Aldi hiking socks and ultralight down jacket

[Joynz]

For the last few years, I’ve been stocking up on the wool blend Aldi hiking socks when they go on sale a couple of times a year.

They’ve been great. And only $12 for two pairs. Thick and cosy.

However I bought some today and they are much lighter (not in a good way) and thinner than usual.

They also had a light down jacket - which for $50 for 850 power fill and 90% duck down seems like a bargain. No way to tell the weight of the down component though.

[nezumi]

I've had similar issues with their merino t-shirts and 1/4 zip tops in the past. I have one from 3 or 4 years ago that is excellent, but I bought some more last year and they are far worse in quality all round.

[Joynz]

I have kept a pair of the socks but returned the others.

[Gold Coast]

I bought some socks yesterday, men [11-14]. I notice the blend is different from your woman's label, to the men's label at 55% wool, 25% Nylon, 18% Acrylic, 2% Elastane. Also the online add has different blends again. Men's large weight 90 gr a pair.

Also bought a Down Jacket, men's size M. They advertise it as an ultralight jacket and mine weight's 510 gr. No problem for me, as it's just for home use. I am sceptical about the 800 loft as advertised online, as it's only a $50 jacket.

[Petew]

The jacket is a bargain but I doubt the down was responsibly sourced. Maybe it was but probably not

[Lamont]

The jacket is a bargain but I doubt the down was responsibly sourced. Maybe it was but probably not

Pete
Aldi says RDS Down in the ad.
The fact that it's duck (for meat) means plucked after slaughtering I would venture. So let's hope all is ok!
I would be maybe more concerned with Uniqlo's down stuff which sells at a far greater rate- statements re ethical sourcing of down were hard to find last I looked.

[Joynz]

The jacket has an RDS (responsible down) tag.

[Lamont]

The jacket has an RDS (responsible down) tag.

Correct.

Does it say how much fill there is?
It will be sewn on a a label on the inside of the jacket.

[Joynz]

No, the amount (weight) of down is not shown.

[Lamont]

No, the amount (weight) of down is not shown.

Ta.

[Petew]

Cool, good to see that it's RDS. I just stupidly assumed it wouldn't be because of the price:).

Yes, Uniqlo is a bit of a worry in that regard.

[Petew]

Came across this article where the reviewer kitted themselves out in the full ALDI kit.

https://weareexplorers.co/aldi-gear-test/

Worth a read if you're considering buying some of it.

[CraigVIC]

In the past Aldi sold a modest range of gear, bags, pots etc in their hiking sale. It is much reduced now and perhaps it is not the priority to them it once was.

It's all garbage compared to best in category equipment. But, it is so expensive to buy everything you need for even a simple overnight hike in one hit that Aldi gear has its place for people starting out, imo.

[Franco]

I would not say it's all garbage in fact I would say that most is very good value for money.
For example I have walked several hundreds kilometres (hard and soft soil) with their "hiking" low cut shoes, at $30 that is a lot better value than a top brand at $150-200 that does ablout the same milage. ( I do an 8 km something walk at least 4 times a week, sometime twice a day )
Those $30 vests are pretty light and not a bad cut , providing yo try them for size. (they run small)
My wife has a LW rain jacket, nice cut, maybe not all that breathable but agian for $40 it is not far in performance with jackets at 3-6 times the price.
I have been wearing their new Merino/ Poly T Shirt for months . feels similar to pure Merino, don't detect the poly smell and looks to me that it will last longer than some full Merino equivalents.
BTW, I had a look at the LW down jackets, I could not fault it at that price.
not the lightest but it does have a lot more loft than my WM Flash and is lighter than a similarly cut Macpac.

[CraigVIC]

Yes, all Aldi stuff can be good value. If it is half as good and a tenth of the price it is good value, and if you only need half the quality of the best then it is excellent value. The boots fit that calculation and I wore a pair for 18 months at one stage. I've also done quite a bit of walking in Kmart hiking shoes that perform fine but aren't very durable.

