new down jacket/vest for summer use

[windjammer]

in the market for a new down jacket for summer,would a gillet with a hood be warmer than a jacket without a hood.

got my eye on the phd wafer vest

[voodoo_simon]

I think arms make a surprising difference to warmth. My favourite insulated jacket is the Arcteryx Nucleii (sp?), it packs smaller than my Patagonia down vest and is warmer too

[Bearbonesnorm]

Something for the warmer months or all year?

... and how about a jacket with a hood? Win - win

[Bearbonesnorm]

This could be ideal Matt ... well, it could be if you fit an XXL.

https://www.crux.uk.com/product/plasma- ... 137?shop=1

[Chicken Legs]

I bought a PHD gillet and have often had occasion to wish it had arms.

[ZeroDarkBivi]

When you need a warm jacket, you need a warm jacket. However, if you are just after a light warm layer, a gilet is very effective for its mass, especially for sleeping. A hooded gilet would be perfect, but are quite rare, so I recently bought a synthetic balaclava style hood to use with my down gilet, on the basis that my head / face is more likely to get damp from condensation/ breathing etc.

Can't got wrong with PHD, Arcteryx, Rab, Jottnar, etc

[Bearbonesnorm]

A hooded gilet would be perfect, but are quite rare

Not that rare, I found you one for less than a tenner last time you mentioned them

[windjammer]

Something for the warmer months or all year?

... and how about a jacket with a hood? Win - win

trying to go lighter stu,

[whitestone]

I've both a vest/gilet (PHD Wafer vest) and a lightweight hooded jacket (PHD Summerlite). I asked them if they did a hood for their Wafer Jacket - their response was:

" the aim with this jacket is to get it as light as possible and at 5C most people would be using a woolly hat rather than needing a down hat which is why we chose not to include a hood with this jacket."

Looking at their (PHD) range it seems that they don't put hoods on any jacket rated above 0C.

I use the vest for ultra-light bivvies along with a long sleeved thermal top, I change into the thermal top as soon as I stop so that I don't get cold from my sweaty cycling clothes. Generally the vest is best viewed as something to augment other clothing/jackets. The wafer is thin enough to go under the above jacket.

As others have asked, what's the intended season and use? Given that you are looking at the Wafer range I assume it's for summer. If it's for hanging around at bivvies/camp then I'd go with a suitably rated hooded jacket but if it's for more active use then the vest might be better.

[windjammer]

This could be ideal Matt ... well, it could be if you fit an XXL.

https://www.crux.uk.com/product/plasma- ... 137?shop=1

hmm just bought a lightweight meths stove,trying to reduce pack size and weight but that looks good for winter

[Bearbonesnorm]

hmm just bought a lightweight meths stove,trying to reduce pack size and weight but that looks good for winter

In that case, I'd have a look at a smock. Lighter than a jacket, warmer than a gilet and in reality, not much heavier.

[benp1]

I generally avoid down tops, I just find that synthetic tops seem more versatile

My montane fireball smock is excellent. If I was buying now I'd be getting the Berghaus hypertherm smock. I really like their vapour light range

[PJG]

If I was buying now I'd be getting the Berghaus hypertherm smock. I really like their vapour light range

+1 for the Berghaus Hypertherm Vapour Light. I've got the hooded jacket, and it ticks alot of boxes.

[pushbikemike]

I bought a PHD gillet and have often had occasion to wish it had arms.

I have one of those too. I got some Paramo insulated sleeves. If I take the sleeves they work as sleeves, feet warmers or a pillow when I hammock in winter.

[Fat tyre kicker]

I've got a Paramo Torres with the aforementioned sleeves, cracking piece of kit,
Doesn't suffer when wet either.....all good except my teen angels p**s themselves
Laughing when I put the sleeves on

[benp1]

Oh yeah, I forgot I have a torres gilet and the sleeves. I wear the gilet as my muddy weather gilet, don't mind it getting covered in crap