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We purchased and tested 26 of the best men's down jackets, selecting our favorites for cold-weather adventures, camping, and strolls around town.
Our in-depth review puts today's top down jackets against one another for a side-by-side comparison to help you find the very best option for your needs and budget.
Credit: Sam Schild
By Sam Schild ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Updated October 17, 2025
Whether you're throwing on a jacket to walk the dog around the block or gearing up for an alpine adventure, the right down jacket can be your best friend for three seasons a year.
We've purchased and tested more than 60 of the best down jackets over the past decade. We spent months testing these jackets, wearing them for thru-hiking the Appalachian and Arizona Trails and on our everyday morning commutes. We've made coffee on sub-zero mornings, braved chilly fall camping, and headed out on crisp spring mornings to help you find the perfect down jacket for your needs and budget.
Our favorite all-around option is the REI Co-op Magma 850 Hoodie. It's warm and cozy, highly versatile, and surprisingly affordable. While you can pay more for additional expedition-level warmth, the Magma is well-suited to everyday life and the occasional adventure.
For serious warmth, we recommend the Rab Neutrino Pro. Though heavier and bulkier than many others, this is the jacket you want when the temps really plummet.
If you're looking for something affordable and versatile, check out the Decathlon Forclaz MT100. It's not as warm as the above models, but it's warm enough for milder climates. It's also comfortable and packable, making it a great choice for backpackers and travelers.
Editor's Note: Our men's down jacket review was updated on October 17, 2025, after testing new models from Rab, Eddie Bauer, Columbia, and Outdoor Research.
From chilly walks with the dog in the winter to summer backpacking trips, every one of our testers loved wearing the REI Co-op Magma 850 Hoodie. Thanks to its 850-fill-power goose down, this jacket is incredibly warm for its weight, highly compressible, and easily packable, making it a great option for travel. “It looks good, feels great, and the best part is that it's not nearly as expensive as other top-performing models I tested,” touts our lead tester. While the Magma 850 isn't the warmest jacket in our lineup, our test team agrees that it's the best option for most people. The perfect jacket for every use is hard to pin down, but they agree that this one is more versatile than other bigger, burlier puffies we tested. You can comfortably layer this svelte jacket with a hardshell for skiing or snowboarding and continue wearing it through the changing seasons on chilly nights around the campfire.
SPECIFICATIONS
Down Fill
850-fill-power goose down with bluesign-approved DWR
Responsible Down Standard (RDS) Certified
Yes
Outer Fabric
Recycled ripstop nylon
Measured Weight
12.5 oz (M)
Hem Type
Drop hem (small)
If you live in an extremely cold environment, you might need the maximum warmth and weather protection offered by a jacket like the Rab Neutrino Pro or Rab Electron Pro. However, the Magma 850 does have a DWR treatment on both the shell and down insulation, and it balances warmth and packability well, which makes it much more versatile. And who doesn't want a jacket you can wear more often? We certainly do. We think the Magma 850 is a great jacket and would recommend it to just about anyone.
The North Face Summit Breithorn Hoodie offers an excellent balance of all-around warmth and comfort. It's one of the most comfortable jackets we tested, with tons of unique features that make it a pleasure to wear. Its supple lining fabric feels super soft against your skin, and the wrist cuffs are a comfortable stretchy knit material that feels like a well-worn T-shirt, unlike the simple elastic sewn into the wrist cuffs of most other jackets. We love the simple, one-handed hood adjustment toggle. It also has two zippered hand pockets, a zippered external chest pocket, and two internal drop-in pockets.
