Tell me why you love santa

[Wolf_Larson]

I love santa because............

http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/haglofs-mens-thule-fleece-hood-15220543

Thanks Santa ;-)

[Wolf_Larson]

http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.detail/code/17210255

[RedLeader]

£130 for a fleece. Did you win the lottery or something

[Wolf_Larson]

I wish RedLeader, my mum and GF are getting me this between them. I would never pay for that out of my own pocket, I don't have any fleeces. I only have a jack wolfskin water proof coat, so need to work on layers for the winter mate.

[RedLeader]

For £130 I'd be expecting between 4 and 8 fleeces
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/mountain-hardwear-mens-microchill-zip-top-15210198?id_colour=108

I wish RedLeader, my mum and GF are getting me this between them. I would never pay for that out of my own pocket, I don't have any fleeces. I only have a jack wolfskin water proof coat, so need to work on layers for the winter mate.

[Wolf_Larson]

Thats more like what i look out for ;-)

Ill have to get a couple of them myself, great info mate.

[RedLeader]

Mountain Hardware do a good fleece. Plus Cotswolds always have a rack with half price fleeces but the brands change from month to month so sometimes they're a real bargain and sometimes not so much. That said, the Haglofs fleece would probably be warmer.

Thats more like what i look out for ;-)

Ill have to get a couple of them myself, great info mate.

[Wolf_Larson]

Yeh warmer and double the weight. Because im going to layer for xmas camp and only have a jack wolfskin thin coat ill need a real warm fleece to help me stay warm. Ill let the mum and GF get Haglof and get one of the other fleece myself ;-)

[RedLeader]

If it's super toastyness you're after, for £130 or so you should look at a down jacket. They're as warm as it gets.

Yeh warmer and double the weight. Because im going to layer for xmas camp and only have a jack wolfskin thin coat ill need a real warm fleece to help me stay warm. Ill let the mum and GF get Haglof and get one of the other fleece myself ;-)

[Wolf_Larson]

I've never had a down jacket, i'm always put of by the weight, incase it gets wet, and incase a spark from the fire hits it. My jack wolfskin coat was only £60 so if it gets beat up i can always get another cheap wind water poof coat. But like i say i have no clue about down stuff 

[Wolf_Larson]

What sort of jacket is that TyoOn ?

[RedLeader]

Totally fair point. Down jackets are expensive and no use when wet. If I was hiking for a few days I'd be concerned but for a night around the fire I'm not so bothered. I just make sure and keep a jacket on over the top so if there's going to be a spark burn hole or accidental tear it's more lilkely to be the cheaper jacket than the down one For your £130 you could get a down jacket and fleece if they were both on offer. Also, some people like down vests, they're much lighter buyt obviously have no arms.

Here's a good quality Rab down Vest for £120 that only weighs 350g
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/rab-mens-neutrino-gilet-1B210036?id_colour=124

Or Berghaus @ £70 weighing 530g.
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/berghaus-mens-manaslu-vest-1B210038?id_colour=123

This is a full size Berghaus Manaslu for £80 but weighs a more at 750g
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/berghaus-mens-manaslu-ii-jacket-1B110260?id_colour=124

I did have a Berghhaus Down Vest but I didn't like it being armless. I swapped it for the Rab Infinity which is on offer in Cotswolds @ £120 and only weighs 460g. However, it's made of really light fabric which would definitely burn or tear more easily but it's scary warm so I'm willing to take the chance.
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/index.cfm/product/rab-mens-infinity-jacket/fuseaction/products.detail/code/1B110304/id_colour/91/group/908/level/3

I'd still think that a decent cheap fleece and down vest would keep you warmer than a really expensive fleece but in fairness everyone's different.

(It's worth noting I didn't check the down fill of any of the links above - the more down fill the warmer but heavier!)

I've never had a down jacket, i'm always put of by the weight, incase it gets wet, and incase a spark from the fire hits it. My jack wolfskin coat was only £60 so if it gets beat up i can always get another cheap wind water poof coat. But like i say i have no clue about down stuff 

[Wolf_Larson]

Is there any down jacket that can take some abuse, as i'm not one to keep my hands clean ;-)  if you know what i mean.

[RedLeader]

Yep. Different jackets are made of different material, some more hardy than others. The Rab Infinity for instance comes in an Endurance version which is the same except has a much heavier fabric capable of withstanding much more abuse but with a weight penalty. I was willing to take the risk on the lightweight version because the warmth/weight tradeoff seemed worth it.

Take a bounce into Cotswolds, the chaps there really know their stuff and they'll be able to show you all the differences plus you can throw the jacket on and have a feel and a strut around, makes all the difference!

That said, I've had the Rab Infinity out a few times in the rain for single overnighters and with a waterproof jacket over the top it's always been fine both staying mostly dry and avoiding any fire or ripping accidents (fingers crossed!). The one downside is the hood gets in the way if you don't want it up plus tends to poke out from under the hood of the waterproof overjacket. next one I buy wont have a hood! Though if I remember correctly it was on offer, they're scary expensive at full price.

Is there any down jacket that can take some abuse, as i'm not one to keep my hands clean ;-)  if you know what i mean.

[Wolf_Larson]

Sweet, great info as always. have to up some cash again. I took a hit in the pocket with the Hilleberg ETC.......

But its worth it