Mountain Hardwear Sub Zero SL Hooded Down Jacket - Men's

This jacket is fantastic. I originally had the Phantom, but its lack of windproofing and a hood inspired me to get this jacket instead. I am 5'9" and 150 pounds, and the M fits great, not too short or too baggy. And now to address some of the many complaints in the other reviews. The zipper is fine, I have no idea what anyone is talking about there. Plastic teeth, metal slider, YKK, and the top part of the zipper kind of seats in the bottom part so that you can zip it more easily. The hood does zip on, the snaps must have been an older model. The "nylon band" problem has been fixed too. One person complained about the style, and to that I'd just say that it is a damn good-looking jacket if you're looking for a burly down jacket. It's not a fashion accessory, it's a tool, but the colors look good and the logos are tastefully placed. Anyone who knows outdoor gear will know that you are rolling with the best. As far as warmth goes, 40 degrees is about the warmest you can wear it in comfortably, and I've been down to zero with no base layer, khakis on the bottom, and no problem at all. I love this jacket, just had it on a week-long camping trip in the desert (freezing every night) and it was fantastic, plus didn't get beat up on rocks, bushes, etc. Highly recommended.

I bought the Conduit SL for the coldest part of the winter and it has exceeded all expectations. I've worn it with temperatures as low as -20 F and as high as 30 F. Although it was incredibly warm at the low end, I didn't feel overheated at the higher end. The material seems to be very durable as I put this jacket through some abuse over the past ski season especially while skiing through trees. Wish it was a bit longer but I didn't notice anything adverse about that regarding deep powder days.

Thought the jacket was quite good.. wasn't sure at first if the yellow colour was too much ... but yep it all worked out ok ..am visible but it is not an over the top jacket ..anyway .. the sizing was also correct goes to shows that the sizing chart works

The Sub Zero SL Hooded Jacket is a great part of the MHW line of products. I live in Colorado where temps can get way down there. I haven't had the chance to test this jacket out in sub zero conditions, but it kept me nice and toasty at about 15 degrees the other night when my wife and I took the dogs for a walk. The hood is definitely a must. I used to have the Sub Zero Jacket but traded up for this one and I am very happy with the addition of the hood, plus it zips off easily if you don't feel like having it attached. The jacket is noticeably puffier than the Sub Zero Jacket, however the fill near the elbows does seem to disburse into other areas when resting your elbows on hard surfaces. A couple of notable things for those thinking about buying this jacket is that it doesn't really need the dual zipper and it is a pain every now and then. Also, I'm 6'1" 190 lbs. and I went with the XL. I had the L in the Sub Zero without the hood and wasn't satisfied with the length in the back. When leaning over the back would lift over my waist sometimes exposing skin in cold conditions. Take mine and others' advise on sizing up for this jacket, you will appreciate it. All in all I love this jacket...I just wish it was available in the same colors as the Sub Zero.

