Down jackets, Alpkit.

I’m looking for a down jacket and the Alpkit Filo has caught my eye.
My main concerns are washing and waterproofness.
Any advice/experiences?
Other options?

I’ve got 2 Alpkit Filo’s – an early one without the hood and one of the first hooded ones.

The material is DWR treated so will bead water off it to an extent but it is in no way waterproof. It’s stitch through contruction will mean water can easily go through the stitching and in steady rain the material will wet out.

Great jackets but if you want a waterproof down jacket you need to look elsewhere (and probably triple the price).

I’ve washed them both but I avoid washing them unless they are properly filthy. Tumble dried each time with a couple of tennis balls to stop the down from clumping and it worked a treat.

Check out the Montane North Star

http://www.fieldandtrek.com/montane-north-star-jacket-mens-443254?colcode=44325418

If you have a Go Outdoors nearby and they have stock in your size then you could get another 10% off would make it £121.50.

However if you need a waterproof insulating jacket then I would look at a synthetic fill like primaloft or something. Something like a Mountain Eq Fitzroy

http://www.mountain-equipment.co.uk/the_gear/clothing/insulation/fitzroy_jacket—279/

I keep trying to dissuade my wife from washing her North Face down gillet, but to no avail. She wears it, assumes it is just like a normal jacket and then washes it. With no tumble drier in the house, it’s just turned into a sorry mess.

So, instead of a lifetime’s worth of warmth and comfort, she’s ruined it in just over a year. It’s a good job I didn’t waste nearly a hundred quid buying it for her.

Oh hang on. I did.

Bloody idiot.

Love my Alpkit Filo. Not quite as much as my Rab jacket though…. As others have said, if you want waterproof be prepared to spend a lot more. Would always go synthetic if you think there is a chance of it getting soaked.

As above, down jackets are for when it’s not wet really. An issue with the waterproof ones is the down getting wet from your sweat when it’s trapped by the less breathable materials.
IMO it’s better to just get a normal one and don’t go out in the rain in it.

Just bought the body warmer, it’s lovely 🙂

As above, down jackets are for when it’s not wet really.

Not really suitable for this country then! 😕
Ta for the info. I might get out to Cotswold Outdoor and have a look at what they’ve got.

Not really suitable for this country then!

Not when it’s raining, no. You’re better off with a synthetic fill like PrimaLoft or an own-brand equivalent if you’re going to get it wet at all. Or there’s now hydrophobic down available – Berghaus does it – that doesn’t collapse when wet and recovers most of its original loft when it’s dried out again, unlike down which needs really careful laundering.

Waterproof shelled down is mostly pub wear. If it’s cold enough to need a proper down jacket, it’s too cold for rain. It’ll be snowing…

Not really suitable for this country then!

Dunno about that- depends what you want it for really. In this country at least they’re too hot for actually doing stuff in, so IME the only times I’m likely to be wearing mine are times when it’s not that difficult to keep them dry- winter camping, standing around carparks etc etc.

If it’s cold enough that you might wear one for more active stuff then it’s not likely to rain as BWD points out.

If you want it for general outerwear when it’s a bit cold then synthetic would probably be a better bet.

try a pertex pile buffalo alike ?

warm when wet and the pertex really stops the windchill

im wanting another as my active smock has become a staple in my cold place offshore kit bag !

what it doesnt do well is pack down small !

Tried one at the yard sale, felt lovely, didn’t have the £75 spare that day…..