We like the L.L. Bean Down Mountain Guide Jacket. At 34 ounces, it is almost 50 percent heavier than the Nuptse. The attention to detail, such as the excellent zipper gutter and micro-chamois pocket liners, delivers excellent comfort and performance. We especially liked the two zippered hand pockets with the micro-chamois lining. The coat stuffs into its own pocket, which is large enough to hold the coat without great effort.
Articulated elbows offer full range of motion.
The coat is machine washable. The shell, which features a Teflon HT coating that aids in protection from wind and also sheds water, makes the Cirrus a fine piece to use as an outer layer. The Teflon coating also lends a slick feel, allowing outer layers to slip over easily without a lot of bunching and twisting, common to fleece alternatives. The Cirrus utilizes 150-gram Thermolite Micro insulation that offers a surprising amount of warmth. Although not quite as warm and lofty as down, the insulation is very light and quite compact.