Techy Drip: Winter Hike & Snow Apparel From Helly Hansen
Pebble Flow Electric Camper Trailer: Self-Propelled, Remote-Controlled Parking Cropped Puffer Jacket
Swedish Armed Forces Team Clinches 2023 Adventure Racing World Championship in South Africa
Say Goodbye to Shoulder Slippage: FHF Gear Rifle Sling Review
Burly Bike Hitch Rack for Heavy Hauling: 1Up USA Xtreme Duty Single Review
A Running Vest-Inspired Pack Built for Any Speed: Arc’teryx Aerios 15 Daypack Review
Suunto Race GPS Watch First-Look Review: Stunning Display, Serious Value
Hands-Down Comfort, Plus Elbow Room: NEMO Moonlite Reclining Chair Review
Every winter wardrobe needs a puffy down jacket. But how to choose? Don't worry — we've got you covered.
It’s one of the simple truths of the outdoors: When warmth is a must, it’s gotta be down. Synthetic insulation has come a long way, but its warmth-to-weight ratio just doesn’t quite rival the best down jackets (yet).
Down is plush, warm, packable, and even something of a fashion staple nowadays. But with dozens of brands offering hundreds of different styles, it can be crazy overwhelming to peg which down jacket is right for you. So we leaned on our experience, testing, research, and insight to cull the best of the best. Each of these down jackets is available now and merits a look for its construction, price, features, and warmth.
In researching all the down jackets on the market, we paid particular attention to standouts within a particular category. For example, we have selections for those shopping on a budget, those searching for more sustainable options, and for others who just want the most durable puffy of them all.
Our team has collectively tested legions of these puffy insulators for the creation of this guide, with our current author and Senior Editor, Chris Carter, having donned over 30 different models on all sorts of wild escapades in the past year alone. From snowy alpine ascents to chilly windblown nights in the African desert, this guide’s current selection had to prove its mettle all over the world in just about every environment imaginable. Only the best of the best made the cut.
Scroll through to see all of our recommendations. At the end of our list, be sure to check out our comprehensive buyer’s guide, as well as our comparison chart. And if you have some questions, take a look at our list of frequently asked questions.
Editor’s Note: We refreshed this guide on October 23, 2023, including additional information about our testing practices, as well as sprucing up the Fill Weight section in the buyer’s guide, and making sure our product list is up-to-date with current models and designs.
Wading through the crowd of stinky, exuberant hikers at the Appalachian Trail Days festival this year in Damascus, Virginia, we were shocked at the sheer number of Arc’teryx Ceriums ($400) trotting about.
When you start to see a jacket popping up in more and more thru-hikers’ packs as their insulator of choice for a 5-month journey across America, you know they’re made right.
At 11 oz. for a men’s medium, the Cerium strikes a healthy balance between reliable warmth and lightweight simplicity for a wide range of backpackers and adventurers. While not as light as the classic ultralight synthetic jackets most die-hard trekkers are using, its stellar packability and crazy warmth put it on our radar.
Arc’teryx employed an interesting hybrid design for the insulation of the Cerium, which they call “Down Composite Mapping.” 850 fill power down is placed along the core, while Coreloft, a synthetic insulation, is used in places that may be more prone to getting wet, such as the shoulders, underarms, cuffs, and collar at the mouth. This means these areas will retain a lot of their warmth when wet.
Our one complaint, if we had to find one, is that we wish the included stuff sack was integrated into the jacket, or that the jacket packed down into one of its pockets.
In short, the Arc’teryx Cerium is one of the best down jackets you can buy for lightweight epics across the country or weekend outings to your favorite alpine lake. Boasting a stellar warmth-to-weight ratio, durable fabric, and a stylish fit, you really can’t go wrong with it.
As an all-around, affordable workhorse, the REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket ($129) scored a spot on this list for its reliable warmth, solid durability, and approachable price point. It’s nothing flashy and fancy, but boasts a surprisingly solid warmth-to-weight ratio, and has held up great over many adventures.
It’s one of the more versatile, run-of-the-mill jackets we tried that just works well for most situations and looks fine around town. Not too technical, yet not too simple to be ineffective.
