I’m looking at replacing my Halo jacket, which had all 3 zippers busted.
I’m very tempted to go the waterproof + down version, either the otira or phoenix, which are “discounted” from 700/600 down to 450/350 respectively.
Is it worth getting those jackets at those prices, are they overkill in terms of warmth?
For the pricing, is it worth looking at other brands?
Key thing for me is insulation and waterproof.
Wondering what other Ozbargainers think.
Thanks
macpac probably yes,
kathman, nahh (unless as above said)
The North Face if you’re willing to spend those prices.
We have a myriad of TNF vests and jackets (down/3in1/windproof/gortex/waterproof/etc) between myself, hubby and kid. Quality is great and they last a very long time if you look after them. We even have a few pieces over 15 years old that are still going strong.
Btw we’re in Melbourne and the jackets are not an over kill in terms of warmth.
Agreed. For that price, get a North Face Thermoball. They are supremely light and thin relative to the others and can withstand Siberian winters (I have tested it myself in -27C)
i have a 550 THF jacket, its all i wear when I'm cold in winter
No t shirt or pants even? J/k
But seriously, I assume you mean just a t shirt underneath, that’s it?
Also THF = TNF?
yeah sorry TNF, i have a shirt under it and pants
I'd take a look at Patagonia too. Quality stuff in my experience and there's the whole thing about them spending/donating all their profits on climate action if I recall correctly
Only if OP already has RM Williams boots
Good one, definitely not getting Kathmandu, I only included it as I thought it was within the price point, but I guess it’s really not even on par with macpac from reviews here.
I have some Patagonia gear (backpacks), can concur they are well made and highly functional.
Surely Canada Goose is where you wanna put your hard earned 🤣
At around half price Kathmandu is not bad for jackets. I don’t consider them top end though, and sick of seeing the same jacket on everyone else in this wide brown land.
They do the job, but next time I buy a puffer I’d look more widely.
FWIW my wife bought a really nice jacket with a wool lining from Icebreaker a few months ago….
What's that one the kids all wear today, Northface?
The 1990s is calling…
You mean Nike Tech Fleece?
Ugly jackets, ugly website. That mega menu is a mess. It looks like the control panel on the space shuttle it has so many buttons on it.
I buy instore.
I've been to a Best and Less, the cashier's are ugly too.
My friend who used to work for the Antartic division rates TNF > Macpac > Kathmandu for quality and warmness. I tend to trust the man.
'it depends'
TNF still makes incredible kick-ass mountaineering/artic gear and they also make cheap but still warm crap for wearing on the street. But yeah, I've never seen anything in a Kathmandu store that I'd trust on a high mountain.
Thing is though, no serious winter gear is really needed anywhere in Oz so answer to the OP is that 'it does not really matter.' Any more serious brands are going to blow past the price range (Feathered Friends, Valandre, Rab) and also be crazy overkill.
that I'd trust on a high mountain.
How often are you on a high mountain?
Before kids, and living in the UK/Canada, a lot. After kids less often but those trips became a lot higher as it was Nepal.
Australia is not the world, nor is Ozbargain.
When you need the gear, you really need the gear.
@jv: The comment that spawned this sub-discussion quoted someone from an Antarctic base (i.e. not a normal use case). My sub comment above your question about "how often" makes it clear that pretty much anything cheap will do for Australia.
Specifically where did you gather that anyone is suggesting super high end mountaineering gear for wandering around an Australian sidewalk?
Otherwise, you are just stating the blindingly obvious as the OP didn't post "what jacket should I buy for Himalayan peaks?" Did you have an actual point to make?
I’ve got a north face summit series 800 loft jacket. It was pricey but worth every cent of it.
If you’re planning on using it to go hiking or into very cold weather (Himalayan hikes and north European winters because of its warmth and how easy it is to pack) it’s fantastic. If you’re using it in an Australian city it’s overkill
Don’t get Kathmandu anything is my recommendation. They’re not great quality
I previously bought jacket from Kathmandu. Changed to Mountain Warehouse (Canada / US?). Got waterproof and windproof jacket around $60 during sale, and the quality is eual or better than Kathmandu the one I bought for $79 (clerance from around $250).
Mountain Warehouse has similar measurement to Kathmandu.
I don’t buy Kathmandu but recently got a Montane jacket from these guys
Seemed like a good price from a respected brand
https://www.backpackinglight.com.au/collections/montane/prod…
I have a Huffer superdown, bought it on a 60% off sale (all these brands always have sales, no one pays rrp) and its super warm and waterproof. Still like my macpac halo, but when it's really cold or wet, the Huffer is next level good. Got a few kathmndu products but dont rate them very highly.
You can always get the zippers repaired
If you are on the coast then anything warmer than a Halo is a bit pointless, although if being waterproof is actually an issue then that can be useful. I have a more serious down jacket (bought for Harbin) and I don’t even wear it now despite living in canberra. The Aldi down jacket covers me for 90% of the time and if it’s colder I just put on another layer
I dunno, I find the price for fixing up the zippers is probably worth another halo jacket or at least half of it. It’s not an easy replacement. I brought the jacket back to Macpac and they did not offer to fix it for me.
50% off is the minimum discount you should accept for Kathmandu products.