Moncler Forez Hooded Short Puffer Jacket

Description

I have worn the Forez through two winters of slush and bus stops, and the short version is this: it behaves like a heavier jacket until about -15 °C, then it stops trying.

Shape and proportion

The cut is a boxy short cut that stops at the hip. Shoulders sit where they should, the armhole is high enough that lifting your arms does not drag the whole jacket up, and there is just enough room through the body for a mid-layer without the silhouette turning into a box.

It lands between 62 and 68 cm at the back depending on size, which puts the hem at the hip bone on most frames.

Warmth, fill and shell

Warmth here is honest rather than impressive. Horizontal channels about two fingers wide, a shell that blocks wind but is not waterproof, and a collar that closes the gap at the neck. -15 to -5 °C is its real working range.

The shell is a matte technical nylon with a dry hand. Light rain beads and rolls; sustained rain gets through the seams eventually.

The fixed hood means you can skip a scarf until it gets properly cold, which is the practical reason I keep it by the door. Below -15 you will want one anyway.

Fit and sizing

The size scale here is half a size generous through the body, so ignore the number on your usual jacket and measure your chest instead. A 180 cm and 78 kg frame lands in the L. Sleeve length is average, not long.

Sizes on this listing run S–XXL. The measurements above are taken flat and approximate, and the cut is half a size generous through the body.

Who it is for

It suits someone who walks to work and does not want to look like they are going skiing. If your winter involves a car, an office and a dog, this covers all three.

How it compares

Against the Moncler White Packable Knit Puffer jacket, the Forez is the quieter choice. Less hardware, cleaner front, and a hem that works with trousers rather than only with ski pants.

If you want the same warmth without the fixed hood, the Moncler White Diamond Quilted Down Jacket is the version to look at.

And if you would rather see the full range first, start from the Moncler category page; the Moncler x Palm Angels Haunani Down Jacket is the one most people compare this to.

Care and storage

Wash it once a season at most. Front-load, cold, down detergent, two rinse cycles. Tumble on low with dryer balls until the baffles loft again, then hang it for a day before you wear it.

The front zip starts low, so the bottom third of the jacket is snap-only.

Verdict

The Forez is worth its $195 for the collar and the hem alone. If you already own a heavy parka, this is the second jacket that makes the first one last longer.