Though it doesn’t break any records in the packability or weight department, this jacket is designed to look good for casual wear, while still being functional on the trail. It doesn’t have a hood, sinch cord along the waist, or some other features of more technical jackets, which makes it harder to trap warmth or customize the fit than other models.
It is made with pretty comfortable fabric and uses a recycled nylon shell fabric with DWR treatment that has shown little to no signs of wear after extensive testing in harsh environments.
Given its weight category (11 ounces), it would be nice to have had a couple more additions that add to its warmth and adjustability, but again its simplicity is partly what makes this jacket special.
For the casual weekend warrior or even the dedicated backpacker on a budget, this REI staple will disappear in your pack, and keep you warm when you need it most. Its simple, slimmed-down design means you’ll look great at your local coffee shop, and be able to charge into the mountains after work if the opportunity arises.
When testing a bunch of down jackets, the surest way to know which one is best is to look at which one you find yourself wearing most often. That’s exactly what put Outdoor Research’s Helium Down Hoodie ($299) so high on this list.
Its athletic cut has made it ideal for early winter getaways, allowing this tester to toss a big wool flannel on over it when things get especially frosty. But it was still great by itself when things didn’t dip below a little chilly.
The quality and feel are everything you’d expect from a brand like OR — and then some. The brand dubs it the “most durable, lightweight, and technical down hoodie” in its arsenal. That durability comes from a strategic hybrid construction.
The hood and shoulders use Pertex Quantum Shield 30-denier ripstop that fights abrasion and adds a waterproof barrier where you need it — head and shoulders, exactly where rain hits.
But the toughness doesn’t stop there. Covering the Helium Down Hoodie’s 800-fill down is Pertex’s Diamond Fuse ripstop shell, affording the jacket enhanced durability without any significant weight penalty.
By no means the warmest puffy we tested, this one wound up in the backseat, at the ready for just-in-case adventures. If you need one puffy to grab that can handle a range of elements, this one fits the bill.
What made the original Ghost Whisperer an editor favorite and brand icon, the Ghost Whisperer UL ($420) has in spades — or feathers, rather.
Shaving off 2.2 ounces may not sound like much until you realize that’s a 25% reduction in weight (the Ghost Whisperer/2 tips the scales at 8.8 ounces, while the UL comes in at 6.67 ounces).
The Ghost Whisperer UL accomplishes this in large part thanks to 1,000-fill down, giving it an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. A great layering piece you’ll hardly notice behind a wind-blocking shell, the UL sports two zippered hand pockets, one of which it packs into.
This ultralight jacket is a minimal piece, so no accessory pockets here. And the hood doesn’t cinch, though elastic cuffs offer some range of motion.
If your adventures don’t hinge on saving every cubic centimeter or gram, the Ghost Whisperer UL is probably more coat than you need — or less, rather.
For marathon belays in freezing temps, or winter excursions requiring maximum warmth, the Rab Neutrino Pro ($400) stands out as one of the best down jackets for the job. This is probably one of the comfiest, most versatile, and most well-designed jackets we’ve tested in a while for cold climbing expeditions or chilly adventures where weight and durability are a concern.
From multi-day big wall ascents of El Cap in Yosemite, to nippy fall nights around a fire in the Appalachians, we put this thing through the wringer to see if it lived up to the hype. In short, this jacket is everything it’s cracked up to be.
What probably surprised us the most about this long-standing staple for alpinists is just how well it moves with you during high-output activities. Rab used what they call “twisted arm baffles,” which improve arm pre-curve and gives you complete freedom of movement. While we don’t really understand all that jargon, whatever they did definitely works, and this was a joy to wear in the mountains.
Other features that contribute to its usability include a two-way zipper (essential for belaying and climbing) with an insulated storm flap, a down-filled over-the-helmet hood with stiffened peak, and beefier ripstop nylon fabric over high-use areas like the shoulders and upper sleeves for increased durability. Despite the extras, the jacket maintains a relatively minimalist and sleek feel, so it still looks great around town.
