MontBell Ex Light Down Jacket - Men's

The jacket itself is unbelievably light, while offering an admirable level of warmth. Initially I was concerned with the strength of the 7-denier, not 15-denier as BC lists, but after inspection that fear has dissolved as long as care is taken. The jacket lofts up nicely once it is taken from the package, shaken out, and the fabric stiffness has worn off. It packs down to nearly nothing, and again weighs even less than you can comprehend.

Now to the potential negatives, but not enough to warrant a downgrade in my opinion, is the fit. Torso length on the jacket falls right around the normal waistline for pants/shorts, if not just above, while the arms are slightly long and baggy. Keeping in mind this is meant as a mid-layer, and that it is down insulation, the short torso makes sense for wearing underneath outer layers, so as not to be exposed. Moreover the function is to heat the body's core, which it does well. Sleeve length is, again, slightly long and baggy, but not to the point of being cumbersome or incurring down compression reducing insulation.

All in all it fits and wears comfortably while offering my expected level of insulation; neither the sleeve length or bagginess impeded wearing it beneath a shell. As long as care is taken with the fabric, i.e. not bushwhacking through underbrush without a shell, it should hold up respectably. It then is the perfect piece for its intended application.

This is one of the best investments of all my gear! It runs a little short on length, so you may not wanna wear it "out and about". I'd recommend going up a size with this. For 20 degree weather all I need is a shirt underneath and this and I'm good. For windy days or rain use this bad boy under a waterproof layer/jacket and your good to go! Packs away into a small stuff sack, saving you a lot of room and weight. You'll think twice about packing a bulky fleece when you have this as an option. You will not be disappointed.

I'm 6'1" ~155lbs (an athletic build in other words) and the medium was a perfect fit.

This jacket is a revelation - weight, including the stuffsack, was an even 5.7oz on my digital scales after a couple of moderate trips. How often does an item measure up so exactly? It's warm as can be - temperatures close to freezing and I was still warm as toast at camp. When compared next to my old zip neck thermal L/S top - it's nearly half the weight for multiple times the warmth. This jacket is a no brainer for those wanting freedom from weight.

I really like that this jacket is so light, that the fabric feels great against the skin, and that it packs up incredibly small. I'm 6'1" & 175 lbs and based on the comments below I ordered size Large, thinking it might run a little small. Based on how it fits me I'd disagree that all MontBell item runs small, I feel this is true to size and sometimes wonder if I should have ordered a Medium. I've been using as an insulating/layering jacket for the most part, except on dry, low wind days it's good on it's own, although that's when I wish it had pockets. The fact that it has no pockets or loops of any kind actually makes it a bit challenging to use on its own. Overall I think the quality is good and I like this jacket.

I got this jacket as an insulation piece for a long term hike starting Feb. However, I went snowboarding and I left my gear at my parents house so I used this. I had this jacket, a waterproof shell, and a simple cotton long sleeve shirt on and was WARM even at 14 degrees F. If I laid in the snow without moving for an hour I am sure I would have gotten cold, but I was very happy and even surprised with the amount of warmth. Incredibly light weight, isn't bulky but is a little puffy (which gives enough dead space to keep you warm.)A few feathers have come out but that would happen with any down item I presume. The only one semi small issue I have is there are no pockets. That is fine since I would use it as insulation underneath something anyway.

I love this thing. Best midlayer I've ever worn. Warm enough on it's own to wander around Telluride at night in February (you might need to stop into the Last Dollar for a warm up.. but hey.. it's a down sweater!), and just perfect under a shell. Dries quickly, and holds it's loft well. The fabric is delicate, but then again, that's why it is so light and packs up so small.... 100 percent recommended. Fits fairly trim (I am 5'-10", 185 lbs and the medium is just barely big enough)

Super light, warmer than you would think based on weight (5.7oz.) The medium fit my 5'10", 160lb. frame perfectly with enough room for a mid to exp. weight base layer. Length is fairly short but that's the way I like it. Do be careful around campfires and overhanging branches though as this seems to be a fragile jacket (actually, I would call this a sweater). Who needs pockets anyway. A great garment as I continue my quest to lighten my load in the woods. Top shelf MontBell!

Outstanding jacket and good value. It weighs (and packs to) almost nothing and kept me warm on a trip to the Alps with temps in the 20's. Pair this with a lightweight waterproof shell and you probably won't need anything else for most endeavors.

6ft. at 180lbs. slim athletic build. Prchased LG. Just ok for me. Fit well. Light weight. Just not the warmth I was looking for. Returned it.

Took this jacket to keep warm in camp and supplement a light wieght sleeping system. When the weather started to turn chilly at night I threw this jacket on and watched the stars come out. Combined with MontBell's Down inner pants, WM Megalite bag and short Z-Lite pad I slept really warm the entire trip. I would trust that sleep system down to the lower 20's. This jacket suited my light weight backpacking trip perfectly, but I would avoid putting it through much hard abuse (ie., skiing, climbing, schwacking...)

Bought it over Christmas. Solid piece. Very warm. Looks good. Light as hell. Short in the body, arm length (I'm a 34.5) is perfect. If it's just going to be worn as a mid-layer, no probs. I won't be wearing this halter-top out to the bars though.

This jacket is the perfect weight for wearing alone, or as a layer under a shell for those bone-chilling cold days when making laps riding chairs.

My friends call it my Michael Jackson jacket because of the luster and shine of the exterior, similar to the Thriller jacket.

