I love puffy jackets. I wear them all the time: skiing, sleeping, eating breakfast, winter-spring-summer-and-fall. Luckily, the CTA blog is the perfect place to express puffy jacket love, as we are on an eternal quest for the perfect puffy.
Recently, the CTA office crew acquired matching puffy jackets: Outdoor Research Transcendent Down Sweaters. Here’s our take on this lightweight down jacket.
Outdoor Research Transcendent Sweater
Fill: 650 Fill Down
Outer Body Fabric: 20D ripstop
Weight: 13.0 oz.
Size: Mens Medium
Fit: Trim, true to size
MSRP: $199
What I Like: This is a great lightweight down jacket. The 650 fill down is better for more aerobic activities (like skiing) than a heavier down. I can wear this skiing during deep winter and rarely get overheated. The trim fit makes it a versatile layer with shells and other jackets. The zippered hand pockets are roomy enough to fit large mittens, and the chest pocket is a good size for stashing keys, phone, and other doodads. The brushed collar has good loft and comes up high enough to keep the neck warm. The elastic cuffs are tight enough to keep a good seal with mittens, but not so tight that they are constricting. I’m looking forward to using this jacket during the shoulder seasons and up in the mountains during the summer. Did I mention that it looks good, too?
What I Don’t Like: Lack of durability. After a few weeks of wear, I noticed a couple spots with stitching loosening up. I also punched out a hole in the arm while skiing. The real issue here is that puffy jackets are not designed for bushwhacking, so I imagine this jacket will hold up okay as long as I don’t subject it to a Carhartt lifestyle.
Bottom Line: This is a sweet jacket!
