[The best down jacket for everyday use in cold regions] Big Agnes' Shovel Head Jacket is a very satisfying experience from the extremely cold Steamboat in Colorado in winter.
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When it comes to down jackets, many people think of them as authentic winter cold weather gear. However, in Hokkaido, where the average lowest temperature is below 10 degrees in June and September, most thin down jackets are all-season cold weather wear. I have found a down jacket that I, who lives in Hokkaido, can be praised for, so I would like to introduce it to you.
table of contents
- What is Big Agnes' "shovel head jacket"?
- Detailed review
- This is the first time I've ever had a down jacket without such dissatisfaction
- Exquisite thickness and weight that doesn't require you to be aware of your wear
- Number and size of cuffs, zippers, and pockets, position and ease of movement
- The basic performance is almost ideal, and it's also very satisfying with the plus-alpha functions!
- Summary: A "shovel head jacket" that is very satisfying with everything
- Details and purchase of "Big Agnes Shovel Head Jacket"
What is Big Agnes' "shovel head jacket"?
The "shovel head jacket" is the most popular among fans of Big Agnes' local Steamboat Springs. I understand that feeling too.
An outdoor brand based in Colorado, with a large share of tents in North America
As all OUTDOOR GEARZINE readers may already know, Big Agnes is an outdoor brand that has a large share of outdoor tents in North America. Although it is a relatively young brand that celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2021, it has won the trust of many users as a brand that produces unique and practical products that have been tested repeatedly in real-life fields in its office, located just a few minutes' time to the mountains of about 13,000 people.
It is said that the most popular down jacket among fans of Big Agnes' local Steamboat Springs is the "shovel head jacket" (actual price: 32,780 yen). Sizes available in three sizes, S, M and L, and in addition to the grey pre-reef black that we actually used this time, we also have black and indigo. It weighs approximately 454g (size M).
Recommended points
- Exquisite thickness perfect for everyday use
- Water-repellent ripstop nylon shell
- Polyester lining with a soft, water-repellent finish
- Packable structure that allows you to store yourself in your chest pocket
- In addition to three large zippered pockets, there are two inner pockets.
- Easy to roll up cuff structure
- Uses downtech water-repellent down, which keeps you dry for 27 times longer than regular down.
- The thumb hole and hood warm your upper body thoroughly.
- Environmentally friendly materials and manufacturing processes
Points that interest me
- If I had to say that, the price
Main Specifications and ratings
| item | Big Agnes Shovel Head Jacket |
|---|---|
| color | Black, indigo, grape prey black |
| size | S, M, L |
| weight | Approx. 454g (M size) |
| shell | Blue Sign Certified, GRS Certified, Water Repellent Post-Industrial Recycled 20d Ripstop Nylon 100% |
| Lining | GRS certified, water repellent processed post-consumer recycled 20d polyester 100% |
| Insulation | 700FP Water-repellent finish Downtech [TM] |
| size |
|
| Comfort (comfortable) | ★★★★☆ |
| Warmth (warmth) | ★★★★☆ |
| Portability (carrying) | ★★★★★ |
| Easy to use | ★★★★☆ |
| weight | ★★★★☆ |
| Cost Performance | ★★★★☆ |
| Satisfaction | ★★★★★ |
Detailed review
This is the first time I've ever had a down jacket without such dissatisfaction
The "BA" Big Agnes logo attached near the left shoulder. Personally, I like the modest size logo.
You may not believe it, but for me, who lives in Chitose City, Hokkaido, down jackets are not winter cold weather gear. To put it in extreme terms, this is a jacket I always have on hand except in July and August. I wear a thin down jacket in early spring until around June, and from around September in early autumn, during the cold mornings and evening hours.
From my perspective, I get the impression that I usually have down jackets available just in case, except for midsummer. I thought it was a bit of a stretch, so I looked up the average monthly average temperature in Chitose City on Weather Spark Furthermore, looking at the average monthly highest temperature in Tokyo, we found that it was 12 degrees Celsius in December, 10 degrees Celsius in February, and 13 degrees Celsius in March. The cold times in Chitose City in June and September were as high as the temperatures were the same as those in the middle of winter in Tokyo.
That's why I always have down jackets except for summer. Furthermore, for my job, it is not uncommon for me to need a down jacket that is so cold that it can get even in the middle of summer, because of work such as filming starry sky and photographing the sunrise. Furthermore, during the change of seasons when the heating is not fully operational, it is common for people to wear down jackets inside the house even when they work alone at home and at work.
I wear down jackets that are almost always the same as the second skin, so I have a lot of them, but I have bought a lot of new ones, and I have been more or less satisfied with most down jackets. However, the "Big Agnes" shovel head jacket I tried this time was almost completely unsatisfied, except for the price (although it is completely acceptable given the recent rise in prices and quality of outdoor equipment), and I was almost completely satisfied. I'm a little surprised. I would like to explain in detail what I like so much.
Exquisite thickness and weight that doesn't require you to be aware of your wear
The "shovel head jacket" is lighter than a typical cotton hoodie. It is light and warm, so it can be used as a winter wear almost all year round.
