Best Puffy?

[ndbwhunter]

On a budget and need a good puffy. Kuiu would be ideal, but might not happen. Any thoughts or recommendations on brand, color, etc. from any of the non-camo manufacturers? There are a lot of good sales going on now, but I'm not sure what to look for in a puffy.

 

[jm1607]

The First Lite is the best puffy ever made IMO.. I wore it almost everyday to work last winter lol.. It is on sale every now and then for between $140-$180, I would just keep my eyes open

I'd also look at Mountain Hardwear and the Golite Bitterroot (alot of people on this forum like this one). I have a MH down vest and it is top notch, I'm in the market for a hooded Ghost Whisperer now.. I'm not in any hurry so I'm just waiting on a good sale.. Maybe black friday..

 

[muleman]

On a budget and need a good puffy. Kuiu would be ideal, but might not happen. Any thoughts or recommendations on brand, color, etc. from any of the non-camo manufacturers? There are a lot of good sales going on now, but I'm not sure what to look for in a puffy.

Best puffy for what? Here are a few questions to ask yourself. Do you want down or synthetic? What is the intended use, stationary, mobile, or both? How cold will it be when you intend to use it. How cold or warn does your body run? What type of fit do you need, loose or athletic. Do you want the puffy to be worn as an outer layer?

There are other deciding factors too. With a little more info from you, you can get better recommendations.

 

[drthornton]

I prefer a Puffy Vest to a Jacket. I do have a Cabela's brand Down jacket which I picked up dirt cheap a couple years ago which I like. I just never put it in my pack since I got the vest.

 

[ndbwhunter]

Best puffy for what? Here are a few questions to ask yourself. Do you want down or synthetic? What is the intended use, stationary, mobile, or both? How cold will it be when you intend to use it. How cold or warn does your body run? What type of fit do you need, loose or athletic. Do you want the puffy to be worn as an outer layer?

There are other deciding factors too. With a little more info from you you can better recommendations.

I was under the impression that all puffys were created equal

Will be used for early season elk hunting. I've always heard that down was better (warmth, weight, pack size), is that true? Will be used when stationary and mobile. I would like the Kuiu puffy to wear as an outer layer, but if my budget won't allow it, I'll have to go another route. Athletic fit would be best. As far as body temp is concerned, it takes an awful lot for me to get cold, so if it did get used it would be early morning and late evening.

 

[voidecho]

If you typically run hot, maybe consider getting the KUIU puffy vest instead of the jacket. It's lighter, packs down smaller into it's own pocket, and costs less than a full jacket.

Edit...just saw Thorton's post above recommending the same thing.

 

[Stid2677]

GoLite's Bitteroot treated down Jacket is a great deal for the price. They list for 199, but I got mine at Xmas for 139, one of the best puffys for the price. I have a collection of puffys and this jacket is amount the best of them. I got the grey. I have a few to compare.

 

[CoHiCntry]

Lot's of good ones out there... I have a OR Transcendant size large, black in good condition I'm looking to sell. Shoot me a PM if your interested and I can send pics. Won't be able to reply for a few day's though, heading out for some camping and elk scouting!

 

[fillthefreezer]

steve, how does the bitteroot compare in warmth to the kuiu? they are close in weight and packed size correct?

 

[muleman]

I was under the impression that all puffys were created equal

Will be used for early season elk hunting. I've always heard that down was better (warmth, weight, pack size), is that true? Will be used when stationary and mobile. I would like the Kuiu puffy to wear as an outer layer, but if my budget won't allow it, I'll have to go another route. Athletic fit would be best. As far as body temp is concerned, it takes an awful lot for me to get cold, so if it did get used it would be early morning and late evening.

Down is superior to synthetic in every way except when it is wet. When wet down doesn't insulate and takes forever to dry. The new water repellent treated down mitigates that problem. In initial testing repellent treated down looks to work well, but it is still a very young product. After another year or so we should know how well treated down stands up to real use and multiple wet-outs and washings.

As far as KUIU goes I have both a Spindriff and Super Down Hooded Jacket. Both items are on the athletic side of cut but not so bad that a chubby guy like me can't fit in them. I have used and abused the Spindriff for three years and it is a good early season puffy. It adds warmth but not overly warm. As it is synthetic I feel better using it as an outer layer than I would a down puffy. The SD jacket is new to me and I have no field time in it yet. When wearing it side by side with the Spindriff, it is significantly warmer than the Spindriff. I will be more careful using SD as an outer layer.

I also have a Cabelas down jacket and vest. Both are 650 fill down and were cheap. I have used and abused these for lots of years and they are very good for the $$$. They don't pack down as much as the higher fill downs but still very usable.

