Female down jacket for mountain climbing

Hi Everyone,

I'm a female mountain climber that's on a quest for the world's warmest down jacket and so far I've found dud after dud. I tend to get cold pretty easily so I want something SUPER warm (artic warm). Right now I have the North Face's 800 goose-down fill Tempest jacket. It's not all that warm and the feather's fall out. I'm looking for something that is 800 fill and would keep me warm in sub-zero temperatures (not just a jacket to me layered with 10 other pieces of clothing). Could really use some help since so far I've had no luck and another climbing season is quickly upon me.

Thanks!!

Check out [url=http://www.rei.com]www.rei.com

A quick perusal of down jackets shows a lot of 650+ fills, but very few 800s:

http://www.trailspace.com/gear/outerwear/jackets/insulated/down/

However, here are a few to start with. Western Mountaineering makes some unisex 850 fill jackets:
http://www.trailspace.com/gear/western-mountaineering/outerwear/jackets/insulated/down/

http://www.westernmountaineering.com/index.cfm?section=Products&page=Jackets%20%26%20Vests

Feathered Friends, also unisex:
http://featheredfriends.com/Picasso/Garments/Exp/RockandIce.html

Rab may have some too:
http://www.trailspace.com/gear/rab/neutrino-edge-jacket/

Oh, I just looked up your NF Tempest and it appears to be a 600 fill:
http://www.trailspace.com/gear/the-north-face/tempest-down-jacket/

So, maybe more of those 650+ fills are worth a consideration still. That opens things up again.

Maybe someone else will have more suggestions.

Hello

If you don't like feathers coming through, try a jacket with welded seams. Are you down under, or lucky enough to 'go high'? The winter climbing season in the UK is sadly over, except for Scotland, and often layers make more sense over here.

In a recent TGO mag (UK) test, Judy Armstrong rated the following women's down jackets highest: PHD Minimus Drishell, Mountain Equipment Sigma. Then came the following, all good: Montane Anti-Freeze, Rab Microlight, MH Phantom, TNF Catalyst (800), Patagonia Down Sweater, Marmot Venus (these in no particular order;some too light for your needs).

The warmest jacket by far was also heavy and bulky: Helly Hansen's Bonney. Therefore, your quest may be over, though you could easily get an even warmer expedition jacket if you want to pay lots of cash and look like a telly-tubby.

Overall, for warmth/weight and design/construction, the first two win but the PHD is not 'off-the-peg' and Mountain Equipment is a UK company.

Rab makes some very good jackets like the neutrino but the construction is not the very best IMO and the fit is slim/tall. With women's jackets the fit can be pretty important so it's best to actually try on more than one from the top manufacturers. Also, check out Patagonia's Wool 4 merino wool baselayers, they are incredibly warm and comfortable.