LAST EDITED ON May-27-16 AT 02:27PM (MST)[p]Sucks doesn't it?
Are you stuck on down, or are you just interested in a "puffy" jacket?
If you limit yourself to down, it gets really hard.
The worst part is that there is very little variety in warmth out there.
Sitka has several jackets. Only one fits your criteria.
Its the Kelvin down hoody, and its going to be too warm most of the time.
The Kelvin light hoody (not down, primaloft) 3 oz. would be a good option if you don't have to have down.
The kelvin down ultralight (no hood) 3 oz. Would be decent warmth for those conditions, but has no hood. So you would have to sacrifice that. Plus, its a down synthetic mix.
Kelvin Down hoody 8 oz. 70% down, 30 % synthetic, hooded, but this is a warm jacket.
It has more than twice the insulation of the kelvin light hoody.
If you give up the down, and give up full frontal zip for half zip, the Kifaru lost park parka is a nice option.
Kuiu is popular, Super down hoody. The big beef with it is that may not be warm enough. I think its like 2.5 oz of insulation. Its light, packable and has the hood. Plus its cheap.
Non down insulation like first lite uncomahgre puffy would fit the bill if you give up the down for synthetic.
I would bet that your best bet in the hunting gear line would be the kryptek aquillo down jacket.
4 oz down insulation, and is hooded. You can get it in many color variations as well.
Its not very expensive.
If you leave the hunting brands you will find a larger range.
Rab makes a microlight alpine jacket with 5 oz of down, like $270
I am a big montane fan. They make a 5 oz down jacket.
Montane feather lite down jacket. Its hooded comes in several colors, I assume black or grey would be the ones you would be interested in.
Mountain hardwear nitrous hooded down jacket would be another.
Arcteryx and marmot will also have several choices.
Everybody has a different comfort range.
You might want more insulation.
I have several sitka kelvin jackets, and I also muzzleloader hunt in mid sept above 8000 ft every year. The 8 oz kelvin down hoody is too much for me. I use either my kelvin lite, or the kelvin down ultralight.
I have a first lite that I really think is would work well for you, if you are not stuck on down being the insulation.
I like the kryptek aquillo.
I also use a hoodless, sleeveless jacket from them. The kratos II.
Its synthetic, but if you get into unusual cold, I have just put the kratos on, then put the aquillo on over it. That is very warm.
I wear the sitka kelvin down hoody in november.
We muzzleloader elk hunt in November around 9000 ft.
I tried the kuiu super down in these conditions. Stupid. Just plain stupid. 2.5 oz of down is not enough to keep you warm in that kind of cold.
You will shiver and shake for hours.
The sitka kelvin down hoody is the right tool for that job.
But the kuiu is a fine september jacket. May not be warm enough for your elevation though. Depends on temperatures.
I would lean toward a 4 - 5 oz insulated jacket over the 2.5 oz jacket for mid october at those elevations.
If you get cold, go with more insulation.
If you circulate well, look at the montane and the kryptek.
ne Cabellas thick & one Kings thinner. Weigh nothing and always in my packs or a pocket.Fits right over cap too for sun.
