Patagonia or Marmot?
or another....?

by Eddie Bauer?? It looks good....

No hood: Patagonia special edition

Hood: Brooks Range Alpini

The First Ascent jacket is very nice. I have one and like it, but if paying full price I'd also look at Rab (Microlight) and Western Mountaineering.

Starting Friday the Marmot Zeus will be on slae at REI for $119. Retail is $165. At 13 ounces it's a couple onces heavier then some of the down sweaters but the price seems right. The reviews seem to be decent also.

Patagonia is expensive because they can be. They are after all, one of the first to market this item. Great jacket but after some shopping around & research (I work in a gear shop), I went with an OR (Outdoor Research) Down Sweater. Saved myself $45 from the Patagonia.
That Brooks Range Down Jacket is a killer piece too.

Don't pay attention so much as to the brand but look at the fill weight and ratio.
Unless you're talking about comparing First Ascent to Feathered Friends or Marmot to Mont Bell, it's almost like saying Gala Apples are better than Red Delicious. I'm a big fan of Mountain Hardwear stuff b/c it tends to fit me good. But in this case, the OR Jacket was the better buy for the construction/material.
I can't say too much about the First Ascent stuff. I'm not too familiar with them but overall, I've heard a lot of good things.
Don't pigeon-hole yourself just b/c you like one particular brand.

Patagonia. Just because I like their quality, their fit and their corporate ethics. And because I know that years down the road they'll be still around and will stand by their product.

first ascent or montbell ... or whatever 800 fill jacket you get on sale

patagucci aint really worth it these days unless you find a sale ... dead duck is dead duck

wait for the xmas and after xmas sales ... FA were going on clearence for like $80 after last xmas

or you could waste 275$ on a patagucci special edition down sweater than wont keep you any warmer

FA Downlight jackets are going for $99 new on Ebay with free shipping and no tax.

Or... not sure what your size is, but here's a shamless promotion for my auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mountain-Hardwear-N ... 4cf32aef29

stoic luft.

Vitaliy M wrote:yea, don't pay full price..I got my FA down sweater for something ridiculous like 30$ on their blowout sale

Me too. It's cut a bit funny, so not my fav. but for $39 it was a steal. It's pretty warm. It does not have chest pocket, that bugs me, but did I mention I only paid $39

bearbreeder wrote:or you could waste 275$ on a patagucci special edition down sweater than wont keep you any warmer

But you'll save 3oz!

oh and just to add make sure you buy 800 fill

650 and below ... and you might as well get primaloft one ... which will dry quicker anyways

bird wrote:for $39 it was a steal.

It does not have chest pocket, that bugs me, but did I mention I only paid $39

Dude, you're making me feel like a chump for getting mine for $69!

(And I thought $100 off list was a such great deal at the time...)

Alpinisto wrote:

bird wrote:for $39 it was a steal.

It does not have chest pocket, that bugs me, but did I mention I only paid $39

Dude, you're making me feel like a chump for getting mine for $69!

(And I thought $100 off list was a such great deal at the time...)

There's one born every minute..