Down Jackets
REI Magma 850 (currently discontinued)
Price- $249
Weight- ~11.2 oz
We bought these because the price tag looked good (nine years ago, more recent models aren’t as competitively priced), and it was before I took a magnifying glass to the technical specifications of every piece of gear we bought. Both of ours have been on several thru-hikes, so we have hundreds of days of use on these jackets in the real world. They've held up incredibly well, and I feel they were great value for their price point.
The Good- It offered excellent overall value for the price. The long-term durability is impressive, surviving hundreds of days of real-world trail use with both the face fabric and the down loft holding up great over time.
The Bad- It is a few ounces heavier than some of its higher-end technical competition and not as tailored of a cut.
(Seen here on Moose and Bugs by Stuart Lake near the Enchantments in the Washington Cascades soaking up some winter sun.)
Patagonia Half-Zip Down Jacket
Price- $229
Weight- ~10.1 oz
This was an addition to my (Moose’s) kit before our thru-hike of the Grand Enchantment Trail. I wanted to shave a few ounces off my base weight, and this hoodless, half-zip jacket fit the bill perfectly.
The Good- Dropping the hood and pockets and opting for a minimalist half-zip design cuts out unnecessary bulk and successfully shaves off a few crucial ounces for an ultralight kit.
The Bad- Unfortunately, this specific model has been discontinued by Patagonia. There are plenty of fully featured down jackets available on the market now that don't come in much heavier, making a used or legacy find like this less critical than it used to be.
(Worn at a frosty cowboy camp somewhere in New Mexico, displaying a frozen sock.)
