Do I need a down jacket?

[Oregonhuntrboi]

Trying to figure out if I need to buy a down puffy or just change my ambient from the original to the 200 and layer that under my mountain evo for cold weather glassing sessions.

I typically hunt Oregon early season - Idaho late season for whitetail. I’m a pretty active hunter so my system is a merino Baselayer, SG cirque lite vest, + Sitka mountain evo. I was just putting on the ambient when sitting but it’s too cold. So I’m wondering if I should do the ambeint + puffy or ambient 200 plus Sitka mountain evo shell?

 

[Mukwa]

Puffy 100%. You have a great layering system started. Now you just need a true insulation layer for longer inactive sits to retain maximum body heat. The mountain evo isn’t a completely solid shell and the ambient is more active insulation than static insulation. Adding a puffy to your system will make it more versatile for you.

 

[rickjames80]

Agree 100%. A puffy is versatile and the weight penalty is so minimal for the benefit.

 

[oldskool67]

Yes

 

[DisplacedHusky]

Not sure how far back you get but’s it’s also a crucial emergency piece should you get into a jam and bad weather moves in.

 

[Maverick1]

You do not NEED it to hunt. It would be a nice insulating layer for the collection of clothing items you already own, providing warmth with a minimal weight penalty. Choose between down or synthetic.

 

[jazzturkey]

I would definitely recommend bringing a puffy along for glassing especially. I don't wear my down at all when I'm doing anything active but it's perfect for spending a lot of time sitting in one place.

 

[pawlyb]

Agree with the above commenter that at the very least, it could be crucial if you got stuck on the mountain.

 

[Nicaburns]

Puffy jacket and pants are near the top of the lightest comfort AND emergency gear you can carry. Pretty much only firestarter and a lighter beat them out.

 

[kpk]

I thought everybody had at least 3 puffy jackets

 

[Oregonhuntrboi]

Thanks for all the input, I’ll put it on my shortlist to get before next fall .

 

[Lil-Rokslider]

I thought everybody had at least 3 puffy jackets

Ya, I'm a puffy collector. I've never traveled anywhere outdoors without a puffy. Camping in late July, I bring a puffy.

 

[Oregonhuntrboi]

I’m gonna change direction on my own thread, as far as bottom layers are concerned. I’ll layer SG helio under my pants for late season but have found that’s it’s not nearly warm enough for sitting and glassing them it’s too hot for hiking. What’s your bottom layer setup typically? As of now I’m thinning I just need to pack grunman pants and ditch the mid layers.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I take a puffy to the NV desert in August always have one

 

[Nicaburns]

As of now I’m thinking I just need to pack grunman pants and ditch the mid layers.

^^ THIS^^ Black Ovis Anchor Point is also a reasonable choice.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I’m gonna change direction on my own thread, as far as bottom layers are concerned. I’ll layer SG helio under my pants for late season but have found that’s it’s not nearly warm enough for sitting and glassing them it’s too hot for hiking. What’s your bottom layer setup typically? As of now I’m thinning I just need to pack grunman pants and ditch the mid layers.

peloton 97 zip off bottoms and puffy pants will take you a long way in the mid/late season.

 

[Trails17]

Puffy is a life saver when glassing, love my kelvin lite.

 

[gclubb02]

To echo everyone else yes, as mentioned if not only just for comfort factor when glassing but also if you get hurt or something it could save your life. Not to mention weight to warmth ratio with a good puffy is better than just about anything else.

 

[TaperPin]

Like everything, just use the puffy in the right way - it can’t get wet in the field like fleece can, or it won’t dry out easily. Down also doesn’t like to be washed regularly or you’ll quickly loose the loft.

I don’t use down except in frozen conditions - in heavy sleet it is hard enough to keep everything dry with synthetics.

 

[Oregonhuntrboi]

thank you everybody for the good feedback. I think I’m settled on getting a SG grunman.