The best way for me to review this jacket is to comare it to the somewhat more expensive Western Mountaineering Vapor down jacket. Let me just start by saying that the Mountain Hardwear Sub-Zero (hooded) is a great all-rounder. It is a very puffy jacket, but I really like the style. However, for some reason it does not seem quite as warm as it's puffiness would suggest, especially when compared to my Western Mountaineering Vapor, which is both warmer and less puffy than the Sub-Zero due to significantly higher down rating. Usually I wear either a fleece sweater and/or base-layer under either jacket. The Sub-Zero has a good overall design except the velcro on the hood does not function when it gets iced up. This is not cool (or should I say warm) when the wind howling and blowing those sharp stinging ice crystals around. I added a couple of metal button snaps to the hood which work pretty well, but stock, this is the jacket's most significant design flaw. Also the velcro squares over the chest zipper seem to get in the way and slow you down more than anything else when you're trying to unzip to vent after overheating on a ski run. So that's one definite design flaw and another minor annoyance, but the first can easily be fixed without too much effort, and the second isn't at all a deal-breaker. As a matter of fact, this is actually my second Mountain Hardware Sub-Zero hooded jacket, and other than a bit of a color difference (black vs. metalic gray) is indistinguishable from my previous 10-year old one that some low-life opportunist snaked when I accidentally left it behind in a restarant. Compared to my somewhat more expensive Western Mountaineering Vapor, the Sub-Zero is perhaps a bit less warm, more puffy (due to a lower down quality rating), and heavier in overall weight, but it has a hood, which my Western Mountaineering Vapor does not. (I was not impressed with Western Mountaineering versions with hoods, as they were designed not to zip off but to tuck into a freakishly large colar.) Anyway, having a hood, particularly a puffy insulated zip-off one, is certainly nice and useful for a number of situations, such as walking around town in a blizzard. I have noticed that some brands have hoods that zip into the jacket, but they are either not insulated, or poorly insulated, or have other functionality compromises that make it not worth the hastle. This is not the case with the Sub-Zero hood - other than the (easily modifiable) flaw of use velcro instead of snaps, it is the best hood I have ever seen in a down jacket. Just keep track of it when it is off the jacket so you don't lose it. On the other hand, the Mountain Hardwear Conduit water-resistance system is not all it is cracked up to be. It is simply horrible in wet slushy snow conditions - you will get sopped and it will lose most if it's insulation. However, as long as it is cold enough for the snow not to melt significantly on the jacket, it is just fine, and it has kept me warm in heavy snowfall (with extra layers underneath of course). However, in rain or slushy snowfall it's a disaster. My Western Mountaineering Vapor has undeniably much better water-resistance. So what does the Mountain Hardwear Sub-Zero have over the Western Mountaineering Vapor? Well, aside from the aformentioned hood issues, I can think of three things. First, since the material of the Sub-Zero is thicker, it sheds down only minimally. (The WM Vapor sheds so badly that it regularly leaves your underlayers looking like you rolled in a chicken coup.) Second, also since the material is thicker (especially in the shoulders) it appears to be more durable and less suseptible to rips and tears, especially from ski and snowboard edges. Third, the Sub-Zero has more pockets. So my take is that for everyday use, durability, and most days on the ski slopes, the Mountain Hardwear Sub-Zero is best. However, if you are a backpacker looking for absolute light-weight and ultimate warmth without the bulk, or need a down jacket that still works okay in wet and melty conditions, and don't mind feathers on your underlayers, then the Western Mountaineering Vapor would be more appropriate.

I just bought this jacket. I'm 6' tall, and I chose the medium size, it's perfect! It's the sapphire blue one, and this color is very, very nice.
I needed a deep hood (I have a fairly long neck), and this one has it, I needed a high quality down jacket, I got it, I needed a warm down jacket, I totally got it.
This jacket will be used from urban walking to mountain climbing, since here in Quebec, we get -20° temperatures 3 months during winter, and it likes to go down to -35°C at least once a week.
I am not cold sensitive like most lower 48 U.S states citizens, so my thoughts about a warm jacket may not be yours.
I don't have any issue using the 2-way zipper, it's a high quality YKK zipper, what could you want more?
Did I say it is light? It is very light.
The fabric and the whole thing is very high quality, and I highly recommend it.

UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!
Minus 17 degrees celcious in southern Patagonia in Argentina walking towards Mt Fitzroy....WOW!!!!
Warmth, confort, wind proof, water proof , snow proof....Well , I have no more words to describe the sheer excellence of this jacket.
People who complain about minor things should go and get a poncho ( which are warm by the way).
Everything in this jacket is pure luxury and for the price, you cannot go wrong.
Now Im taking it to Antartica then back skiing in the Australian Alps.
Recommended for the true adventurer!!!
Roger from Sydney.

This jacket is great. I took it up for an overnight trip to Camp Muir on Rainier. I bought the XXL. it fits well over my base layer, soft shell and Tech shell... if you're into that. Hood is zippered onto the jacket and is large enough to fit a helmet underneath.

After wearing this jacket on the 9th day. The zipper on this Mountain Hardware SL really sucks!!! I had to make 6 attempts and finally when i had light i figured it out. The material on the jacket is nice overall but the zipper has got to go!!!. I have read many reviews on the zipper and took a gamble and it also failed on me. The zipper will not join nicely and the pull tab is way too small. Try zipping this in darkness and you are gonna get pretty aggrivated........At one point i was gonna burn the stupid jacket......

