Down Jackets vs. Shells

[oragejuice]

I'm a huge fan of shell jackets. I think that insluated jackets are ridiculous, unless they are superlight, huge down ones. I've skiied an Arcteryx Beta shell, and I currently wear a Helly Hansen Packable shell. I find these to be more comfortable than insluated North Face or other jackets.

Examples...
Shell - Not necessarily a "ski" jacket. Arcteryx Beta AR
Insulated ski shell- North Face Varius Guide Jacket, Columbia Bugaboo
Down jacket- Oakley Finished Puzzle Jacket, Patagonia Rubicon Rider Insulated Jacket

My question is this, who skis in a down jacket? I'm looking at getting one for super cold days, but I'm not sure that I want to wear that much.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Not me, and I ski at one of the colder places (never to be outdone by anything in Canada, however!). I wear a lightly insulated jacket with a lot of good waterproof/windproof characteristics (DNA). What generally varies, for me, is what goes beneath. On the truly wretched/cold days, wind-block fleece jacket, hot chilly zip t-neck.

I had a Columbia Bugaboo years ago, and it didn't breathe very well. Would rather not have a "system" jacket - I can do this on my own. I'm sure lots of divas wear down layers. (I wear a down vest in my VERY cold house all winter.) It just doesn't work for me, I work up a sweat even when it's below zero, if I'm skiing hard enough - fleece does a better job.

 

[mollmeister]

I never ski in my down jacket. I love it too much (it's a brown Moonstone) and it has started leaking fluff.

However, I have gotten VERY into Cloudveil's lightly insulated Zero-G and Spacewalk series. They aren't bulky at all, they have the stretch and smooth face of softshell, and they have enough insulation that I can cut back on a layer or two (and avoid feeling like those kids in "A Christmas Story," unable to move their stuck-out-straight arms, prisoners to their layers).

https://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/s...ch_freetext=Cloudveil Womens Jackets Clothing

 

[oragejuice]

Mmmm, I love Cloudveil. Thank you ladies!

 

[SkiNurse]

I'm a jacket whore and am constantly in the process of finding the prefect jacket. Since we are talking skiing, I'm going to stay on subject and ONLY talk about th jackets I wear skiing)

I love my soft shells (Marmot StormQueen, MH synchro, Arc'teryx Gamma SV). The Marmot has all the bells and whistles (powder skirt, removable hood, pass attachment, key ring, water bladder resevoir, core vents, two inside pockets, two hand warmerpockets, a napolean pocket & a sleeve pocket) The synchro only has two hand and one inner pocket and the Arc only has two outer pockets. I primarily wear the Marmot. When the wind picks up in Colorado and the temp are already in the single digits, there is NO staying warm in a soft shell as far as I'm concerned. BTW, my first softshell is the REI One (the first year they came out).

I have some hard shells that I use for different layering depending on temps & wind. I do not like to wear a hard shell over the soft shells. I start to feel like the stay puff marshmellow man! Those are the Cloudveil Koven & the MH GTX. More pockets/bells & whistles on the MH than the Cloudveil, but the Cloudveil is "lighter" (Event is their waterpoof/breathable material).

So, I have been wearing on those days where the starting temps are single digits to teens and the winds are blowing >45mph, the Arc'teryx Fission AR. VERY warm, but only two hand pockets and a hood. Don't find it very practicle for skiing. No room for my camera AND GPS!!! The jacket I have wanted SO bad was the Fission SV. But, SAC would not put up my size and there is no way I'm paying full price.

After much research, I finally purchased the MH Downhill Parka. Again, all the bells/whistles and pockets that I could want. Picked it up on Altrec for a VERY good price. Of course, we are no longer having that brutal weather so I have NOT yet worn it skiing. The fit is athletic, but not form fitting. I could easily wear my "normal" layers plus under it. Does not feel tight or restrictive at all. Very light in weight. I'm really looking forward to wearing this and being warm on those frigid days!
Here is the description from Altrec:

Mountain Hardwear: Women's Downhill Parka - Made for powder hounds: soft, supple and very touchable, the Downhill is packed with snowsport features. 650-fill down with Conduit® keep you warm and dry on cold dawn patrols.

650-fill down insulated
Articulated sleeves
Chest pocket with water-resistant zip
Double flap, front zip
Drop-down season pass holder on hem
Extra beefy, laminated brim
Fleece lined hand pockets with water-resistant zips
Interior mesh glove and goggle pocket
Interior MP3 pocket with earpiece cord exit
Interior water bottle pocket
Laminated cuff tabs with Velcro? closure
Lift Ticket ring on hem
Micro-chamois lined collar and chin guard
One handed hood, waist and hem drawcords
Removable, adjustable, stretch powder skirt
Superlight Pit Zips are welded and water-resistant
Welded pocket construction
Zip off, Ergo hood with laminated brim
Zip sleeve pocket
Weight: 35 oz. / 1110 grams

 

[Pequenita]

I've skied in an EMS down jacket (that I got on sale for $50!) under a Marmot PreCip II wind/waterproof jacket. When I wear the down jacket, the only layers I have on underneath are a tank and long-sleeve polypro shirt. I feel like all the days that I've worn it -- except one -- I wasn't overheated, or that there was enough down time on the lift or otherwise that I needed it.

