Montbell Plasma 1000 Down Jacket Review | Ultralight Men’s Jacket For One Bag Travel & Packing Light

[@PackHacker]

Do you travel with a lightweight and compressible jacket?

[@waklerma]

I take the Uniqlo Ultralight Down Jacket for my 2-3 days business trips. Very lightweight, warm, two zippered pockets, two inner pocket an an attachment point for the stuff sack. Also, costs around 70€. Great stuff!

[@GlobalAdventurer]

I actually own 4 compressible down jackets and never travel with them. I have found that if it's cold enough for me to wear a jacket, I need a hoody. So, basically I travel with a Patagonia nano air vest for mild weather and Patagonia nano air hoody when it's cold and sometimes both.

[@PackHacker]

@@waklerma - nice choice! We've got a review of that one in the works 🙂 - Tom

[@PackHacker]

NIce system @@GlobalAdventurer ! Curious - which 4 compressible down jackets do you own? - Tom

[@GlobalAdventurer]

@@PackHacker All 4 are Calvin Klein 😂. I know 😝

[@AnonymousV4]

I was checking this jacket out in Japan and It seems like the new version added pockets. However they don't close. Thought about getting it but the nylon is a lightweight weave so I'm not sure it will hold up for heavy travel.

[@benalmahsyur392]

We need moaarr "Jerry rig everything" review for travel gear. 🙏🙏🙏. Abuse the gear please haha!

[@PackHacker]

Haha-we'll see what we can do! -Hannah

[@feebleoldman]

The Japanese version of the Plasma 1000 has pockets. I travel with the Japanese Plasma 1000 Vest. Be sure to size appropriately if you're going for the Japanese version.

[@PackHacker]

Thanks for the info! We've actually updated our written review with this. And good call on the sizing difference, thanks for watching! 😀👍 - Rebecca

[@Meichie228]

Need a pocket version.

[@PackHacker]

🙂🙂🙂 - Tom

[@danielfrancis2847]

Available if you order it from Japan.

[@Christopher-today]

Interesting jacket. I’m all for trade offs but leaving out pockets feels more like a decision based on marketing the “lightest puff jacket” available. The only caveat I’ll give to contradict this is if it’s explicitly sold as a mid layer. No weight savings is worth losing 2 pockets imo. Still another great review. Pros & Cons always give me what I need to help make a buy / no buy call. :) On this one - no buy!

[@PackHacker]

Hi Christopher-good point! This could definitely work as a mid layer as well. 👌 -Hannah

[@Christopher-today]

I’m a bit harsher. I’d say without pockets it’s ONLY useful as a mid layer. If they actually marketed it as such it would be a truly awesome product. But as I commented earlier calling it the lightest top layer but leaving out pockets to save a few grams of weight is just a hack to be able to say that have the lightest top layer. It’s an old trick (I see it used in the laptop field a LOT) and one that annoys the heck out of me.

[@PackHacker]

@@Christopher-today Ahh, that definitely makes sense, Chris! For as warm as it is, it can definitely be used as a stellar mid layer. 👍 -Hannah

[@GlobalAdventurer]

No pockets? That would drive me crazy ☺

[@PackHacker]

Definitely takes a little getting used to! - Tom

[@danielfrancis2847]

Available if you order it from Japan.

[@roygertel]

My Plasma 1000 has 2 pockets ! & I wish it had more...

[@GolgoSixty]

Thanks for the review ! I didn't know that brand. The warm to weight ratio is super impressive. Can it be wash in a washing machine and do the feathers hold well?

[@PackHacker]

Definitely a great warmth to weight ratio! We're checking with Montbell to see if it's washable since their website is a little vague so we'll follow up with you soon 🙂

[@PackHacker]

Hey Takahashi! We checked in with Montbell to see what their advice was on washing the jacket. They let us know you can machine wash the jacket, however, they recommend using a net washing bag when washing and drying to help keep the delicate fabric safe from blemishes. I hope this helps! -Hannah

[@GolgoSixty]

@@PackHacker Thanks Hannah much appreciated, good to know. would be great to have some pack hacker testing on that statement ;-) I read some horror stories in some forum but i'm not brave enough to test it myself

[@markdavis9350]

Hey! I just saw your Aer Flight pack 2 vid. I was just wondering which one would you recommend: the aer flight pack 2 or the aer tech pack 2. Also on the vid you said that the Aer Flight pack 2 is 23 liters, but on the website it says it's 14 liters. If you're right, then do you possibly know how many liters the Aer tech pack is? Also what are the main differences between the Aer Tech pack and the Aer flight pack 2? Thanks!

[@PackHacker]

Hi Mark! The Aer Flight Pack 2 is 14L (we corrected the mistake over on our website so thank you for catching that!). packhacker.com/travel-gear/aer/flight-pack-2/ As for the Tech Pack (22L), we haven't gotten our hands on that one, as we typically focus on travel gear. Aer makes great stuff and the two bags are quite different. Let us know which one you decide to grab! - Tom

[@GjPeddy]

I'd also suggest the Montbell UL Thermawrap for a synthetic and ultralight jacket - it's very common among hikers. Definitely less warm (and less expensive!), but it might be all you need.

