waterproof down parka

lolo62

Hi just ordered and received the mountain hardwear 'downtown' down parka
Its beautiful and I think it will keep me really toasty in winter

Only problem is its not waterproof
Have had a good look online for something similar that is waterproof but it seems hard to find forless than €350.

Has anyone come across what I'm looking for for under €200?
Do you think €180 for something that isn't water proof is a rip off?

Also what would happen to a down coat in the rain if it isn't waterproof?

Roen

Hi,

Most down garments I've come across aren't waterproof. They are usually made for high cold environments where liquid water isn't a problem. I see this one is designed as more a city wear item than a mountain jacket though so you'd be forgiven for thinking it might be.
I can't see any mention of waterproof on the MHW site, but if it was advertised as such on a vendor site then send it back.

To answer your question, no I don't think what you paid for it is a rip off, my down jacket cost slightly more and isn't waterproof, and my waterproof jacket cost twice that and isn't in anyway insulative. Both bought to fulfill different roles.

Are you intending using it about town as the name suggests or up in the hills, cos you'll cook in it if you start any type of aerobic activity!

The price you quoted for a waterproof one seems about right.

If water penetrates to the down it tends to clump together and lose it insulative qualities. I've had it happen a sleeping bag in the alps, just stick it in a tumble dryer on a low setting with a couple of tennis balls and that will dry and loft the down back up nicely. Bear in mind that the jacket may feel dry to the touch but give it an extra half hour to make sure the stuff right in the inner is nice and dry.

The outer should hold off a light shower by the way, but a typical Irish 'soft day' could soak it through.

lolo62 wrote: »

Hi just ordered and received the mountain hardwear 'downtown' down parka
Its beautiful and I think it will keep me really toasty in winter

Only problem is its not waterproof
Have had a good look online for something similar that is waterproof but it seems hard to find forless than €350.

Has anyone come across what I'm looking for for under €200?
Do you think €180 for something that isn't water proof is a rip off?

Also what would happen to a down coat in the rain if it isn't waterproof?

lolo62

Thanks so much!

I'm double busing it to and from work at the moment with sometimes long waits at unsheltered stops on the quays and other windy places

I bought it mainly for insulation but the weather recently got me a bit worried about what 15-30 minutes of torrential rain would do to the down inside, particularly because the outer shell is thin nylon.

I ordered it from surf mountain but have sent a mail to mountain hardwear to see what their advice is
You're tip about using the drier and tennis balls is handy will definitely use that if I decide to hang onto it

Roen

Make sure it's on the low setting though!

lolo62

After sleeping on it I decided to return the coat...id just be stressed out every time it rains and that's pointless! Managed to find a northface parka that's down filled and waterproof for €170 incl post though so that was lucky, thanks again!

Sev

A down jacket is usually an expensive and specialist piece of outdoor clothing designed for just one thing: keeping you warm when it's cold.

The vast majority of down jackets are not waterproof, for the reasons stated by a previous poster: typically if you're taking out your down jacket it is likely to be snowing, not raining.

Although I see this down parka is "downtown" and seemingly designed for urban living, perhaps not too practical in Ireland, but it would be great I guess in, for example, Harbin... a big city in China, where (in Winter) it's typically -20-30C and rarely rains.

I know you can get waterproof down jackets, but I believe they are very expensive. For my intended use (outdoors/climbing), I don't think I would find them too practical.

The other major benefit of the standard outdoor down jacket is that it scrunches down very small to pack away neatly in your bag, and I expect the waterproofing would hinder this. A friend of mine bought a waterproof Patagonia down jacket once, it was reduced from 600e! I am surprised you have found one for 170e, I suspect it's insulation isn't of the same spec as a typical down jacket?

lolo62

Sev wrote: »

A down jacket is usually an expensive and specialist piece of outdoor clothing designed for just one thing: keeping you warm when it's cold.

The vast majority of down jackets are not waterproof, for the reasons stated by a previous poster: typically if you're taking out your down jacket it is likely to be snowing, not raining.

Although I see this down parka is "downtown" and seemingly designed for urban living, perhaps not too practical in Ireland, but it would be great I guess in, for example, Harbin... a big city in China, where (in Winter) it's typically -20-30C and rarely rains.

I know you can get waterproof down jackets, but I believe they are very expensive. For my intended use (outdoors/climbing), I don't think I would find them too practical.

The other major benefit of the standard outdoor down jacket is that it scrunches down very small to pack away neatly in your bag, and I expect the waterproofing would hinder this. A friend of mine bought a waterproof Patagonia down jacket once, it was reduced from 600e! I am surprised you have found one for 170e, I suspect it's insulation isn't of the same spec as a typical down jacket?

I know that now...as soon as I took the coat out of the plastic I knew really as it is like a luxury sleeping bag with sleeves

I don't know a lot about this stuff but wanted to get something that would definitely be warm and quality...just didn't realise waterproof wasn't a given when spending close to €200, lesson learned!
I plan on arguing with the seller that they should specify the coat is not designed for use in the rain when selling to Irish and UK customers given that its called the 'downtown', hopefully this will get me my post refunded too..otherwise I'll be out €20

The one I've ordered is the north face 'Brooklyn' it has 550 fill down rather than 600 and is slightly shorter but considering its waterproof and for the price I can handle that

Sev

lolo62 wrote: »

The one I've ordered is the north face 'Brooklyn' it has 550 fill down rather than 600 and is slightly shorter but considering its waterproof and for the price I can handle that

I see, very chic... looks good!

Described on some website as having a "feminine cut and style" to "give you a snugly jacket that doesn't look as if you're about to embark on an ice-climbing expedition to Nepal"

I think it lacks the simplicity and packability that I seek to make it practical for mountain use!