Last year, Eddie Bauer released an interesting new down jacket, the Evertherm, made not with individual clumps of down, but flat sheets of down in one big piece (they called it Thindown). This means no need for baffles to keep the down in place, which in turn means fewer seams for heat to escape, so less insulation is needed to keep you warm. The result was a tremendously light, thin jacket that kept up with the puffiest of puffies when it came to warmth. We liked it.
This year, without a ton of fanfare or fuss, Eddie Bauer updated the heck out of the Evertherm jacket by keeping the same Thindown insulation but adding their waterproof Weatheredge shell on the outside. They’re calling this all-weather version the BC Evertherm. This one comes lined with 45 grams of insulation versus the 30 grams the original Evertherm boasts, so it’s a bit heavier, but still weighs only 19.2 ounces. Eddie Bauer claims the jacket will keep you warm while standing motionless, perhaps contemplating the nature of multi-dimensional space-time, in temps as low as 40 degrees, and will keep you toasty while moving around in temps as chilly as minus-20.
The warmth-to-weight factor is great and all, but it’s that Weatheredge shell that really piques the interest. A down jacket? In wet weather? Really?
Really.
We’ve had our hands on this piece for a few weeks now, in a variety of conditions: cold and dry, cold and wet, freezing and dry, and straight-up rain. It just plain works.
I was skeptical at first that this piece would hold up in wet weather. Not sure why, exactly, other than a primal part of my brain screaming out: “No! No down in the rain!” Actually, yeah, that’s definitely why.
So at first, this jacket was kept in cold, dry conditions. Of course, it’s great there. Thindown, as we learned with last year’s Evertherm, is a truly smart innovation that can make a jacket that feels thin and insubstantial and much warmer than you’d expect. The BC Evertherm is thicker and more robust, with better wind resistance, and seems a bit toastier.
But after a while, I finally brought it out into the wet stuff to see how it would perform.
You can definitely get away with this as a rain jacket. The outer shell boasts a 20k waterproof rating (this means an inch of the material can withstand 20,000 mm of water pressure without failing), and it handled drizzles, brief downpours, hail, and sustained showers with no issue at all. I still think I’d use a heavy midlayer below a dedicated hard shell if I wasn’t constrained in terms of choices and was headed out for no doubt rainstorms. But if this was the only option, I’d have confidence in it in the rain. I fear in heavy rains what would happen if the outer shell eventually wetted out—would it compromise the Thindown below? But that hasn’t happened yet. Again, this ain’t the jacket I’m packing for a monsoon.
That’s not really it’s intended use though. The BC Evertherm is a jacket means for alpine weather that could include a bit of everything. Dry snow, wet snow, sleet, slush, rain—maybe all of that at once. It would make an excellent choice for serious backcountry missions in the winter, with a great range of motion, voluminous hood, massive internal pocket, plenty of length, and a forgiving shape that will fit over midlayers.
The roomy hood is adjustable
Phone, key pocket.
Nice large hood
Huge internal drop pocket for gloves, hats, snacks, small children
This is a truly all-weather winter jacket that can be worn by itself over a baselayer, rather than wearing a baselayer, midlayer, and outer shell. Throw just the one coat in a backpack, and you’re covered.
My only real gripe is that since it’s just one piece, in blowing rain, even light rain, moisture can work its way into the neck area of the coat, and get right to the non-waterproof inner lining. This can also happen with a rain shell over a down midlayer, but with the added separation of a two-layer system, there’s a little more protection.
Having said that, this will be my go-to jacket all winter in all but the most frigid, miserable conditions. Highly recommended.
DETAILS
• 45G Thindown insulation
• 15-d Weatheredge waterproof shell
• Insulated hood
• 19.2 ounces
$350 • BUY
More Alterna-down suggestions
Mountain Hardwear’s StretchDown Hooded Jacket isn’t waterproof like the BC Evertherm, but it boasts a flexible, durable shell that makes movement a breeze. A unique-feeling down insulation piece, for sure. $275
This isn’t a technical jacket, but United by Blue’s Bison Puffer Insulated Jacket makes the list for using bison fibers as an insulation material. Warm, light, an easy everyday wear. $228
REI’s Stormhenge 850 Down Jacket is filled with goose down, and protected with a waterproof shell for a weather-proof down jacket that’s not quite as warm as the BC Evertherm, but is also about $100 cheaper. $249
Eddie Bauer First Ascent line is the sleeper show of outdoor gear
Yep. Doesn’t get nearly the love it should.
