UKC

Doing a Alpine Intro Course and Mont Blanc Extension in september and wondering would i need a down jacket and if so any advise on the most suitable .

In reply to wiggi: Depends on the weather. it can get really hot on the glaciers in the sun but frighteningly cold when the weather gets bad but I'd assume if it was really bad you'd not be out in it. Sorry, I didn't answer your question but it's hard to say anything other than I'd rather take one and not need it than need one and not have it!

In reply to wiggi:

I like the look of the Mountain Hard Wear jackets that appear at the top of the page from time to time.

Available in a rainbow of colours.

Hi Highclimber
Any recommendations.

In reply to wiggi: Rab Neutrino.

In reply to wiggi:

A down jacket is a good investment and you'll be glad of it on your trip. The Rab one above looks good.

In reply to wiggi:
Rab neutrino endurance, best of both words

In reply to wiggi:

Well worth having, such a pleasure not to be cold! On the other hand avoid getting pissed when you're wearing it and falling onto a barbed wire fence as a mate of mine did staggering back from the pub in Glencoe

At least we could all see where he'd bin the next morning.

In reply to wiggi:

I have a Montane Prism 2.0, which isn't down, but it's cheap, light and warm. Also it's warm when wet. Which isn't the case with down.

You'll find that a lot of the time you're actually very warm. I find that I can get away with a baselayer and a softshell in the Alps. So if you do get a down jacket, make sure it's a light one.

Rab sell a lightweight alpine down jacket:

http://rab.uk.com/products/mens-clothing/down/microlight-jacket.html

Patagonia also sell a 'down sweater'

http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/mens-down-sweater-jacket?p=84673-0-984

However I'd strongly advise that you get a good softshell. If you don't have one then ArcTeryx sell a really good climbing shell. Very expensive, but highly rated. This would be the best thing really:

http://www.arcteryx.com/product.aspx?language=EN&gender=mens&catego...

In reply to wiggi:
Unlikely to need a down jacket, the course provider will let you know. Assuming you will also be using the jacket in the UK I would consider a Primaloft 1 jacket instead. For example ME Fitzroy