Firstly, I love it to death, and it keeps me toasty now that Ithaca, NY has gone from 40 to near zero at night. I'm a very tiny dude (5'4") and not built, so I ordered a small. That was probably a mistake...if you want to put it over your other layers while belaying or striking camp, buy a size larger than you need. My men's small is fine for around Collegetown, but there is no way I'll fit it over my hard-shells - I should have gone a medium. Additionally, cinching the waist cord made it go - the fabric at the back to which the bungee cord was sewn tore away - within the first 3 weeks (bought it 4 weeks ago). So relying on the lifetime guarantee there. The 'small' on me goes just to the waist, just barely, so it's not keeping the butt-cheeks warm..although climbers may appreciate this (or not?). I think others have commented on the rest..fleece handwarmers, great loft, good in the details save ONE!! The zipper is a pain to use..normally takes 4-5 tries to get it to work..making sure the zippers are right down the bottom. Disappointing for a $300 jacket. The hood is great..don't buy the version without. The neck can be a bit tight if you're wearing e.g. a softsthell hoodie or fleece with a high neck underneath..cough cough. Otherwise I love it. Can't comment on rain, although you won't want to use it in above freezing anyway. Just be aware that a 'small' really is very small, although I can't comment on mediums. I guess I can always wear it as a super mid-layer! Compacts to size of summer down sleeping bag, w/ about the same weight.
tight lines!

I bought this jacket for a mountain climbing trip in case of bad weather (under normal conditions I would wear a fleece and a GoreTex shell). In the end, due to bad weather, we didn't even go to the summit, but I wore the jacket all the time in camp at night, and whenever it would get chilly. I have no doubt it would stand up to windy subzero conditions, but even as a mobile comforter, it is a great buy!

This is a really great jacket. It is extremely lightweight and packable, and is incredibly warm. The hood is excellent and can wrap you up tight to stop any snow or rain from coming in. The only downfall is the length, it comes right to your hips and I wish it was a little longer. Also I love the logo!

Like A.D., I tested it during the very cold temp we got in Quebec, I was wearing it at -38, and with only a T-shit underneath, I was nice and toasty. I tested it in -30 and with 60km/h winds, and it is highly wind resistant, I couldn't feel any cold spot in the jacket. It dissipates moisture very effectively, when I was supposed to sweat, it just... never happened.
Again, I highly recommend it.

Toasty warmth and durability earn this piece 5 stars and a place in my pack. I've taken this bad boy to AK and Patagonia over the past year and it's been awesome. This is a good expedition/winter camping jacket. Packs down small enough to haul around for day touring and then makes a great pillow at night. Key piece in the winter arsenal.

After looking at several down jackets online, I decided on this. I wanted something that would be very warm, compress easily, and had a down hood. It was all this and more. I am 6'2", 195 lbs. and the L fits me very well. Like all MH gear it runs short (which makes it all the better to accommodate a harness) but keep in mind if you go larger it mostly gets bigger in the torso. Very warm, very light, and stands up well. I give it five stars and I can be pretty picky about gear.

This coat is amazing. I've used it for about 3 years, and it fits well and is very warm. I've used it when snow camping at -10F in CO and found it to be a great at keeping me toasty. The hood adds a lot of warmth and the whole coat is like wearing a sleeping bag. It's always in my pack on winter trips and has not let me down! This coat does not pack up very small, about 6" by 9", and with the hood attached it is a chore to get in the stuff sack. On day trips I usually remove the hood for less bulk. The hand warmer pockets are great and the internal mesh pocket allows you to warm up your fuel or nalgene. The great thing about this down is that besides being super warm, it's windproof and pretty water-resistant. Unless it's a downpour or wet snowstorm I don't need to use a gore-tex shell over this coat.
I'm 6'3" 200lb and have a size L, and typically layer it with a fleece or softshell. It's kept me from shivering through the night or day more times than I can remember!

SO I think I figured out the zipper, I noticed if you hold the coat tight and make the zipper tight then the zipper seems to snap ( so to speak) and zips right up. I recently got the mens small because they were out of the womens med and the mens is great. The color is way better than the womens and it is so light weight and super warm. I live at 9000 ft we get several feet of snow and this coat is the only one I would say is bomber!! Thanks Hardwear!!

A long time ago, I determined that I was never getting a down jacket because I didn't want to look ridiculous. However, when I took up winter mountaineering, I quickly realized that sitting around camp after dark gets pretty chilly, even with a few layers of polar tec and a shell or two. So, I broke down and borrowed an old 500 loft EMS puffy from the outing club. I was sold. After shopping around a lot, I settled on the Sub Zero (the hood was a big selling point).

