Feathered Friends, located in Seattle, Washington has been producing high quality down products since 1972. We sat down the Brent Zwiers, the Director of Operations for Feathered Friends and got some insight about the company and how he handles the 9-to-5 grind. Make sure to check out Feathered Friends at http://www.featheredfriends.com

Brent Zweirs

AI: Tell us about Feathered Friends.
BZ: Feathered Friends was founded in 1972 by Peter and Carol Hickner who still own the business and operate it today. They started essentially in their basement. Carol learned to sew and in the 70′s there was an economic downturn. They took their skills and just started making gear for themselves. Their friends found out and started saying ‘hey, can you make me this, can you make me that?’ so really Feathered Friends was making everything, tents, sleeping bags, jackets, backpacks, anything that needed to be made. Somewhere along the line it was decided that down sleeping bags and jackets were really an avenue they could pursue from a business perspective, but we sold direct to the customer and that’s still about 80% of our business. We opened a retail store in 1988 and the rest as they say is history. Today we enjoy a very organic, grassroots following of loyal customers from around the globe.

AI: With all the outsourcing occurring these days, talk a little about where your products are made.
BZ: About 90-95% of our products are made here in Seattle. Now, we’ve have to switch it up the past couple of years because we could no longer meet the demand out of our facility and we’ve had difficulty finding skilled sewers. It’s not for lack of trying or for economic reasons that we’ve outsourced, it’s purely the fact that we couldn’t meet the demand. We’ve moved some of our products to a factory in Vancouver. As far as profit margin is concerned it would be really easy to outsource to Vietnam, or Cambodia, or Laos but some of the people that work for us have worked here for 20 or 30 years, almost as long as the company is old so we feel we have a responsibility to them. They’re not just employees, in some ways they’re like your family.

AI: And what about the options you offer to your customers?
BZ: One of the things we allow customers to do is customize items.  So it’s not “here’s your sleeping bag and it comes in red”, you can get it in any color and made of any of the fabrics we have. We try to have standards but if you’re willing to wait and maybe pay a little bit extra in terms of a custom fee we’ll make it for you. We really try to deliver to the customer’s needs.

AI: What is on the horizon for Feathered Friends? What should we be looking for?
BZ: We’re always working on new things. We have a new sleeping bag that we’ve been working on for the past couple years that has taken a little work to get together but we’re getting a lot closer. It’s called the Spoonbill. It’s a double person alpine bag and has no insulation on the bottom and the two people sleep pretty close but you can save a lot of weight. And in July we launched a new jacket that will be the first new jacket design in about ten years. Feather Friends makes very classic styles so we tend not release new products all that often. It’ll be a super-light down sweater called the Daybreak.

Since this interview the Spoonbill has come to market, we will be launching a lightweight jacket called the Jackorak in March and we will also have our first ever women’s specific down jackets. We have a lot of other projects that we are working on and hopefully our customers will see some great new products continue to come to market.

AI: What are your earliest memories of the outdoors?
BZ: My parents were both teachers so we used to always be outdoors. They both had summers off so we would always take summer family vacations. Probably my absolute earliest memory is from Oak Grove Park in Iowa where I grew-up, riding in the backpack with my dad. I remember there being this really big rock and you got back as an adult and the rocks really not all that big. I was fortunate I got to travel so much. I’ve been to all 50 states and almost all the national parks.

AI: Do you feel that working here, especially as you move up in the company, precludes you from enjoying getting out as much as you used to?
BZ: It’s an unfortunate truth that the busier you get in work the less time you have to devote to the outdoors.

AI: And how do you deal with that?
BZ: My wife and I, instead of trying to go outdoors every single weekend like we used to do we now try to do more scheduled trips. Book off a week and go to Utah and ski or take a trip to the southwest and now we’re looking at doing a trip to the Argentina/Chile area. You have to plan a little more, it’s not as easy as waking up and asking “Who wants to go to Smith Rock?”.

AI: What’s your favorite activity?
BZ: I would say it’s a split between sport climbing and skiing. I grew up climbing and then I moved out west and I took up skiing. I never thought it would take over, but as your skills improve and you can deal with the powder it makes it a tough call.

AI: What’s your favorite crag or mountain?
BZ: I love Smith Rock, there is so much variety. You can get down into the basalt you can stay out on the front side. There is so much variety in not just styles but its difficulty. You can get as much as you want. My favorite place to ski is probably Kicking Horse in Golden, BC right near the border. My wife and I also got engaged there so it holds a little sentimental value.

