Lightweight down jackets

[in4]

Has anyone got one of these or somthing similar? I rather like the Rab Microlight Alpine jacket but at £160 I reckon its expensive. I'm thinking something similar would be very useful when you are post ride and feeling the cold; as I did today. I seldom do the hot drink and cake bit but today the tank was running on air and I had to stop at a great little place ( cake and coffee for £3.10!) in Burton, Cheshire. Trouble was I got cold very quickly and thought a lightweight down jacket would be a great thing to have on board.

Here's the Rab version: I'm not fussed about the hood though. http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/rab-microlight-alpine-jacket-p282553

[Danneaux]

Such things *are* handy, Ian, especially in the absence of a cake 'n' coffee shop! 

I find when touring, I can stand mornings down to about 3°C so long as I'm riding and working hard (and it is dry) if I wear a long-sleeve knit jersey, wind jacket and 3/4 tights atop my cycling shorts. When I stop, I chill quickly, so I usually grab something to put on. A light fleece often does the trick, or my wool longsleeve jersey with wind panels in the front.

Recently, I picked up a cheap (USD$5 on closeout in a tub at the pharmacy, of all places!) synthetic-filled "puffer" jacket from China that crams into a small stuff sack. It is black (as are all my cold-weather clothes; it makes a difference in milking that little bit of extra heat from a watery sun) and highly calendered (shiny) and breaks wind well. The bit of insulation (not much different from a NorthFace ThermoBall jacket) seems to be doing the job for such short stops. I think I'll keep it tucked in my rack pack for rides well into late Fall.

My problem seems to be finding some good winter tights now my old woolies-under-lycra combo is succumbing to age. I've sent for a pair of wool tights from an eBay seller, hoping they will fill my needs. We'll see; they're due to arrive next week. If I can occasionally pair them with a lycra over-tight to break the wind, I  may once again have a winner.

That Rab jacket looks *nice*, Ian.

All the best,

Dan.

[DAntrim]

I just take a lightweight fleece in the saddlebag,  although not rain proof for quick stop works fine in light rain and keeps me warm, similar to
http://www.sportsdirect.com/karrimor-fleece-jacket-mens-443519?colcode=44351916

[rualexander]

Rab and similar down stuff is expensive but probably worth it if you can pick it up in a sale, as it lasts forever. I have a Rab down jacket which is now 22 years old and still performs the job of lightweight warmth to stuff in the panniers.
I've been thinking about a microlight down jacket for a couple of years but haven't been able to persuade myself to spend the money yet given that I already have the old one!

However, last winter I grabbed one of these Craghoppers synthetic insulated jackets at Go Outdoors http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/craghoppers-compresslite-packaway-mens-jacket-p289401 and it is a good jacket for the price and comes with a stuffsack. Not as warm as my old down jacket but may or may not be as warm as the microlight down jackets.

Here I am wearing the Craghoppers jacket in Dryfehead bothy in March this year,

[mickeg]

For over a decade I have used a TNF Nuptse down jacket for camping trips where I want to be prepared for it to go below freezing to wear in the campsite.

For trips where I do not think it will get that cold, I often take a down vest instead, very nice in the campsite.  I wore such a vest quite often on my last trip in the morning while heating up my coffee water, it was often about 5 to 8 C in the mornings on that trip.  The vest is bright yellow, I have on occasion wore that on the bike when I need that extra bit of warmth for the first part of a ride.

And a warm stocking cap.

When it is not quite that cold I often use a bright orange polortec vest under a windbreaker or by itself on the bike.

[jags]

to small and fat to ware a down jacket I'd look like a feckin spud if i was to  ware one.
a good quality newspaper up the jersey  and a good fleece will do the job as good ask any homeless person.

jags.

[richie thornger]

OK don't laugh hear me out. I found a new one on ebay before I left on my last trip for £60.
Only thing was it was made my Bear Grylls and was branded across the chest which I found a bit embarrassing.

It wasn't an ultra small packable one because I took it to use as my pillow.
I made a custom sized pillow case for it so I could squash it up to my preferred size.

Was working perfectly, kept me warm in the mountains at 4600m in Pakistan but unfortunately I lost it on my very first night out on the beer in India

I noticed I could find that sort of thing - jacket/sleeping bag etc be it an Original or Fake in places that got cold no problem ie Iran/Pakistan/Himalayas
but I found it very difficult to find quality walking boots.

[in4]

A review of three jackets here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activityandadventure/action-packed/10689386/The-best-lightweight-warm-jackets-Action-Packed.html

The Columbia is favoured by the reviewer.

[6527richardm]

I have used both down and synthetic jackets and for keeping in a bag and putting on to keep warm i would recommend the RAB Generator it was discontinued this year s it currently on offer at http://www.climbers-shop.com/10900842/products/rab_generator_jacket.aspx the main advantage is that it will still keep you warm if it gets wet and also dries out a lot quicker than down.

[in4]

http://www.tog24.com/vidar-tech-mens-down-jacket-storm.html

Quite by chance I bought one of these today. I've done a lot of reading around this subject so had a pretty good idea what I wanted.

I was looking at a similar product by Uniqlo only yesterday.

Aaaaanyway. Have a look at the spec, I think it stacks up well and for £40.00 I think its good value.
In an ideal world I'd want a higher fill power although 90% down is good enough. I'd want offset stitching and slant wall baffling. I'd expect to pay closer to £200 for that.

Its stowable, whatever that means and the lady in the store thought it could be stuffed into one of its own pockets. I'm not so sure about that but I have stuff sacs a-plenty anyway. Apparently its machine washable too but I feel very uneasy about that, even at low temps etc.

I bought mine from Cheshire Oaks outlet store. I think there are similar outlets throughout the UK. McArthur Glen is the collective name for these places I think.

Next time its Nomad's day out. Yours truly will stop at the cake and coffee shop put my jacket on and try not to look as smug as Mrs Doyle from Father Ted would! Go on! Go on! Go on!

[richie thornger]

That looks like it will do for me. How do the sizes come out?
What's yours and is what you expected size wise?

[AndyE]

I have a Rab microlight without the hood in apple, did want it in the black but at a sub £100 February last year I was not going to argue. Don't remember where from just did a Google search.  Have a look at this from Webtogs not a cheap item by any means but superbly warm for it weight. Have a good google about you may well be surprised at what you can find. if it is not urgent a little patients may well save you a bob or two.

Andy

[in4]

I chose a large size and it fits me fine, I'm around 42 chest medium build. Arm length is spot on too. The collar sits just nicely on my chin ( one of! ) Draw string adjusters at the bottom. Mine was last years model hence the price. Bit like meself really!  

[rualexander]

RoseBikes are selling off a Primaloft insulated jacket at the moment at half price, i.e. £38.45 plus p&p.
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/rose-isolation-jacket/aid:685944

[richie thornger]

Shame about the £7.60 pnp charge.
I contacted the Bridgend Glen Mcarthur and they were sold out of the other one.

I'm off to my local Trespass and see what they have if nothing I think I'll go for the Rosebikes one. Only in Light Blue if your not XXXL

Cheers for that info