Quote Originally Posted by Reachoutrescue View Post
I want a down jacket! LOL....I bet your cat was purrrty comfy on that warm jacket!! I read the other post about your missing nylon loop....too funny!!
I had three that are the 'bargain' North Face models- I lost one once because I was stupid- But they have served the purpose and have been worth every penny.

The best time to purchase is at the end of winter. Go to a mountain shop and check out the models and makers you like and wait for a sale.

Here's a hint about getting a good deal.

Any jacket with a print or some kind of color will be a seasonal model. They design them for the coming year and liquidate them when the season is over.
The single color jackets are the base models that don;t go out of style.

Get a jacket with a heavy shell/outer fabric. The heavier the fabric the better idt will resist tears.

Buy a jacket one size larger. You can wear a sweater or sweat shirt under when you need to stay warm.

A jacket with a snap on/zip on hood is cool, you can remove it when you don't need it and can use the hood as a hand warmer in a pinch.

One great feature about the jackets that I own is that they have four pockets- the chest pockets and upper arm pockets on other models are nice if you carry alot of stuff.

These pockets are waist level and have two on each side, the hand warmer slit is vertical and good for keeping your hands warm, over that there is a pocket with a velcro flap that covers a horizontal opening. Up can put stuff in there and be certain that your stuff won't fall out.

There are other features that make a jacket more useful if you do use one in extreme weather, such as the way the down baffles are constructed and the type of down used. Also the prices go higher when you get into the more waterproof materials like Goretex.

Good luck finding one you like.