Eddie Bauer - First Ascent - Anyone tried it?

I have been eagerly awaiting the First Ascent line since I found out all the clout they put behind it for both endorsement and design. I recently visited the local Eddie Bauer store and tried on their down 800 fill jacket, and it fit great and seemed well worth the $150.

I tried looking for reviews but since it's so new they are few and far between.

So, has anyone tried ANY First Ascent products? If so, were you satisfied? I'm in need of a down insulating layer, and the First Ascent one (link: First Ascent - Down Jacket ) seems like the best value among its competitors. My real concern is the toughness, but the website does not detail what material is use and the salesman did not know either. I have to spend wisely, so buying a product from an entirely new line sort of irks me. Thanks.

I have said this here before, but, will repeat it; in backpacking gear, you really DO tend to get exactly what you pay for. There are reasons why the top makers, ID, WM, FF and a few others, have higher prices than the "average" and usually "offshore" producers do.

IMO, it is precisely those with strictly limited budgets who SHOULD be buying the BEST gear as it lasts FAR longer and thus is a much better value. Case in point, my only down jacket is an original "Richard Egge" double duvet I bought in 1974 and have used for 35 years. I have worn this, as one should over a single, light layer of merino wool at a measured-40 in perfect comfort and, after long use, it is still in perfect shape, with only one small mend and a couple smudges from an old packframe.

I paid $175.00 for it, then, that shocked some of my recreational-outdoors friends, BUT, they have had maybe TEN jackets each since and I still use this one on serious cold................it WAS a lot of money, but, it has paid off and will last the remainder of my life.

At present, I would not waste my time with EB gear, I would buy a jacket from Nunatak or FF and look after it.

Was in one of the Eddie Bauer stores here in Chicago the other day and tried on a couple of the First Ascent Down Jackets as well. Have to say that they felt pretty good. Very warm, flexible and good qualty. Only problem was that I looked like the Michelin Man, very puffy look.

Not sure who EB is marketing this new line to. Hardcore outdoors people or urban hipsters who would otherwise buy North Face or Marmot which have pretty much had a stranglehold on that demographic for several years.

Eddie Bauer has been around a long time and I agree about what some people have said on these boards about EB turning into the Gap, but they still make good quality apparel at a reasonable price. Only advice I can give is to pick one up, wear it for the weekend and you don't like it take it back.

To market their gear, they gave it to top guides (Ed Veistures, Dave Hahn, few others), and they went and climbed Mount Everest to test it, and as a tribute climb to the first American Ascent way back when. I'd say if the gear stood up to a season on Everest, its pretty good quality.

Just my 2 cents.

The gear used on Everest may not be the same stuff they sell at retail. If I were outfitting a high profile climb for marketing purposes I'd be certain to hand pick everything and go over all the details with a fine tooth comb. I haven't seen any of the gear and I'm sure it's fine stuff. If I were looking for something I'd take a look at the First Ascent line, but it would have to stack up against other decent brands such as marmot, patagonia, mountain hardware and the like. I'd have to be convinced I'm getting value for my money over the other brands simply because the other brands have a recent track record.

For what it is worth, I know several of the consultants for the Eddie Bauer First Ascent line personally and think they have enough personal integrity to want to be sure the gear is what is being advertised. Also, the motivation for Eddie Bauer is to "get back to their roots" with the recognition that they took some wrong turns with their endorsements of Yuppie SUVs. They did make excellent gear years ago (my Eddie Bauer Karakoram expedition down sleeping bag is still serviceable after almost 50 years - bought in 1960, and as you will note in the photos of my Antarctic trip, the parkas and other down gear the 4 original first ascent party members had with them were still in excellent condition)

There is an Eddie Bauer store here in the SFBay Area, so I will try to get some time to go there and examine the gear closely. I do have some skepticism, but I note that their advertising has been aimed at the serious climbing community as far as selling the gear, with the pitch to their "regular" customers being more along the lines of "this is our heritage".

buffdaddy said:

Was in one of the Eddie Bauer stores here in Chicago the other day and tried on a couple of the First Ascent Down Jackets as well. Have to say that they felt pretty good. Very warm, flexible and good qualty. Only problem was that I looked like the Michelin Man, very puffy look. ...

buffdaddy,

Well, insulation from the cold requires dead air space. If you are going into cold weather, you will need lots of that dead air space. But I will say that modern down gear looks more like the current slimmed-down Bibendum than the original, who was put on a diet about 5 or 6 years ago.

Old Bibendum

Current Bibendum

I have been looking into this new line for a few months now. At the begining of the summer I was told by a store manager that they would not be carrying this line in their retail stores becaue the gear was intended for the serious climber. I was both happy and sad to find that they have changed their policy. Happy that I could now try out some of the gear. Sad because it means they are having a hard time selling the gear on-line, and need to expand their market.

The First Ascent - Down Jacket looked good. Good fit and nice material. Packed down to about the size of a basketball. The zipper was a little cheap and difficult to work with. Plus the inner pocket was too small for very much. Also, there is no pocket for a water bottle. Cost is so little, seems to good to be true.

Would like to get it out in the field and try it out this winter.

Thanks for all the replies. Glad to hear some others had seen the jacket and also think it seems to be of good quality.

Dewey - How much are you suggesting one spend on a Down sweater/jacket? It seems to me when you get out of the $150-250 range you're possibly getting too much jacket for your intended purpose, which is to be a versatile mid/outerlayer for me.

