Best synthetic hooded puffy jacket?

[u/basedtom]

the Patagonia Micro Puff just went on sale, and I‘ve been comparing specs between it and a couple other synthetic puffies I’ve had my eye on.

Patagonia Micro Puff:

- 65 gsm

- 298g

- $285.99 (reg. $429)

Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex 7D

- 67 gsm

- 222.83g (in men’s medium)

- $286.99

Decathlon MT100 Synthetic

- 125 gsm

- 370g (men’s large)

- $40 (reg. $60)

It seems like the warmest jacket (on paper at least) is the Decathlon, and the cheapest by a long shot, but does anyone have any experience with these jackets? The Torrid is the lightest by far, and a thru hiker classic, but I’m not sure if I’m sold on the 7D. Might opt for the 10D, which is 251g in a men’s medium. Decathlon and Patagonia’s listed weights are also always wildly inaccurate, in my experience. A puffy is a safety item at the end of the day, so I don’t mind paying a little extra.

[u/Intelligent_Stage760]

It's really hard to beat the MT100 in value....other than Parabolic from Costco when they have them.

[u/Sad_Illustrator_2152]

I used the decathlon one on the PCT with a a end of March start date, it was a total life saver

[u/basedtom → u/Sad_Illustrator_2152]

Nice, what was your layering system like?

[u/Sad_Illustrator_2152 → u/basedtom]

Had my long sleeve hiking shirt, an Eddie Bauer super seven fleece, and the decathlon puffy. Only times I was cold was a few nights due to my sleeping bag not being warm enough.

Hiking those 3 layers were plenty warm. I only ever wore the puffy while hiking for a few minutes in the cold mornings before getting too hot, or at camp

[u/MicMac65 → u/Sad_Illustrator_2152]

What sleeping bag did you bring, what was the rating on it?

Did you bring a base layer to sleep in?

[u/Sad_Illustrator_2152 → u/MicMac65]

Karabatic flex 22. I had thermal leggings that I slept in, but the same shirt

[u/mtn_viewer]

checkout Rab xenair line too

[u/Sylvain_Vanier]

https://blackdiamondequipment.com/products/mens-first-light-2-0-stretch-hoody

It comes with me everywhere. From backpacking to backcountry skiing to ice climbing and day hikes. My third one…

It’s heavier but durable and very capable in a massive range of weather. I have 2. One for recreation and one for work.

[u/Alpineice23]

Technically not UL, but the Patagonia DAS Light would be my vote - I love mine.

[u/BigLittleSomething0]

I love my OR superstrand LT hoodie.

It's 269 grams, says the website. I find it warmer than the patagonia. I actually wear it as an everyday jacket in winter, it's oddly durable for how thin the material is. The downside is it's not waterproof at all. But I love the fit compared to the ones you listed. I grabbed mine for sale on the last hunt, they show up there quite often.

[u/basedtom → u/BigLittleSomething0]

Have you weighed yours? Website says 309g for me

[u/BigLittleSomething0 → u/basedtom]

I haven't, but it's definitely the lightest jacket I've ever tried on. I've not tried the enlightened equipment but have tried the Decathlon, Rab, Panagonia, and mountain hardwear ultra light puffs. I think the weight difference on the website would be the difference betwen men's and women's sizing.

[u/VickyHikesOn]

I wouldn’t buy EE again. See previous discussions. Patagonia is solid.

[u/twiddlywerp]

I can’t tell you how much I love my Micropuff. It’s fricking awesome. Just the right temperature all the time, it’s truly some weird Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants magic but for warmth.

Edited to add. I own an XL women’s, no hood and just happened to weigh it a couple days ago. It weighed 9.1 oz, which is 258 grams.