Finding any negatives for this jacket was hard, but if we had to pick one, it would be that the hood really only fits well if you wear a helmet. Without one it is quite large and floppy, obstructing your vision and just generally getting in the way. It’s designed for alpine use though, so we can’t bash it too much on this front.
With 7.5 ounces of 800-fill goose down and an overall weight of only 20 ounces, it’s hard to find a technical down jacket of this caliber anywhere else. For the dedicated mountain athlete who needs a durable, mega-warm down jacket for the toughest adventures, don’t overlook this beast.
Of all the down jackets we tested, the Cotopaxi Fuego ($295) received the most “ooh, that’s a nice jacket” comments. Not really surprising, as Cotopaxi has built its reputation on flashy, devil-may-care designs — coupled with ethical and sustainable manufacturing processes.
The Fuego carries on that identity, albeit with a more toned-down, intentionally retro aesthetic. As a puffy, it’s a great around-town choice, with some ready-to-party chops. The 800-fill down makes it acceptably lightweight and packable. Though if you take it out enough, you’re bound to scuff up those pretty stripes.
Still, the Fuego is plenty warm for autumn wind and some light precipitation (thanks to a DWR treatment), and it can even fend off some winter bluster. But the jacket’s fit — not too trim, not too baggy — makes it easy enough to layer for added warmth.
The 20-denier shell construction adds a little extra defense against feather loss and daily abuse. Two internal stash pockets and hand pockets round out the build.
As you’d expect, Black Diamond’s Vision Down Parka ($465) provides high-loft warmth and just the right feature set for cold-weather belays. It wins for durability, using a ripstop reinforced with a “Japanese Liquid Crystal Polymer.” This makes it tougher, but a little less soft than the Fitz Roy.
However, the Vision offers a two-way zipper and water-resistant zippers on the hand pockets — nice added touches for those planning to be in the wild on cold days. It also offers a bigger fit for layering under.
The Vision is extremely warm, very durable, and great for belays. But it’s heavier than many options, and its price tag will empty your wallet a bit more.
Check our in-depth full review of the Black Diamond Vision Down Parka.
Super-plush, super-soft, and super-warm, Patagonia’s Fitz Roy ($399) is a winner for cold days at the crag. Its down-like Pertex Quantum face fabric isn’t the absolute toughest, so expect some tears if you’re brushing against rocks. But all down jackets are meant to be patched, right?
That said, Patagonia employs 100% recycled material in that fabric, along with Fair Trade sewing. So the brand, per usual, strikes the best available balance between outright performance and social and environmental sustainability.
Two zippered chest pockets add some utility, and while there’s no two-way zipper, the hand pockets are nice and high to accommodate a harness. Overall, the jacket excels in warmth and comfort — so much so, you’d be excused for wearing it away from the granite.
The Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody Down Jacket ($300) is among the most flexible down jackets we’ve ever worn, making it super comfortable for everyday errands and recreation. The jacket performed well on commuter rides, nippy walks, and snowy hikes in a range of temperatures from 10 to 35 degrees plus wind chill at 10,000 feet.
One of the aims of the Stretchdown line was to blend the warm insulation of down, with the range of motion and versatility of a softshell. From what we can tell, the designers did a pretty great job. When we lean over the handlebars or shovel snow, there’s no seam restriction on the upper back, arms, or shoulders — it feels like we’re not wearing a jacket at all.
The Stretchdown is the first-ever jacket with stitch-free baffle construction and is made from a single fabric, eliminating the need for glue. The 700-fill jacket is relatively lightweight and warm but somewhat bulky. Most impressively, water droplets roll off the surface with no signs of absorption or loss of loft.
Its hood is stretchy and spacious, however, when fully zippered, the hood’s elastic slightly pulls back the front collar, so the lower face is exposed from time to time.
Who would know how to fend off the cold better than the Swedes? Fjallraven’s Expedition Pack Down Hoodie ($275) is a handsome coat with not too many features but a solid build. And surprisingly, you get all that without the sticker shock you might expect from the premium outdoor brand.
