Are cheaper down jackets reliable?

A: Here's what I think: I think you'd be perfectly fine with the Lands' End Reversible Down Jacket ($69), just as you'd be fine with a lot of products that use Gore-Tex or Polartec and that come from companies such as Lands' End, REI, and L.L. Bean that sell "house brand" products. No, it's not some super-technical alpine-style parka. It doesn't have a lot of cool pockets, or reinforcement patches, and I expect the nylon shell is a little on the cheap side. The down fill is on the lower end at 650. Still, so what? It's not going to fall apart —- and if it does, send it back for a replacement. I'm sure you'll find that as a light down sweater/jacket, it's perfectly adequate -— just the thing for cold morning belays, or evenings around camp when the temperature dips below freezing.

For that matter, you might also sniff around some of the Web-based clearance sites to see what you find. As a for instance, Sierra Trading Post was recently selling a cold weather down parka with a Gore Dryloft shell for $199—$130 less than retail. REI-Outlet.com had a Moonstone down parka for $119 (alas, small only). Campmor had a decent-looking down sweater for a mere $49. And in a few places I'm seeing North Face Nuptse jackets, regularly $199, for as low as $150. So down needn't cost hundreds of dollars.

Here's to cheap warmth!