any recommendations for Christmas jackets?
There isn’t much difference between 700 and 750 fillers. Fit and build quality are more important. They’re both good brands, so if they fit well, I’d get the color you prefer.
Both San Francisco Bay Area brands are of similar quality. REI primarily offers used down jackets. Otherwise, there are deals on new jackets everywhere; Eddie Bauer is an excellent brand. I’ve had a 700-fill down jacket for ten years and use it for backpacking. The Ascent series is the high-end model, and I like it for snow activities, where I’m outdoors all day in the cold. I also recently found a used Eastern Mt Sports 800-fill down jacket of higher quality. It’s less known in the West, but in my experience, it’s an excellent product, and I found one online for $30.
I recommend a Patagonia down jacket. I wore it on a trip to Alaska last year and it was perfect. Plus, it’s incredibly high quality.
[This is the same style of Marmot jacket I’m looking at.]
Visit Sierra.com for more down jackets! It’s like the TJ Max of nature. The two jackets are virtually identical. The key is in the color and fit. The Decathlon Mt 100 Hooded Down Jacket is an EXCEPTIONAL down jacket for under $100 new. A very popular and affordable option for hikers.
Check out Eddie Bauer’s Ascent series. It offers solid options for cold-weather activities, and the quality is excellent for the price. I’ve been using a 700 model for years, and it’s perfect for hiking.