[Closed] What warm jacket?

Rab Vapour Rise is alternative to Buffalo

Or Rab Alpha Direct does the same as Vapour Rise/Buffalo but lighter and more fitted.

Montane Hydrogen - similar pile and Pertex to Buffalo but lighter and better for hiking/tabbing or the Montane extreme for colder more stationary conditions.
Wear either nothing or a wicking base layer underneath.

Odd concept if you are used to membrane/goretex jackets but I prefer it for its breathability and warmth even when wet whilst moving

I have a Katabatic, after trying many others and selling them on. It's a good mid later piece for active pursuits in winter. If you're not moving much the O'Hiro would probably be better as the Katabatic isn't that warm if you're standing still in cold temps (sub 5C), which is really down jacket territory.

As for reference the Katabatic is much warmer than Rab Vapour Rise, I wear my Katabatic over my VR! The Rab Alpha Direct let the wind sail right through it, pertex shell was too thin so I Ebayed it. I also sold the Arcteryx Atom LT as the power stretch side panels let the wind cut through it on fell tops.

I used Buffalos many decades ago, they work well, but look like utter shit - you look like you've just arrived from the 90s wearing one.

Montane Extreme smock, bought here for £50 due to it being "too hot". Really durable but possibly less vapour breathable than the original Buffalo.

I have a montane flux and prism (and fireball and icarus) and as much as the flux is nice, I feel properly protected in it. The prism is my 2nd prism jacket now and favourite by far,i think it's the perfect UK jacket. (the gloves are also awesome)

Have to admit, I’m very fond of my Buffalo Special 6.

Got a Flux, it’s now 9 years old and is my go to winter jacket. I walk the dogs, used it as a belay jacket, beer jacket, pillow when camping, you name it it does the job. It’s had to have two duck tape patches applied to it this winter, so is probably on its way out. I’ll replace it with another I think.

Another vote for the montane extreme smock. Bought for winter riding but it’s too warm so relegated to walking duty. Very warm piece of kit. -4 the other morning and I just had a short sleeve T-shirt on underneath it, was still cosy warm.

+1 for the Extreme smock. I ended up swapping it out for the jacket version as the smock was too warm. The jacket allows for better temperature regulation & just more practical more of the time for me.

I've also owned the prism & flux. Ive still got the flux but don't find it that warm TBH plus it's a tad shorter than I'd like. If I'm just walking or having a less active day then I use a similarly spec'd Finisterre primaloft jacket - it's longer, allows for more layering (if required) & just feels a nicer place to be.

I use the flux for more active, belay/stop start (it packs down better than any of my other warm jackets) or rough n tumble days where I know I'm going to get dirty.

I love my Montane Prism jacket, so much that I now have two. For me they are just the right thickness for walking with a base layer and jersey or fleece underneath, anything thicker and I overheat. I do have a heavier down jacket which I wear when watching rugby and am sat with no movement for a couple of hours.

Montane hydrogen alpha here, I wouldn't say its a warm jacket, it feels balanced if that doesn't sound odd?! Seems to maintain a nice comfy temperature, even when working hard ascending.

If it gets colder with windchill,a Rab vital windshell gets chucked on top, that's an amazing wee jacket for under 50 quid, weighs about the same as a bag of crisps!

Oh, and +1 on the prism gloves, they're brilliant.

Montane Extreme jacket here, proper warm. Had it in the other morning walking back from garage, 2.5 miles, a long sleeved base underneath, temp around -3 and had to open it up a bit after 20 mins.

I have a Katabatic and it's currently at a very good price (£10 less than I paid in the autumn sale).

That plus a base layer (and a hat) was all that was needed for walks with the kids over Christmas, temps hovering around 1 deg C. If you were stood still it might let the chill in

Seems similar to the Montane Flux, I don't know how it compares though

I'm still a fan of more layers rather than a 'one top fits all conditions'.

I've multiple thin fleeces, a Pertex windproof and a full waterproof. Interchange as needed.

On really cold days a cheap puffa jacket for when I'm sitting on the hilltop for a break in subzero.

I've 'done' the Buffalo thing and a Montane version of a Rab VR. Brilliant things, but still not as flexible as separate Pertex and thin fleece.

Context is everything here btw, are we talking about walking the dog or going say over 2000' in mixed weather.

If it's for actual hillwalking, Matt is spot on, layering ftw.

Walking the dug, one warm jacket will do.

Cheers guys, I've got an old flux which has been demoted to a winter work jacket, I think I'm going to try another, I've got the icarus but dont find it too warm and the fill is a pain once washed.

I’m still a fan of more layers rather than a ‘one top fits all conditions’.

I normally take four tops with me on the hills.

A thin windproof shell (ME Echo jacket).
A thin insulated windproof steel (10 year old Rab Vapour Rise)
An insulating jacket (Alpkit Katabatic)
A Goretex Shell.

I then wear them in the following combos:

Wind shell only
VR only
VR + wind shell
VR + Katabatic (for lunch stops etc)

The GTX goes on top if it's raining hard, light rain I'll probably just let the current outer layer get a bit damp and hope it evaporates off later.

Another Buffalo special 6 vote. It’s my post ride / wear home / Wash bike jacket. Very warm.
If you put it over wet clothes it dries them pretty well.
WAY too warm to ride in though.

