3 Mountain Equipment Annapurna Down Jacket Review

Reviewer: Lars-Petter Jevnaker, Bergen   (15-2-2012)

I've had this jacket for some years and it has kept me warm on all winter trips. It's best features are many pockets, compressibility and the insulating capacity. The detachable hood may be used around your feet inside the sleeping bag on cold nights, or around the head as a substitute for the sleeping bag's hood. That will reduce moisture building up in the bag.

It doesn't contain the best down quality available, but still it's good enough. The velcro closure on the hood is hard to close with thick mittens. Not the lightest expedition jacket around.

Bottom line: A winter work horse which won't let you down.

5 Mountain Equipment Annapurna Down Jacket Review

Reviewer: Stuart Thomson, westgate-on-sea   (1-12-2011)

I bought this for winter in Svalbard. So far the coldest it has been out is probably about -20° with wind chill. I can wear this jacket with just a t-shirt underneath in these conditions comfortably. I was thinking about buying Mountain Equipment's Greenland jacket which offers even more insulation but it cost £100 more.

Based on experience so far, I'm glad I went with the Annapurna over the Greenland as I've actually been too warm inside this jacket a few times, even on short walks. I've mainly used it for walking about town - a couple of hours max at a time but I haven't begun to feel the cold at all. I'm very happy with the jacket so far and feel I made the right decision. The build quality seems very solid but I haven't owned it long enough to make any conclusions based on using it extensively. I'm happy with the price too, a lot of the jackets I looked at were around the £300 price range but this does the job for me more than well enough for £200.

5 Mountain Equipment Annapurna Down Jacket Review

Reviewer: Peter Stott, London   (11-10-2011)

This is an excellent jacket. I had a long hard look at the alternatives before I bought this one and I am pleased with my choice. One of the problems that I have experienced with many down jackets is that they are short in length and don't really give good protection below the waist - but this jacket is long both in the body and the arms. I like the outer fabric which is both smart looking and durable. It is very well-provided with pockets and with a heavy duty zip - ideal when your hands are cold. Since I bought the Annapurna jacket I have had a close look at other brands and models and I have seen nothing to compare with this product. I am going to test it in Antarctica in January and will report on its performance when I get back.

5 Mountain Equipment Annapurna Down Jacket Review

Reviewer: Paul Tunnicliffe, Norton   (18-4-2010)

I just love this jacket. As a brand I like Mountain Equipment anyway, its based on experience. I bought one of the first versions of the Annapurna back in the 1980s and it lasted a good 10 years of hard work. I lost count of how many times I slept in it, walked in it, wore it to the pub, and generally between the months of September to April was never far from it. I hope I get as much out of my new Annapurna!

I bought the newer version of the Annapurna for a trip to Russia in February so I had to have considerable confidence in it to withstand minus 20 degrees plus windchill. It exceeded my expectations. I wore the Annapurna in those conditions with nothing more than a wicking tee underneath it. (I had Mountain Equipment trousers which were equally up to the job - no chill on the legs at all) I was perfectly comfortable. Even stood around for a while taking photographs I was in no way cold. In very cold conditions it has no equal.

In less extreme conditions, its still good. It is very cosy on chilled March or April evenings.

Despite my deep affection for this jacket I would not trust it in heavy rain. It can withstand a drizzle but not much more. A hardshell is far better in wet conditions.

5 Mountain Equipment Annapurna Down Jacket Review

Reviewer: Gordon Cooper, Cove   (2-10-2009)

I purchased the Annapurna Jacket, to simply keep warm when finding myself in some of the UK's most unpleasant weather conditions, especially after a long, hard days yomp when camping out.
What I really like about the jacket, is that is packs down nicely when compressed and in true ME traditions there are no fancy gimmicks.
If there could be one downside to this jacket, is that it can be too warm, in coolish winter days