Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Ultralight 850 Down Jacket

I ride a bike 10 miles in 20 degree weather. This jacket has the two outside hand pockets and one giant open pocket on the inside. Unzipping a jacket to get anything is to expose your body to frigid air. Putting a cell phone in any of these is not good option. The giant inside open pocket is a huge design flaw, a cheap excuse for a pocket. At the very least, it needs a zipper. Why not a chest pocket on the outside?

The good -- this jacket is extraordinarily lightweight, but I can tell it will be nice and toasty. The color is rich and warm, unlike so many of the girlie colors Bean uses in women's wear. (Seriously, could they not offer us the same rich warm tones they sell to men??) The bad -- even at hip length, without a two-way zipper, I can't sit down while wearing this jacket. It bunches up around my waist. I'm pear-shaped and have curvy hips, like many women. I have become adjusted to the fact that coats will swim on my shoulders if they fit my hips. But it would work if it had a two-way zipper. I know they can do it -- one of the new zipped sweaters has that feature. So why not just put them on jackets? I can either return this or see if I can find a matching zipper in the store and pay someone to replace it for me -- quite a challenging and expensive proposition. Bean's comeback is that they put 2-way zippers on long coats -- but who goes snowshoeing or hiking in a long coat? Sigh. In the end, this coat is a miss. Such a shame.

(Curvy build, somewhat athletic) I have been looking for the perfect coat that can pack itself into a small pouch AND keep me warm. After much research I found this jacket and it seemed to have everything I needed on paper. I almost went up to an M, however, I ended up with a small after I was able to fit two sweatshirts and a vest under the S. I tested it out this weekend hiking some of the Presidential mountains. First off- I was SO WARM. Summit both days chilly (probably 20 with wind) and I was so comfortable. If you get cold easily, this is will keep you so super toasty! And now, for the bad news- The shell is not durable and I already ripped my jacket. I was enjoying a peaceful (and warm in my jacket) lunch at the top and stood up to hear a small rip and feather sticking out. :( :( So I guess to sum it up, this is super warm for daily wear but I guess not really made for anything active. So so so disappointed because of the price.

I enjoyed my coat every now and again for 4 months. I did not hike nor spend much time outdoors but I think I did carry wood inside for a fire. In early March I realized that it was oozing feathers from the center front of the jacket 2 inches below the insignia. I tried to repair it but I made it worse AND the needle itself created problems with the material. I am sending the jacket back for a hoped for refund. (?) The pictures below show 1) a non-repaired hole near the zipper and 2) ) the repaired hole with some feathers that came out. For three years I have owned a similar jacket with smaller down pockets placed closer together and it wears just fine. The outer material of this 4-month old lovely jacket is too fragile for such a coat. llBean should be embarrassed.

Had to return because too tight in hips for college age daughter

I really wanted to love this jacket. I had the older version of it and it unfortunately got stolen. The older style fit my petite frame better and it hugged to my curves better. This jacket is way poofier than the older style, despite the fact that they both had 850-fill. I really wanted to love it because the down tek material L. L. Bean uses is better compared to other companies down jackets and works well in the rain. I also love that L. L. Bean caters to a petite frame. This is very rare to come across. Wish the jacket fit me better but I have to love the way I feel in a down jacket, it just didn't happen this time. One last thing is I don't care much for the logo being up high on the right side. I know other competitors go that route, but I really appreciated it being on the lower pocket on the older model. L. L. Bean has amazing quality but this jacket just didn't work out for me sadly.

So sad because the Royal Plum color is fabulous, but the fit is huge and boxy. I might exchange it for an XS, but there are still things the jacket could have for the price, like matching fleece in collar and pockets. A longer tail and a more fitted waistline would help the look. I'd say the sizing might be right for really heavy sweaters or liner jackets underneath.

An OK jacket but so very disappointed in the new changes! This is a long review (please stick around and read all) and I hate giving negative reviews but....I'll start by saying I have 6 of these 850 ultralight jackets from previous years and love them!!. When I saw the new Red color this year I jumped on it!! It arrived with the elasticity on one sleeve wide (fell down over my hand), called customer service (Beans service always amazing!!) and a new jacket was sent. It was only after the new one arrived I actually "looked" at the overall jacket with further examination. I never expected the coat to be much different than all my other 850's, sadly it is. There is less ruching (the stitching), which takes away from the look and detailing ("could" have accepted that). BUT...it was the collar that was my main issue! The front of the collar is higher on the new version. It sticks out, looks like its poking out hideously under your chin, and when fully zipped is like a neck brace. I could basically tuck half my face down inside behind the collar. It's just amazing what an inch or so difference can make on the look and styling of a garment. Also, the Red jacket has a navy blue lining (great color choice, good combination!), but...the red shell is so thin that the darkness from the navy lining shows through. As I was debating, and debating over the collar issue, I noticed this and my first thought was "oh, the jacket is dirty". But after looking more closely, it's the dark blue color that can be seen coming through the down filling and showing through the red shell. Gives the appearance of being dirty or maybe wet (how a color darkens when wet). My explanation may be difficult to understand but if you saw it, you'd know what I mean. I VERY much wanted this Red color (which is a very nice shade!!) but these issues I have mentioned have outweighed my desire to keep. The new 850 may have some "improved" features, but the down side to that, is that they have taken away some of the "good" features. Please add back the extra rows of stitching, and please return the collar to it's original height. It's just one opinion here but if you're the owner of the old version, I think you understand and known what I'm talking about. Any new buyers, you will never know what you're missing. A shame the styling was changed.

