anyone recommend one under a £100 quid? ive seen the rab microlight, which looks exactly what I’m after but its a touch over budget (cant see any offers anywhere on them)

is there an unbranded version of it anywhere? want something to wear to and from biking (getting changed after biking when its cold) and general mucking around in type jacket, I don’t need it for massive hikes up mountains, but little walks etc

cheers

Montane Prism
Very good allrounder

£80 at sports shoes

i bought a “rock experiance” 650 fill microlight down jacket from tkmaxx.

Was 34.99 and is perfect for those kinds of jobs – didnt want a near 100 quid jacket for that.

doesnt have a trendy name on it though.

Go Outdoors and Decathlon have their own sub £50. I have the GO one, it’s great. Hi Gear Men’s Packlite Down Jacket, 280g, packs into own pocket.
700 fill 90%. £45. NOT if you’ve gibbon arms though, they are just long enough for me.

Mine came from sainsburys for £40. Love it.

Alpkit Filoment jacket for £99.

http://www.uniqlo.com/uk/store/feature/uq/ultralightdown/men/#goods02

dont own one ,but get good reviews,improved since review with water defender

UNIQLO Ultra Light Down Parka

Yep, I thought Alpkit was the default choice with this one..

I don’t have one but I heard that they fit pretty snug

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/tnf-thermoball-or-rab-microlight-jacket

Alpkit for me too. Very well made and light; took it as a spare layer and for evening warmth on a week of hut-to-hut ski touring in the Alps, where weight and performance matter. Delighted with it.

the cheap one at 30 quid at decathlon looks a good shout, basically after it, for and after biking really, not a great deal more so don’t even really want to spend 100quid, for 30 I think I’m just going to give this a shot

Forget the obsession with down and go synthetic if its for post riding wearing. Chances are you will be wet and sweaty, mud and water will get on you somehow putting kit or bikes in the car, and its probably going to be raining.

In this situation ive been using a synthetic filled jacket for a few years, its been superb. Get it covered in mud, rained on, even put it on over sweaty base layers when you are freezing and faffing before getting time to get changed. The synthetic means it works better when wet and I dont need to worry about it at all.

The one ive got is a proto version of the Alpkit 0Hiro (pronounced zero-hero) belay jacket, really really good jacket. Ive also got a big down Alpkit jacket, a PHD down jacket and a Howies down jacket. None of them offer what the 0Hiro does, its my go-to jacket.

I got the bright orange one from decathlon, not a bad bit of kit at all.

Hi Gear Men’s Packlite Down Jacket, 280g, packs into own pocket

+1
Took mine to the Arctic this winter, didn’t die – much warmer than my Primaloft gold jacket, cheaper and fits well.

I think it would have to get pretty wet before it got any colder than a synthetic jacket of the same weight.

Rab Microlight and CTC discount at Cotswold Camping worked for me. I wear it a LOT!

Agree about the benefits of synthetics vs down for user-friendliness. I’m a huge fan of Polartech Alpha garments – wore them for a 39hour arctic ultra-endurance race and still remained warm despite being wet-through at one point – a down jacket would have been useless. I also have a Montane Prism – OK for sitting about / low intensity but not for active wear IMO.

Once you had the trauma of trying to wash/reproofing a down jacket, picking apart the clumps of down is no fun at all. Synthetic all the way for me, much easier to live with.

Once you had the trauma of trying to wash/reproofing a down jacket, picking apart the clumps of down is no fun at all. Synthetic all the way for me, much easier to live with.

Yes its this that’s the main point for a jacket that sees dirty use. I love a good down jacket, but not for wearing pre/post riding where you will be getting it grubby.

Another vote for the Montane Prism, wouldn’t want to cycle in it (too warm), but for general loafing around it’s great. I think it was ~£80 at Go Outdoors.

Most cheap down jacket feathers are plucked while the birds are still alive. I think Rab only take from dead birds.

http://www.occoutdoor.co.uk/news/rab-moves-to-ethical-down-as-daily-mail-ignores-facts/news

Alpkit for me, hasn’t been off me since I got it for Christmas. Just my daily jacket though, I’d agree with keeping it away from grime and water as much as possible. I have a synthetic one from H&M for that – £20 and very nearly as effective.. the Alpkit one is nicer to wear though.

Should find something to suit on tkmaxx site
http://www.tkmaxx.com/activewear/mens-outdoor-clothing/icat/3111

Iolo – alpkit are ethical down users.

As was the rock experiance jacket i bought – they are a propper (italian) outdoor clothing co not just a cheap clothing co.

The whole ethical thing was what stopped me buying a uniqclo.