Several times I have tried on the GoLITE Bitteroot and the fit is on the athletic side of cut. My biggest concern with the Bitterroot is the material. It is very thin and I would worry about using it as an outer layer when hunting. Not to mention the shiny gray is the most hunting friendly color for the Bitterroot. For those that have used the Bitterroot in the field how does it hold up? Stid2677 how does the shell compare to the Spindriff and Super Down shells?

I have purchased my daughter the GoLITE Wenatchee Primaloft ONE jacket and it has been a great puffy. The outside has held up well to backpacking and daily use. I would say it is a good replacement option for the Spindriff.

Hope this helps.

 

[Stid2677]

The Go-Lite outer is Pertex and is surprising durable, the Bitteroot has more fill and is slightly warmer than the Kuiu Superdown, and is warmer and lighter than the Spindrift. The only thing I did not like was a lack of draw on the hood, the hood would block my vision, I sewed on a velcro strap to keep the hood out of my eyes and use the jacket often.

 

[muleman]

The Go-Lite outer is Pertex and is surprising durable, the Bitteroot has more fill and is slightly warmer than the Kuiu Superdown, and is warmer and lighter than the Spindrift. The only thing I did not like was a lack of draw on the hood, the hood would block my vision, I sewed on a velcro strap to keep the hood out of my eyes and use the jacket often.

Thanks Stid2677.

Yeah I love the adjustments of the hoods on KUIU jackets, some of the most technical hoods around. They've set the bar high for other hoods.

 

[ndbwhunter]

Thanks for all the information guys!

 

[ndbwhunter]

GoLite's Bitteroot treated down Jacket is a great deal for the price. They list for 199, but I got mine at Xmas for 139, one of the best puffys for the price. I have a collection of puffys and this jacket is amount the best of them. I got the grey. I have a few to compare.

I'll gladly take one of the KUIU off your hands

 

[topher89]

Personally I am not a Golite fan. I do not have the Bitterroot but I have a Demarree jacket.

It fits well and is a very warm jacket but it is just not durable enough for backpacking/hunting and off-trail travels. I have babied the jacket but still have had to put over 20 patches on it. A slight brush against a bush or tree equals a rip. Wearing it with a lumbar pack means rips where the straps are.

It is now my official "crap" jacket. I have given up on trying to keep it nice.... I will just keep throwing patches on it until the whole thing is covered. I even gave up buying black patches for it, now I buy whatever patches are cheapest. There are quite a few navy blue and yellow spots on it now

 

[Roy68]

I have owned or still own in the following order, the Kuiu spindrift & Superdown, First Lite Puffy, Golite Bitterroot. I owned both Kuiu's first, and they have both been sold mainly to fund the purchase of the next. I have only one full year in the First Lite (maybe 40 days in the field). I bought the Bitteroot in Black off e-bay (thanks to JM1607 again for pointing me at that one), and I have no field use on it yet. However, I'm highly optimistic about it. 2x the fill of Kuiu at the same weight.

As far as an outer layer puffy the First lite is the way to go imo. It isn't a carhart by any means but the First Lite is nail head tough. I felt that the Kuiu and even the Golite material is not as durable. I could be completely mistaken, but I would not wear the KUIU puffy as an outer layer. The Golite material seems to be equally light, but I have no field use with it yet. And I will second the fact that the Golite has no hood adjustment, and I will be modifying that issue.

The First Lite is my go to.

 

[Stid2677]

A couple random thought that are MY views alone,, Puffys by design are NOT a good outer layer choice, best used as an insulating layer when NOT moving.

I have the First Lite Uncompahgre,, great jacket and very durable, but the durability comes with a weight penalty, mine weighs almost twice the weight of my down puffy jackets.

 

[topher89]

A couple random thought that are MY views alone,, Puffys by design are NOT a good outer layer choice, best used as an insulating layer when NOT moving.

I have the First Lite Uncompahgre,, great jacket and very durable, but the durability comes with a weight penalty, mine weighs almost twice the weight of my down puffy jackets.

Agreed but my Golite is barely tough enough to be a mid layer. Most of the rips happened sitting and glassing. I don't brush bust in it or rock climb in it.

 

[Roy68]

2x Stid

You stated more clearly what I was trying to impress regarding the First Lite. Out of the puffys that I have had, the First Lite is the most durable. To me it is more of an outer jacket with all the puffy qualities except for the weight. I run a little cold and plan to run the GoLite under the First Lite it in late seasons through March especially predator hunting.

 

[GibsonKuenzi]

If your on a really tight budget and dont mind getting used, look around in cabelas bargain cave or GoodWill. I picked up an eddie bauer puffy down vest for $6.00 at goodwill thats in excellent shape. Its only 650 fill but it works great even during late season hunts. 650 fill is slightly heavier and slightly bulkier, but i have enough room in my pack that its worth the cost difference right now over an 850 fill jacket. For comparison my vest in its stuffed pocket (Not fully compressed) is about 7" long, 3" deep and 4" wide. A kuiu superdown vest is probably half that size and 3/4 the weight.