This jacket has exceeded my expectations in every way. I took it up Mt. Washington in February and was toasty warm for our summit lunch break. Well, my arms and torso were warm, my exposed face and hands nearly froze. I was able to wear the hood over my helmet and not feel like the jacket was getting pulled up. The internal mesh water bottle pocket is sized to hold a nalgene perfectly and the intrnal zip pocket is great for storing the included stuff sack. The hand pockets have a brushed lining and are totally inside the insulation to maximize warmth. I like the reinforced material (Conduit SL) on the shoulders, neck, and arms, but wish they used the nylon instead of Conduit on the inside of the collar.

I'm 5'10" and about 145# and the medium fits just right. I can zip off the hood and wear it with just a tee shirt underneath when I'm going to class or put the hood on and layer it over a baselayer, vest, fleece and softshell when I need to.

With this jacket, I'm glad I finally made the switch to down jackets. A really excellent purchase.

I've just received this jacket that I hade ordered on this site 2 days ago. I wasn't sure about the size. I am 6' 195 broad shouldered and this jacket fits me perfectly. Enough space to put layers under it. The stuff sack that comes with is really useful for hiking. This jacket is really comfortable (more than I had expected) and even though its -20 in the cold Canadian winter, the jacket keeps me warm with only a t-shirt under it. But I have to admit that the zipper seems to be bad quality but its the only negative point I can say about this jacket. Very light and very warm. Go for it if you fear the cold!!

This jacket is an absolute must. Every piece of Mountain Hardwear gear I have has been well made and this jacket definately is. Just putting the jacket on feels good - you would swear it generates heat. I've worn it to about -20 degrees F and was toasty warm. It even makes a great pillow when night comes around.

I live in Chicago and this is exactly what I was looking for in a jacket! The windy and cold days are nothing when I put this thing on. It is "puffy" but it is not extremely "puffy". I also found the jacket to be light on me. I definitely recommend that you do not go one size larger. I am 5'5" 160lbs and almost went with a medium. That would have been a big mistake since small still allows enough room.

The MHW Hooded SL is a true alpine jacket and an understatement of quality, function and warmth. It is both waterproof and very breatheable. It kept me warm for 2 days at 12,000 ft, 5 degrees F and with a steady 20 mph wind. With layering, it has an easy comfort range of -25 to 20 degrees F. It is not a yuppie street jacket. The jacket is cut snug so if you are in the upper half of your size range, buy the next larger size, especially if you layer for cold temperatures.

best down jacket ever! And you better get it with the hood, you'll be kicking yourself if you don't!

The conduit SL laminate used in this jacket really works. I was caught in an all day and all night long hall skin when avalanche danger prevented my party from using the easy way home. As we dropped in elevation, snow turned to ran and at around 2 am I was completely soaked, very cold, and very lost. The only thing that was dry in my pack was my Sub Zero SL Hooded Down Jacket and I thought this would be a good time to test out the conduit SL coating. I put it on and instantly got warmer. But the icing on the cake was that I stayed warm for another two hours even though it was still raining. Luckily just as the down started to get wet, we got picked up and taken home. So if your backcountry adventures require a down jacket that can handle a little bit of wet weather this is the jacket for you.

very warm jacket, love the zipped hood, and the weight.

This is truly a great product. I've only had the chance to use it a few times so far but WOW! I wore it in a blizzard at Lake Tahoe with just a tshirt underneath and was actually hot. The quality seems outstanding and very durable. It truly is like wearing a down sleeping bag, so comfy and warm. MHW makes great products and this is no exception. Much better than North Face and not everyone and their mother wears it around. Definitely buy this jacket

okay, well i would give this jacket 5 stars except for one major thing. But before that let me talk about the pro's of the jacket. The conduit sl material lives up to the reputation of being wind and water resistant. Keep in mind that this is no gor-tex pro and should not be used as so. 650 fill is adequate for the most extreme weather that marquette mi can offer, including temps in the -15's with windchills of up to -30 or 40. The hood is well designed, and unlike the parka it zips on and off which makes it better. the cinched waste does not compare to a powder skirt, but it is not supposed to.This jacket is not made for those deep pow pow days. The double zip feature is perfect because it is very convenient for belaying.And now to the MAJOR con. The zipper of this jacket is extremely frustrating. I have talked to a local shop owner who has reported numerous sub zero sl jackets being warrantied for faulty zippers.My jacket somehow got zipped up unevenly and jammed. when i went to unzip the jacket i blew out 3 teeth on the left side of the jacket. luckily it was near the bottom and i can still wear it for now. these blown out teeth are a major problem though. Backcountry has awesome customer service and will replace this zipper at with no problems, but still, come on? For close to 300 dollars quality should not even be an issue. By all means, buy this jacket, but beware of major zipper issues. They are prevalent and will ruin your day.

