Veilance Node Down Jacket

First Impressions

I haven't had this jacket for long and certainly havent had a chance to wear it outside given the weather. So far I like it. This is the first AV winter coat I've actually wanted to buy in ages. For the uninitiated, this model of the Node Down is modelled after the circa FW13 Node IS jackets which feature the similar Stormhood and chest pockets.

Fabric 

The outer shell is composed of the same 80d 100% nylon Gore-tex 3L shell as the previous Drophood version. 80d simply denotes the denier of the face fabric, a measure of thread thickness. It is streaky, a characteristic most noticeable in Ash and Clay variants. I've been told by a buyer that this fabric was originally deadstock and AV used it because they appreciated the streaky nature. Not confident in the validity but cool anecdote. From a distance the fabric doesn’t attract too much attention.

Construction

Like any other AV down piece, the Node feels like a cozy sleeping bag. Down runs through the whole jacket, stopping just 1" from the hem. I assume this is because the extremities of jackets tend to get pretty flat over time and look deflated. I was interested to see that the the interior pockets are similar to that of the old Galvanic. Instead of being sandwiched between the shell and down, the pocket sits between the liner and down. The cuffs feature an internal gasket similar to the Atom cuffs which seal out the cold. The best way to describe the shape is two ellipses stitched together. Not as cool as the Galvanic which felt like Lululemon Luon. There are two adjustment points on the hood. There's a Coahesive cinch tab at both sides of the hood to bring it lower to the face. There's a hidden cinch cord at the back to pull the visor from dropping over your eyes. At the hem there is a powderskirt of sorts. It hugs your hips and seals in the warmth. It's stretchy and doesn’t get in the way.

Unlike the previous Node whose sleeve was composed of a single piece spiral construction, the new model is most similar to the Arris. It spirals in hear the hand but is two piece at the top. The hand pockets have been seriously improved. They’re now insulated and microfiber lined. Getting real nerdy here but the wash tags have a GTX label which is something AV hasn't done in ages.

Fit

Take your normal Veilance size. I won't post any pics since the Haven model does a pretty good job. The body is pretty boxy, I wish the chest was taken in a bit. Articulation is good for such an insulated jacket. I can lift my arms with ease. Hood is pretty big which is amazing since I tend to wear hoodies often. The switch from Storm to Drop means hoodies will be easier to layer and feel more comfortable when unworn. Sleeves have so much down that it can feel tight at times but I think I'm just too use to wearing tees.

Verdict

I'm pretty happy with this purchase. Price point felt a little steep compared to the Monitor Down but I understand the cost that goes into manufacturing this thing is ridiculous. Between the Anneal and Node, I'd drop the extra cash and get something that fits better and cooler to look at. If you have the cash and need a tough city smart winter jacket this is it.