UKH

Please recommend me an insulated jacket for belaying and generally staying warm......

Here's the wish list... 

Women's cut preferably 

Synthetic not down

Very warm! 

Two way zip and a hood.

I've done a little search of the forum and things are out of date thst are suggested, and I've done a good Google search but I rather like real recommendations over reviews

Thanks team! 

 

In reply to Emilysaladfingers:

Paramo Women's Torres is the warmest synthetic I've ever tried.  They seem to have updated it and its now called the Torres Medio.  Hopefully still as warm.  You can still get the old verison in a few places.  Its an awful purple colour but its very warm. 

In reply to Emilysaladfingers:

I would say hard to answer as dependng on the season and type of climb I layer differently and use 2 different jackets. A Mountain Equip Fitzroy for winter but a Montane Prism for summer. I heard Montane took off the 2 way zip off the newer models for some odd reason. Both jackets are unisex and are consistently pinched off me by my wife.

In reply to olddirtydoggy:

I've also got a ME Fitzroy and it's an excellent jacket, although for longer winter belays I would probably go with the ME Citadel instead

In reply to Emilysaladfingers:

If you're after very warm the ME Fitzroy isn't warm enough for me and I use a ME Citadel, it's an amazing jacket

In reply to Emilysaladfingers: ' Very Warm' in the context of a jacket for walking off from a route in the Cairngorms in Feb or 'Very Warm' for an afternoons belaying at Stanage on a chilly day ? The warmth and pack-ability requirements are very different.

An ME Citadel is probably the warmest synthetic 'proper' belay jacket going The Paramo is also warm but I found it was cut like a flappy potato sack.

These UK reviews may help although they are all for mens jackets. Good Luck its a minefield of personal and prejudiced opinions (mine included

https://www.ukclimbing.com/gear/reviews/clothing_-_mountain/midweight_synth...

https://www.ukclimbing.com/gear/reviews/synthetic_insulated_jackets-4457

https://www.ukclimbing.com/gear/reviews/clothing_-_mountain/mountain_equipm...

 

In reply to Emilysaladfingers:

Women’s Rab Photon X. Perfect! 

 

https://rab.equipment/uk/women-s-photon-x-jacket

In reply to Emilysaladfingers:

If you're going down the ME Citadel route then consider the Montane Spitfire. They carry the same features and insulation and are much cheaper. I got one for £100 in a clearout but I've found it too heavy to climb in (60g lighter than a Citadel) This grade of jackets are bombshelters.

In reply to Emilysaladfingers:

Lighter - Arcteryx Proton Lt

https://m.addnature.co.uk/arcteryx-proton-lt-jacket-blue-657015.html?gclid=...

Heavier - Patagonia Hyperpuff

https://m.addnature.co.uk/patagonia-hyper-puff-jacket-blue-693210.html?gcli...

In reply to nickinscottishmountains:

That's not designed to be a belay type jacket as such though is it, it's very air permeable and designed to be an active layer like the Nano Air and Polartec Alpha, not as a belay jacket type thing. From Arcteryx you'd be more looking at the Atom AR as a light option.

PS:  That site you linked to looks weird, it is a fake seller?

In reply to JayPee630:

No idea about the seller, googled them.

Agree the Proton Lt is not designed as a belay jacket but in my experience it happens to work well as one, hence the remark about it being light option.

In reply to Emilysaladfingers:

decathlon

In reply to Emilysaladfingers:

Thanks guys! Loads of help here

 

Has anyone tried montane flux? It's not such heavy fill.... 

The mountain equipment fitzroy looks perfect but I can't find it anywhere in stock on a small..... Any girls on here got one and can help with sizing?

 

 

In reply to Emilysaladfingers: Alpkit Apogee is almost the same spec as a Fitzroy Its cheaper and they do it in a womens version

https://www.alpkit.com/products/apogee-jacket-womens

https://www.ukclimbing.com/gear/reviews/clothing_-_mountain/alpkit_apogee_j...

 

In reply to Emilysaladfingers:

 

I had a flux and exchanged it for a photon x as it just didn’t inspire me with confidence for those long cold Scottish belays. Good jacket, well made but not enough insulation for me personally. Depends how hot or cold you run. 

 

In reply to Emilysaladfingers:

I used the Flux for four Scottish winters and it is a decent jacket but got a Photon X at the start of this year and it's excellent. Slightly heavier than the Flux but lighter than the Citadel. 

In reply to Emilysaladfingers:

I have a flux and use it as my belay jacket and all round general dogs body for the last 5 years, I think it's great , plenty warm enough for me, and very well put together ( unlike me!)

In reply to Emilysaladfingers:

Backpackinglight had a good review article recently: 

https://backpackinglight.com/synthetic-insulated-jacket-reviews-state-of-th...

The specific models they talk about are mostly North American & not all available over here, but it's an informative summary of the current state of technology.

In reply to Emilysaladfingers:

Thanks everyone, super helpful info! I've picked two and am hunting the Internet to find one in stock in my size! 

 

Thanks for the info be super warm this season!