UKC

Hi folks,
no doubt been answered heaps of times, so apologies in advance.

Have scoured UKC and the net and they have all come up with different suggestions for use etc. I'm basically looking for a replacement for my down jacket.

Has to have a hood, be good enough for UK winter stuff and not ridiculously expensive.

I liked the Montane Flux and the MH Alcove jacket when I tried them on. Have had a North Face redpoint in the past but wasn't too happy with it.

Any words of wisdom from the UKC massive would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers, Den

In reply to Denni: ME Fitzroy works well for me, loads about to pick up bargains as well.
For proper snug down time though a Das Parka takes some beating.
the Climbers Shop in Ambleside had some great Arc'teryx Gamma (?)bargains recently as well.
Flux is good my other half uses one as a spare.
Mammut Stratus also a good call.

all depends on your budget and shape I guess!

Decisions decisions.

In reply to Denni: The Berghaus Combust is good if you want something giving similar warmth to a down jacket. It is a bit heavier than a lot of other synthetic fill jackets, but that's the price you pay for the warmth. It's also got a really good hood.

In reply to Denni: I'm flogging a as new ME fitzroy what size are you?

In reply to Denni: just got the rab photon belay jacket (its warm when you stationary)and bloody roasting when you mobile (hopefully what i need)colours will match your vw to

In reply to Denni:

I am a big fan of lighter jackets like the Mtn Hardware Compressor, Arcteryx Atom Hoody or the comparable Rab version but here are some comparisons.

http://coldthistle.blogspot.com/2010/02/belay-jacketsthe-heavy-weights.html

In reply to Dane1:
Interesting link - not sure i would agree with everything he says...to the OP - i guess, as always, it depends on your expected use: i prefer a belay jacket to make me feel warm & bombproof so unlike Dane1 i would trend towards a heavier weight - DAS parka (back in UK this winter), Wild Things (US only, i think - might only be doing military stuff at present) or maybe the new ME Citadel which feels very nice on & seems to have been well thought out. Maybe i'd be ok with a lighter belay jacket if my mates climbed quicker. Hmm...

lardbrain

In reply to Removed User:

I should have been more clear...I like the lighter weight jackets but I generally have two of them and layer as required.

Doesn't get much colder than the Canadian Rockies in winter and the two layers make a good climbing system there.

In reply to Dane1:

Cheers for all the replies folks, appreciate it as I know this is a common subject here on UKC.

Open to more suggestions and if people have any for sale, then let me know!

In reply to Dane1: Don't you have nice dry cold there though?

Wet Scottish cold seems colder. I'd go for something like the DAS (my preference) though I must say if it had a waterproof outer it would be perfect.

In reply to Siward:

I live and climb in the WA Cascades, wet and nasty here, same system.

In reply to Denni:


Flux is nice, but may be a bit lightly insulated as a replacement for a down jacket (unless your down jacket is ultra, ultra light). 60-80g Primaloft in the body.

In reply to Denni:
We've just got the Mountain Hardwear Gravitor Jacket in, it is new for this season and teams up a lightweight conduit shell (waterproof) with thermic micro insualtion, it is set to be a classic Scottish belay jacket.

http://www.theepicentre.co.uk/catalogue/mountain-hardwear/gravitor-jacket