Also on Backpacker.com

EDITORS' CHOICE AWARDS 2009: THE BEST NEW GEAR

OVER 3,000 GPS-ENABLED TRIPS!

DAILY DIRT BLOG: THE LATEST OUTDOOR NEWS

GEAR CHICK: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

MEDICINE MAN: ESSENTIAL SKILLS REVEALED

BACKPACKING 101: GET STARTED NOW!

VIDEOS: FEND OFF A BEAR, PACK RIGHT, AND MORE.

PHOTOS: FEAST YOUR EYES WITH THESE SHOTS

Share your tales of travel & adventure with our step-by-step guide. Upload trail descriptions, photos, video, and more.

Backpacker Magazine – September 2009

Gear Review: First Ascent Downlight Sweater Down Jacket

This puffy is perfect as a midlayer for skiing or a springtime camp coat–and comes in a wide variety of sizes.

by: Kristin Hostetter

First Ascent Downlight Sweater (Courtesy Photo)

More Puff
Apparel Guide 2009: Puffy Jackets

Best All-Around
"This ultra-ultralight insulator nails the essentials: high draftproof collar, grapefruit-size packability, roomy zipped pockets, and light rain resistance–without layering on doodads that add weight or bulk," said one tester.

With 800-fill down stuffed into a silky DWR-coated polyester shell, the Downlight worked perfectly as a midlayer during ski season in Vermont and as a springtime camp coat in Colorado. But what really sets it apart is the fit and vast size range, for both men and women. The men's tall had our 6'6" editor-in-chief gushing, "Hands-down the best-fitting puffy I've ever worn." $169; 9 oz.; men's S-XXL and tall M-XXL; women's S-XXL, tall M-XXL, and petite XS-XL; firstascent.com.

Subscribe to Backpacker magazine
Sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter

PRINT THIS PAGE EMAIL THIS PAGE RSS FEED

Your rating:

Reader Rating: -

Digg Delicious Yahoo Facebook Reddit StumbleUpon Google Newsvine Facebook Twitter

READERS COMMENTS

Love my First Ascent Downlight Sweater. Fits perfectly and it's so very comfortable.
Posted: Nov 19, 2009 Josie

I am 5'3.5" and 130 pounds (female). I ordered a petite medium DOWNLIGHT SWEATER and I am very happy with the fit. The sleeves rest comfortably at my wrists but could be pulled down to my knuckles. The back of the top goes just short of half way down my butt with the front sitting where a low-rise style jean would. The jacket/sweater is clearly cut with the women's form in mind as I have enough room in the chest and a comfortably flattering waist. With the top on less than a minute I immediately felt its warming properties at work. Weighing the jacket for myself it came in at an almost not there 9 ounces! Out of curiosity I put my Marmot Precip (size s/p) jacket on over the sweater to see if this could be a complete, weatherproof system without causing the down to lose is heat-trapping loft. It worked great! I have not field tested this seemingly wonderful new piece of gear but by all accounts I am extremely pleased with my purchase.
Posted: Oct 29, 2009 Elisa

The 9oz is wrong unless they measured a wmn's XS. A men's medium is 13oz.

The best down jkts (that unfortunately weren't tested) are the Montbell E.X. and U.L. Down Inner Jacket and Parka. They use 7 or 15 denier fabrics and a minimalistic design to weigh an awesome 5-9oz. They are also quite reasonably priced ($160).
Posted: Oct 16, 2009 Dan

Kristin,

Your article says the First Ascent down light sweater weighs 9oz but there website claims it weighs 13.39oz. Can you please explain?
Posted: Oct 15, 2009 Dustin

Sceptical about buying new brands online! :/ But Eddie Bauer is a nice brand so idk what is the thoughts of the people out there!?
Posted: Oct 09, 2009 CODY

its a shame you will look like the Michelin man every time you wear this...
Posted: Oct 08, 2009 Sarah

The First Ascent Downlight Sweater is my new favorite puffy. It really is light and really warm. I went up a size though just to accomidate layers underneath better. Also, it was cheaper than both Patagonia and The North Face versions. And I'm happy to see Eddie Bauer back in the game.
Posted: Sep 19, 2009 DJ