User Review: EMS Glacier Down Jacket (down)

EMS Glacier Down Jacket
Above: The current Glacier Down Jacket, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed February 5, 2004 by demian33@hotmail.com

Rating: rated 4 of 5 stars
Fabric: Nylon
Fill: Down, 600-fill
Price Paid: $57 on sale (retails for $79)

Given the price, this jacket was a steal. I've only had it for one week, but so far it's kept me toasty warm through Washington, D.C., temperatures in the twenties and teens. And that's with just a T-shirt underneath.

It was available in slate blue and rust red. I chose red. The nylon has a nice sheen to it, with a small, white EMS logo embroidered on the breast and rear collar. It's a handsome jacket, as good or better looking than The North Face Nuptse and Mountain Hardwear Sub-Zero jackets, in my opinion. I tried on those on jackets (700 and 650 fill, respectively), and their loft isn't noticeably better. All three jackets weigh in at 24-25 ounces.

Features on the EMS jacket are basic but essential: one-handed drawcord at the waist; Velcro/elastic cuffs; YKK zippers; zippered handwarmer pockets; generous inside stash-pocket that doubles as a stuff sack.

What it lacks: down-filled draft tube behind the main zipper. there is a draft collar, but it's just thick fabric, not down-filled, as are MH and TNF's ( I believe). This hasn't been a problem yet, but in windy, subzero conditions it might be. EMS, if you're listening, add some down here and bump up price by $10.

What you don't get with this jacket that you get with similar models (each retail for $199):

Mountain Hardwear: Fleece-lined pockets, abrasion-resistant patches on arms and shoulder.

North Face: Abrasion-resistant patches on shoulder; emergency roll-up hood; trendy TNF logo.

From what I understand, EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports) makes durable, well-designed stuff. They seem to be an East Coast version of REI -- smaller than the Seattle behemoth but offering more technical gear than, say, LL Bean.

So far, so good with this jacket. if it disappoints, i'll post another review.

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