The PHD Yukon Down Jacket

[elperronegro]

We bought the Yukon Down Jackets in an online winter sale from PHD Designs in the UK in March 2010. Gore Tex outer fabric. But how did they perform and stand up in the wilds of Patagonia?

The ordering and delivery process- Easy. The website is well thought out and helpful. Sale items are identified and purchased with minimum fuss. We occasionally have problems with suppliers delivering to our home in Spain. In this case the delivery was prompt and, pleasingly, without such issues. The jacket was a “special”. This means that normally the Gore Tex option is not there.



The Yukon Jackets, oh and Cerro Torre too!
The down side – Strange colours. Well for me at least. Mine is white! Sorta camouflaged against the snow. My partner had a more acceptable bright yellow one. Not a problem for me. I like to remain inconspicuous.

Price – 186GBP for a Gore Tex down jacket is a real bargain. With 15GBP delivery to Spain we got top notch jackets for just over 200GBP (Normal price for a Drishell outer lining is currently 255GBP!).

Features -
Front zip with internal draft baffle
2 zipped handwarmer pockets
Stud-on down hood with stretch lycra edging
Stretch hem cord
Stuff sac
Gore Tex outer
Superlight MX inner
How did it perform?

Out on the Patagonian Icecap when we were in the thick of the action it stood up to all sorts of abuse, both from nature and ourselves. As we retreated down from the Paso Marconi in a blizzard, the gale force wind ripped though all our clothing until the Yukon was recovered from the rucksacks and put on. Immediately we started to feel warm again. Whats nice is that the rain and spindrift had no effect whatsoever on the Gore Tex outer. Well it shouldn’t you say? OK. But in my experience Gore Tex hasn’t been all it’s cracked up to be. Patagonia wasn’t a Cheap Holiday by any means, but this jacket was money well spent and the build quality should ensure that it will last many many years to come.