AI: I know it’s not an easy question but what is your favorite piece of gear?
BZ: Wow, that is a tough one. When you have a basement full of gear it’s tough to pick one thing. I’m going to have to go with the Feathered Friends Hummingbird sleeping bag. It’s been with me for a really long time and it just does everything and covers a very broad spectrum.

2009 Patagonia Primo Pants

About the Patagonia Primo Jacket and Pants

The Primo jacket and pants are the premier shell from Patagonia. That distinction does, however, come at a price. The jacket rings in at $450 and the pants are a slightly less expensive $350. But, should you decide to put up $800 for the pair you likely won’t be disappointed. Both jacket and pants are

Park City Powder Fall

constructed of stretch-woven nylon with Patagonia’s proprietary 3-layer H2No waterproof/breathable barrier. The 3-layer barrier provides the utmost in durability and the most waterproof, windproof barrier that Patagonia offers. The Primo jacket also features removable hood and powder skirt, which is appreciated on a fair weather outing. A brushed tricot lining around the neck keeps the jacket from chafing. The high neck keeps the wind and precipitation off your back even when you don’t have the hood up or even attached. The chest pocket hides a padded electronics pocket that also provides holes for your headphone cables. The jacket also provides three hooks that attach to any Patagonia shell pants to keep you protected in every condition. The pants are constructed of the same material and feature a gusseted crotch and articulated knees provide a full of range of motion.The high cut back ensures you stay dry and the hook and loop side, size adjustments make achieving the perfect fit a cinch. All external zippers on both the jacket (main zipper, chest pocket, shoulder pocket, pit zips) and pants (crotch zipper, hand warmers, cargo pocket, and thigh ventilation) are waterproof. Check out our first impression of the Patagonia Primo jacket and pants.

Performance of the Patagonia Primo jacket and pants

The Primo system proved to work as designed. From frigid days on the slopes in Park City, UT to rainy days in Seattle the Primo kept the wind, rain, and snow off me while breathing enough to keep me dry inside. I wore the Primo jacket over my Patagonia R2 jacket and the pants over my Smartwool tights, and the combination provided more than acceptable insulation. The full-length gaiters kept the snow out of my boots for several days of skiing, even in deep powder and including more than a few falls. The jacket weighs in at 21.75 oz. and the pants come it at 16.75 oz., about average for these type durable shells. The padded inner pocket on the chest kept my iPhone safe, and although I didn’t use the routing holes for headphones, the feature is appreciated. My one complaint: although the Primo jacket does have a built in lift ticket holder, it’s really nothing more than a plastic hoop you attach your zip-tie to. First off, the holder sits too high forcing you to dig for your lift ticket when you need it. Second I would like to see a buckle attached to a small, thin piece of webbing that will simply go through the hole in the lift ticket. Picky, I know, but when I spend $450 on a jacket, I guess I feel like I should be allowed to be picky.

Final Conclusions

The Primo jacket and pants are for serious people doing serious outdoor adventures but if you are looking for a shell that will protect you for years to come, you could do worse than the Patagonia Primo jacket and pants.

Why It’s Hot:

• Bombproof
• Durability
• Pants size adjustment

Why It’s Not:

• Lift ticket holder

2009 Patagonia R2 Jacket

About the Patagonia R2 Jacket

The Patagonia R2 is part of the line of regulator line of fleece jackets offered by Patagonia that provide varying levels of insulation and protection from the elements. The R2 is the ultra-compressible high-loft option designed to be worn under a shell. The R2 surprised me with a weight of just 13.625 oz (medium) and the ability to compress down to the size of a large grapefruit. The R2, however, is not your entry level fleece. At $175 the R2 can be a little pricey for someone looking for a fleece to just kick around town in. You can see our first impressions of the Patagonia R2 Jacket here.

Design and Construction of the R2

The R2 is designed for those of us that actually intend to use it outdoors instead of a lot of the ‘outdoor’ clothing that is more for people who want to be fashionable for the après ski. Fortunately, however, this fleece could appeal to both crowds as it’s both functional and fashionable.

