Going Light with Mont Bell
Nov 13, 2008 · 01:14 AM · permalink
After three seasons skiing the same basic gear, I've decided this is the year to change it up. I've been wearing a TNF 3-in-1 HyVent jacket and pants which, while durable, warm, reasonably well-made, and pretty inexpensive, don't breathe, don't fit especially well, and weigh a lot.
So I'll be checking out a lot of different pieces trying to hone the choices down to a high performance kit that'll serve me for many seasons to come. My criteria are:
- Light, fast, and efficient
- Comfortable: easy to move in and warm but breathable
- Easy to change up in variable conditions
- Comfortable under a pack when going backcountry, but with enough pockets and storage to carry food and extras for a full day.
- Good visibility
The first item I've been checking out is a light insulating down jacket--the U.L. Down Inner Jacket--from Mont Bell. I like Mont Bell's minimalist esthetic, focus on essentials, high quality construction, and light weight. Almost all their jackets are design to be packed into a stuff sack (which they provide), which means that this Mont Bell insulator can be carried with you without adding much bulk.
The jacket is incredibly light and warm--a mere 6.9 oz, but under a shell it gets hot fast. Although it's fitted, it's also very comfortable. The super-thin nylon skin is oddly crinkly yet soft to the touch, and the jacket doesn't bind or grab in the least. It slides nicely under a shell, stays put, and provides lots of warmth without making you feel like a kielbasa. It's also rather sharp looking for a "puffer" with a simple, trim profile and tidy 15 denier nylon fabric. I bought a dark brown version and I think it will be a nice après ski alternative to a sweater.
One shortcoming I've noticed is that without elastic around the bottom, it can be drafty by itself. But this jacket was designed as a mid-layer, so I guess that was not a design objective. I've also detected a slight tendency toward clamminess, so I'll be on the lookout for breathability problems.
Mont Bell clothes are tagged with Japanese and and Euro/USA sizes (Japanese medium = Euro/USA small). So their clothes tend to run small which is great for me but might be a problem for larger folks. Note, however, they've introduced Euro/USA-only sizing in some models, so you have to be vigilant when picking a size. Assuming you get the right size, you should still expect Mont Bell clothes to be fitted--so go up another size if you like things loose.
| Specs: Mont Bell Men's U.L. Down Inner Jacket | |
| Price as tested | $145.00 |
| Shell | 15-denier Ballistic Airlight hollow fiber calendered nylon shell |
| Fill | High quality 800 fill power hypoallergenic goose down Label reads "90% goose down, 10% goose feather" |
| Weight (size med) | 6.9 oz 195.6 gm (mine weighed out at 193 gm) |
| Compressed Size | 4.0" diameter x 6.7" long 10.2 cm diameter X 17 cm long |
| Sizes | S, M, L, XL, XXL |
| Colors | Charcoal Black, Chestnut, Gunmetal, Olive Green, Paprika, Royal Blue |
| Features |
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