PSA: Montane Prism Jackets

[ScotRoutes]

Half price (£69.99) at Sportshoes

https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/mon ... ku-mon2627

https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/mon ... ku-mon2630

https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/mon ... ku-mon2631

https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/mon ... ku-mon2626

[jam bo]

Not the latest version, if that’s relevant.

[JackT]

Thanks for the heads up. I've been on the look out for something to replace a very aged and slightly too big Patagonia NanoPuff. I also noticed a Fjern insulated jacket on sale at SportPursuit for £70. Something called Octa® Active Insulation. No idea how this compares to Primaloft. There seems to be a whole lot of new synthetic insulation materials right now, is anyone with more knowledge able to make sense of them?

[Lazarus]

I only use synthetic and have failed to discover any useful comparison between brands
The best you can do is try to find sleeping bags with it and compare with another with different filling ( but same weight) and then look at temp ratings.
Not exactly scientific though.

[benp1]

The only objective marker is CLO

But the materials it's sandwiched between which also make a difference, as do contruction (like stitch through or loose hung) and other factors like cut

It's a bit of a minefield sadly. There's a chap called Richard Nisley (I think) over on BPL that has some interesting info on warmth, but he's US based so biased towards US products

[shutuplegs]

Thanks for the heads up. I've been on the look out for something to replace a very aged and slightly too big Patagonia NanoPuff. I also noticed a Fjern insulated jacket on sale at SportPursuit for £70. Something called Octa® Active Insulation. No idea how this compares to Primaloft. There seems to be a whole lot of new synthetic insulation materials right now, is anyone with more knowledge able to make sense of them?

Fjern is a Sports Pursuit own brand, so the ‘savings’ offered on there should be taken with a pinch of salt. The quality is ok but not amazing. A montane prism at that price is much better value I’d say.

[JackT]

Fjern is a Sports Pursuit own brand, so the ‘savings’ offered on there should be taken with a pinch of salt. The quality is ok but not amazing. A montane prism at that price is much better value I’d say.

Good to know, thanks. I'll keep to my BLS mantra. I'm sure the Nanopuff is good for another year or three.

[yourguitarhero]

So, they've got deals on Montane Buffalo copies too - the Extreme and the Hydrogen.

I'm pretty ignorant on the differences in the range,

If I wanted a jacket to take bike camping that I would wear when camping and maybe in the morning for a bit, which would I go for? I've got a down jacket I like but get worried about it getting soaked. So which of these Montanes would I go for? Only really do 3 seasons camping? And generally just cycle in a merino base layer and maybe a roadie waterproof jacket...

[ScotRoutes]

I have two Prisms. They're both "getting on a bit" now - 12 years and 10 years.

I take one of them on any overnight trip. Often the first thing I'll do when I stop is put it on, to save cooling down. Works well as a warmth booster on cold nights and isn't so bulky as to fill the sleeping bag. Handy again in the morning and often the last thing packed away.

I take a Prism (or my new Endura Primaloft jacket) on most day rides at this time of year too, for the extra warm if I have to make a (scheduled or unscheduled) stop.

[benp1]

So, they've got deals on Montane Buffalo copies too - the Extreme and the Hydrogen.

I'm pretty ignorant on the differences in the range,

If I wanted a jacket to take bike camping that I would wear when camping and maybe in the morning for a bit, which would I go for? I've got a down jacket I like but get worried about it getting soaked. So which of these Montanes would I go for? Only really do 3 seasons camping? And generally just cycle in a merino base layer and maybe a roadie waterproof jacket...

Neither of the extreme or the hydrogen models would work. They're really meant for active insulation, they are the original softshell - pile and pertex. They don't pack down very small for the weight and warmth. You want a synthetic fill jacket, like the prism or something warmer

[yourguitarhero]

Ok, thanks! Have gone for a Prism jacket. Seems good and decent price

[techno]

So, they've got deals on Montane Buffalo copies too - the Extreme and the Hydrogen.

Thanks for pointing that out
Been eying those up for ages

[yourguitarhero]

Quite liking my Prism jacket.
Went for a 0c walk this morning with just a t-shirt underneath and was very comfortable.
Packsize and weight is lower than my down jacket I normally take bikepacking but would only really wear in camp