Great Coats, I bought for me and the Wife. Paid too much though to get them to the UK 78$ charged by Backcountry and $180 charged by UPS.!!!
Hoping now for the Coldest Winter in the UK ever.

I tried on every down jacket you could possibly imagine before deciding to go with this jacket. It fits very similar to TNF Nuptse, and an inch longer than the Patagonia Down Jacket and the non-hooded Sub Zero. I live in Wisconsin and our winters are extremely cold. It has been between -10 and 0 Degrees Farenheight with 20 mile/hour winds the past week and this jacket has kept me extremely warm, even with only a long sleeve t-shirt underneath. The ripstop nylon seems durable and highly water repelent as well. A higher, more durable denier nylon covers the back of the arms to increase durability. If packability is a concern, it stuffs down to about the size of a nalgene. As far as sizing, I am 5' 10"...170lbs...34/35 sleeve lenght and I bought a medium. It fits about three inches below my belt line with plenty of room to fit my MHW monkey man fleece underneath.

Note: The hood on my jacket is zip off, not buttoned as stated in the description. They must have changed this jacket to a zippered hood for the 2008 model.

Bottom Line...buy this jacket, you wouldn't be disappointed!

I bought this jacket 1 month ago. I live in Quebec and during that time we faced two serious waves of very cold temp (as low as -30 on several days). I can say for sure that this jacket will keep you warm in those brutal temperatures, even wearing ony a t-shirt underneath. It's perfect for the pauses and the lunch time during winter activities, as it packs small and it's light enough to bring on any trip in a smal backpack.

As for the size, I'm 5'10 185lbs and I hesitated between the M and the L. I finally chose the L and I'm glad I did! It can fits comfortably over all my layers (base + Polartec 200 + hard shell) and when i'm wearing it alone, it's not that puffy because you can give it a closer fit with the draw cords at the bottom and in the back. Also, don't forget that the down need to have enough space without being compressed in order to keep you as warm as it can.

Snowmobiling, after-ski, mountaineering, hut trips, long walk to nowhere this jacket will keep you warm. I wore this in -10 degrees with a t shirt and i was sweating my butt off. If you are cold all the time this is the jacket for you. If you are warm all the time and like to go out in the cold this is the jacket for you. When the other layers just won't cut it because its just that cold, you want this jacket and the hood don't leave home without it..

Used for so far: Twice at 12,500 dry windy base camp in Rockies at -0 at dusk, night, and pre-dawn.
Performance: 650fp kept me comfortably warm. Can feel the heat retention almost as soon as it goes on. Can't wait to test in some extreme snowier even colder weather. Pockets are placed correctly for use with pack if needed while pack is in use- ie. this is a jacket for non-active moments, except for crazy places like Everest, etc. There is not a shortage of pocket space in this thing, inside or out. Zip-off hood very warm and shapes to face nice. Draw cords really keep out the breezes. Appears down not quite 650fp in last two sleeve baffles, but this works good for fitting inside glove gauntlets. Never noticed any cold down there anyway. Thing could weigh a little less and pack smaller, if made from PacLite, but this is the best down/waterproof exterior combo out right now. A true waterproof down jacket would have welded baffles- this doesn't, but consequently is more breathable. Stay in your tent if it's a wet blizzard. The less weather resistant, yet much lighter weight option would be the Phantom, but it had no hood, and appears to have less drawcord options. The Tiger color is definitely a great emergency color if SAR is trying to find.

Best down belay jacket I have found and I looked all over. Checked out most other brands and their offerings. I am a Marmot kinda guy but this jacket beat out all the competition.

I am 6'2" and 215 the XL fits me great.

This the ideal jacket if you are an rock&ice climber/mountaineer and or backpacker. My XL comes in at 2lbs 5.5oz. If you are looking for an about town jacket/ski jacket I reccomend and own the Marmot Iceland Jacket at 3lbs 3 oz or get the sub zero parka. The sub zero coat is on the short side for wearing a harness so it will not cover your butt. It is a full on climbing parka not a fashion or ski oriented jacket.

