Personal Consumer Issues • Which down jackets are better/comparable to REI?

I have two more questions please:

1. Reading about Polartec fleece, it sounds like its warmth is measured in units like 100 (lightweight), 200 (midweight).
Would anyone know which of the following two REI warmer? (any way to tell that from the webpage?):

https://www.rei.com/product/194611/rei- ... acket-mens
https://www.rei.com/product/166946/rei- ... et-20-mens

2. The REI Hyperaxis (above) looks very similar to North Face Canyonlands:
https://www.rei.com/product/199259/the- ... oodie-mens
And I was thinking it was a cheaper version, but the REI item full price is $149 vs North Face item $100. So I am confused.
Are they not comparable products?

1. Presumably the REI jacket associated with the second link is the warmer one. The first one is listed as having "light" fleece weight and "warm" warmth, whereas the second one is "medium" fleece weight and "warmer" in warmth. Also, the second one is very slightly longer in back length and has thumbholes and a hood.

2. I haven't looked super closely at both products, but I'm not clear why OP would expect the REI jacket to be a cheaper version of the North Face jacket, even if they may look very similar (not saying that it isn't, either). Anyway, as a (too) avid REI shopper, it's possible that one product (North Face, in this instance) is being moved more aggressively than an REI one for whatever reason - excess inventory, promotion, etc.

ETA: If I'm not mistaken the NF jacket seems more comparable to the first REI jacket, in that it is also "light" fleece weight and "warm" warmth. The NF comes with a hood, though, which will provide more warmth (if worn). So, if this assessment is fair, the NF jacket is almost twice as much in price (if memory serves) as the REI fleece, though it also comes with a hood (hard to value at almost 50 bucks though!) OP may also want to check other features, such as pockets (including whether zippered), to compare the products.

Thank you. So in your point 1, where to place this one:
https://www.rei.com/product/216851/rei- ... acket-mens
It's listed as medium but warm.

2. I am not expecting that. They appeared somewhat similar so I was wondering whether that's what REI was going for.

I can't say for sure, of course, but my guess would be it's "warm" like the first jacket but because of it's "medium" weight less attractive than the REI "warm" jacket with its "light" weight, all else equal. I am assuming that lighter weight is more desirable, again, all else equal. In other words, if I can get the same warmth but at lighter weight, that's a plus (especially if I'm trying to minimize weight and bulk, etc.)

However, the most recent link indicates that the fabric is "recycled polyester fleece". I don't know how that compares to the other two jackets' material of "Polartec microfleece". Also, I think I noticed that the latest jacket is lighter than its counterpart in warmth: 12.7 oz vs. 15.2 oz. But that could be due to the jackets having different features, such as with respect to zippers, number of pockets, styling details, etc. I didn't check.

Personally, I find REI customer service helpful at the toll-free number. They may be able to provide worthwhile input to differentiate the various jackets.

Statistics: Posted by huzaing — Mon Dec 04, 2023 9:36 pm — Replies 46 — Views 5933