MyTrailCo Down Light Hooded Jacket
Summary
My Trail has got a winner with this affordable, warm down jacket. Perfect balance is achieved, using quality materials at a ‘WOW’ price-point. Ethically sourced 800 fill power and weighing in less than a pound, this jacket is ideal for the weight-conscientious outdoors person, or simply for those who want a warm casual-use puffy.
Pros
Excellent Price Point
Fit Has Room For Additional Layering
Windproof
Cons
Elastic Hem Cord Slips
Items Can Fall Out Of Lower Inside Pocket
My Trail Co may be a new name to the industry, however the company has had a previous life, known as GoLite. My Trail has been around since 2016, basing their operations out of Denver, Colorado. The company has resurrected several of the best and most popular products, and is growing from its streamlined product range. There are many similarities between the Down Light hooded jacket and GoLite’s Demaree Canyon jacket, like the vertical channels along the sides. The My Trail Down Light Hooded jacket is simply an incredible jacket! It can be difficult to find a warm piece of gear, let alone an ethically sourced down jacket! Functional yet fashionable, this lightweight coat (13oz) is quite warm for it’s weight. Simplicity meets smart function with this well thought-out puffy.
Mountain Dan says 'No snacks, Fernie!'
Specifications
Price: $99
Shell: 100% Nylon With DWR (Durable Water Repellent) Finish
Fill: 800 Fill Power Down
Lining: 100% Polyester
Weight: 13oz
Fill Weight: 110g/3.9oz
Design, Fit & Comfort
Although this jacket has more of a relaxed fit, the loft of the goose down does well filling space, while still allowing room for cold-weather layering. One fit that is different to the previous Demaree Canyon is a longer hem, which is similar to a belay-style jacket.
Full freedom in regards to range of motion is possible with the fit of the jacket, whether climbing, reaching, etc.
No adjustments are available with the hood, but was found to be comfortable, and large enough to fit a helmet.
The Men’s Medium jacket fit the tester ideally, at 5’10”, 160 lbs. This jacket does an excellent job keeping the wearer warm! As typical with any cold weather jacket, comfort begins to become a concern once wearing the jacket at its upper temperature limit. I personally found the jacket to become uncomfortable above 40°F when active. When backpacking, I found myself taking the jacket off in the 40s due to high output. Upper limit during no activity was found to be approximately 50°F. Although not the warmest jacket ever tested, lower comfort limits during light activity were found to be around the 15°F range. Layering with this jacket is not a challenge, allowing the wearer to push this lower comfort limit much further! Note: due to the delicate nature of down jackets, this jacket was primarily tested with some kind of shell. A variety of outer shells were used in conjunction with this jacket, from lightweight rain jackets like The North Face Verto Storm jacket, to the Rab Latok.
Taking a break at the David Lesser shelter, Appalachian Trail
Features & Function
Although not designed to be a feature-rich powerhouse, My Trail has outfitted the Down Light hooded jacket with a few user-friendly highlights.
A full length-zipper with storm flap & zipper garage function as designed with no snagging, or difficulty attaching.
Vertical baffles along the sides help with comfort & warmth.
A headphone guide loop is sewn into the jacket.
Note: This also happens to be a great spot to retain a pair of sunglasses!
An internal chest pocket will hold a mobile phone, or iPod.
A lower mesh pocket is large enough to stow a digital camera, or pair of gloves. This also doubles as a zippered stuff sack, with a sewn in loop.
Note: The zipper with this pocket extends all of the way to the bottom of the coat. Although not a fault, items could fall out of the pocket!
Full-zipper micro-fleece lined external pockets have a very pleasant feel.
Simple, straightforward elastic cuffs at the wrists and hood.
Elastic hem adjustment at the waist of the jacket
Note: The lock/spring adjustment did not hold on the tested jacket; it simply allowed the adjustment to loosen.
Water Resistance, Breathability, And Moisture
The DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating on the outside of the jacket appears to do very well, especially for such an inexpensive jacket.
Breathability and moisture management are a bit of a gray area when it comes to down insulation. Although sweat evaporates from the jacket inner, moisture inherently gets trapped in the down insulation, which can lead to a cumulative decline in insulative efficacy (much like a down sleeping bag). It has been argued that wet down still yields a higher insulating value than wet synthetic material, however technological advances challenge this more every day.
Construction & Durability
My Trail has done a very good job with the construction of this jacket. From the quality of materials, loft of the jacket, and overall durability, no faults have been found with the jacket, save the adjustable elastic hem. It appears that this jacket will hold up as long as the 6+ year-old GoLite that is still usable.
Conditions
This jacket has been tested from late autumn to mid-winter in the Mid-Atlantic region of the USA. It has been on several backpacking trips, day hikes, and has seen daily use around town.
Backpacking on a chilly morning on the Appalachian Trail
Conclusion
From ridge running the Appalachian Trail to walking the dog, this inexpensive jacket is a definite excellent piece of gear. Bang for the buck, My Trail has hit spot-on with the Down Light Hooded Jacket!
Photo Credit: R. Reed
Many thanks to the people out at My Trail for the opportunity to test the Down Light Hooded Jacket!