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There is certain gear that I do not believe in being cheap with.
A good quality down jacket and waterproof shell are two pieces of gear that are worth spending a pretty penny on.
The difference between a $75 shell and a $350 shell is like night and day. The $75 shell is probably going to either A) eventually start to permeate moisture with prolonged use OR B) not be very breatheable.
With a high quality down jacket you're going to get better loft (cheap down jackets typically use 600 at best) and in most cases get a nice DWR treated shell. Cheap down jackets soak up moisture like a sponge and then become useless when they get damp.
Having said that, I like to use cheap long underwear and fleece.