But the argument that Aldi stuff is just as good as the market leaders but 'you don't pay for the advertising' is false.

I've also used a Naturehike tent to good effect but I don't pretend that it's just as good as a Tarptent. It's just good at the price.

[Lamont]

I reckon the jacket could easily be a sleeper. At 515 gms it is heavy but I reckon the shell is a huge portion of the total weight.
But on the positive side that would make it more robust, not less useable for some people.
The bleeding edge of UL jackets (not hooded-which is what the Aldi one is) is around 50% of the total weight in down- 850 Euro not US.
This is achieved with 10D or even 7D shells largely.
Nunatak, Cumulus, Goosefeet Gear, Malachowski et al make to about 45%-50% (50% plus in Nunataks case and even hooded!)- but the shell is less robust-not weak, but more fragile.
So if the Aldi is anywhere above the 35%-40% total weight in that Euro fill power down bingo, bango, bongo -it's a winner.
I just reckon it's only about 100gms of RDS down-the fact they don't state the amount leads me to believe it is less rather than more. But if it's above that giddee up!
I think it was 30D as well-that's heavy but tough.
The specs of an item and the manufacturing skill determine quality not the item's cost in my experience.

[Joynz]

The Aldi jacket also has a lining which adds to the weight. It is definitely tougher fabric than my light macpac jacket (but the fabric on the latter is very thin & soft).

TBH, the Aldi jacket doesn’t seem that heavy (at least not in my size - and I like to size up to allow layering. There is no bottom draw cord but the cuffs have a Velcro tab.

The Aldi jacket seems quite puffy.

[Gold Coast]

This is my first down jacket with a hood. The hood is just a single layer material, with no down filling, I assume just as a wind break.

Is that the normal build for all hooded down jackets, to have no insulation in the hood.

[Lamont]

This is my first down jacket with a hood. The hood is just a single layer material, with no down filling, I assume just as a wind break.

Is that the normal build for all hooded down jackets, to have no insulation in the hood.

You can get both-as you say -they just added it as a bonus I suppose.
Good thing is you can wear a good beanie under the hood it for warmth.
Her's something to tickle your fancy-

"The Skaha is an upper 'mid-weight', fully baffled box construction zip neck sweater. It does not have sewn-through seams.
The fill weight represents over 50% of the total, with 5.6 ounces of down in the size medium.
The resulting warmth makes this jacket a legit choice for shoulder season high mountain backpacks."
Fill weight 159 gms -total weight .....295 grams.

[Joynz]

The Nunatak Sakha is US $345 with a collar or US $385 with a hood. Excluding tax and postage to Australia.

The options are amazing - for a bit more money you can get a taller collar or longer sleeves or extra down...

[Lamont]

The Nunatak Sakha is US $345 with a collar or US $385 with a hood. Excluding tax and postage to Australia.

The options are amazing - for a sit more cost you can get a taller collar or longer sleeves or extra down.

Hooked?

[Joynz]

I like the idea of baffles in a jacket.

But I’ve already got 4 down jackets...

[Lamont]

But I’ve already got 4 down jackets...

[north-north-west]

But I’ve already got 4 down jackets...

Amateur.

[Lamont]

But I’ve already got 4 down jackets...

Amateur.

I have to know, how many?
Plus can you tell me your favourite for cold weather and your alternate milder weather fave.

[north-north-west]

Six and a vest.

The warmest is the Macpac somethingorother . . . Equinox, maybe? Definitely begins with an E. Usually take the Sierra Designs jacket on walking trips, however; it's nowhere near as warm but is a good compromise between weight, bulk and warmth.

[Lamont]

Nice. Plenty of choice.
Those Equinox baffles look nice and wide. Excellent.
Anything in the Synthetic line working for you?

[north-north-west]

Not as a puffer. I go from fleece to down, nothing in between.

[Lamont]