Review: Mammut Flexidown IN Jacket

This jacket was intended as a stand in for my other insulated jacket which is purely synthetic, but I was looking for something that would do the same kind of job but pack down a lot smaller for when I need to save on space. And the Flexidown IN does this well.

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Where was it tested?: In the Lake District in May and that may not sound like a test but it was as this year it was unseasonably cold out there. In fact the one morning we set out on our navigation course there was snow on top of the old man of Coniston, below the Old Man it was only a few degrees.

Sustainablity: It’s good to see that Mammut are using recycled goose down in this with 750 cuin fill power, so slightly more than an equivalent jacket like a Rab Microlight. However a notable difference is there’s no mention from Mammut on wether or not this down is Hydrophobic, like the type used by Rab.

Weight and packing size: The weight on this is only 350g which is pretty impressive and one of the reasons it was so appealing, bringing my pack weight down. The jacket packs down to about a litre size (around 2 standard coke cans) which is useful if you only take a small day bag with you.

How Warm Is It?: Whenever asking this take a moment to think that everybody feels the cold differently. I feel it a bit but only if I’m not moving. If I’m moving I barely feel cold even in a T-shirt. Anyone reading this needs to bear that in mind. Down at the car park this did a pretty good job of keeping me warm , but only just enough and really that’s what I expected of this jacket. Up on the hill while moving and with a waterproof jacket on I found this has the right amount of insulation coupled with the extra breathability of having the soft-shell stretch panels (Pontetorto techno stretch) on the sides.

The fit: As Mammut say it is an athletic fit, personally I’d say if you aren’t that body shape this jacket isn’t for you. If you are it’s a great fit especially when it comes to using this as a layer underneath another jacket. I’d class myself a as pretty athletic in terms of body shape and this thing fits me like a glove, so it’s a damn good job it’s got those stretch panels!

Weather resistance: Pertex quantum face fabric on front and rear give a high level of wind resistance and decent resistance against very light rain if you get caught short. If it’s heavier rain…prepare to be damp!

This piece is great for what it is designed for which is being a great lightweight midlayer or in warmer weather a breathable layer you can chuck on with front and rear wind resistance and nice air flow from the stretch panels on the side. I haven’t used this in an alpine situation yet however I expect the flexibility the panels give the piece will come in useful when I do.

My Rating: 8/10

Overall id give this an 8/10 the main reason being the lack of mention of if the down is Hydrophobic as other similar jackets from similar companies tend to use this technology. As much as I love Mammut as much water resistance as possible is really important for the UK market. I think for expeditions where you are not moving constantly it wouldn’t be the right choice, for any activities where you will be exerting yourself, I’d say its a winner. The only other thing I didn’t really like about the jacket is I didn’t really like how shiny the thing is, so I’m unlikely to be wearing it everyday and it will spend most of it’s life living under other jackets.