The zipper works fine you just need to know how to work a double zipper. Why a double zipper? Try tieing into a rope, putting on your harness, or messing with waist bands with layers on with a bulky jacket and you have to unzip to see what you are doing. If it is a single zip you will need to open it up completely. With a double you only open the bottom. Keeps the heat in better.

The construction is superb and the water resistance a big plus. The hood rules and it has plenty of pockets. Compressablilty is high and the baffling keeps out the cold spots. Down distribution is good in my opinion. Final word xl is 2lbs 5.5oz's of supreme warmth you won't leave behind cause it is too bulky or heavy. It won't do you any good at home or in the car when the cold front rolls in.

Bottom line the best belay jacket for the lower 48 in temps above -20 or so depending on your metabolism. belive me I have looked. Heading to white mountains, rockies, or cascades and this is the perfect companion. For anything above 18-20k you my want to look at the absolute zero or an expediton jacket from marmot or tnf.

They are perfect for our Winter weather light and smart looking.
Watch out for the Import Duties, $258 !!!!!!

Finally received my Hooded Sub Zero last week. For those of you still wondering about the hood attachment - it's zippered and not snap-on. Size-wise, I am 179cm, about 165lbs, and I ordered a large. The fit is great - arms length and back length are perfect, although it's a quite loose around my mid-section. But the elastic draw cord at the bottom of the jacket tapers it nicely to my waist.

So far I haven't taken this jacket below 0 C (34F) yet, but it,s really warm, and very comfortable. The hood when attached is a bit of overkill for the city as it makes the jacket look huge. But I'll definitely use the hood when I hit the snow in a few weeks time.

I also have the MHW Vertical Jacket (large), and the Sub Zero fits nicely underneath. It's a super-snug fit, but in no way restrictive. I can lift my arms and move around just as I would with my Vertical jacket and a light fleece. I was originally intending to use the Sub-Zero / Vertical combo for skiing, but I think this combination will just be too warm!

All-in-all, this is an awesome jacket, well priced, and I highly recommend it.

This jacket seals well along all external access points, there’s little to no loss of heat or cold air getting in. The internal pockets are perfect for hiking/packing, the mesh one will hold large items (thermal hats, balaclava, and more). The fleece-lined external pockets are convenient during those moments when the gloves must be off. The sleeves are perfect for me (at 6'7" and 37” needs in sleeves), but the body is a little short (right to the hip). Hood attachment keeps you VERY warm (almost no need for other head protection in sub-zero temps). You will look and feel much larger (it "puffs out" more than most down jackets). Problem: the main front zipper is a tough find (the jacket puffs out a lot), and it can take several attempts to get it in all the way so it will work. Overall a great jacket! Where was this when I was younger?

This is my first Mountain Hardwear product (I live in the UK, M.H. is not widely available!) and certainly won't be the last. This jacket is made exceptionally well, is very very warm and makes winter climbing in Scotland & the Lake District so much nicer, a class jacket.

I haven't had my jacket out in the backcountry yet, but its first trip out impressed me none the less. Temps in the teens and twenties with BB sized frozen rain/snow in Park City, Utah. All I felt was warm and soft. When the cold started to bite through to my ears, I just popped up the hood, ahhhhh...

This jacket is plush. Plenty of insulation with lots of loft. You may not want to take it off when you get home. I have yet to truly test its capabilities, but it's kept me very warm but not overheated from 20F-40F. It wasn't until I started doing some strenuous exercise (snow shovelling)in 35F temps that I started to overheat. The plastic cinching devices on the bottom of the jacket could be stronger. Unfortunately, a little movement will open up the bottom of the jacket requiring you to keep cinching it closed to keep out cold air. Also, be warned that this jacket is puffier than it looks in the pictures, although it's not quite at the George Constanza level. Overall an awesome jacket capable of serious backcountry outings.

I bought this jacket for using during the cold, damp Scottish winters. It’s toasty warm and well made, just as you'd expect from Mountain Hardwear. I tried a number of down jackets before going for this, the best by far. The hood is a real bonus.

Great puffy jacket. Ditto everyone but two things: Down moves from elbows, so there's no insulation there, and the 2-way zipper jams a lot. It needs a one-way zipper-length as this coat does not merit a double slider.

Best down jacket ever. I own 3 other down jackets and this is the most comfy, durable and versatile, even in a warm country like australia, where it does get cold sometimes!

