Warmth without the puff

By SpriteMV Ranked #892 - Men's Down Jackets January 30, 2008

After weeks of research and comparing countless down jackets, I settled on the Flash and couldn't be happier. I love the warmth and light weight of down jackets, but have never been in to the marshmallow look. While the flash isn't as warm as some of the jackets with more down in them (such as the North Face Elysium), I still find it competes well due to the 850 fill down and unique segmented design. The pertex shell is great and is not something you will get with cheaper jackets. Not only does it shed water (which is essential for the down to keep its loft in moist conditions), but it has an incredibly silky feel, and it is strong yet feather light. Another great thing about the jacket is its packing size. Due to the 850 fill down and thin pertex shell, it easily compresses into its own pocket into roughly the size of a small cantaloupe. With compression straps, it could likely be compressed to softball size or perhaps even smaller. All in all, the only downside I see to the jacket is that the colors tend to be very bright and almost luminescent due to the shiny texture of the pertex shell. While this troubled me at first, it has grown on me as it gives the jacket a distinct flare. If you are looking for a jacket with a great warmth/weight ratio but don't want to look like a puffball, I couldn't give a higher recommendation for the North Face Flash.

View Details: The North Face Flash Jacket - Men's

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