Columbia Platinum 860 Turbodown Down Review

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Columbia Platinum 860 Turbodown Down Jacket

“WARNING: This innovative product will make you want to go outdoors and stay there.”  A statement boldly printed on the price tag label.  It shows that the fine folks at Columbia have a sense of humor with confidence knowing that their apparel will stand up to the great outdoors.

Introducing the Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown Down Jacket

Yep, you read that right! That is a double down up there in the title. This jacket has 800 down insulation plus a little turbo action from Thermal Reflective Omni Heat which boosts it up to 860.  I used to have a car (pre-kids) that had a little Turbo boost to it just in case you needed it. It allowed for an extra kick as I got on the highway, or if I just wanted to feel that Horsepower do its thing. That extra roar or kick in the pants is a unique thrill that horsepower and turbo will provide.  Bring on the Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown Down Jacket. It also performs at a high level on a regular basis. Great for keeping you warm when you’re out and about on the town, skiing or snowboarding, or going for a mountain cabin get away. The great part is knowing that when you need a little extra heat this fancy shiny piece of apparel delivers. I surely was super excited to put the Columbia Platinum 860 Turbodown Down Jacket to the test in the fluctuating winter conditions of Colorado.

Comfortable fit – true to size I would say.

Size and Fit Guide of the Columbia Platinum 860 Turbodown Down

This jacket is classified as a ‘true to size’, and I can’t really argue that fact.  In many cases, I am stuck right in between a Medium and a Large. I usually go with the Medium because I think a Medium of today is bigger than a medium of 20 years ago.  Just my take on the super sizing of our culture, and I think the apparel companies have had to keep pace. The modern classic fit is very nice on my somewhat leaner athletic build. It’s comfortable with a bit of room to allow for some layering if so desired.

Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown Down Jacket

Let’s talk about Down a little for those of not real familiar with it, or simply wanting a refresher.  You are also more than welcome to skip this fabric geek factor section, and move on to the performance aspect.  Goose is both water-resistant and water-repellent. Now keep in mind that it is not waterproof, so don’t go jumping into a river expecting to stay dry and warm. The number that is usually pretty prevalent on many jackets refers to the fill power. This is a measure of the loft or ‘fluffiness’ of a down product. In turn, this can and is also provided as a parallel to the insulating value of the down. The higher the fill power the more air an ounce of the down can trap.

Gone are the days of the super thick, heavy, and pillow-like puffiness in coats. The thin and light but super insulating down is far superior in so many ways. Fill power ranges from about 175 for feathers to around 900 for the highest quality down. Once you get above 700 you definitely have a jacket and warmth rating that will serve you well. As the apparel companies try to push the limits, price does start to play a role.  That’s what so innovative about this Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown Down Jacket. The Down is one thing, but couple that with the Omni Heat reflective lining (see more on this below) and you have a truly high end tandem performance going on.

Nice high collar, and the all-important zipper catch to protect that chin and scruffy beard.

Construction:

• 860 TurboDown™ insulation – When you start talking about Down in the 800’s you know you have a quality piece of outerwear. The range for Down is anywhere from 200-900.
• The Onni- Heat™ reflective lining is what makes this jacket so cool. Seriously, you look around these days, and the puffy jacket invasion is still in full effect. I almost want to walk around with my coat unzipped to show off this car-visor shade effect. For your car, those visors reflect the sun to keep your car a bit cooler. The Onni- Heat™ reflective lining insulation uses both thermal and reflective qualities to add that extra boost of heat. It basically uses your own body heat to add that extra little bit of warmth. The more you work at it which your body tends to do naturally when it is really cold, the more warmth you get in return. Simple as that.
• Water resistant fabric – This is obviously not a rain coat, but it will keep a lot of moisture out while being able to breathe to shed some body heat as needed.
• Drawcord adjustable hem- To be honest when I first put this TurboDown Jacket on, it fit really well, but I immediately started looking for the Drawcord adjustable hem. I don’t know about you, but I am not getting my clothes tailored by any means, and sizing is a tricky thing at times. I can’t fault Columbia there as we all come in funky shapes and sizes. The Medium fits me pretty well, but with my endurance lifestyle, I have become a bit leaner. This drawcord will come in handy on those colder days to keep the wind and chill out. I can now feel confident in the inclement weather cinched up nice and tight.
• Zippered hand pockets – The zippered hand pockets are decent size. Not huge by any means, but I’m not really trying to stuff anything larger in there than my hands. And for that purpose, they work just fine. These are the only pockets you will find on this coat. No interior or front media pockets, no hidden sleeve pockets, and no interior stuff pockets for you extra gear or bottle of water. And you know what, I am ok with that!
• Center back length: 28″ – I simply like that little bit of extra length in the back. Bending over or crouched down because my 2 year old needs her little snow boots laced up provides the perfect opportunity for the back of you jacket to ride up. This exposes that extra little bit of skin which can be instant cold or opportunity for a draft to go up you back, or down your…. well you know.

With the semi-athletic fit, the toggles are a nice touch to prevent that nasty draft to creep in on a windy day.

Performance of the Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown Down Jacket

I think I have elaborated plenty on the features that this coat has to offer.  This jacket kept me warm. Really, what else can I say? It kept me warm when I walked my kids to school. It kept me warm when I got wood up at the cabin when the temperatures hovered around the zero mark. It kept me warm while I walked around Denver going to a convention and dinner. So guess what, this Jacket kept me warm, and that’s really all you can ask from this highly technical piece of apparel.

Taking this piece of apparel out for a backcountry hike was were I had the most success, as well as some overheating issues. Keeping the body temperature regulated with activity has always been a bit of a challenge for me. I am generally speaking pretty cold, but when I get moving in an aerobic activity, I start sweating pretty quickly. The morning started out cold enough, and a technical base layer, the Turbodown, and a performance shell sufficed in keeping me warm from the start (along with the appropriate accessories; hat, gloves, and neck gaiter).  Within about 20 minutes or so as I started warming up, I had to start unzipping my shell to allow for some breathability. I ultimately had to remove said jacket and unzip the Columbia Platinum 860 Turbodown Down as well because the rising sun was really beating down on me. Stuffed everything in my pack, but then the clouds moved in along with a pretty strong wind. I had to pretty much layer back up to where I started. It comes with the territory, and having the option and luxury to stay warm is a definite plus thanks to this Down Jacket.

Platinum Heat

On a whim, I wanted to see how the TurboDown would work on a run. I know, this is not meant for running because of lack of breathability, but I am interested to see how the Platinum 860 could handle a body in motion. Its 8:00 A.M., about 15 degrees Fahreheit, sunny, and no wind. I was wearing a single tech T underneath.  It took me about a half mile to warm up, and after a mile I was sweating profusely. I kid you not, the body heat meeting the Platinum created a sauna cocoon effect. I suppose if you want to simulate hot weather running, or looking to lose some quick pounds this could be an option.  Other than that, I wouldn’t recommend it, but I am glad I ‘tested’ the jacket in this setting.

Apres Ski – Warm and stylish

Final warm thoughts

I kind of like the simplicity that this Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown Down Jacket has to offer. The fancy frills are not offered up as bells and whistles, but they are ever present in the make-up and construction of this coat. The Columbia Platinum 860 Turbodown Down is a fantastic option throughout the winter in variety of adverse conditions. If you decide to heed their warning about staying outside, at least you’ll know that getting cold is not an option while wearing this jacket.

MSRP: $180

For more information on this and other quality Columbia insulated and Down jackets please visit: www.amazon.com/columbia.