Nice piece, obviously one of the lightest on the market. Has no hand pockets, as others have mentioned, but why would you need hand pockets on a piece that is meant to be layered? I am in love with my Montbell Alpine Light Down Parka, which, with and XL seems perfectly tailored to my body (6'1", 185). However, this jacket in XL did not fit. I listened ad read that the jacket was short, so I was expecting that, however the sleeves are just giant! There seems enough excess material in the sleeve that they could have had a longer, better fitting jacket than what the final product was, at least for me anyways. IMO, I would try on before you buy so you know how the fit will be. On a positive note, the 900-fill down is superb and the outer layer of fabric is durable enough to withstand a decent amount of abuse.

Super light, unnaturally warm, durable, windproof, packs down to a softball. This jacket is just retarted.

Love the jacket.

Runs real small get next size up!

i agree with the review that this is an amazing sweater. sweaters don't have pockets and sometimes zip. it's not ever going to be your end-all be-all jacket in the winter backcountry and perhaps at that weight it can't be. this jacket is now an integral part of my layering system only. also if you have any gut at all, go for the larger size.

First the good: the size L is 5.7oz by my scales. It feels like nothing. Also, it packs into a tiny ball about the size of a baseball. I'm 175lbs and the L had enough space to layer but was more fitted than most larges. However, I am 6'6" and it was way too short. The bottom of the jacket hit right at my belly button. For an emergency jacket to carry when doing serious trekking, it would be great. However, my purpose was as a lightweight jacket to always carry when traveling. I wouldn't feel comfortable going out in "public" with a couple inches of mid/base layer showing. A real shame -- I'm now going to have to go with something that weighs twice as much, although at least I'll get a hood.

i bought one of these for my husband, and it was soooo great, i bought one for me too.

About as warm and light as you can get. Full on packable warmth at virtually no weight. Size Large 6.3 oz on my scale (6.5 oz in the stuff sack). Stuff sack can be used as a perfect patch to fix any holes. Which is why it gets 4 stars...

Super Light, but needs to be looked after as durability is not the highest. Under a parka awesome but as an outer layer tread lightly.

On the AT recently with my sons. Temps were high 20s at night and mid-50s during the day. I layered a poly-T, Capilene 3, and MontBell Ex light Down jacket. Got cool, though not cold, while sitting around on the cabin porch not too far from the fire. I was wondering about the 900-fill down! If I had been on Mt. Rainier or Shasta, I am afraid that I would have froze the during summer climbing season. Seemed above average to good on the AT in moderate temps, but I am skeptical about climbing. Fit very well--true to size. Layered very well over aforementioned clothing and under a tech. shell. Good movement. Personally, I would only wear in the back country--looked like a shiny bag in certain light.

Awesome jacket for keeping warm on those breaks between skinning and booting whilst adjusting gear or eating.

Regulates temperature amazingly. To those -15 degree days on the lift, to that 90 degree hour inside the lodge waiting for your girl friend to suit up when stupidedly you suited up as soon as you left the car.

Get lots of compliments on the looks, and I love the lightweight feel.

This jacket is incredibly light. It comes with a stuff sack that seems to be made out of the same material as the jacket. It is feather light. I wore it at camp in the morning and nights, with only a base layer underneath. The temperature was in the mid-to-high 30's and low 40's. I stayed very comfortable. No complaints what so ever from this product. Mont-Bell hit the nail on the head with this one.

Fist things first, I an not a sedentary nor skinny guy and I keep my metabolism up if possible.

My test run was with two layers of IceBreakers and this down jacket.

That said, I took the jacket out for a whorl, it was about 7 C or 45 F. It was so light I hardly knew of it. It broke a hard wind around me, and twas extremely comfortable.

The temperature dropped to near 0 and after driving 20 miles I noticed I didn't have any heat in the car. The only reason I noticed this is because I did not have my down shoes on. "/

The color red does draw the attention of those in camouflage, those on harleys and depraved womem all smiling sharply as I walked by.

they appear to have shaved an ounce off of their previously light weight jacket....this one is down to 5.7 oz! No pockets, no frills...perfect for winter desert belays or Canadian Rockies summer belays....of course you would not want to try and climb in it....I love the weight in terms of strapping its self contained bag to my harness, would also consider it a mid layer ski and ice climbing opt.

i'm reviewing the men's but i have the exact same jacket for myself in women's. we live in EXTREME cold and need any advantage we can get. this jacket's superlight/superthin yet warm qualities are goign to be a stellar leg up. it will fit under anything without bulk. wore it recently during a freak snow at 12,000 feet under a windstop fleece and was nice and toasty.

This jacket is amazing. It doesn't weigh anything ( I know it says 5.4 oz technically, but it doesn't feel like it weighs ANYTHING!). I picked this up as part of my sleep system for hammocking. The first night out the temps dropped down to 34 degrees and I had my arms and torso out of my sleeping bag all night long and was completely comfortable. I also sported the jacket around camp at temps slightly above 50 and it was comfortable then as well! The downside, it is very apparent that it is not durable...you wouldn't dare go bushwacking with it. It's made to be UBER-LIGHT and it does that, but be careful with it....I gentle fondle and caress mine, but hey, that's just me. Happy trails.

its so light. its so warm. its so good. under 6oz, great mid layer for skiing or a "just in case" jacket for backpacking.

Pros: Waterproof,um yea waterproof because I lost my coffee all over this thing and it rolled right off. So they say it is waterproof yea well OK sounds good, I believe it. Nice loft, a wind dead stop, so light you forget that its winter, sorta, NO pockets as in the garment, the material is too light to support a pocket anywhere on it. Excellent emergency wear 4 da backpack. This jacket is the perfect base layer if you don't need a hoodie, that's a for sure and built as such, the Alpine light has a hood go there if needed.Cons: the brick red is not brick red just Red, so beware boys don't get labeled.