Depending on the season, I often wear down jackets like indoor wear all day long, so down jackets that feel heavy or get tired when wearing them are out of the question. Therefore, it is very important to keep it light while keeping it warm. In this regard, Big Agnes' "shovel head jacket" is M size, weighing approximately 454g.
It's normal that it's hard to tell if a down jacket weighing about 454g is heavy or light. It is said that a typical hoodie with a hoodie weighs about 700g, so the "shovel head jacket" weighs about 2/3 of that. It is also said that a long-sleeved T-shirt costs around 300g, so even if you wear it as indoor wear all day, your shoulders won't become stiff or tired. You can easily put it on when you feel a little cold.
More importantly, the shell and lining materials are included. The "Excavator Head Jacket" is made of a water-repellent post-industrial recycled 20d ripstop nylon with a water-repellent post-industrial recycled post-industrial recycled 20d polyester with a water-repellent post-industrial recycled post-industrial recycled 20d polyester. I have tried very light down jackets before, but perhaps because of the shell and lining material, it made a sound that rubbed every time I moved, which made me noticeable, and I have experienced not being able to use it for a long time. In contrast, the "shovel head jacket" is made of supple and soft fabric, and does not produce any annoying noises when moving. The lining is also water-repellent, which also has anti-fouling properties, making this a great feature for me, who often wear a "shovel head jacket" directly over a short-sleeved T-shirt.
The "shovel head jacket" also uses "Downtech," a water-repellent down that does not lose its heat retention even when wet with 700FP water, as insulation, and this amount is also exquisite. It's often seen that there are high FP (fill power) and a lot of down, but if the amount of down is too much, it can be difficult to move around, and if it's too little, it can be a concern about its heat retention, but the "shovel head jacket" has an exquisite balance.
Not only the shell but the liner is also water-repellent, so it is used frequently and is very pleased with me, who often wear it on short sleeves.
Number and size of cuffs, zippers, and pockets, position and ease of movement
Photo taken with the cuffs folded back. The cuffs have a very simple structure with just a sturdy elastic inside. This makes it easy to roll up the sleeves and very comfortable.
Another thing that I find disappointing about down jackets I use regularly is whether they can easily be wrapped around the sleeves Perhaps they think that there is no need to roll up sleeves because it is a winter wear that can be worn outside, but there are quite a lot of down jackets that can't do this. However, if you wear it indoors at home or during winter camping, you may go to the bathroom and wash your hands, or you may also cook as is or wash dishes. Down jackets that don't roll up your sleeves at times like this can be extremely stressful.
The "shovel head jacket" has a sturdy elastic cuff, so you can easily roll up the sleeves, and the rolled sleeves won't fall off easily. Very comfortable. I often wear a down jacket with the sleeves rolled up when adjusting the temperature while still wearing a "shovel head jacket," so this may seem small, but this is very important.
All three pocket zippers other than the main zipper in the photo also come with zipper tabs, making them not only smooth to open and close, but also easy to operate.
Some people may also want to talk about the details, but the zipper on the down jacket is also a very important point. Not only is the main zipper used when putting on and taking off, but the zippers in each pocket can be opened and closed comfortably. However, in the case of down jackets, the zipper often bites the fabric more than you think, making it impossible to open and close. It's extremely frustrating, as it can't take off the down jacket or take out your wallet or smartphone.
For me, a down jacket with a very poor zipper is disqualified as a regular everyday wear, no matter how good it is. In contrast, the shovel head jacket has a very smooth zipper and a long zipper tab that is easy to operate even when wearing gloves, making it very stress-free and easy to use.
In addition to the zippered chest pocket and hand warmer pocket, it also has two mesh inner pockets as shown in the photo.
Despite this commitment, I believe that the down jacket needs at least three zippered pockets. The reason is that you want to put three things in different pockets: your wallet, smartphone, and a bundle of keys. It will cause scratches so I don't want to put the key bundle and other things together. Also, when you put your smartphone and wallet together, the pockets will bulge out, making it uncool and unpleasant. As a result, you will need at least three zippered pockets.
The "shovel head jacket" has one zippered left chest pocket, one hand warmer pocket on the left and one on the left, and there are also zippered pockets, so there are three zippered pockets. And everything is large enough to fit a large smartphone. Furthermore, there are two mesh inner pockets on the back of the handwarmer pocket, so the number and size of the pockets are sufficient. Personally, I'm even more pleased that there is a zippered pocket or an inner pocket on the right chest area. However, there are many down jackets with two zippered pockets and one in some cases, so I'm very pleased that the pockets are full.
Two hand warmer pockets equipped on the abdomen. It's very nice that it has a sturdy zipper and is large enough to fit a large smartphone.
When I buy a new down jacket, I always try to lift my arms up from the left and right sides of my body and try to stretch out from my pose. Of course, it has never been possible to do this with down jackets from outdoor or sports brands. However, I was surprised to find that this movement is quite difficult to do with down jackets from fashion brands.
Down jackets are also suitable for everyday use, but when camping in the winter or sleeping in the car, it is not uncommon to sleep while wearing a down jacket if it is cold, so it is a minimum requirement for ease of movement. I actually tried taking a nap while wearing the "shovel head jacket," and it's very easy to move around in, and it's a regular fit, so it's easy to move around, and it's soft all over, so you can sleep well. I believe that it is also an important performance of a down jacket for me to sleep on.