Fully recycled poly construction is a nice touch. The jacket sports a neutral fit, an interior accessory pocket, and a range of toggles on the hood, hem, and neck. It’s a solid, no-frills coat made by a brand that knows winter.
For a more modest price, you get similar warmth to the Arc’teryx Cerium, though it doesn’t pack down quite as small and is a little bit heavier. They also added a layer of synthetic insulation over the shoulders of the jacket to help resist moisture, which makes carrying a heavy backpack for long periods of time much easier. The jacket is undeniably durable and just looks good around town, making this a solid cross-over piece.
This 800-fill Patagonia Down Sweater Hoodie ($329) withstands wind, resists moisture, and is lightweight for its level of warmth. We took this jacket on rolling hikes, bike rides, and walks on crisp bluebird days during 5-degree lows and with dry blizzard conditions in Colorado’s Elk and Sangre de Cristo mountains. We stayed dry, thanks to the shell’s DWR finish, which resists moisture.
Heavier amounts of water noticeably dampen the exterior, though it rebounds. This hoodie easily withstood bitter gusts, and the elastic cuffs are comfortable and block the wind. When fully zippered, the reinforced neck rise doesn’t slouch, which protects the lower half of the face. But the hood shape is a little too snug to comfortably wear a helmet.
The shell is made with NetPlus 100% recycled ripstop nylon which is constructed from recycled fishing nets in a push to help bring down ocean plastic pollution. Pretty cool. It’s also insulated with 100% Responsible Down Standard (RDS) down, certified by Control Union. This thing has the planet’s well-being in mind.
This is an excellent everyday down jacket with great style and protection for the winter season. It’s awesome to pull on post-cardio activity, like after a winter run. It also maintains its loft and warmth even with snowfall and light moisture.
It serves its purpose as a stylish lifestyle jacket, but also performs well in the backcountry. One of our authors used the Down Sweater as his primary insulator for the entirety of a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike, and it never let him down. Holding up to months of abuse, it weathered weeks of drizzle in the PNW and snowy whiteouts in the Cascade Mountains with ease.
For demanding adventures or chilly strolls around town, the Down Sweater is one of the more versatile, reliable down jackets on the market.
For an even more sustainably-focused down jacket with similar specs as the Down Sweater, check out the anticipated new Patagonia offering, the SugarDown Hoody.
Popular among outdoor enthusiasts, the latest iteration of Rab’s Microlight Alpine ($295) does what its predecessor did, only with far more recycled materials.
Recycled down, a recycled shell, and a recycled lining quietly combine to make a Microlight Alpine that feels and performs like the original. It’s not an ultralight contender, but it’s also not a jacket meant to just go to the grocery store and back. The Microlight Alpine is plenty warm, cozy, and packable.
Thoughtful construction makes this jacket suitable for a range of uses — pockets situated to be climbing harness-compatible, a wire-brimmed hood, neutral sizing, and a stuff sack.
No down jacket guide would be complete without the legendary, time-tested Ghost Whisperer ($360) from Mountain Hardwear, now dubbed the “2.” This recently revamped classic introduces slight increases in durability and warmth (with a small weight penalty), and is made with trash … though it’s far from trash itself.
Using completely recycled face and trim fabrics, and stuffed with responsibly sourced RDS-certified down, they have designed it to leave as little of an impact on the planet as possible without sacrificing the warmth and comfort it’s known for. Something we’re pretty stoked on.
At 8.8 ounces with 3 ounces of 800 fill down, this jacket boasts one of the best warmth-to-weight ratios out there, and is still ultra-packable. It really does stuff down smaller than pretty much all of the jackets (both down and synthetic) we’ve tested. The hem is adjustable, and the shell fabric is quite durable, and wind and rain-resistant.
We would have liked to have seen them address some of the complaints of earlier models, however. Namely, the cuffs and overall fit. Prior iterations of the Ghost Whisperer had people wishing for elasticated cuffs, and a more athletic, less boxy fit. They don’t seem to have addressed these issues in their update, and the cuffs still make it hard to seal out the cold.
