REI Co-op—the home model for outside retailer REI—constantly strikes a formidable steadiness between high quality and value. The most recent instance is the 650 Down Jacket, which is light-weight, product of recycled supplies, and heat.
The earlier model of this jacket is the 650 Down Jacket 2.0, so whereas that technically makes the present model 3.0, it is now simply referred to as the 650 Down Jacket. REI made a number of good adjustments, like including a drawstring hem twine to cinch the waist and forestall warmth loss on the backside of the jacket. The excellent news? It stays top-of-the-line puffy jackets you should buy.
Model 3.0
Probably the most noticeable change is the transfer from a sq. grid sample to horizontal tubes. It is nonetheless a stitch-through sample, which is not as heat (or costly) as baffled field development, however that is to be anticipated on a jacket at this value. The vertical stitching within the outdated mannequin saved the down from shifting internally and creating chilly spots. If it does shift throughout put on with the brand new development, you possibly can knead it again into place.
{Photograph}: REI
The graceful nylon taffeta materials has been swapped for Bluesign-approved ripstop nylon. Ripstop nylon has a gridlike construction that stops holes and tears from rising bigger. That is an excellent transfer on REI’s half, because it improves sturdiness with out including important weight. You’d assume outside clothes can be robust and sturdy, however plenty of technical outside clothes are pretty fragile. To save lots of weight and room in a pack, down jackets usually sacrifice sturdiness. Rugged clothes from manufacturers like Filson or Carharrt, against this, have a tendency to make use of heavier supplies.
The one draw back is that this jacket prices $30 greater than the outdated one. That stated, at $129 the 650 Down Jacket stays the very best deal in down jackets as we speak. The worth of goose down has risen in recent times, attributable to elevated demand, and even discount jackets are likely to value extra.
The Down-Low
The 650 Down Jacket has a 650 fill energy. Fill energy is a approach to measure and examine the warmth-to-weight ratio of goose down supplies (we’ve got a broader explainer about fill energy right here). The 650 ranking is typical for a jacket at this value.
In comparison with artificial puffy jackets, goose down has a number of benefits and a few disadvantages. Ounce for ounce, goose down is hotter. You possibly can compact it and crush it right into a smaller area, which is nice for backpacking and touring. The primary draw back is that goose down does not insulate you to maintain you heat when it is moist, and it takes longer to dry out than artificial insulation. Lastly, some folks keep away from animal merchandise, which incorporates goose down.
Like digital cameras and their megapixels, it is best to not get caught up in fill energy numbers except you will have particular wants. Anybody searching for absolutely the warmest-per-ounce down jacket for a mountain climbing or climbing journey can discover loads of 800- to 900-fill jackets on the market, like REI Co-op’s personal Magma 850 Hoodie ($249), however they are not low cost.