The REI Stormhenge 850 Down Hybrid Jacket is a parka-weight down jacket with a waterproof/breathable exterior. If you’ve ever wished that your winter coat had a waterproof shell that could handle rain or snow, this jacket will be right up your alley. In addition to its hybrid construction, the jacket is insulated with goose down and recycled synthetic insulation, which is placed in areas prone to getting wet.
- Gender: men’s (women’s available)
- Weight: 1 lb 13.6 oz
- Insulation: Goose Down/Synthetic Blend (850 fill power plus synthetic insulation)
- Pockets:
- 2 zippered hipbelt-compatible hand pockets are lined with cozy, brushed tricot; 1 zippered chest pocket; 1 internal zippered pocket, 2 internal drop-in pockets
- Hood: two-way adjustable (rear volume and face-opening)
- Fit: true to size, but it feels like you’re wearing a sleeping bag
The REI Stormhenge 850 makes a good front country winter coat for walking the dog, sitting in the bleachers at a late-season football game, or urban commuting in sloppy autumn or winter weather, but it wouldn’t be my first choice for a winter day hike or backpacking trip because it’s so heavy and large. It’s a hybrid cross between a down parka and a rain jacket with elements of both incorporated into its design.
The Stonehenge is primarily insulated with 850 fill power, water-resistant goose down to which extra synthetic insulation has been added in the wrist cuffs, hood, and underarms. The Jacket has a two-way adjustable helmet-compatible hood with a rear volume control and face toggles to shrink the size of the opening. The hood also has a front brim, which helps keep the rain off your face or glasses.
The jacket has are 6 pockets in total: two zippered exterior handwarmer pockets with plush fleece lining, two internal drop pockets, and an internal and external zippered chest pocket. in addition, a pair of hem adjusters at the waist drafts from below.
But what sets the Stonehenge apart from other warm parkas are its rain jacket features, a waterproof/breathable exterior shell, pit zips, and rip-and-stick wrist cuffs. The shell is made using REI’s two-layer Hydrowall waterproof breathable fabric which is coated with a non-fluorinated DWR. Two-layer waterproof/breathable jackets are never very breathable, but the shell is waterproof and seam-taped so it will protect the jacket from becoming soaked in rain.
To wash the Stonehenge, REI suggests treating the coat like a down jacket and washing it in cold water in a front loader using downwash. Downwash is gentle soap and it will not harm the waterproof/breathable shell. In order to reproof the DWR coating, I would use a spray-on DWR like Nikwax Tx-Direct instead of washing it in with a different product.
Recommendation
The REI Stormhenge 850 is a good front country coat for urban and casual pursuits that combines parka-weight warmth with the waterproofness of a rain jacket. But it’s too warm and bulky for winter hiking, skiing, or snowboarding. If you’re looking for a full parka with the same attributes, check out the REI Stormhenge 850 Down Hybrid Parka, which weighs less than 2 oz more.
For more active endeavors, my preference is to combine multiple layers that can also be used by themselves to achieve the same outcome. In this case, you could achieve the same benefit by wearing a heavy thermal fleece or a synthetic insulated soft-shell jacket under a rain jacket, while experiencing great flexibility and mobility.
REI donated a jacket for review.
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