"Warm" is a relative term. For 'active' wear like cycling and running in sub-zero Polartec Alpha is the mutts-nuts - keep you warm, wicks moisture - quite happy to wear just a base layer and jacket when I run to the top of a mountain in sub-zero. However, I need to put another jacket over the top when I stop - Montane Prism is ideal, pretty showerproof and reasonably warm - also good for dog walking. I have a couple of down jackets that I only wear in dry or sub-zero.

I'm another with 2 Prism jackets. Got my first after they were recommended on here, they're perfect for everyday use. Not properly waterproof, so you'd want another layer for heavy rain but it's super versatile. Not massively warm on its own in winter but layer up underneath and it works in most conditions. Too warm for summer but great on cool evenings and packs relatively small. Used mine on loads of camping trips, bikepacking and the like. They come in a new design now but I wouldn't expect them to be far different.

I’ve got one of these-
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-mountain-trekking-hooded-padded-jacket-trek-100/_/R-p-176952
Wear it loads as a mid layer or outer or with extra layers.
So cheap it’s perfect for festivals, where I might lose it, and sitting round a fire where I might get a burn, or make it stink.
Walking today at -1 was a bit warm with a micro fleece under it.

When I was looking for a jacket recently I ordered the Katabatic from Alpkit and a down jacket from Decathlon. The Katabatic is a lovely jacket but for £40 the Decathlon works for me. Note, they size up small.

I certainly wouldn’t think about wearing a Special 6 on a bike, and it may be a bit warm for wear during heavy exertion, but I wear mine at work every day from November through to the end of March, pretty much. I wear a Helly Lifa underneath, and if it rains hard a cheap Peter Storm ‘waterproof’ over the top, just to stop the Buffalo from getting soaked.
As I’m outdoors for about eight hours, I’ve found it’s the most comfortable option, far better than layering with the gear issued at work, the outermost being a hi-viz nylon jacket, which just gets too hot and sweaty.

Countzero
Do you use it the Buffalo way with nowt underneath?
I tend to use a base layer but I know that’s not what they recommend.
Thx
Neil

I have just bought another Montane Prism, a fantastic bit of kit. It pretty much goes everywhere with me throughout the year.

I've just bought the latest version of the Prism, much better fit than my old Prism from a few years ago which was big and boxy.
Prism isn't really a warm jacket though, OK if you're walking in freezing conditions or to put on after a ride but no good if you're standing or sitting around.

^^^^ interesting to hear re the fit as I ordered a new Prism yesterday as my 6 yr old one is a bit tired. I also found that one to be a bit baggy in fit.

Buffalo special 6 from 20 odd years ago gets my vote, thing is mental warm when new, its only really been wearable since it started losing its pile a bit due to repeated washings.
The Buffalo is pretty rain resistant and very wind resistant but will wet through eventually, but still magically keeps you warm and dries pretty quickly. I wear mine over bare skin as layering it is too much heat for me.
If its waterproof and warm you want, I can recommend a Paramo jacket I bought in Aviemore in 2004. That thing has been out all day and night in -45 cold in the Canadian Rockies with not that much layers on underneath and kept me toasty. Far too warm to wear usually in the UK, does a mega job of keeping you dry in winter rain though. Beats the shit out of all the goretex jackets I have had.
For a decent , drizzle proof down jacket, I have been wearing a Berghaus Hydrodown thing. I have been out in the minus weather we have had lately, pr obably down to -2 or -3, with just a t shirt underneath, as well as hiking up mountains with the zips open, best of both worlds, but definitely not for sustained rain.

^^^^ interesting to hear re the fit as I ordered a new Prism yesterday as my 6 yr old one is a bit tired. I also found that one to be a bit baggy in fit.

The new Prism fits so much better than my old one, not as baggy. It feels like its shaped to my body a bit more, a much slimmer fit. I have also dropped to a small with the new Prism, the Medium fit was really big in size for me.

Prism isn’t really a warm jacket though, OK if you’re walking in freezing conditions or to put on after a ride but no good if you’re standing or sitting around.

Definitely not a standing around in sub-zero temps jacket. It can be made warm enough with the right layers and I think that's the beauty of it, it's useable year round in most conditions, whereas a warmer jacket will be limited to fewer activities. Very much depends how its gonna be used.

My arcteryx atom lt hoody is about ten years old now and getting a bit tired. It’s not super warm for sitting around in deep winter but as a versatile mid layer I’m struggling to see past just buying another one.

In theory I have a Montane extreme smock but it's been adopted... Today I managed to persuade against wearing multiple layers underneath. And for the first time ever there were no overheating complaints.

It's just about acceptable in somewhere like Peebles where "I've been outdoorsing" is an established look. But not for polite society. Also it's green so it has a slightly "tactical everything" vibe which is pretty naff.

Also it’s green so it has a slightly “tactical everything” vibe which is pretty naff.

+1

Any product with the word 'tactical' in the description or style gets a wide berth from me!

Agreed but it was cheaper and it was a pretty desperate purchase before strathpuffer

Update, bought a Mountain equipment triton jacket, seems to tick all the boxes for what I wanted it for.