These gripes aside, this jacket still remains a super solid option for fast and light missions into the mountains, and for adventurers who need stellar packability and reliable warmth without weighing them down. We love their nudge toward greater sustainability, and still think this deserves a spot as one of the best down jackets on the market.
Boasting one of the lightest weights on this list — without sacrificing warmth — the Feathered Friends Eos ($409) is an ounce counter’s dream. Four ounces of 900+ fill premium down ensures each gram of this jacket packs a punch, and the Eos has consequently become one of our favorite insulators for speedy trips where maximum warmth and minimal weight are paramount.
Feathered Friends have been masters of down since their garage-grown inception in 1972, and they honor their simple, functional roots to this day. Their products have an unflashy, utilitarian appeal that are crafted for those who need the bare necessities and nothing more. Function over fashion — which is good by us when the temps plummet.
That said, the Eos looks and feels darn good, and is no slouch around town. A slim contoured fit gently hugs your body without being constricting or limiting its layering ability, and two long stitchless baffles run down the sides, giving it a slight unique flair. These vertical baffles aren’t just for looks, though, and make the jacket more mobile and form-fitting. They also limit fabric bunching, and we feel noticeably unrestricted while contorting our bodies on hikes or rock climbs. Though there is an inner liner that helps prevent cold spots from the horizontal baffle’s sewn-through stitching, the stitching on the vertical baffles are exposed inside, affording a slight amount of ventilation where it counts.
The Eos packs down small, but the chest pocket, unfortunately, doesn’t double as its stuff sack — and we’ve already almost lost the separate one it comes with multiple times. This does save some weight though, as not everyone likes to pack their jacket in a stuff sack on lightweight trips. The two zippered handwarmer pockets are cozy and generously sized, allowing plenty of room for trinkets or bulky gloves. We do wish there were a couple of internal drop-in pockets, as those always come in handy — but we suppose they had to cut weight somehow.
True to Feathered Friend’s ethos, this jacket boasts top-shelf durability and has shown little signs of wear after significant use on a plethora of backcountry climbing and backpacking trips in Colorado and all over Appalachia. We’re big fans of this lightweight, packable wonder — and it seems to worm its way into our luggage on most chilly trips we go on these days.
Our team has tested, reviewed, and published down jacket guides for men and women across several seasons. For this guide, we considered the most durable, highly acclaimed, well-constructed, and environmentally responsible down jackets. These layers are made for a variety of conditions and present a range of prices.
Editor-in-Chief Adam Ruggiero led the charge in accruing our initial lineup of over 20 down jackets in 2020. A seasoned, well-rounded outdoorsman, he knows what to look for in the insulation he depends on in the backcountry, and used his years of experience to lay the framework for this comprehensive guide.
Senior Editor Chris Carter took the reigns in August of 2022, and has been sifted through mountains of these chunky layers ever since to bring you the streamlined selection you see today. No feather was left unturned. A long-distance thru-hiker and rock climber at heart, he’s tested countless down jackets in every concoction of conditions imaginable, and won’t settle for anything but the best on his escapades.
To challenge and determine the top designs, we enlisted a number of other staff authors and editors to get as diverse a perspective as possible, and test these puffies across a broad range of outdoor pursuits. Our testers donned these jackets in all seasons, from snowy environments in the Rockies, to chilly big wall ascents of El Cap in Yosemite.
The crew has used these jackets for camping and urban commutes, as well as alpine and rock climbing, backcountry skiing and splitboarding, bikepacking, and alpine skiing. The testers ranged from AIARE-certified backcountry venturers to lifelong recreationists.
Finally, this is an organic, constantly evolving guide. We work hard to stay on top of new trends and novel technologies, and closely examine updated jackets and new models the moment they hit the market to bring you the most up-to-date choices possible.
This article includes the best down jackets for men and women. You can also check out our expanded list of the best down jackets for women.
Unlike sleeping bags which usually have a handy EN (European Norm) temperature rating associated with them, figuring out how warm a down jacket is can often be a tricky process. Many of us are familiar with the “fill power” of down jackets, but an equally, if not more, important component is “fill weight.”