Eddie Bauer always seemed like they were serious about this line, so I think Bill has it right. I just can't imagine with all the people involved in endorsements that EB would half___ it.

Gear junky: If you get a chance to try it out be sure to let us know. Based on fit alone the FA jacket seems to be my best choice, so I'll probably end up with it.

Later guys and gals.

I am not suggesting a specific amount, I do not usually suggest down jackets for most people or most uses. I have had about a half-dozen over 40+ years, but, I live in BC where winter IS winter.

"gearjunky" posted.....the zipper was a little cheap and difficult to work with...and THAT should tell you something. I am about the same vintage as "OGBU" aka "BillS" and have spent a lot of solo time in VERY cold places, where "rescue" if in trouble was very likely not going to happen.

So, while I am cognizant of the EB gear of the early '60s, but, was not able to afford it on my paperroute money, I am VERY sceptical of ANY maker's claims today.Buy whatever you prefer, but, I would spend what it takes to get a FF or NUnatak jacket, OR, go with an ID or Wildthings Primaloft one and I do just that.

Iam always curious when new products come into the outdoors market.Claims are nothing more than that till the gear is given a serious test drive.I do agree with dewey about the FF and WM products but also realize not everyone out there will be doing winter alpine mountaineering or polor trekking.Match the gear with what you are planning and your wallet,remembering you get what you pay for.For early spring thru late fall i use a Montbell ul down sweater,paid $99.00 for,and it more than meets the need it is used for.Mid winter when the temps drop into the teens and lower i break out the big guns,FF and some older stuff i have that has lasted years, to stay warm.In these really poor economic times i look to stretch my dollars and really take a serious look at what my "perceived" needs are before making any big purchase.

Forgot to end with the statement that i have enough gear at this point in my life to outfit a small group if need be so it is more a want than a need if iam eye balling a new gear item.

Dewey said:

I am not suggesting a specific amount, I do not usually suggest down jackets for most people or most uses. I have had about a half-dozen over 40+ years, but, I live in BC where winter IS winter.

"gearjunky" posted.....the zipper was a little cheap and difficult to work with...and THAT should tell you something. I am about the same vintage as "OGBU" aka "BillS" and have spent a lot of solo time in VERY cold places, where "rescue" if in trouble was very likely not going to happen.

So, while I am cognizant of the EB gear of the early '60s, but, was not able to afford it on my paperroute money, I am VERY sceptical of ANY maker's claims today.Buy whatever you prefer, but, I would spend what it takes to get a FF or NUnatak jacket, OR, go with an ID or Wildthings Primaloft one and I do just that.

I had already tried the jacket on and had no trouble with the zipper, but I didn't not have too much time for examination. It is certainly a lightweight zipper, but I think that is to be expected for this type of jacket. Down jackets such as these are never very tough. I wish manufacturers would just add a couple ounces and use tougher material.

I understand the trepidation involved in purchasing a new brand or line, but the way I see it the down jacket has seen a million iterations. I'm sure this is not the first one designed by those involved with FA. The price seems low, but considering it's a new line the margins might be quite low.

I forgot about OR, thanks. The other brands are not really available to me or are too expensive.

I buy most of my stuff used and save tons of money. Just got a pair of primaloft pants from ID for 55$. At this price i can afford to buy a used item from every big name company for the price of a single new item. When i have too much i sell the extra and buy some more used stuff, i don't have a lot of storage space. There's so much good and used tech clothing for sale on the web I really can't justify spending top dollars on new gear.

PS: for a tougher down jacket try the MH sub-zero. Easy to find used for 100$.

Just an FYI EB is having a sale on all their down jackets including the First Ascent stuff until 11/9. Tempted to pick up the Downlight vest for $109 but will probably pick up a Yukon Classic for $60.00...

Bill S said:

buffdaddy said:

Was in one of the Eddie Bauer stores here in Chicago the other day and tried on a couple of the First Ascent Down Jackets as well. Have to say that they felt pretty good. Very warm, flexible and good qualty. Only problem was that I looked like the Michelin Man, very puffy look. ...

buffdaddy,

Well, insulation from the cold requires dead air space. If you are going into cold weather, you will need lots of that dead air space. But I will say that modern down gear looks more like the current slimmed-down Bibendum than the original, who was put on a diet about 5 or 6 years ago.

Old Bibendum

Current Bibendum

Buff, Bill is exactly right (finding that to be the case in most of his replies) - not to get to far in thermodynamics and the differences in conduction, convection and radiant heat - but down itself does not perform the insulating function; down lofts up and creates dead air space which provides the insulation. That's the significance of "fill power" ratings. The higher the rating the more a given volume of down will loft (rise) therefore creating more dead air space. The less puff, the less dead air space, the lower the insulating property. That is why, as you'll often hear, wet down will not insulate; it turns to a matted clump therefore creating no dead air space. I've seen folks in bitter cold add a shell over a down jacket to retain more heat, but in many cases the shell isn't big enough to let the down loft (they're basically compressing their down coat, reducing the loft and causing the exact opposite result). Fashion and function collide once again, but ya gotta have the puff to keep the heat.

I have a Taiga Mt Blanc down jacket. It's not as puffy as some of the others (maybe 1,5 inches of loft at most) , but i find it warm enough for all my ventures. I'd rather have a lighter jacket and add base-layers when the temp drops. For serious cold (below -30c) i use a lightweight primaloft jacket inside. Heck, a friend of mine just uses wool sweaters and hoodies even in -40 temps, he just has 3-4 layers of them!