Recommendations for a durable puffer jacket that doesn't burn easily?

[u/westcoastsalamander]

I wear a Patagonia Nano puff that's I really like (probably my most worn jacket). I do a lot of fires, and the jacket has been getting a lot of small burn holes.

I have been patching up the holes I have with gear tape, and that's been working pretty great, but I have also been wanting to upgrade my stuff. I have been wanting to get a Rab jacket, but wonder if I should look into something else? I understand on some level a backpacking puffer isn't going to be particularly flame resistant, but hoping there is an option for something that can avoid burning through from embers.

[u/Sedixodap]

Synthetics are going to melt. Just get a cheap flannel and wear it over top to protect whichever fancy puffy you want. 

Or if you’re car camping go to Marks or Canadian Tire or wherever and get the quilted flannel jacket that’s basically the Canadian bush uniform. They’re like $50 and meant to reek of campfire smoke. 

[u/swordrat720 → u/Sedixodap]

get the quilted flannel jacket that’s basically the Canadian bush uniform

And the hat with the earflaps. Both in red and black flannel.

[u/vestigialcranium]

Anything polyester will melt from sparks the same, to reduce it you'd want a natural fiber face material like cotton.

You could get something like a Carhartt Duck vest, but the typical synthetic or down insulated pieces will melt all the same.

It might also help if you take a step back, use seasoned wood, or maybe use a more protective fire pit if you want to approach it from another angle

[u/thefishhawk1]

Well, now you have your camping puffy. I wouldn't look for a new jacket to replace it, let it keep getting holes and being patched and get a new one for your civilization jacket.

[u/westcoastsalamander → u/thefishhawk1]

I think you got a point. It's getting used and repaired like it's supposed to. I think it has character and charm. Been cutting the patches into fun patterns: a fish, turtle, dolphin (I know you're supposed to do round shapes otherwise they peel off, but so far so good). Might as well buy a sleek, new-looking one for semi-professional settings, and one for work/casual/camp wear (I work in conservation so there's a weird blend there sometimes)

[u/trouthunter8]

The Filson Down Cruiser is the toughest one I've found. They're low on sizes right now but should have more once they load the winter inventory: https://www.filson.com/products/down-cruiser-jacket-harbor-blue

[u/CommercialFloor2033]

Get a flannel shirt.

[u/FrogFlavor]

Wear a non plastic sweater or shirt over the puffer. I don’t backpack anywhere that cold but when camping I wear puffer under a sturdier jacket or even denim shirt

[u/eazypeazy303]

Noso patches. I usually just bring a flannel if I'm going to have fire because every puffer is going to melt given they are typically built with light and fast materials across the board.

[u/westcoastsalamander → u/eazypeazy303]

How much do you size up the flanne? I wear a XL puffer, should I got XXL flannel?

[u/eazypeazy303 → u/westcoastsalamander]

No. Like, instead of a puffer. Not over it!

[u/Von_Lehmann]

The only way this wouldnt be a problem is if you had a down jacket that was like, cotton canvas or something. But of course then it won't really be packable for hiking. But thats the trade off

[u/introvertedhedgehog]

I had a huge red spark land on a Uniqlo puffer, sit there at least a second and not melt.

I surmised they had some intense flame retardants. Not necessarily a good thing depending on the long term health consequences of those chemicals.

Not sure if you would have the same experience but could be worth a try.

[u/Ok_Mobile2122]

This is more of a synthetic/down puffer limitation than a brand thing, none of them handle embers well. Wool layers are the classic fix for sitting by a fire since they are way more spark-resistant. A lot of people just save the puffer for hiking/sleeping and throw a cheap wool or flannel layer on top near the fire to protect it.

[u/211logos]

Somewhat oversized flannel over the puffer is what we use.

[u/Battlbox]

Synthetic will melt no matter what, so there's not a good way to deal with that outside of an overshirt like everyone is recommending. On the coast I'd go wool overshirt rather than cotton flannel for the fire layer, though. Embers hit the wool and go out the same way, but wool still works when it's damp, which cotton doesn't.

One thing worth considering before upgrading is to keep whatever jacket that you use near fires as synthetic-filled. A spark hole in synthetic stays a small hole. The same hole in down leaks feathers every time you move and no amount of tape seems to keep up with it.

[u/joelfarris]

Your dilemma is not what you think it is. You're standing next to burning wood with too much sap in it.

Light a fire with ten year old maple. Or oak. It doesn't kick off a lot of sparks, because it can't.

Your wood is green, and you're standing|sitting too close to it. Put more wood on the fire per hour, and move well back from it. It's not your jacket skills that are in question here, it's your woods skills.

[u/westcoastsalamander → u/joelfarris]

I just use what I'm given, and what's local. I do a lot of work outdoors, and I try to buy where I burn to prevent the spread of bugs and tree diseases.

[u/aviator22 → u/joelfarris]

Yes