Oddly, my review of this jacket from early September has been removed so I'll try again. It's a fine jacket if you like this style. Other reviews speaking of the delicate shell are accurate. I chose to return it because of excessive labeling on the chest and on the back. Simply put, I felt like a walking billboard. I understand "branding," but enough is enough.

This jacket is very expensive, but mine haven't lasted. They'd be okay if you only used them to go to work and back, but don't try working in the yard with them on. They puncture at the first rose thorn, piece of fence wire, cat's claw, or any other sharp object. On the other hand they are warm for their weight, mostly wind and water resistant. They just aren't useful for a person like me, and like I said they are extremely expensive for a jacket that you have to treat with kid gloves.

My review is this: jacket - nice........advertisements on front chest - not so nice. I like it when the brands are at the bottoms of the jackets.....not so "in your face" so to speak! I reeeeeely depend on you guys......there are so many weird and Out There businesses anymore! We need more good ole smart, tasteful and well priced stuff. Like you guys :)

I bought a regular small in an older version. It fit perfectly. Even petite small in this newer version was too big. Am I the only one experiencing size issues. I am 5'6" and 1/2 and weigh 118.. The older version had a lined collar and a not a dropped shoulder.. Disappointing

The gold colored jacket i ordered was pretty except that the dark inside lining or the fill showed through along the seams to the outside making it look like its dirty. I returned it for that reason.

no matter how hard I tried, I could not live with the bright white lettering on the black coat. It is not just on the front of the coat, it is on the back and on the sleeve too. I felt like a walking billboard advertising "LLBean" and "850 down" insulation. So I returned the coat.

The color of this coat, mineral red, was more of an orange and not flattering on me. Also the fit was kind of baggy. I wear a size small. So I returned this garment.

I love everything about this down jacket except that the shell is so thin that it tears really easily. I just tore my second one by brushing lightly against a fencepost--not a rough or sharp surface at all. Coats for outdoors should be more durable. Sadly I will not buy a third.

I'm a petite 8-10 and ordered this jacket in petite M and L, figuring one would fit. Neither did - it's cut skimpy and is skewed toward a woman without hips. The color selection is dated, and I selected the gold which was the most interesting color of the lot. The lining is a garish print which would make it impossible to roll up the overly long sleeves should you need to. I was fine with the back order delays, but am deeply disappointed in the quality of this rather pricey garment. I expect more from LL Bean.

Bought this to replace a down sweater, but not the same. It was more than I needed. While I liked the color of the jacket, I did not like the bright white lettering of "LL Bean" on the front chest AND in the back. Unnecessary. Returned.

Wonderful jacket and I wish that it fit me. Unfortunately the sleeves run way to lengthy for that to be possible.

First the positives. The jacket is light...and it is warm. Also, I ordered the Ocean Blue color and it's a lovely color! I ordered both a petite in both small and medium as sometimes one size is a better fit than the other. Now the negatives. First, the fabric was shiny and looked cheap although it was not, and the stitching gathered the fabric where is should have been smooth. In the small the sleeves and jacket length were too long for a petite. I'm 5'3", really at the tall end of petite sizing, so this should not have been a problem. Also the jacket was large and bulky in the under arm area which made it uncomfortable. The jacket length was even more problematic as it was very difficult to sit down with the jacket zipped. These length problems were even greater in the medium. I have an old and much loved ultralight 850 down jacket and was hoping to add another. Unfortunately because of the changes in sizing/styling, I had to return this one. I'm a frequent LL Bean shopper and have been for many years. Recently it seems that I've had to return more items than ever before either because of strange sizing/styling or poor quality control. This is disappointing. I also have a plea to LL Bean. As many others have noted in various previous reviews, PLEASE put a double zipper in your jackets so that the bottom half can be released for comfortable sitting. It would make your jackets so much more user friendly!

This looked so good on line, but when it arrived, I was sadly disappointed. This fabric feels thin and flimsy, hard to believe it will not snag easily. I returned it even though I loved the fit and color.

I was hoping for a warm winter coat for skiing and outside activities. The outer fabric on this feels so flimsy I feel like it will tear easily and there is not much insulation. I will be returning it which is a shame because it fill really well and the color was gorgeous.

I wanted to love this jacket! It is very lightweight but also not warm. It's more like a spring jacket that looks like a winter coat. It feels like the material is not very sturdy but it has been too cold out to wear it and find out. I would not buy this again or recommend it to you.

So, I have several down jackets. I've been wearing them for decades. This was my first LLBean purchase. I wore this for the first time on a day maybe 36 degrees with a turtleneck and warm flannel underneath and I was so cold just walking to and from my car! I was shocked. With how much loft it has, it should be warm. My arms were warm but my core was so chilled. So I wore it to an indoor appointment and kept it on during the whole appointment, then kept it on in my house for another hour. The whole time my core never warmed up. It felt like I had no jacket on at all. It is so weird. I've never had a down jacket fail to warm me up indoors for goodness sake. I love the fit, I love the color. It's really flattering and really comfortable. I mean, the fit is perfect Just have no idea why it's supposedly filled with 850 down with decent loft and it's not at all warm! Maybe a fleece lining in the core would help? It was so cute that I ordered a hooded version too in a different color, but after actually wearing this one, I'll be returning the other one when it arrives.

I have two old warm jackets from LL Bean which I love. Truly disappointed with year's garish colors and styles/ This electric blue had a fire engine red interior.