Also have the “rock experience” one from tkmaxx fing it very warm , as good as my north face one , apparently they are Italian ( made in China :-)) . well worth £34.99

i got the rab one its excellent, although i’m pretty warm bodied, so can only wear a tshirt under it on all but the coldest days..

my wife got one from decathlon £45 great quality,
under a hundred i tried on the jack wolfskin zenon down to £78 now by the looks of things, i liked it, but prefered the cut/shape of the rab

and i usually find if i buy cheaper i buy multiple times,
so ‘pay more once’ and it’ll end up cheaper

I have a rock experience synthetic bought from tk maxx for £20 ….rather splendid ….

As above I would avoid down and go synthetic for the job you want……and actually for most UK activities due to down inability to deal with the wet…. Really only use my PHD jacket occasionally now

Decathlon jacket down bought 3 years ago great

Daughters have a variety of alpkit down they are brilliant

+1 for the Montane Prism, its my go to jacket.

I also have the Montane Antifreeze which is VERY warm 🙂

Another +1 for Decathlon X-light £29.99. I use it for exactly what you describe. Plenty warmth but doesn’t pack quite as small as some of the more expensive jackets.

Cheers
Rich

I’d go synthetic too – I have a Montane Fireball smock which is great. The OMM Rotor (if you can find it on sale) looks like a lovely bit of kit too.

What are the £50ish synthetic budget options? I am after one for the very same thing as the OP but don’t want down for the reasons outlined here.

I am after something with a hood too.

Nobeerinthefridge – Member

I got the bright orange one from decathlon, not a bad bit of kit at all.

As a fellow orange down jacket owner (I assume you bought their mens x light down jacket – orange) you have my sympathy, probably the worst colour choice I made (unless they offer it in white). It’ll always look dirty especially around the hems and cuffs within a few wears and you’ll face the choice of a) looking like a scruffy street urchin. B) regularly washing it as not recommended and ruining it, so it’ll never be the same again. C) Washing it properly, in the bath, specialist down wash, tumble dryer on cool for about 2 hrs*, deciding it’s a complete pain in the arse to wash and buying a decent quality synthetic jacket like I should have done in the first place.
* may not be such a big deal if you have a tumble dryer at home.

Down will last for longer – i.e. it will loft up better in 10 years time

BUT, it’s not much use in the wet. Therefore, for everyday stuff, or stuff that might get mucky (and therefore need a wash), it’s synthetic for me

Given your uses, any synthetic fill jacket will work!

+1 on the Montane Prism, I’ve lived in mine pretty much for the last two winters. It gets used a lot more than my down vest, since if it looks like it’s going to rain most of the time in this country. Could probably pick up a Rab one cheap on eBay this time of year and have it professionally cleaned for around £25 I think.

Another vote for the practicality of synthetics for using most of the time in the UK. Like STATO the Alpkit 0Hiro is the go to jacket of choice to sling on over the top of muddy, wet, sweaty kit after biking, running or paddling. Only use it out of the back of the car. Won’t really want to pack it though as it’s a bit bulky, but a Montane Prism does the job there.

In the UK my down jackets are mainly used for posing in the pub, but come into their own in the Alps

Horses for courses I reckon … just think about where/how it’s going to get used

For a dicking about jacket, I wouldn’t go too lightweight personally. Generally the outer shells are not very resilient. My Pata Nano has numerous nicks in it after a winter and has not been subjected to anything harsh at all. These are designed to be worn mostly under a shall jacket. My advice would be to get something a little heavier (should be cheaper too) and it’ll last a bit longer.

i have a couple of synthetics for the use when….but when it comes down to packsize for warmth my down jacket is always the first one packed – be it my 950 fill winter jacket (which packs down to the same size as my primaloft jacket of no where near the same warmth) or my ultralight down jacket which packs down to the size of an apple……both stored in a dry bag until needed

I always carry a hardshell waterproof when on tour or in the hills so risk of it getting soaking wet is minimal – and hasnt happened yet.

What are peoples experiences of using Down Jackets when Skiing/Snowboarding.

I’m currently in the market for both a down jacket for trekking and a new snowboarding jacket…..thinking maybe a hydrophobic down jacket and then a waterproof hardshell in case of rain (unlikely!) could possibly work on the slopes?

well ive gone against the grain, opted for a cheapo decathlon downs one, the x lite, looks exactly what I’m after and its only 30 quid, not bothered about it lookin smart all the time, its to keep me warm after getting a soaking in our lovely british weather!

cheers

its to keep me warm after getting a soaking in our lovely british weather!
cheers

Where’s that face palm IMG? 😉