GEAR REVIEW
MOUNTAIN DESIGNS
PEAK 700 DOWN JACKET
Affordable, reliable warmth.
(This review originally featured in Wild #188, Winter 2023)
By Ryan Hansen
Once again, we’re approaching that time of year when every man and his dog is wearing a puffer jacket. (Did you know, BTW, that you can actually buy down jackets for dogs? My mind is blown.) But what if, like me, you don’t care as much for keeping up with the latest fashions, and you just want a no-nonsense down jacket that does the basics well? The Peak 700 from Mountain Designs offers exactly that: everything you need, and nothing you don’t.
Let’s start with the most important feature—warmth. When, at the start of April, I found myself snow camping in the Jagungal Wilderness in -4°C conditions, this jacket provided me with the cosy, reassuring, comforting embrace of a loved one. (And when my sleeping bag packed it in, it came to the rescue too.) Aiding this is the tricot lining in the collar and pockets, the sewn-through baffles which keep the down well positioned, and the adjustable hem and elastane cuff and hood bindings that provide an extra snug fit. The scuba-style hood also makes a big difference when the mercury drops, while the DWR finish ensures it holds its own in windy and drizzly weather.
The Peak 700 cuts the BS and provides an affordable, reliable option for the impending cold weather. And hey, it’s still good for that bit of pizazz if you want to wear it out for a coffee, too.
NEED TO KNOW
INTENDED USE:
Winter hiking/camping
FILL:
Vibram 90% goose down; 10% feather
LOFT:
700
WEIGHT, AS TESTED (M):
545g (M)
RRP:
$399.99