I'll echo what has been said time and again on various review sites. The zippers are horrid! To start the jacket, it takes SEVERAL attempts to start the jacket. Secondly from so much give and take with the zipper, the material is starting to fray to the point of eventual tear at the end where the covered it with some thin tape on the left end. The zipper size is also really small. I remind that this is a deep cold jacket where most likely you're wearing gloves. Simple zipper issues should never happen on such a jacket. My Canada Goose Parka thick big zipper assembly is day and night better! The only other issues I have is the down on the sleeves moves to the back (especially in the shoulder areas), so you're ALWAYS futzing about to MOVE the down (which is a pain) over the naked two pieces of nylon in the front--in frigid cold, you have no insulation to shield you unless you inspect your jacket regularly. In addition, each sector is inconsistent with the amount of fill--the bottom areas had markedly less fill on mine. Another issue is that the jacket is too short in the front--one or two inches would make a world of difference. Since this jacket uses waterproof material they should tape the seams--it really isn't waterproof and is false advertising. I'm returning the jacket and will keep looking...

Bought this for my husband and he loves it! The down hood is the best part - really keeps you warm on those -40 mornings!

This is my first down jacket and I love it!!! I have never owned anything by Mountain Hardware and this was a great first buy! This jacket has so much quality and is super warm (a little expensive, but worth it). I bought this jacket for a 10 day Winter trip in the White Mountains and it never let me down. At first I was worried about the 650 fill and it's just as warm as all the others. The Conduit SL waterproof system is wicked nice since down is so delicate to water. I threw this bad boy on at camp or on the side of the trail and I was roastin in no time!!! The hood definitely makes this jacket, you can feel the difference in warmth when you put it over your head. If you're wondering about size you should go one size up from your normal street wear. Definitely a great jacket and if your looking into down jackets this should be the one.

I ordered the Sub Zero and never looked back. It is a great jacket. Great quality. Higly recommended! Backcountry had the best price around. No problems here.

This is my first down jacket, and this weekend was the first test. It seems to be quite waterproof, and the hood is just incredible. Feels like I'm in bed although I'm eating lunch on a summit in wind and sleet. My jacket is size L, and I'm 186 cm and about 80kg. Snug fit.

So far I have used the coat snowboarding 15 times this season. I have never had to wear anything else besides a long sleeve t-shirt with temps hitting -10F. The hood is unreal, its like being in a bomb shelter. If anything its a little to bulky but hey, your not going to get cold with it on. Once it hits 40F or above you cant ride with this coat on, even without layers. I am 6ft 2in 230lb, and I have a XXL. Its the perfect size of slightly to big:)

Everyone else is correct in saying the length of the coat is too short. That wasn't my biggest problem with this coat, which I had to return for a refund. The worst part of the coat, in my mind, was the ill-advised decision to place the sticky/catchy side of the hook-and-loop on the same size of the front zipper as the nylon band that's meant to keep the zipper from catching on the jacket on its way up. Before I ever so much as put the coat on, the hook-and-loop was attaching itself to the nylon band, preventing the ability to zipper without first pulling the hook-and-loop apart from the nylon band. To make matters worse, the nylon band was pulling and becoming damaged worse each time the hook-and-loop was pulled off it. Due to this, the brand new coat was damaged before I ever put it on and was getting worse all the time. Had the hook-and-loop been attached to the coat in the opposite way, this would be solved but Mountain Hardware was more interested in telling me this is not a construction flaw and they have been making the coat this way for several years; there was nothing they could or would do to address the problem. Luckily, this site was much cooler about it than was Mt Hardware, and I was able to simply return the coat for a full refund. It's too bad, because I actually liked the coat but was unwilling to deal with the zippering/hook-and-loop issue each and every time I want to put the coat on, nor was I willing to accept a coat that continuously and increasingly damaged itself.

I just bought this jacket and find that I love all the features that are included. It is definitely is much more puffy than the pictures reveal, and is crazy warm. Can't wait to head out this winter in it.

I purchased the Sub Zero SL Hooded Jacket and am completely satisfied with it. I am amazed at how warm it keeps me even on bitterly cold days up at Breckinridge.

This jacket looks fantastic and is super warm. However, I found that it is too short for me. It barely reaches my belt line and I am only 5'10". This would be okay if it had a powder skirt to keep the wind and snow from blowing up the jacket but it does not. I had to return this and am ordering something a little longer with a powder skirt.