Fill power measures the loft and quality of the down. To calculate fill power, a one-ounce sample of down is compressed in a cylinder. Generally speaking, the higher the number, the warmer the jacket — though the fill power isn’t the only variable affecting a jacket’s warmth.
The higher the fill quality, the less down is needed to create the same warmth. This is because it’s able to trap more air and warmth within the jacket. Higher fill power is also more compressible, loftier, lighter, and pricier.
Fill power ratings range from 300 to 900 and even greater. Most of the jackets on this list are in the 800-fill range, with a few clocking in above or below. Generally, the quality increases with the fill number:
Fill weight, on the other hand, is the precise weight (generally expressed in either grams or ounces) of down that has been shoved into the jacket. A jacket with a lower fill weight provides lower warmth per ounce, making this a super important stat in determining just how warm each model is. A jacket may boast a fill power of 900, but only have 85 grams of that down, while another could have 200 grams of the same fill power (or even less) and be much warmer.
Fill weight isn’t always advertised as readily as fill-power, but is — in our opinion — a much more crucial stat to consider when gearing up for any adventure. While other factors such as face fabric, sewn-through seems, or box baffles play a role in how warm a jacket is, a higher fill weight will almost always indicate a toastier puffy.
Make sure to bring an appropriate weight for the full range of weather conditions and temperature fluctuations you’re bound to encounter on your trip, and don’t focus too much on going ultralight that you put yourself in a dangerous position. While it may be tempting to cut weight with the 6.7-ounce Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer UL, with its flashy 1,000-fill power stat, on a chilly alpine assault, the fill weight is only a mere 70 grams.
The heavier Rab Neutrino Pro, on the other hand, is decorated with slightly less quality 800 fill down, but its baffles are crammed with 212 g of the stuff — making it a much warmer barrier when temps plummet at high altitudes.
The shell fabric is an important factor for both durability and packability. Ultralight jackets tend to be made with a lighter, thinner shell material. Denier is the measurement used here. A lower denier rating means the outer fabric is lighter and therefore more prone to tears.
For backcountry excursions, the lower weight can be a worthy tradeoff. But for daily use, a higher denier is recommended. And if you do get a tear or campfire burn hole, there’s always the reliable duct tape, Tenacious Tape, or Noso Puffy Patch repair options.
Down does not perform well when wet. And this is one of the places synthetic jackets tend to win out. In the past decade, there has been a growing use of hydrophobic down. Essentially, the down feathers are coated in a water-resistant polymer. It still doesn’t match the water resistance of synthetics, but for light precipitation, hydrophobic down can’t be beaten.
The face fabrics of some down jackets are treated with DWR to help block light moisture, too.
Most of the jackets in this guide are made with down, though a handful are filled with synthetic insulation that mimics down or a blend of the two.
Synthetic insulation, on the other hand, is made from polyester fibers and designed to imitate down clusters and properties with a few key differences. If you compare two jackets of equal weight, down is warmer than this alternative. But synthetic insulation retains warmth even when wet. It’s also easier to wash and usually comes at a lower price point.
Within synthetic jackets, active insulation is another progressive subcategory to know. These technical garments are designed to dump extra heat and dry fast, so you don’t have to remove the jacket during vigorous activity. But these layers need also to be durable, warm, and wind-resistant. It’s a tricky balance.
Overall, in wet or mixed weather and when weight isn’t an issue, synthetics can be a better, safer choice. Active insulation is best for high-output action. If it’s cold and dry, down is optimal despite a higher cost. This guide lists a wide variety of the best down jackets to keep you covered in the cold.
Outdoor industry brands have made an effort to source down ethically without animal cruelty and create transparency in the global supply chain. Various certifications exist, such as the Responsible Down Standard, the Patagonia Traceable Down Standard, and the National Sanitation Foundation’s Global Traceable Down Standard.
Without meeting such standards, abuse can become part of the supply chain. Synthetic choices can set some folks at ease.
Beyond responsible down, down jackets have an opportunity to include a bunch of eco-friendly design traits. Some jackets are created with PFC-free DWR treatments or recycled materials.
