positives

  In a lot of ways, the Mountain Hardware StretchDown rises to the occasion. The most notable trait of this jacket is its stretch. Its 100 percent polyester dynamic knit allows you to bend and twist whether you’re just packing things away at camp or ice climbing – yes, ice climbing. 

We put to it the test. Unlike most down jackets, this one is insulated with Mountain Hardware’s trademarked Q.Shield DOWN making it water resistant. While, you wouldn’t want to be caught in a storm with just the StretchDown, it does fare well against light sprays. 

And like most Mountain Hardware products, it’s pretty damn durable. We took it out on sharp ridges of metamorphosed volcanic rock, taking a few falls and scraps against the wall. While some of the rock’s corners managed to snag a few areas, overall the jacket remained unpunctured.

The hooded version is roomy enough for a helmet as well. The StretchDown also gains bonus points for its RDS certification and price point. Most of the time, you can find this jacket on sale. 

negatives

While the Mountain Hardware StretchDown is stretchy, it’s also a warm winter jacket with bulk. It’s a heavy puffy (not as thick as expedition jackets, but not as thin as layering puffers), so don’t think you’ll be completely nimble. And this also means, it’s not very packable. But since it is warm, you’ll likely not need to layer too heavily, which aids in mobility.

The StretchDown is a slim fit and tends to rise a bit when your arms are fully raised – an annoyance when climbing. 

It’s polyester shell loves to hold dirt. If you’ve chosen a lighter color, be warned, this jacket tends to stain.