I tried this one on but the length was a bit too short, and I'm a short guy. Probably ok for around town, but if it gets windy on the mountain I would be wishing for better coverage. I also found the down insulation in the arms to be quite thin... thought maybe it was a bad item, returned it for another, and found it had the same problem. I ended up going with the Mountain Hardware Sub zero PARKA which seemed to address all those concerns and is a really nice parka!

The Sub Zero Hooded Jacket will certainly keep you warm. I wore the jacket on several frigid night walks in upper state New York. I the only slight problem I have is that I wish the Jacket was a bit longer in the back. Other than that this jacket is like wearing a down sleeping bag outdoors. The Sub-Zero is warm, fits well, and is constructed well. Plenty of pockets, and the hood is wonderful to have since it offers more warmth. This jacket is great!

wow...skiing in -15 temps with 15 mph winds I was nice and toasty climbing pikes peak at -35 wind chill at 13,700feet in December could not even phase me I would recommend getting the hood with it really makes the jacket do well when the temp drops!

This is a GREAT jacket for any winter pursuit! The hood and collar make this jacket extremely warm. There are also numerous deep pockets for keeping various things organized winter camping. The fabric is advertised as highly water resistant and it certainly is. Even in wet snow, this jacket retains it's loft. I would highly, highly recommend this jacket to anyone looking for a good winter parka.

I have only had this coat for a few weeks but it is the warmest coat I have ever worn. Even my wife who is always cold says she doesn't think you could ever get cold in this coat. I spend 4 days in the white mountains and on Mt Washington and it was the best even in below zero temps and over 50mph winds. I think the less you wear under it the warmer it is. Truly a quality product.

This is a pretty sweet down jacket. It was definitely wind proof in Austria and when I was in a light rain it shrugged of the wetness, no problem. Well made and a good deal. I would recommend this jacket. Very warm, also.

This is the best down jacket out there. The fact that it is waterproof makes it very versatile. I was a little hesitant about the hood because I thought I would not use it but I find myself using it all the time. It is a great jacket for everyday use. I must say that it was strongly recommended by your website and I couldn’t agree more. When in doubt about a product I would definitely trust your recommendations. Two thumbs way up for both the jacket and this company!

I got this for my husband as a B-day gift. He was very surprised and he loved it. He liked the fact it had a hood but can zip off. He liked all the pockets and said it is VERY warm and VERY lightweight. He loves how the sleeves are Velcro to make it as tight as you want around your wrist. I am very glad I purchased this jacket.

I've purchased quite a few MHW products in the past and have always been impressed with their innovation and quality. This product is no different. If you are going to be outside for a prolonged amount of time in frigid temperatures 30 degress and lower, you will not regret getting this jacket. Temperature any warmer than that and the jacket may be overkill! As I head into the himalayas I am confident I can stay protected and you will too! The jacket is durably built with the extra material on the shoulders and you can literally feel the hood reflecting the warmth right back to your noggin'. My only gripe is that the jacket seems a little on the short side, but if this is a real problem you can always get the MHW Sub Zero Parka!

This jacket might be okay for folks on the street in a northern city, as it is warm, but the zipper and length of the jacket are not made for outdoor enthusiasts. The zipper is particularly frustrating!

This is not a bad jacket but the main complaint I have is that it's too short, the zipper could be of better quality & I wish the hood zipped on versus snapping.

I have used the jacket a few times and it worked great. It is great for very cold environment. Mountain Hardwear is an awesome product.

I know that this might be petty, but the Zipper on the coat belongs on something from Sears, other than that the coat is great, in snow, light rain & wind.

I bought this down jacket for my son for Christmas. He loves it. There is only one problem. He is not that large - 5'11" - 160 lbs. I bought him the large, but the jacket is a little short on him. Other than that, he loves it.

I needed a good down jacket WITH a hood and have heard great things about the sub zero.

I was debating on whether to get this or the down parka and I chose this for two main reasons: for me the shorter length was nice, i didn't like the longer length of the parka. and second i liked the zippered hood instead of the buttons. I did like the layout of the pockets better on the parka though.

haven't put it to the test outdoors yet but im sure I will be happy with it.
Also, if it helps anyone. Im 6' and 140lbs and I got the Medium. It fits well by itself and also with layers (shirts, softshell, hardshell) underneath it.