Feathered Friends Helios Review

The Feathered Friends Helios is incredibly warm and will keep you cozy all winter long. It also has one of the highest warmth-to-weight ratios of any jacket. It's made of premium castor oil-based nylon with a PFAS-free DWR coating. It's insulated with 900+ fill power goose down, too. It has a standard fit that's comfortable when layering or over a thin shirt.

Warmth

The Feathered Friends Helios is an excellent option for an extremely warm jacket. It's packed with tons of 900+ fill power down, and it feels like a giant cozy sleeping bag when you put it on.

This is one of the warmest jackets we tested. It doesn't allow heat to escape from anywhere. It's not the longest jacket, but it has an adjustable stretch cinch hem to prevent heat from leaking out the bottom. The adjustable hood cinches around your face to keep the cold from reaching your head, too.

The stretch-knit cuffs seal tight around your wrists so cold air can't get into your sleeves. It has unique stretch lycra pocket closures that keep the pockets sealed shut when your hands aren't in them. But since there are no zippers on the pockets, you can quickly stuff your hands inside to warm them up.

This jacket fits just right, too. It's trim enough not to feel loose or oversized, but not so tight that it won't fit a thick sweater or midlayer underneath on those extra-cold days. It has sewn-through baffles, which can sometimes be a weak point where strong breezes can push the cold through. But this jacket is stuffed with so much high-quality down that we didn't notice any warmth escaping between them.

Comfort

The Helios is one of the most comfortable jackets we tested. The lining material feels comfortable against your bare arms, but doesn't stick to base layers and fleece. This jacket's plush design makes it feel like you're getting a warm hug.

The stretch-knit cuffs keep your wrists covered without squeezing too much, and they keep the sleeves in place when you move. The standard fit allows for a full range of motion for any activity, and you can reach in any direction without the sleeves riding up your arms, and they won't fall over your hands either.

It has a clean, non-boxy silhouette that works as well around town as it does at the trailhead. It doesn't have a helmet-compatible hood or other technical features, but it's comfortable enough that you'll want to keep wearing it all day, unless it gets too warm.

It has a straightforward pocket layout, but the stretch-lycra pockets we mentioned above are unique. Besides the stretch-closure hand pockets, it has a zippered internal chest pocket where we like to store our cell phone in cold weather.

Packability

At 16.4 ounces, the Feathered Friends Helios is pretty heavy. But if you think of it in terms of how much warmth you're getting, this thing feels surprisingly light.

Given the warmth and sheer puffiness of this jacket, we'd expect it to weigh a lot more, really. When you're not wearing it, the Helios packs down into an included stuff sack that's barely larger than a Nalgene water bottle. The stuff sack is tight, and it's pretty difficult to stuff the jacket in, but you can jam it in with some effort.

We prefer jackets with a stuff sack over those that pack into their own pocket; the stuff sack keeps things simple and better protects the jacket when packed. The shell material is durable enough, too. During our extensive testing over several months, it didn't experience any snags or tears, though we were careful not to abrade it against rough surfaces.

Weather Resistance

The Helios handles the elements well—for a down jacket. The thick and lofty baffles block cold wind effectively, and the cinch cords on the hood and at the waist hem let you seal it down tight against chilly gusts.

In our waterproof spray-and-rub test, where we applied water directly to the shell material and rubbed it in with our hand, the PFAS-free durable water-resistant (DWR) coating prevented moisture from absorbing into the fabric. As water hits the material, it beads up and rolls off. This isn't a waterproof shell, and it will eventually soak through in rain, but it's more than water-resistant enough for light precipitation. And in dry, blowing snow, this jacket is very protective.

As with any DWR treatment, it won't stay as water-resistant after a few years of wear. However, you can reapply a DWR coating if you start to notice it is less waterproof after a year or so.

Should You Buy the Feathered Friends Helios?

The Helios is an outstanding down jacket if you want serious warmth and quality materials without sacrificing packability. It's also one of the most sustainable jackets we've tested, and the fact that it's made in Seattle, Washington, is also notable. You can't do better than the 900+ fill down, costor-oil-based nylon shell, and recycled fishing net lining. You shouldn't buy the Helios if you need a truly lightweight and packable jacket, or want something to wear for shoulder-season camping trips. But if you want a seriously warm jacket to wear in the dead of winter, this is a great choice.

What Other Down Jackets Should You Consider?

The Helios is an exceptionally warm down jacket. But if you're after something that's less expensive and almost as warm, check out the Stio Hometown Hooded. If the Helios is too warm for your needs, the Feathered Friends Eos is a lighter option from the same brand with similar features but is lighter on the insulation.