What do people think of this jacket? also would I need a fleeces and a down jacket for a march start.
luke kaim
MH phantom jacket
system
#2
Great jacket! I used one on sections of the AT in '04 and the PCT in '05. I had a February 29 starting date at Springer Mountain. I liked the light weight and packability. I used it in combination with a White Sierra Micro Fleece shirt and a down vest. The Phantom alone is not enough–especially during the late winter snowstorms in the Smokies and Roan Mountain areas. I would like the jacket better if it zipped all of the way down the front for better ventilation.
WILDCAT
system
#3
MH makes both a windshirt and down jacket called the phantom. i suppose you are talking about the down jacket since you are referring to a cold march start? i think wildcat is talking about the windshirt b/c he refrences wanting it to zip all the way down, which the MH phantom windshirt does not.
many early AT thru-hikers do choose to carry a down jacket for insulation. but you will also see synthetics and fleece. i personally would carry my WM flight jacket. it is way lighter and warmer than a fleece jacket and packs better. i pack it with my down bag in a trash compactor bag, neither in a stuff sack, so they stay dry.
as far as the MH phantom down jacket goes. my wife has one and loves it.
jerm
system
#4
I love this down jacket, and it definitely has a full length zipper.
Jeff and I carried them on the PCT and used them constantly. We wore them for toasty, wind-blocking warmth in the evenings and used them as pillows at night when stuffed into a balaclava.
They compress in your pack beautifully by just stuffing them in around your other gear, and they fluff up immediately when you pull them back out.
Absolutely no complaints, and we will definitely carry them on our next long hike. They would provide plenty of warmth for an early March AT start.
If the original post actually was referring to the MH wind shirt, then you will definitely need insulation. The MH Phantom wind shirt is nothing more than a super light wind breaker with a single layer of extremely thin fabric - great for wind, but it offers nothing against cold.
Chipper
system
#6
“Absolutely no complaints, and we will definitely carry them on our next long hike. They would provide plenty of warmth for an early March AT start.”
Hate to sound like an A$$, but why post a question if you don’t really read the responses?
Novakaine
system
#7
We are planning to start our AT thru hike on March 13th and plan to use our fleece jackets to hike in and our down jackets while in camp. Adding a rain jacket over the fleece does a great job of blocking out the wind and snow. The fleece wicks away the sweat from your body to help keep you dry. By saving our down jackets for camp will hopefully insure that we have clean, dry jackets for relaxing in the evening. Plus, they do make great pillows.
Becky
system
#8
“also would I need a fleeces and a down jacket for a march start.”
This is one of the “no answer is wrong” questions. You do not need both but it also depends on your shell jacket and shirts. If you are prone to being cold and have a thin jacket, bring the warmer of the two (or both). Also a nice hat, neck warmer and gloves make a difference on how heavy of insulation you need. Extra layers of shirts can make you more warm too. I hiked with a girl named 7 Layer Burito so named after a cold night that every layer got worn.
For Becky and Luke, bring both but you will probably find that due to weight and size you will want to send one home. One packing philosophy states that on the coldest nights everything should be worn, if something isn’t being worn, then its not needed. If that means that both are needed, then so be it. Many/most people would argue that only one isulation layer is “needed”.
TB
TurkeyBacon02
system
#9
What are the expected temperatures? That’s always got to be the starting point.
But, while we wait for that information to arrive, I’m going to assume 25*F in the day and colder at night, for purposes of discussion.
My basic thought for hiking with a backpack during the day in 25*F weather is a 200 weight fleece jacket (with pit zips and full front zipper) with a long sleeve underlayer and possibly a short sleeve layer next to the skin.
When hiking with a pack under these conditions I wouldn’t be wearing a down jacket (moisture from perspiration + down = don’t do it); but I’d have one in my pack for stops, evenings and mornings, to just put on top of everything else.
Conan
Conan