Other layers guarantee Fair Trade sewing like the Patagonia Fitz Roy. A handful of designs even have recycled down, including the Rab Microlight Alpine.
The activities you do while wearing your down jacket will influence the type of fit you need. Some jackets are more streamlined, while others are roomier, boxier, or longer.
If you’re using the layer for climbing and skiing, you’ll want an athletic or slender design that can be layered below or above a midlayer or shell. For big movements, it’s nice to have a silhouette that’s also stretchy and flexible, especially in the shoulder and chest area. Jackets such as Rab’s Neutrino Pro have been specifically designed with an anatomical shape that contributes to stellar freedom of movement while climbing or trekking in cold weather.
While many down jackets have an adequate amount of wind resistance built into their shell, the stitching between baffles often goes all the way through the jacket, allowing strong wind to squirm its way through to your core. In truly gusty conditions, pairing your down jacket with a lightweight windbreaker jacket can be a power concoction of warmth retention.
For daily commutes or bicycling around town, when your activity is generally creating less heat, a puffier and less athletic down jacket can be really cozy.
The down jackets in this guide range from 6.7 ounces at the low end to more than 30 ounces on the heavy side. The median weight is around 15 ounces, and the most common weight is closer to 20 to 23 ounces.
Super lightweight down jackets typically come with a premium price tag, but the investment can be worthwhile for adventurers with limited space looking to trim ounces. Models like the Feathered Friends Eos strike a solid balance between lightweight simplicity and premium performance. If speed and efficiency are of utmost importance, jackets like this won’t hold you back. Make sure to research the full range temperatures you will encounter on your trips before leaving, however, and don’t prioritize an ultralight base weight so much that you put yourself in danger.
Some of these down jackets can compress to the size of a water bottle or smaller, while others are bulkier — influenced by the fill, face fabric, and overall design. A tiny pack size can allow you to carry a smaller, lighter load on lightweight excursions, but make sure to not leave your down jacket smushed up for long periods of time. This can greatly impact the down’s lofting and insulating abilities, and reduce the jacket’s overall lifespan.
It’s fine to keep your jacket in its stuff sack for one or two days at a time, but try to pull it out of the sack regularly and let it loft up fully over the duration of your trip. When storing your jacket after you get home, hang it in your closet — and don’t mash it too tightly between your other clothes. Washing your jacket with down-friendly detergent can also prolong its life. We gravitate to Nikwax’s Down Wash Direct for this purpose.
Many down jackets include a hood, some of which are helmet-compatible, while others have a tall collar. Some hoods may have a stiff wire at the brim which improves protection and visibility during snowy conditions. Zipper width, toggle size, and durability can vary. But as a general rule of thumb, YKK produces the strongest zippers. Minimized zippers can reduce weight and bulk.
Cuffs and sleeves can have a flexible, comfortable elastic closure or a Velcro tab for extra security. Occasionally, designs have wrist gaiters with thumb loops.
Two front hand pockets with zip closures are common, though some pockets are smaller or placed higher than others for harness compatibility. These handwarmer pockets often become super important for keeping heat from escaping your extremities once the temps start to drop.
Additional accessory pockets might include an interior or exterior chest, inside mesh pockets, and a pocket the jacket itself stuffs into.
For high-output activity, down jackets can feature mesh-lined pit zips and a powder skirt. Some designs also have a two-way zipper down the front, which is helpful when wearing a harness and belaying.
It’s easy to spend $250-500 on a down jacket. And that’s no small investment. The main thing to consider when looking at your budget is the end use.
If you’re regularly packing into the backcountry, an ultralight, super-packable, rather expensive jacket may be necessary. If you’ll mostly wear it around town, something like the budget-friendly REI 650 Down Jacket will keep you warm for less than $100.
A down jacket holds heat around your body’s core in order to maintain a comfortable level of warmth when the temperatures drop. A spectrum of down jackets exists from plush and stylish for everyday use to lighter, packable designs for year-round backcountry adventures.
A jacket’s fill power is the down’s quality and amount of loft. You’ll see jackets labeled as 600-fill or 800-fill, for instance. The fill weight, which is measured in ounces, reflects the density or amount of down stuffed inside the jacket.
