (Epic) $203 Â You be the judge of whether they cost a lot. Quote
Alex Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 (edited) TNF Nuptse $199 Feathered Friends Helios 800+ fill (Epic) $203 You be the judge of whether they cost a lot. Â Look, I appreciate your desire to defend your product and brand, but you are stating full retail prices. There is no doubt your product is a quality down product and perhaps they are not overpriced compared to other makers in your product's space. Perhaps I should have qualified my statement with "I've found bro deals and sale items for every down product known to man, every year, except Feathered Friends stuff." As a counter point to your statement, then,.. Â TNF Nuptse in new condition bought at Second Ascent last week in my size, 70$. Â Â <edit>I should further clarify that my own personal belief is that brand name has little or no real value when starting to contemplate the higher end/higher quality outdoor products, such as MHW, TNF, Feathered Friends, Marmot, and so on. Some of this belief comes from working in the space for many years, some of it comes from buying, and some of it comes from pure experience seeing all the hardmen out there in Canada all winter wearing rags and still sending M11. All the makers make good products, good garments, nice down garments with very good materials, workmanship, quality control, etc. FF is no exception. So in the end (and the reason I made my post) is that price becomes the real and overriding descriminator. And the unfortunate thing (and perhaps this is a true compliment to FF stuff) is that I have never found any used FF gear for sale, but I *have* found other new or used down products for sale for much less than what I would have paid new at a retail outlet. Its just part of my game. But my belief might not be shared by everyone, and I am sure there are people who swear their <FF,Marmot,TNF/> jacket is the absolute bomb.</edit> Edited October 3, 2005 by Alex Quote
JoshK Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 Yeah, seriously Alex, good point. Â Also, the flight jacket is sweet, no matter what you think. I managed to keep it dry for 5 days and it is a lot lighter than your equivilent jacket. FF shit rocks, but it is more expensive than "mainstream" brands. Quote
hydroman Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 I picked up a Flight jacket earlier this year and think it's an awesome jacket. It's essentially replaced my FF because it weighs less and is still quite warm (though not quite as warm as the Helios) That being said there is something to be said for spending a few xtra bucks for something made locally rather than giving the same money to TNF for a jacket they paid $3 to have made overseas. Quote
tomtom Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 I wonder whether this thread is just a ruse to point out that: Â Feathered Friends is having a sale on down jackets starting this Friday. Â Quote
featheredfriends Posted October 4, 2005 Posted October 4, 2005 "I wonder whether this thread is just a ruse..."  No - I wish we could be that organized  It's just a funky coincidence the thread popped up before the sale. We'll have plenty of extra stock in our jackets if you wanted to compare them with other jackets.  - Eddie Quote
armin Posted October 4, 2005 Author Posted October 4, 2005 Why don't you give me a 50% discount, for starting this thread? Only on the next down jacket I buy? Quote
TrogdortheBurninator Posted October 5, 2005 Posted October 5, 2005 In the past the FF sale has had down jackets for really cheap. I'd imagine if past experience holds, in store prices on some specific items will be much less than the listed discounts. Â Regarding down jackets in general: I have a FF volant that is super warm, and the pockets are possibly the greatest pockets ever. It is very well made, but often overkill for me. Â I also have a moonstone lucid jacket ($150), which owing to it's lighter weight, gets considerably more use. For an all around 3 season alpine jacket, these new ultralight downs cant be beat. THey weigh nothing and pack so small I sometimes just hang em off my harness on shorter alpine climbs instead of carrying a full pack. Quote
Dr_Crash Posted October 7, 2005 Posted October 7, 2005 I have a WM flight vest and if I need more warmth I can top it off with a Patagonia Micro Puff which is synthetic and resists water well; the latter doesn't pack nearly as well of course. But the combination is very versatile. Â drC Quote
gearup5000 Posted October 29, 2005 Posted October 29, 2005 The Volant is a great, well designed down jacket. The pockets close copletely over your wrists, which prevents outside air from blowing in = warm hands! Â However, w.r.t to the price issue, I like the MHW SubzeroSL with hood Seen it on sale on the net for $220 +/- Quote
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