Mountain Hardwear Women’s Nitrous Jacket
www.mountainhardwear.com
Retail price: $220
Specs per manufacturer: Weight– 10 oz. Insulation–800 fill goose down. Body–Ecosensor Ripstop. Superlight, 800 fill down beats the chill in this midweight down jacket. Recycled polyester blend is good for the planet.
Findings by one of our fabulous gear testers: Let me just start off by saying that the last time I lived in Alaska, I spent the winer in a borrowed jacket, so that having my own Nitrous down coat this season is a complete and total upgrade. The coat is puffing out more and more as I wear it, but still maintains a pretty slim silhouette–none of the Stay-Puf Marshmallow action that gives my anxiety. A girl’s got to be stylish, even in the chilliest of climates.
Went to the Eagle River Nature Center to hike around a bit. Snow flurries didn’t stop me! I stayed toasty warm in my jacket, with my hands tucked into the pockets. They were warmer in there than my friend’s fingers were in gloves–she was complaining about cold, stiff fingers but mine were warm even my my home-made fingerless gloves.
One feature that makes the coat stand out in a crowd of other down jackets in the embroidery across the chest; it was the deciding factor for me in choosing between the hooded and sans-hood Nitrous options. I’ll wear a hat and take the embroidery, thanks. I also remember, when wearing my borrowed coat, that my chin would sometimes get rubbed red and raw from the fabric of the zipped-up chin area of the coat; the Nitrous jacket has that chin section lined with a soft, chamois-like fabric that doesn’t chafe when you are zipped up snug as a bug in a rug!
The jacket is wearing well; I’ve only lost a couple of the down feathers so far in the beginning, as the coat was starting to fill out and puff up a bit more. Even though “Alaskan dressy” still lies on the casual end of the spectrum, I feel like I could wear this coat (especially the brown or black) with a skirt and top or a dress, as well as with jeans or hiking gear. Versatile and warm, and smooshes down into a tiny sack! The packability factor will come in handy for travel, which I hope to do more of soon.
The Nitrous down jacket is an inspiration to get out into the ever-more-wintery Alaskan outdoors and get exploring, and I know that mine will last for a long time to come!