il padrone wrote:rifraf, your old fleece jacket sounds very much like mine, bought around 1992-4, a Macpac 300 weight jacket. It's been sitting in the wardrobe unused for at least the past 7-8 years. Really too hot for cycling, too prone to wind penetration for sitting around camp too, and way too bulky to pack in the pannier.
HI Pete,
For the down jacket, it will stuff down to be much smaller, and the shell should give better wind protection. However I'd suggest you keep it for camp and town use, rather than any riding in it as down does not deal too well with getting damp (thinking perspiration/condensation when riding).
Definitely not for riding in. Way to warm for that. The XP version is much water resistant compared to the plain Sundowner with regards to inclement weather. In the specs:
"Reflex™ LoftPro™ combines a lightweight 30d ripstop nylon face fabric with a monolithic PU membrane to create a fabric which is highly water resistant (1,000mm hydrostatic head), windproof, downproof and highly breathable."
That waffle suggests to me an element of rain resistance that the other model lacks. Its more for around camp especially cold mornings when I'm grumpy (let alone retro grouch) enough. Basically to take over the duty of the fleece but doing it lighter and with less bulk.
I couldnt quite stretch to the E-vent XPD version.
As for your "too prone to wind penetration for sitting around camp too", I have to say my experience was different. Saying that, I acknowledge we all feel the cold differently. I have no experience of Victoria weather so cant suggest you feel the cold more than me. I will say I dont hang about much in the cold outdoors so perhaps
my suggestion of wind proof is more suggestive of my getting the hell into shelter ASAP rather than my memory of cold wind.
I do feel when dressed in what I think is appropriate for the weather, including layered up with the fleece on top (polyprop longjohns - Macpac of course which have also stood the test of time) that I've never suffered.
When I'm thus clothed I'm careful not to exert myself due to the ease of perspiration dampening everything.
I remember your comment about not being impressed with fleece gloves but in stark contrast to your experience I wouldn't have anything else as everything else I've tried leaves my hands/fingers either frozen with cold or wet with sweat and eventually frozen with cold when the sweat freezes.
Surly Ogre, Carry Freedom Y-frame Trailer, Extrawheel trailer.