What do you recommend for cold weather gear? I know everyone is looking for something different, but what would be your go to stuff?
Since G$Love is silent, I'll take a stab. First it has to do with your environment. A dry interior cold climate a good down is the best look for 850+ fill. If warmth and weight are high priorities and you don't need a tough material there are many ultra light materials on the market like cuben fiber, silnylon, ect (Western Mountaineering, Rab, Feathered Friends, Brooks Range). If you are looking for something that you can wear when you are changing a wheel bearing on the side of the Edgerton Hwy in January or hooking up a team of dogs to a gangline look for a down jacket that has a heavy but wear and tear resistant material like Curdura, Nomex, ect. (Canada Goose, Helly Hansen, Duluth, LL Bean, Cabela’s, Carhart) If you are out in cold wet weather like Stewart BC after a winter pinwheel made landfall look for a good synthetic fill jacket with a waterproof outer layer (Rubicon Rider jacket by Patagonia, FLylow BA Puffy). Or going light and fast in a cold wet climate with layers a thin light synthetic is best (Patagonia puffball, Ibex Aire, Mammut Stratus, ArcTeryx Atom LT, Montbell UL Thermawrap).
Full disclosure I was in the outdoor industry for 6 years about 8 years ago mostly folding jackets and telling high-end customers how balanced “X” product was in their hand. Now I just tramp around the bush in all types of weather.
My AK list:
Wild Things Military Highloft Jacket. Cold weather synthetic non-light weight (outdoor work)
Ibex Aire Wool. Cold weater layering system light and fast. (play in the Mts)
Western Mountianeering Flight Jacket. Cold Down (Sitting in the bleachers watching the world champion dog weight pull)