So when two 700-fill jackets have different weights, we know the heavier one is warmer.
On the other hand, if two down jackets weigh the same with different fill power (two 15-ounce jackets with 650 fill and 800 fill), the higher fill jacket is going to be less bulky, lighter, and more compressible.
It’s tricky to compare jackets with differing fill power. But in general, the lower the fill power, the less loft and warmth.
Down jackets have a huge variance of warmth. Some jackets are constructed to withstand freezing or sub-zero temperatures, while others are a match for summer, spring, and fall backpacking trips. Here are the broad categories of jackets, depending on their fill weight:
The combination of the fill weight and fill power, which is the loft and quality of the down, changes how warm a jacket is. The higher the fill power and higher the weight, the more heat the jacket retains.
Lightweight down jackets are very compressible and a great choice for cramming into your pack for emergency use. But they often cost more. Those weights range from close to 8 to 15 ounces. Midweight options bump up to the 20-ounce range, and heavier down jackets are around 30 ounces.
The best down jacket for you is based on where and how you’ll use it. If the weather is relatively dry and super cold, a down jacket with greater down fill that will retain more heat could be worth the investment. If you’ll be in a really wet environment, a synthetic down jacket might be a better choice.
As you search for a down jacket, pay attention to the fill power, overall fit, and price. Be sure the warmth and features match your needs, like whether or not the jacket has a helmet-compatible hood, underarm zippers, and harness-compatible hand pockets.
Examine the level of weather resistance, like DWR-treated material or down, and if it matches the exposure you’ll be in. Some jackets are even reinforced in high-use areas, like in the shoulders for pulling on and off a pack. If you plan on venturing into the backcountry, weight and compressibility make a difference, too.
We found the best women’s down jackets for every budget and activity. From a do-all hoodie to a budget-friendly puffy, we’ve got you covered.
We tested the best synthetic insulated jackets of 2022 with options for every budget. Top picks include Arc’teryx, Patagonia, and more.
Adam Ruggiero is the Editor in Chief of GearJunkie and host of the GearJunkie Podcast. He cut his teeth as a freelancer, then news reporter for the site in 2015.
Along with founder Stephen Regenold and Editorial Director Sean McCoy, Ruggiero graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism. He was the recipient of the 2022 Outdoor Media Summit “Editor of the Year” award, and regularly co-hosts the industry’s “Gear Guide” at both summer and winter Outdoor Retailer trade shows.
In addition to accurate and impartial news reporting, and compelling, original storytelling, his interests include camping in all climates and conditions, track cycling and bikepacking, all forms of fitness, the resplendent majesty of coffee, and sports of every kind.
Based in beautiful Chattanooga, Tennessee, Chris Carter is a Senior Editor for GearJunkie, while squeezing in side gigs as an adventure filmmaker and content creator in the outdoor industry. Drawing from his childhood in Africa, experience as a rock climbing and backpacking guide, ultra-marathon running, and years of extensive thru-hiking, he’s passionate about journalism that gets people into the wild. He has thru-hiked the Triple Crown of long trails in America: the Pacific Crest Trail (2018), the Continental Divide Trail (2021), and the Appalachian Trail (2021), and has explored, rock-climbed, and backpacked all over the world. He hopes to spread his love of adventure and travel through his writing, art, and videography.
Based among the awe-inspiring peaks of Crested Butte, Colorado, Morgan Tilton is a Senior Editor for GearJunkie honing the SnowSports Buyer’s Guides alongside warmer coverage. More broadly, she’s an adventure journalist specializing in outdoor industry news and adventure travel stories, which she’s produced for more than a decade and more than 80 publications to date. A recipient of 14 North American Travel Journalists Association awards, when she’s not recovering from high alpine or jungle expeditions she’s usually trail running, mountain biking, or splitboarding in Southwest Colorado, where she grew up and lives today. From resort to backcountry and human-powered to motorized travel, she loves sliding across snow.
Sign up to receive GearJunkie content direct to your inbox.
White Hoodies With Designs Sign up to receive GearJunkie content direct to your inbox.