Name: Columbia Women’s Diamond 890 TurboDown Hooded Down Jacket
What it is: A jacket engineered for warmth with Columbia’s performance-enhanced water-resistant down, which combines Omni-Heat synthetic insulation with 850-fill goose down for maximum lightweight warmth and heat retention, even when wet. The lining and interior shell both have thermal reflective technology to prevent any cold spots. The jacket has a hidden interior pocket that’s good for stowing a wallet, glasses, etc., and the hand pockets have zippers. The 890’s varied baffle lines flatter female curves, and its fabric is soft and comfortable. It’s available in gray or blue, and Columbia makes a similar torso-flattering jacket for men. The jacket comes down to midhip level, so I ordered a large. If your posterior is ample, you may want to move up one size.
The good: Layered with a waterproof jacket, the Diamond 890 kept me toasty for hours outside in the chill of Anchorage and Fairbanks. It also kept me warm as a single layer on cool summer evenings in the Quebec wilderness. Yet it can be compressed to fit into a pocket. But because I hadn’t tested the jacket in pouring rain, I simulated rain in my shower. With the jacket zipped up and the hood over my head, I watched water bead up on the jacket for five minutes. When I removed the slightly damp jacket, my hair, shirt and half of my shorts were bone dry. Only my feet, legs and the part of my shorts not covered by the jacket were wet.
The bad: Brace yourself; it’s the price. I wish it could have this much technology for less than $300.
Cost: $325
Available from: columbia.com, sportchalet.com and amazon.com
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