I did find the jacket to be a little tight in the shoulders, so you would be well advised to try this jacket on before buying it. The raglan sleeves and lie flat seams minimize chaffing when wearing a backpack, and the R2 stretchability makes it great for high-motion activities like skiing. The incredibly soft feel is nice against the skin and the R1 cuffs and neck lining add durability to those oft-abused places. The one thing I did find to be a little annoying with the jacket is the placement of the napoleon pocket. While I do generally like napoleon pockets, the zipper on the R2 is placed too close to the main zipper and often times I found myself unzipping the pocket when I wanted to unzip the jacket. I would like the see the pocket zipper be moved further away from the main zipper. In short, though, the construction of the R2 is what we’ve come to expect from Patagonia; perfect stitches and not a blemish to be found.

Patagonia R2 Jacket Performance

I tested the Patagonia R2 jacket on ski trips in Utah and on  the streets of New York City. The jacket was extremely easy to pack — it takes up almost no room in your bag. One thing I noticed (during a warm mid-winter stroll) is that this jacket provides almost no protection from the wind. Given the extremely lightweight construction of the R2, I guess this should not have come as a surprise, but it is worth noting. Under a shell the R2 performed great as a lightweight layer when the temperatures weren’t plummeting or during periods of high exertion. Despite strenuous adventures in the R2 I could not get the jacket wet with sweat and when it did get wet from the elements I found that it dries very quickly.

Conclusions on the Patagonia R2 Jacket

The Patagonia R2 jacket is great highly-compressible fleece that provides a superior amount of insulation for the weight. At $175 there may be better options out there for the price, but if the R2 fulfills a specific set of requirements for you then you won’t be disappointed.

Why it’s hot:

• Light-weight
• Highly compressible
• Soft against skin
• Comfort (raglan sleeves & lie flat seams)

Why it’s not:

• Price
• Napoleon pocket zipper placement

2009 Patagonia R2 Jacket

About the Patagonia R2 Jacket

Along with my Patagonia Primo Jacket and Pants I received an R2 jacket to serve as my insulation layer.  Like I said in that article I have gotten a late start in testing my new ski gear but I plan on giving it a run for it’s money in the coming months.  Before we get too involved let’s take a look at the R2 jacket features from the Patagonia website:

• Highly technical R2 fabric is light, stretchy and compressible, with great breathability
• Insulating long fibers alternate with dense, supportive short fibers to optimize insulation and reduce bulk
• Directional knit wicks moisture and speeds dry time
• Inner collar lined with R1® fabric (made with recycled polyester) for next-to-skin comfort; collar and protective chin flap lined with R1 fabric (made with recycled polyester) for next-to-skin comfort
• Low-bulk R1 fabric cuffs
• Pockets: one chest and zippered handwarmers; zippers all welded and reinforced with Supplex® for snag-free operation
• Shoulder seams set forward for pack-wearing comfort
• R2® shell: 7.4-oz Polartec® Thermal Pro® 100% polyester (40% recycled) fleece. R1® panels: 6.5-oz Polartec Power Dry® 93% polyester (60% recycled)/7% spandex. Recyclable through the Common Threads Recycling Program
• 419 g (14.8 oz)
• Made in Colombia.

First Impressions of the Patagonia R2 Jacket

The first thing I noticed when I pulled the R2 jacket out of the box was how light it was, even for a fleece.  The high loft of the soft polyester fleece seems ideal for great compressibility while providing great insulation qualities.  It’s quite soft too!  It is a shame that Patagonia hasn’t been able to get a lightweight fleece such as the R2 with wind resistant properties like the R4 but I suppose that’s the trade-off.  That said, the R2 jacket seems to be constructed to the high standards that is common of Patagonia.  I did have a few issues when I wore the jacket around the neighborhood for the first time.  The fit seems to be a little weird with a tight fit in the shoulders and arms.  Perhaps I was wearing a bulky sweater, but it still struck me as odd.  The second problem I have is similar to the many jackets sporting a napoleon pocket: when reaching to unzip the jacket I tend to grab the pocket zipper instead.  It’s really a love hate relationship with napoleon pockets in general.  Otherwise there seems to be no problem with materials, design, or construction.

What We’re Looking for in the Patagonia R2 Jacket

In the next few months we will be testing the Patagonia R2 jacket under hard shells while skiing both downhill and AT, on it’s own while climbing in the Gunks, and of course we will be wearing it around town after a day of hiking.  We expect the R2 jacket to perform as advertised with it’s light weight, compressible, insulation goodness.