The "shovel head jacket" was not dissatisfied with these small details. It's quite excellent.
The basic performance is almost ideal, and it's also very satisfying with the plus-alpha functions!
If you turn the chest pocket inside out and push it in, it will look like the one shown in the photo above. It can be stored in a size of approximately 22 x 17 x 11 cm. Very convenient.
For me, there are few things like the basic performance of a down jacket, such as the weight, the feel of the fabric, the cuff specifications, the number of pockets, and ease of movement, like the ``shovel head jacket'', almost nevertheless makes it perfect. Until now, I'd put up with the down jacket I'd worn somewhere.
The "shovel head jacket" not only has high basic performance, but also features a plus. This is the packable structure, thumb hole, and hood that allow you to store the "shovel head jacket" itself in the chest pocket.
The packable structure that allows you to store the "shovel head jacket" itself in the chest pocket is a fairly sturdy down jacket, but although it was listed in the catalog, the "shovel head jacket" is such a sturdy down jacket, so you may be worried about whether it is really large enough to store everything in your chest pocket. However, although it is quite tight, everything fits in the flipped chest pocket, making it quite compact to store it. Shovel head jackets are a great gift for outdoor activities such as camping and mountain climbing, as well as when you're wondering whether to bring another jacket with you when traveling or on a business trip.
The thumb hole is used to cover the palms of your hand with the sleeves of a "shovel head jacket." It's amazing how it feels better than ever before.
The "shovel head jacket" is equipped with a thumb hole that wraps up to the palm of your hand and a hood with a small brim that is hollow that covers your sleeves with a thumb hole. I hate these two features rather than that.
Although there are thumb holes, they are often rarely used, and the hood often feels in the way except when not in use. However, this feeling has changed since I started wearing a "shovel head jacket." I've already mentioned that the cuffs are sturdy and easy to roll up, making them comfortable, but these cuffs go very well with the thumb holes. When using a thumb hole, the elastic cuffs wrap around the palm of your hand and cover the base of your fingers, making them easy to use and warm. It's really useful when you forget to wear gloves.
The hood of the "shovel head jacket". When you actually wear it, it feels very compact, perhaps because it's on the shoulders, so you don't really notice it.
Regarding the hood, it's convenient to have one when it's really cold, but it's more common when not in use, and it feels more negative, like it flapping and shaking every time you move, so I often choose to choose a down jacket without a hood. However, when the hood of a "shovel head jacket" is not on top of the hood, it fits firmly behind the neck and rarely flapping or shaking. Moreover, when you actually wear it, the neck structure and zipper cover the head firmly.
Thanks to this, the "shovel head jacket" is a down jacket that keeps the upper body warm except for the fingertips and around the eyes. The plus-alpha features are also highly practical, and I am very satisfied with them.
Summary: A "shovel head jacket" that is very satisfying with everything
A piece designed in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, which is colder than Chitose City, Hokkaido.
A surprising and comfortable "shovel head jacket." It's very useful to have one as a winter wear that can be said to be the usual outside of summer.
The "shovel head jacket" was a big Agnes down jacket with a large share of tents in North America. In fact, even in the beginning of October, when I was writing this manuscript, the outside temperature in Chitose City, Hokkaido, where I live, was about 7 degrees. I haven't turned on the heat yet, so I'm writing my manuscript wearing a "shovel head jacket." I'm impressed that it's really well done every time I wear it. As a result, I was curious about what kind of people designing it, so I looked into Steam Boat Springs, Colorado, where Big Agnes' office is located.
This is a cold region where even the warmest months of July and August have an average lowest temperature below 10 degrees Celsius, and the average lowest temperature below 5 degrees Celsius in June and September. The winter temperatures are also colder than in Chitose City, Hokkaido. It is only natural that the "shovel head jacket" designed by the staff at Big Agnes, who enjoy camping, climbing, skiing, cycling, fishing, and more at Steamboat Springs all year round, covers almost all of the requests of the author, who lives a similar life.
The "shovel head jacket" is probably a down jacket filled with ideas from the staff at Big Agnes who live in cold regions, who are probably using "shovel head jackets" all year round. This winter camping looks very comfortable. It is highly recommended. Also, if Big Agnes down jackets are so well made, you'll want to try the same Big Agnes "Freiter Jacket."
Details and purchase of "Big Agnes Shovel Head Jacket"
For product details, please see Excavator Head Jacket
Saito Titoce
Former monthly camera magazine editor. While pursuing the spectacular views of Hokkaido and the wildlife, I was completely hooked on the outdoor life of camper vans and sleeping in my car. While traveling the entire country with his 2-year-old son and wife, he is a photographer writer who photographs and writes everything he has experienced, not only cameras and lenses, but also outdoor camping, child-rearing, PC gadgets, cooking, and dieting. OUTDOOR GEARZINE plans to write a variety of articles, focusing on the QOCL (Quality of Camping Life) Improvement Committee, which will improve the quality of life in camping and camper vans.
