Best Puffy?

[muleman]

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

When I use mine as an outer layer, it is for around camp in the morning or evening or while glassing to take the chill off. I don't hike in it without a shell.

I worry about some of the ultralight materials being durable enough to handle leaning up against brush and rocks when glassing.

 

[justin davis]

I've got a couple that I like.

Western Mountaineering flash jacket (super light and very warm)

First lite uncompahdre (like the camo. Great jacket)


Kifaru (badass! Crazy warm and light. No longer made)

 

[ndbwhunter]

What are you guys wearing for shells over the down jackets?

 

[Carlin59]

If you are still considering a vest, Go-Lite has all of their vests 20% off currently:
http://www.golite.com/promotions.aspx
Some pretty good deals to be had, with both down and Primaloft options.

 

[muleman]

What are you guys wearing for shells over the down jackets?

Sometimes the guide jacket, but mostly the chugach jacket.

 

[ndbwhunter]

Sometimes the guide jacket, but mostly the chugach jacket.

That's the answer I was hoping for. I'll save a little money on the down and get the chugach for the outer shell.

 

[topher89]

Montbell also makes great down jackets but the colors are not very hunting oriented.

 

[Stid2677]

I've come to Luke's way of NOT using my Soft shell on long range hunts. I just use puffy over baselayer, and when needed my Rain Jacket as I would my Soft shell. I added a hooded wind shirt 4 ozs to use while moving. My Patagonia Houdini 4OZs works nice as my only upper layer when moving as I sweat no matter what and get my shirt wet, this way I dry off after moving and shake the sweat from the Houdini and it dries in minutes as it soaks up no moisture and only gets surface wet. It also makes a good layer over the puffy.

A soft shell is not the best insulator or rain jacket so other than pockets I can do better and lighter with other layers I already have with me. YMMV


Steve

 

[BroodBuster]

I've been real happy with my black Marmot puffy vest.

 

[muleman]

I've come to Luke's way of NOT using my Soft shell on long range hunts. I just use puffy over baselayer, and when needed my Rain Jacket as I would my Soft shell.

My thoughts now too.

 

[MountainTracker]

I have a Sierra Design dri down jacket. The thing keeps me super warm.

 

[topher89]

I've come to Luke's way of NOT using my Soft shell on long range hunts. I just use puffy over baselayer, and when needed my Rain Jacket as I would my Soft shell. I added a hooded wind shirt 4 ozs to use while moving. My Patagonia Houdini 4OZs works nice as my only upper layer when moving as I sweat no matter what and get my shirt wet, this way I dry off after moving and shake the sweat from the Houdini and it dries in minutes as it soaks up no moisture and only gets surface wet. It also makes a good layer over the puffy.

A soft shell is not the best insulator or rain jacket so other than pockets I can do better and lighter with other layers I already have with me. YMMV


Steve

Agreed. I used to have a closet full of softshells but they are all gone now. Softshells are supposed to be a mix of a hardshell and an insulating layer. They do not do either task particularly well for hiking/hunting. Down/synthetic is a great insulator and a hardshell keeps you dry.

 

[luke moffat]

I really like my GoLite puffys but I have only owned the 2012 and 2013 bitterroot lines from both Men and Womens. I only use them when sitting and glassing or chilling in the tent and not moving. Have yet to tear any holes in either my wife's ro mine doing such activities so I guess I am lucky in that regard. I never use my puffy layers as a outer layer while hiking. Being mostly stationary with my puffys I have yet to tear any holes in the GoLites in 2 years of pretty solid use, but use that doesn't include hiking in them as I am plenty warm hiking in just my base layers and rain jacket down below freezing.


All that said I do like soft shells.... but only in the winter when the fact that they are far from waterproof isn't a concern as everything from the sky in way of precipitation comes in the form of snow and easily brushed away.

 

[BlackWidowTackle]

I have a Sherpa gear 900 that I love but still prefer a good synthetic jacket.

 

[boom]

Do you need it camo? You would be surprised what you can find at a REI members sale.

 

[Browtine]

Montbell also makes great down jackets but the colors are not very hunting oriented.

+1 on Montbell making great puffys. I have their Thermawrap (very light @ 8ozs and great for early season), and their Alpine Light (crazy warm at 13ozs). They currently have a hunter green which is a good color.

I also love my FL Uncompahgre, but it does come with a weight penalty at almost 20ozs.

 

[5MilesBack]

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.

My thought to a "T". I sold my Uncompahgre as it wasn't all that warm, was heavier than my down puffy's, and not really unlike most of my other "jackets". I love the lightweight, compressibility, and warmth of down. I don't worry about how durable the outer layer is, because I only use them when stationary. If I'm moving, I don't need a puffy. I have the KUIU and the 800-fill down jacket from Costco I got last year for $30 which was a steal.