Down jackets advice please

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11:54 a.m. on July 28, 2008 (EDT)
yesandybaker
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Joined: Jul 28, 2008
Posts: 2
Down jackets advice please

I am moving to Tajikistan for work for a couple of years. I am keen to be out in the mountains hiking, camping etc - winters are cold with temperatures of -10Celcius in the capital (at 800m elevation)and a good deal colder higher up (there are limited reliable data available). I hope to be able to be out walking and camping in fall and spring, but perhaps only day walking in winter. I want a down jacket that will be warm and also that will pack up reasonably small and light. I also wish to be able to use the jacket in town on winter days.
I'm reasonably experienced in mountains in Europe and South America and have a good goretex shell and a range of different fleeces, base layers etc. Please could you share some recommendations with me on down jackets. I have read reviews of the most commonly available makes and am left wondering:
- is a jacket or parka best - as i understand it, the main difference is in length?
- what about the outer coating of the down jackets? Some offer some level of water resistance - how effective is that? Are there good and light down jackets that could be worn without having to worry about a goretex shell over the top in wetter weather?
- I currently live in Lima, Peru where there are TNF Nupste, Mountain HW Sub Zero and Lowe Alpine Down shield jackets available - but could purchase online from the US/Europe.
Many thanks
Andy

 
3:22 a.m. on August 1, 2008 (EDT)
Tom D
Moderator

Joined: Aug 10, 2002
Posts: 819
Re: Down jackets advice please

I have a TNF Nuptse. It does not have a DWR coating of any kind so it would wet through in rainy whether. I have only worn it a few times in snow conditions. It would need a shell on top if it was raining. I also have a TNF Baltoro, which is now called the Himalayan-not to be confused with the current Baltoro. It is Goretex. No idea how it would be in the rain though. I have only worn it in below freezing weather. It is a big, deep winter parka and not really suitable for around town. It is not small or light.

 
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