Down side: feathers have been coming out of the jacket since the third day I wore it.

 

[Native Vail Gal]

I'm a system gal on the cold days and a shell gal in the spring!

 

[altagirl]

I only use non-insulated shell jackets, but on the coldest days I wear a down jacket under my shell. Yes - it's super warm, but when it's windy and well below zero, I like it. I'm also one that gets cold easily though - my husband swears he would literally sweat to death wearing what I do...

 

[Gloria]

Down feather help

Down jackets will always loose some feathers. One thing to do is when you see a feather poking out of the jacket, pull it back in from the opposite side. If you pull it out of the jacket, it creates a larger hole for more to escape from. Kind of a pain, I have a friend who is always reaching inside mine to pull the feathers back in, you'd think we were on a Diva's gone wild tour or something.

As for skiing in down, I reserve it for the coldest of days. I find it too warm, and end up chilled at the end of the day after I "glisten" in it. I tend to warm up easier and quicker than most people though, so as an isulating layer, not a bad choice for those whom don't. It compresses nicely too so it's more comfortable than fleece etc as a layer and easier to pack.

I for years was a shell only gal, but now that our skiing has been more area reserved due to children these days, I got my first insulated jacket in 20 years. I love it. It's basically an alpine shell
with some high-tec compressible insulation. You'd never know by looking at it that it wasn't a shell. It looks nothing like the old FERA and SunIce jackets of the past. Nor is it near as bulky. It has been liberating, I wear it over an R1 regulator or a really thin wool layer when it is warmer out. I love not having to wear 16 pieces of clothing just to go ski at the hill and be comfortable and having less stuff to pack or forget, so nice.

Is the Mountain hardwear a shell with a down insulating layer? Patagonia makes one in mens and next year in womens that is their primo shell with a down sweater built in. Super nice I would think for alot of people, too warm for me, but I am sure someone here would love it!

 

[Little Lightning]

More sources for Cloudveil and other ski wear.

https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3759

I just ordered the Cloudveil Zero G jacket from www.explore64.com for $156.00. Almost 50% off. It was listed for 45% off but I talked to a gearhead and got another 5% off the mark down price.

Cloudeveil.com has 40% off but there is a charge for shipping.

 

[jaydog]

mmmm, jacket quiver

I have a Cloudveil Koven shell that's great for our wet PNW conditions. But I get cold fairly easily, so even with a nice thick mid-layer, it's often not warm enough. I also have a MH Mystic jacket with all the bells and whistles, but it's quite bulky to ski in. So I invested in the slightly-insulated Isis Serena (50% off from the Isis website) that's warm but not too bulky. I got an REI Radiance down jacket for super-cheap at the scratch'n'dent sale (nearly invisible stain) but haven't had a cold (and dry) enough day to use it. I just got the Spacewalk on clearance, but haven't tried that one yet either. Also in the jacket quiver are two softshells that I don't generally use for skiing. Though I could use the MH Soft Ride for warm spring days. Oh yeah, I have an Isis Comet jacket for X-C skiing- lighter than a softshell, but just as breathable and water-resistant. Does that count too?

 

[Shellski]

I wear my insulated jacket more than anything else. Even in Australia. I feel the cold more than a lot of people, and to be honest, 'layering' is a pain to me. I like the freedom of movement of wearing minimal layers, and being able to just take off one jacket in the lodge/bathroom instead of stripping off 3-4 layers to be comfortable inside in the heating.

 

[pinto]

I have the Patagonia Puff Rider (I think this year it's called the Rubicon Rider), for the cold days. I like it a lot ... it's not too bulky, but it's warm enough even without a ton of layering.

I have never skied in down. Well, I think I had a down ski coat maaannnny years ago. But my shells are too closely cut to fit down underneath. That's why I bought the Patagonia. (I did a naughty thing, buying a fleece on SAC for super cheap ... it didn't fit, so I took it to the Patagonia store to see if they'd give me credit. They did! So the ski coat was very much "on sale.")

 

[vanhoskier]

I just ordered an Oakley jacket with a down liner. The liner is 200 fill, so it's not thick. I do a lot of skiing at night on my home hill, so it will come in handy on those colder nights. I am anxious to see how it works, but that won't be till next season as ours is over now.:Cry:

 

[Bing]

I ski in a non-down insulated Karbon Jacket in -25 (c) + windchill and I"m comfortable. Best thing is that it has detachable sleeves for warmer spring days.