Puffy Jackets

[Lucky13]

I've got 2 Kuiu down jackets.. one has a hood. I wear them under a windproof outer shell, usually the Jetstream or Sanctuary. The down adds some noise to all your movements almost to an annoying level but the warmth you get outweighs it for me. I also have the Kuiu down pants and in my mind they are priceless.

 

[2Sloe]

Hard to beat the weight to warmth of down. Just have to have an outlayer large enough not to compress it too much. When it gets cold, I reach for my down top and bottoms. With quality fill it doesn’t have to be overly bulky to do the work as a mid layer.

 

[jlh42581]

I've got a Kryptek set, top and bottom and they're so easy on and off but man what i hate about all puffys is the shine. When I need to start wearing a puff the last thing I need is shine. I too wear mine as mid layers most times but only because of that face fabric. Theres no a solution I see to fix it and maintain its packable qualities where it could be a shine free outer layer. As mentioned too, kinda loud.

 

[BTaylor]

When we get cold and esp if it is cold and windy weather, I use an OR transcendent puffy under a natural gear wintercepter fleece jacket and can take that down into the teens with just a merino base layer under it.

 

[Bowtie747]

Jacket or vest for puffy? Any thoughts? When used as a backup piece, stored in a pack for when it gets colder than I thought

 

[Wyo21]

Puffys are made to be worn on the outside. If u put it under layers it compresses the insulation and takes away what makes it a "puffy" . I have a cheaper down puffy that I love for hikes but don't use it hunting. Too much bulk to draw my bow. I like first lite sanctuary jacket because it has a shooters cut they call it on your sleeves for bow hunting.I do not like the bulk of the collar around neck when I get to find my anchor its in the way. Have to tuck it in.If I layer right under that I'm good.

Not entirely accurate. Most of us out West use puffys for layering. Just dont wear a "feminine" body hugging outer garment.
1) base layer of merino or poly
2) mid layer
3) Puffy if it is cold
4) Wind proof layer or rain jacket if it is either windy, rainy, or darned cold.

Also, if you opt for a high quality puffy, they are not bulky, so shooting a bow is a non-issue.

 

[Bowtie747]

Does the Sitka celcius jacket pack down good?

 

[Plebe]

I use puffys alot. Basiclly every hunt I have one in my pack. They compress great and are super warm. Like others said you get what you pay for tho. I have kuiu down jacket and pants. Super warm. A little noisy but weigh nothing. I had a Sitka incinerator set I sold to buy puffys. Went from nearly 7 lbs down to 1.5-2.0 lbs.
I also have some synthetic puffys. My jacket is first lite uncompahgre. It’s heavier than the down. Doesn’t pack as well. But pretty warm. I’ll wear it first then if I get cold in it I will throw on the down on top.

Does your 2lbs include your waterproof windproof layer, like a rain shell or something?

I'm a fan of the synthetics in deep woods situations. Down has come a long way with hydrophobic treatments, but soaked through synthetics are proven. There's more heat to weight/bulk in the dry down, but synthetic seems to be better in a survival situation.

I have a Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer down puffy new with tags. That sucker is amazing cause it packs into its own pocket to the size of a softball. I also have Kuiu Kenai new with tags. It's been a couple years and I haven't used either....I just keep grabbing the Incinerators.

I'd be interested in what your current setup is, exactly.

 

[Bowtie747]

Does your 2lbs include your waterproof windproof layer, like a rain shell or something?

I'm a fan of the synthetics in deep woods situations. Down has come a long way with hydrophobic treatments, but soaked through synthetics are proven. There's more heat to weight/bulk in the dry down, but synthetic seems to be better in a survival situation.

I have a Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer down puffy new with tags. That sucker is amazing cause it packs into its own pocket to the size of a softball. I also have Kuiu Kenai new with tags. It's been a couple years and I haven't used either....I just keep grabbing the Incinerators.

I'd be interested in what your current setup is, exactly.

Does the kenai pack well?

 

[Plebe]

Does the kenai pack well?

I've never tried to ball it up. But my wife thought it fit me well, lol.

It's not going to compress like the Ghost Whisperer, that's for sure.

If you're not going to fall in the water or if you have waterproof storage and good waterproof outers, down is a more efficient insulator.

I was pretty interested in stuff from Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends and the like at one point, but the Incinerator simplified things.

That said, my Incinerators are the older down synth mix.

I carry an old Kelvin vest, otherwise it's base layers and outers.

 

[Fgirtyman]

I've never tried to ball it up. But my wife thought it fit me well, lol.

It's not going to compress like the Ghost Whisperer, that's for sure.

If you're not going to fall in the water or if you have waterproof storage and good waterproof outers, down is a more efficient insulator.

I was pretty interested in stuff from Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends and the like at one point, but the Incinerator simplified things.

That said, my Incinerators are the older down synth mix.

I carry an old Kelvin vest, otherwise it's base layers and outers.

Do you ever bow hunt when it 0 or below 0? If you do what’s your layering method besides maybe sitting next to the fireplace. Ha Ha

 

[Plebe]

Do you ever bow hunt when it 0 or below 0? If you do what’s your layering method besides maybe sitting next to the fireplace. Ha Ha

I do/have. Base layers, Incinerators, Kelvin vest. I have a Heater Body Suit, wore it once. I ice skate in a t shirt and shorts, on frozen ponds.

 

[Bowtie747]

I've never tried to ball it up. But my wife thought it fit me well, lol.

It's not going to compress like the Ghost Whisperer, that's for sure.

If you're not going to fall in the water or if you have waterproof storage and good waterproof outers, down is a more efficient insulator.

I was pretty interested in stuff from Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends and the like at one point, but the Incinerator simplified things.

That said, my Incinerators are the older down synth mix.

I carry an old Kelvin vest, otherwise it's base layers and outers.

I gotcha! I was looking for something to leave in a pack for that I didn’t account for how cold it was gonna be days. Might just do a puffy best. Kuiu has theirs on sale rn

 

[Fgirtyman]

I do/have. Base layers, Incinerators, Kelvin vest. I have a Heater Body Suit, wore it once. I ice skate in a t shirt and shorts, on frozen ponds.

To funny. I’ve icefished in my unders on a dare with help from Korbel xtra smooth…lol

 

[Plebe]

I gotcha! I was looking for something to leave in a pack for that I didn’t account for how cold it was gonna be days. Might just do a puffy best. Kuiu has theirs on sale rn

Down makes sense (to me) in that scenario.

A vest lets the pits breath, which may be best for the hot blooded. But, I wish there was a down shacket like the Sitka Celcius for that little bit of extra coverage without the bulk of the synthetic, in a backup garment.

 

[Fgirtyman]

To funny. I’ve icefished in my unders on a dare with help from Korbel xtra smooth…lol

Seriously…I use the heated vest late season under layers. The last hour on high temps. It’s the only way I can survive the rediculous low temps. Some think we are crazy but it’s what we love to do!!

 

[Plebe]

Seriously…I use the heated vest late season under layers. The last hour on high temps. It’s the only way I can survive the rediculous low temps. Some think we are crazy but it’s what we love to do!!

I swear, there's times you could shatter my toes but that buck needs harvesting.