[@GjPeddy]

(also, that one's got pockets)

[@PackHacker]

@@GjPeddy We'll take a look! 😊 -Hannah

[@shirleyyap3331]

Can stand at what temperature during winter

[@PackHacker]

Hey Shirley - after testing we’ve found the ideal temperature range to be from about 35 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It can get you through the coldest temperatures with a couple of simple layers underneath, and if you forgo the layers it can be used as a simple jacket on a brisk fall day without being too warm. Check out our full written review for more info on this jacket and how we layered our clothing during the testing. packhacker.com/travel-gear/montbell/plasma-1000-down-jacket/ - Rebecca

[@BasNij]

Downvote for not converting Fahrenheit to Celcius and ounces to gram! Otherwise a good review.

[@PackHacker]

Hi johnbaltis, thanks for pointing this one out. We do our best to always make things accessible for everyone-we'll try better next time! -Hannah

[@krakdeku]

What is your weight and height?

[@eduardosilva1645]

Quanto custa essa jaqueta muito bonita.

[@daithi1966]

Their latest version of this jacket has pockets.

[@PackHacker]

To our knowledge, the US model still doesn’t have pockets. The Japanese version does, however! -Eric

[@frogturtle]

@@PackHacker Yep. I got the Japanese version and it has pockets. However the sizing is quite a bit different, the torso length is pretty short. I think it’s still worth getting the Japanese version though, because along with the pockets it’s also WAY cheaper.

[@sylvainjean9444]

This down jacket is very warm and very light but above all it is extremely fragile. The outer fabric is so thin and fragile that it does not resist the slightest encounter with a rock or a tree branch. Even the pointed part of the feather manages to pass through the fabric. I am very disappointed by the fragility of this down jacket and I do not recommend its purchase for an instant outdoor practice. She is just fine in the evening during a bivouac. Sorry for my English it's not my language.

[@PackHacker]

Thank you for the insightful comment, Sylvain. Do you have a favorite jacket? Your English is great 😃 -Eric

[@cjwilson1976]

You've got some very trippy eyes!

[@PackHacker]

Haha, it's the reflection of the ring light. - Nathan

[@Hiker63]

Does the listed weight include stuff sack?

[@PackHacker]

Yes! - Tom

[@Hiker63]

Pack Hacker Thanks!

[@Hiker63]

Just ordered one. I don't use the pockets on my current down jacket so there's no loss for me. Thanks for helping me make the decision.

[@PackHacker]

@@Hiker63 You got it! Let us know how it goes for you. - Tom

[@GjPeddy]

Not having a pocket in which to compress it is actually a good thing imo. Every time you stuffed it in the pocket, you'd risk snagging the fabric in the zipper and losing down feathers. Using the bag avoids the problem, thus increasing durability.. however it'd be nice if the jacket had a pocket to keep it in when not in use =D

[@PackHacker]

True Giulia - great perspective! - Tom

[@sleddy01]

$329 and you still have to be a walking billboard. :o(

[@PackHacker]

Have any alternatives up your sleeve? -Hannah

[@Christopher-today]

A little off topic (well totally off topic for this video ;) I’ve seen another bag that intrigues me. It’s the Civic Transit (40 Litre) from Evergoods. Even though it’s a pure travel backpack without the duffle capabilities I prefer its high in my potential bags to buy. Unlink most I was never a fan of their 25 litre EDC pack preferring the sleeker ArkType DashPack II (which now has a special edition version made of waxed canvas) but the way the Internals of the Transit function along with its semi-rigid structure and tons of organization space may be winning me over to a pure backpack solution. Though I find 40 litres a bit much preferring a 32 - 35 litre max size but supposedly it fits most airlines carry-on size rules. What I’m contemplating is using it as my travel bag but inside putting an ArkType for EDC. I know the ArkType is rather big to stuff in another pack but I think I could make it work and having it to use at my destination would definitely be my preference. The unique internal “fins” and compression straps might allow it if I also use it as a 15 litre packing cube whilst in the bigger bag. So long story short my vote for a bag to try would be the Evergoods 40 litre Transit backpack. :)

[@PackHacker]

We're hoping to get our hands on that one soon! EVERGOODS has started to ship them out to their backers so hopefully, it won't be too long now. Jack & Kevin are former GORUCK & Patagonia (respectively) and we love seeing the inspiration connections to both companies in their gear. We'll definitely be doing an in-depth review on the CTB40 🙂. - Tom

[@themurderbotfeed7688]

Hey, could you put your measurements in metric as well? I feel like most of the world is left out of this when you only use imperial.

[@PackHacker]

Hey The Murderbot Feed, thanks for pointing this one out. We always try to make things accessible for everyone-we'll work on this! -Hannah