Mountain Hardwear Absolute Zero Down Suit - Men's for Sale, Reviews, Deals and Guides

While I will probably wear my Absolute Zero Parka more frequently than the Absolute Zero Down Suit, I got it at such a good price that I could not pass on it. Much like the parka, there is plenty of space for layering underneath it. There is only the one pocket on the thigh. I wish there were hand warmer pockets, but since I don't know they would have been implemented on a suit like this, perhaps it isn't a deal breaker. The Alpine pockets, much like on the parka, are well placed and offer plenty of space. Plus the two drop in pockets on the interior are great for keeping things like water or gloves. If you're going someplace where there is extreme cold, this is the item you want to be bringing with you. And it is helmet compatible and comes with a stuff sack.

I have 5 arctic suits I use to lounge around my house and this is tops. I can slip into this after I'm home from work and instantly become super warm. Occasionally when I wear it to bed I'm warm and there's no need to cover up. Finally you will be able to tolerate winter with this fine suit.

This is the newest down suit from MH. Its really really big anf puffy. In you wear it in 70f (say testing it on at home or in the store) you will be burning hot or sweating in a couple of mins -- like i was. I will be truthful, i havnt tested it out in real world conditions yet. I plan in taking this in the dead cold of winter to some 14ers like mt whitney, shasta, and rainier this year. The temps af whitney this last week were 0F at 12k ft arounf 2200hr. Of course, this suit is over kill for any 14ers. But i vowed to never be cold on a 14er ever again (long story short, i had to survive a night on a 14er without shelter). Here are my initial impressions: it has an extremely high quakity built. Every thread is even; every seam sealed nicely, every zipper well built (but you should expect this from a $1250 suit). The FIT: I am asian. Waist size 33-34. Height is 5'7" and about 175-180 lbs depending on how many burgers i eat that day. I fit a size medium nicely. Plenty of dexterity to move around and no part is tight on me. I can fit a few base layers without a problem. Remember these suits take into account that you will be wearing layers underneeth. The suit is about 3 lbs and is pretty light. It is also very comfy to be inside. I have seen the northface Himalayan suit in person (in a store) and this suit far surpasses it. update 1/021/15 I took this night snowboarding (just for fun). The temps were around 25F and I was sweating in the suit. i had to leave the whole top open and unzip the sides of my leg for ventilation.

Take a look at Everest photos, or maybe some behind the scenes shots of the Planet Earth crew during their arctic filming. Notice a big puffy guy with a boom sporting that nut logo? How about an athlete at base camp getting ready to attempt one of the great peaks. This suit has long been known in the industry for its incredibly warmth, waterproof / breathable / windproof design. I got lucky and had the chance to demo it on Mt. Hood in Oregon. I lasted all of 20 minutes before I was too warm in sub freezing conditions. Excellent technical climbing suit.

Bought this suit a year ago and have tried it out in really cold and icy weather in Finland.No high peak test but in minus 20 Celsius, an ice cold northerly wind with snow it proved to be excellent.A roomy hoodie firmly attatched with the front strap is perfect when the wind is owling and snow falling.The insulation is more than adequate, so no need for more than one layer underneath.The pockets are easily to access and I bought an XXL, which has proved an assett reg. the length of the arms-I don;t really need gloves or mittens.I am 1,76 tall so in this respect it fits me nicely.The zippers are practical when in need of relieving oneself or just for letting in some "fresh" air.All in all a very practical suit for any FREEZING activity.The pic is taken last winter in the city of Turku on the south-western coast of Finland in minus 20 Celsius.

This suit is as close to excellent as one can get. The only snag is that the "trouserpart" feels a little too tight compared to the "jacketpart", but maybe it;s my lower measurements that;s a bit out of the ordinary. It;s very ease to get on and off and the suspenders are just right if you want to get the upper part off to let some fresh air in. And it;s definitely warm, no use for extra thick layers underneath. Although it seems rather puffy, it does;nt feel that in any sense. It;s very light in weight. I haven;t tried it on in freezing cold but the temperatures were well below 0 degrees centigrades and it was snowing rather heavy. The collar is just high enough to hide nearly all your face behind it and the hood also fits nicely when tighly strapped. All in all a gear that suits me admirably. I just hope it is;nt as easy to get a tear in the fabric as is the case with a Patagonia Down Jacket I just bought. Time will show. "Shop til you drop". Trygve.

Getting back as promised after a field test. I have worn this suit several times in the northeast as a ski race official. Standing in place for six to seven hours at a time. Outside temp. -5 to 5 F, much lower wind chill factors, and driving snow. I have been toasty all day long. Plenty of room to wear my ski pants and shell underneath, including all the base layers. Pant cuff is too slim to cover ski or climbing boots fully zipped. The water bottle pockets are a little too small but adequate. The hood is large enough to wear a helmet underneath, but the velcro closure at the face is sloppy at best and hard to operate. Already I have had several zipper snags in all areas and the pulls are small and will require adding rope pulls to allow operation with gloves or mitts. One snag caused a tear in the fabric I am not happy with at the front. This would not be my choice for expedition climbing due to it's awkwardness of use. Overall a warm haven with a few design flaws.

Just received my new suit. Sizing is comparable to other MH clothing. Although the inseam is listed by manufacturer as 31" for size large, I found the inseam fit to be perfect for me at 6'4", thin build, 200lbs, with a 34" inseam. The internal suspenders are velcro adjustable and appear to be a good addition to the design. I am pleased with the fit considering what this garment is intended for. It is a lot like my MH winter sleeping bag with arms and legs. Roomy hood with four adjustment pulls. Comes with a stuff sack (same as for a sleeping bag) but should have a mesh storage bag as well. I'm not climbing Denali, but was looking for something to battle sub-zero temps with high winds as an alpine ski official, when standard gear just doesn't cut it standing around for hours at a time. I'm sure I'll take some ribbing before enjoying the last laugh. The performance test is yet to come, will report back after field use. NOV 2008