Being comfortable at 40 degrees standing still isn’t all that great of a warmth to weight ratio for a 19 oz jacket.
Surprised it’s not warmer with the waterproof shell. As far as warmth goes a Montbell Mirage will blow that out of the water at only 13 oz in weight for just a little more, or an Arcteryx Atom LT is just as warm for $260 and 15 oz. Granted neither one of these has a waterproof shell and would have slightly different uses but the Atom LT isn’t far off. I think as you indicate a separate insulation layer and shell is probably a better way to go most times. I would be concerned with buildup of condensation within the waterproof membrane migrating into the down and mitigating its ability to insulate. If it’s the hydrophobic down that would help but I didn’t see that mentioned. If you’re using it for shorter day trips that may be less of an issue too. Also if the waterproof layer performs more like Neoshell than most Gore Tex iterations I’ve tried that would also be a bonus.
So many great options out there …
Great jacket, but, sigh…. it looks like Eddie Bauer is serious about NOT making TALL sizes in their new technical gear.
I’ve been wearing First Ascent since it came out and love it. The combination of functionality, value, and fit has been awesome. But starting with the end of their lightweight hardshell about two years ago they’ve dropped talls. And actually, there was nearly a year where they didn’t even ANY hardshell that wasn’t heavy/ski-specific in any size. How can you say you’re a mountaineering-specific line without a lightweight hardshell)?
So while you can get a 2XL, you can’t any longer get a large-tall. Which is weird, because I see way more tall+thin people out doing the stuff this gear is made for than I do the XXL crowd. But maybe I’m not hanging out in the right places (midwestern shopping malls, I’m looking at you).
Anyone out there have a lead on tall-size lightweight hardshell that doesn’t cost a zillion bucks? Because EB is forcing me to go elsewhere. I’d love to stick with First Ascent, but the clothing has to fit! At this point, I’ve got to replace my First Ascent Rainier and BC-200 jackets pronto, as I’ve plain worn them out.
This is a good question and I’m afraid I don’t know the answer. This jacket is much longer than most others of its size — I’m 6’2″ and wearing a medium and it’s quite long.
Thanks for the response. I’ve tried on some of their current stuff and while the body length works if I go up a size it’s the sleeves that get me. For example, with the old tall offerings, I could squeeze into a medium-tall for something like a shell I’d bike in and didn’t want flapping or want to layer under, otherwise a large(tall) is perfect for nearly everything else.
In the current sizing, if I was to get an XL-regular it’ll probably “work” for some things (eg, watching from the sidelines at a soccer game), but isn’t “performance fit” by any means.
EB stuff runs big generally, probably due to its recent past focused on outdoor-look mall wear, but wearing something biggish to make it work for a tall person only goes so far when you’re talking about “gear” vs “just clothing.” I’m 6’6, btw, but I think anyone over, say, 6’3 with long arms, and/or doing an activity that requires reaching, is going to want that tall size.
LL Bean makes some tall shells, but I’m not sure how their “technical” stuff matches up against dedicated alpine softgoods brands and since I’m on the west coast I don’t have a store to try.
Thanks!
My wife is 6’3″ (really) and she wears some LL Bean stuff because they make tall sizes too. She’s never satisfied with any of their “technical” pieces.
a) right on for your wife! and b) that’s a bummer about the Bean stuff.
We’ll keep looking.
Agree completely!! Baffled why tall sizes aren’t made. I’m so tired of having cold wrists.
Tim, I’m 6’4″, 185#, and 16-35 in dress shirt sizes. I’ve found the UK brand Rab to be the best fit for me that I’ve found, by far. The size they mark as large for the US market is great for me, more of a trim-fit-but-tall large.
As it happens, I’ve got a spare of their Polartec NeoShell jacket if you’re interested. Look me up on Mountain Project, if you want to. But even if not from me, check them out. They’re hard to find in person in US retail stores, but worth it.
Yes, Rab makes some truly incredible stuff. Not sure I’ve ever seen Rab in a US store though.
Although Eddie Bauer is a company that plays the mark-up/mark-down game more than almost anyone, the jacket is technically $499, not $350. That being said it is on sale, “today only,” for 50% off. Also, too bad that they don’t have a little better color selection. Agree that their stuff is often vastly underrated, though.