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Montbell Down Guide

Light in weight and highly compressible, these garments travel well and yield surprising warmth when needed. As versatile thermal components, these pieces shine as middle layers in shoulder seasons while proving essential on their own in cool backcountry conditions.

Plasma 1000 Series


Our highest quality down paired with our thinnest nylon in a no frills design to yield the absolute lightest insulating layer.

Ignis Down Parka


Our highest quality down is paired with weather-resistant and highly breathable WINDSTOPPER® fabrics by GORE-TEX LABS, delivering excellent warmth in an ultralight, packable form ready to respond to any and all needs.

EX Light Down Anorak


Super high-quality 900 fill power goose and our thinnest nylon are married to a lightweight design to maximize warmth-to-weight ratio.

Superior Down Series


Middle layer in cold weather and an outer layer for spring and fall trekking. Also perfect for everyday use around town or on the commute to work.

Superior Down Round Neck / V-Neck


High-quality 800 fill power down, a lightweight matte face fabric and a collarless design allow for easy layering of comfortable warmth. The snap button front minimizes bulk and provides a soft touch while on the trail or in town.

Highland Series


Features quality 650 fill power down and durable nylon face fabric in a clean silhouette. Provides sweater weight warmth as a middle layer while on the trail, in town and during travel.

Compact and portable, these pieces provide 3-season warmth while remaining low profile and light in weight. The garments in this grouping represent our refined take on the “classic down jacket” and they function well in cold weather on their own or as a part of a well-designed layering system.

Plasma 1000 Alpine Down Parka


Our highest quality down paired with our thinnest nylon in a design with minimal features to yield the absolute lightest middle layer.

Alpine Light Series


Combines 800 Fill Power EX Down with a lightweight yet durable face fabric, delivering exceptional warmth as an outer layer while maintaining a packable form.

Neige Down Parka


The Neige also delivers exceptional warmth in a packable form with 800 Fill Power EX Down and a lightweight yet durable face fabric. This matte finish outer layer parka features a skip-stitch quilting pattern to reduce cold spots and minimize heat loss.

Permafrost Light Down


High-quality 800 fill power goose down and WINDSTOPPER® fabrics by GORE-TEX LABS offer backcountry users midweight warmth with enviable resistance to the elements.

Upland Parka


Based on the concept of the Highland Series, the Upland has an ample fill of down to boost its performance past the realm of down sweater and provide reliable outdoor insulation.

Whether in search of a cold weather camp jacket or a simple yet reliable belay piece, the warmth provided by box construction is a must! Normally used in the production of sleeping bags, this method minimizes heat loss from seam lines and promotes maximum down loft. Slightly over-sized with a longer torso, these "all mountain" parkas are cut for layering and appropriate from late fall to early spring. Designed to help you deal with the coldest of conditions, these pieces are ideal for alpine pursuits or whenever Mother Nature may not quite be on your side.

Mirage Parka


Super high-quality 900 fill power goose down paired with our thinnest nylon in a design with minimal features to yield a middle layer at the pinnacle of warmth-to-weight ratio.

Alpine Down Parka


High-quality 800 fill power goose down paired with a light yet very durable nylon offers an excellent balance of heavy weight warmth and lightweight comfort. The Alpine Down Parka is equally suited for adventures in the backcountry and when around town.

Permafrost Down Parka


High-quality 800 fill power goose down paired with WINDSTOPPER® fabrics by GORE-TEX LABS in a climbing specific design offers winter adventurers an expedition worthy insulating layer.

Suitable for a variety of cold weather uses. These pieces are designed to provide warmth and comfort while relaxing in town after a day spent on the trail.

CONSTRUCTION

Commitment to materials, confidence in quality

Montbell’s down clothing is not just high quality and ultralight. From wind blasted, snowy peaks to everyday use on your way to the supermarket, Montbell makes a variety of down garments. Each jacket is designed for a specific use with different materials and features, such as unique quilting patterns, to produce the best possible product. This allows you to select the best piece to meet your needs.

Fill power is a measure of down’s lofting ability, describing the amount of volume that one ounce of down displaces in a cylinder when weighted (measured in in3/oz). What does this mean in plain English? The higher the fill power, the higher the quality the down. Generally, 600-700 fill power down is considered good quality, with 700+ in the realm of high quality. Montbell’s Down achieves fill power of 800 - 1000, giving it amazing loft, which in turn traps a high volume of dead air. This layer of dead air insulates the air inside the jacket warmed by your body, from the cold air outside the jacket. Check the "Down Fill Power: Explained" content to know more about down fill power.

Down Sourcing

At Montbell, we source down from both the European and Chinese markets to satisfy a variety of characteristics (supply/availability, low cost, consistent quality, humane practices, etc.) and maintain our lofty standards. Every season we seek to balance the superior quality for which we are known and the lowest possible raw materials cost. We change down sourcing companies frequently to insure that our customers have access to superior products at the lowest price possible. In the course of these efforts, Montbell never purchases down from operations that practice “live-plucking” methods. We only utilize down plumes and feathers collected as a by-product of water fowl raised to meet the demands of the food industry.

We will continue to look for sources of down that maximize value to our customers and allow Montbell products to perform at the highest level.

Information

Down Garments

- The history and performance of this marvelous natural insulator