Best Puffy?

muleman

WKR
Joined
May 8, 2012
Messages
1,522
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Utah
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.
 
Joined
Feb 24, 2012
Messages
4,976
Location
Colorado
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)
 

Stid2677

WKR
Joined
Sep 13, 2012
Messages
2,346
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
 

topher89

WKR
Joined
Oct 27, 2012
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819
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Colorado
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

Super Moderator
Joined
Feb 24, 2012
Messages
115
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. ;)
 

boom

WKR
Joined
Sep 11, 2013
Messages
3,185
Do you need it camo? You would be surprised what you can find at a REI members sale.
 

Browtine

WKR
Joined
Oct 11, 2013
Messages
518
Location
Kansas
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

"DADDY"
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Messages
16,251
Location
Colorado Springs
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.
 
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