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2009 Patagonia Primo Jacket

About the Patagonia Primo Jacket and Primo Pants

I received my Patagonia Primo Jacket and pants the other day and although I am getting a late start with my ski gear, I plan to give the Primos a run for their money in the coming weeks.  With trips planned to Vermont, Utah, and Colorado I’ll be sure to test to the Primo Jacket in some challenging situations.  The Primo jacket also comes in a down insulated version (not reviewed here as I am not a big fan or insulation and shells combined).  Let’s have a quick look at some of the features of the Primo Jacket from the Patagonia website:

• Lightweight, yet durable 3-layer 4.2-oz stretch-woven nylon with H2No® waterproof breathable barrier and Deluge DWR finish
• Fixed helmet-compatible hood with single-hand drawcord pull
• Drop collar with high neck to provide protection from winds and snow
• Coated, water-repellent zippers for center front, hand pockets, and pit zips
• Pockets: left chest with electronic pocket inside, two handwarmer, two interior drop in
• Pit zips
• Fully featured, zip-off, stretch powder skirt with webbing loops to attach to pants, and pass window
• Shell: 4.2-oz 50-denier 100% stretch-woven nylon with a waterproof/breathable H2No® barrier and Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish. Powder skirt: 2.3-oz 100% all-recycled polyester plain weave
• 652 g (23 oz)
• Made in Vietnam.

2009 Patagonia Primo Pants

And the features for the Primo pants from the Patagonia website:

• Lightweight, yet durable 3-layer 4.2-oz stretch-woven nylon with H2No® waterproof/breathable barrier and Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish
• Snap-closure waistband
• Interior waistband and adjustments lined with soft, brushed tricot
• Pockets: two handwarmer, one right thigh with coated water resistant zippers
• Scuff guards to protect pant cuffs
• Fully-featured gaiters with gripper elastic, adjustable cam buckles and integrated drawcord
• 3-layer, 4.2-oz 50-denier 100% stretch-woven nylon with a Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish
• 485 g (17.1 oz)
• Made in Vietnam.

First Impressions of the Primo Jacket and Primo Pants

The quality of the Primos are nothing less than what we have come to expect out of Patagonia.  All seams are perfectly taped, the stitching is top notch, the zippers work perfectly, in fact there doesn’t seem to be a single blemish on the jacket or pants.  The Primos are certainly on par with the best ski/snowboard clothing currently on the market.  As a plus, when we put the Primo jacket (small) on the scales it came in at just 21 3/4oz and the Primo pants (medium) came in at 16 3/4oz. both on par with advertised weights.

What We’re Looking for from the Patagonia Primo Jacket and Primo Pants

For the premium that is charged for the Primo jacket and Primo pants we expect them to perform superbly in very tough conditions. We’ll be on the slopes in Vermont and Utah, late season AT skiing in Colorado, climbing in New Mexico, and torturing ourselves with downpours in between. We’re expecting the Primo to keep us protected from the elements as well as allowing water vapor from our sweat to escape so as to not create a sauna inside the shell. All of this is expected of the Primo in widely varying conditions.  It’s a tall order, yes, but that is the reason the Primos were designed.

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The jacket is constructed of 15 Denier ripstop that is very lightweight, at the cost of some durability.  It’s also finished with a water repellent to keep your down dry in a sprinkle, although any serious rain will require a shell to keep you dry and warm.  If you are looking for a jacket to have in case of cooler weather and are looking to go light, start with the Phantom.  If you need anything more, you may be better served with another jacket.

Quick Review

Design: Super light down jacket
Retail: $240 (Buy)
Weights: 1lb. .5oz. (medium)
Why it’s hot:

• Weight
• 800-fill down

Why it’s not:

• Quilted construction
• Short cut

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/

Cloudveil Down Patrol Jacket

This jacket has kept me warm on more frigid days than I can remember. Cloudveil doesn’t have the name recognition of many of the larger companies, but the quality of their gear suggests that this may change very soon. The Down Patrol jacket gives you the warmth you need without feeling bulky or hindering your movements. Designed as a down jacket that can also be used for skiing, it’s got plenty of pockets, pit vents, and a removeable powder skirt.

Kite Skiing

The interior chest pocket has a small hole perfect for your iPod headphones. The jacket has a longer cut in the back, meaning that when you sit down you’re not going to suddenly have a draft against the small of your back. One of my personal favorite features is the drawcord on the back of the hood which allows your to tighten the hood against your head without sacrificing your peripheral vision.

If you’re looking for a good down jacket for skiing, belaying on a cold day, or just running around town, this is a great jacket I would highly recommend. Very versatile, and very functional.