This winter we tested and reviewed a wide range of lightweight down jackets from brands like Arc’teryx, Patagonia, and Montbell, all of which are known for their warmth-to-weight ratios. Two of our favorites, the Patagonia Ultralight Hoody and Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody, have 3.5 oz. and 3.35 oz. of down fill weight, respectively. The popular Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer has 2.78 oz. of down fill.
We wanted to up the ante and try a more serious lightweight down jacket built for alpine conditions. It’s true that Brooks-Range Alpini Anorak Hoody is not in the same category as the jackets above—it’s more of a mountaineering piece—but it’s one badass down jacket nevertheless. For comparison, the Alpini boasts a whopping 7.7 oz. of 800-fill down, well more than double the jackets above. At 15 oz. for a size medium, the ratio of down to total weight is insane: over 50% of the Alpini’s weight is down compared to 35% or less for the others.
You don’t get this much down without a whole lot of loft, and the puff of the Alpini is considerable. It wears more like an expedition jacket but without the bulky materials to weigh it down. The 15-denier shell may seem delicate due to the immense volume of feathers behind it, but you actually get more protection than most ultralight down jackets, which are often 10D or less. The Alpini is a pullover-style jacket, meaning that the front zip does not extend all the way to the bottom and you put it on like a sweater.
One of the defining features of the Alpini Anorak Hoody is the unique ventilation system on the sides. Two lightweight zippers run from below the arm pits down to the bottom of the jacket with Velcro closures at the end. You don’t see this design often and it feels a bit strange at first, but the zips offer a quick and easy way to control body temperature. For a jacket of this warmth and with the pullover design, the side ventilation zips are a nice and very functional addition.
The quality of materials and manufacturing are impressive. It isn’t clear from Brooks-Range’s website and photos exactly what the feel of the jacket will be, and the price of around $290 is low for the amount of down (many jackets with the half the down cost $300 or more). Right out of the box, it’s obvious that the Alpini is a well-built jacket for serious adventurers. We love the small details like the side zips mentioned above, the large helmet-compatible hood, and treated DownTek water repellant down. Corners were not cut with this jacket despite the competitive price.
What are the best uses for the Alpini Anorak Hoody? It makes a great insulating layer for climbers in cold conditions (the Brooks-Range name is a good hint for the type on environments it can handle). It’s also a great winter camping piece for those looking to stay fast and light. Keep in mind that you will want to be careful with the 15D shell fabric to lengthen the jacket’s lifespan.
The Alpini Anorak Hoody also got us excited about Brooks-Range gear in general. To our eye, the brand falls in the same category as Western Mountaineering or Feathered Friends here in Seattle: serious cold-weather alpine gear designed by the people who actually use it. The Brooks-Range Foray 2-person backpacking tent is a contender at just over 3 pounds, and the company also makes down sleeping bags at a number of temperature ranges from -10 to 45 degrees.