SPECIFICATIONS
Down Fill
800-fill-power ProDown with water repellency
Responsible Down Standard (RDS) Certified
Yes
Outer Fabric
15D Pertex Y Fuse 100% recycled ripstop nylon
Measured Weight
15.2 oz (M)
Hem Type
Straight
The Summit Breithorn Hoodie has tons of great features to keep you warm and cozy when the temperature drops, but it's relatively heavy. At 15.2 ounces for a men's small, it's certainly overkill for summer backpacking conditions. If you want a lightweight jacket for excursions where weight matters, check out the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer, which is less warm but, at 8.3 ounces, is about half the weight of the Breithorn. However, the Breithorn jacket is an excellent choice for everything from ice climbing and mountaineering to hanging around the campfire and walking around the city in the winter. If comfort is paramount for you and your pursuits don't include high-octane excursions, a jacket like the classicly-styled Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody is superbly cozy, and we love it for everyday wear.
If you live or recreate in a place with bone-chilling winters, the Rab Neutrino Pro is one of our favorite down jackets for its phenomenal warmth. We've used this jacket in over a dozen mountain ranges, from sub-zero ski expeditions in Alaska to stormy ice climbing trips in the Canadian Rockies, and found the Neutrino Pro to be an essential layer for such adventures. While there are even puffier coats out there, this jacket strikes a great balance of retaining heat without being too bulky, allowing our team to comfortably wear it for walks around town, belaying, or performing camp chores. “I haven't found another jacket in our review's lineup that could compete with the Neutrino Pro for warmth,” our head jacket tester, Zach Lovell, shared. Unfortunately, this model will require shelling out quite a bit of cash, but the Rab Electron Pro is a nice alternative that will save you about $60, though it doesn't have quite as much down.
SPECIFICATIONS
Down Fill
800-fill-power European goose down with Grangers fluorocarbon-free hydrophobic finish
Responsible Down Standard (RDS) Certified
Yes
Outer Fabric
20D Pertex Quantum Pro
Measured Weight
20.1 (M)
Hem Type
Drop hem (small)
A jacket like the Neutrino Pro is meant to prioritize warmth, but the price to pay for this is weight and bulk. While arctic explorers won't mind a coat that weighs 20.1 ounces, this isn't a jacket we'd recommend to those who want to keep their bag or their layering system as lightweight as possible. Our review team lead also shared, “The Neutrino Pro is just too much jacket for spring or fall nights where you're only needing a little extra warmth.” The lighterweight Eddie Bauer CirrusLite is a great option if you're looking for something lighter and less expensive. Overall, the Neutrino Pro is the warmest jacket in our review and should be put in your shopping cart if you need a garment that'll keep you nice and toasty.
The Eddie Bauer CirrusLite Hooded breaks the mold as a down jacket that's super light and won't cost you a fortune. In the sub-niche of lightweight insulation, most manufacturers jack up the cost at sometimes dizzying amounts, but Eddie Bauer offers this 9.9-ounce jacket at a relatively palatable price point. The 650 fill down kept the review team warm on cool summer evenings and spring or fall days, but another layer or two was needed for the coldest winter months. If you need a featherweight option with better heat retention, consider the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer, which weighs even less than the CirrusLite but is much harder on the wallet. “Sure, the CirrusLite isn't the warmest, but it's super comfy and I was easily able to layer it over or under other jackets depending on the weather,” our down jacket expert Zach Lovell concluded.
SPECIFICATIONS
Down Fill
650-fill-power down
Responsible Down Standard (RDS) Certified
Yes
Outer Fabric
100% recycled nylon
Measured Weight
9.9 oz (S)
Hem Type
Straight
As is the case with most down jackets that have low numbers on the scale, the CirrusLite isn't the most durable if you're hard on your outdoor clothing. The StormRepel DWR treatment was a nice touch for a little moisture, but the recycled nylon construction is more minimal to keep the grams down. For a more road-worthy jacket, consider the Columbia Delta Ridge II Hooded, which is in the same price range but has a heavier construction that handles day-to-day wear and tear much better. “The CirrusLite is great as long as you're not using it as your one-stop insulation for sub-zero temps,” our tester noted. It also doesn't have much in the way of adjustability or features, but for a jacket in this price class, we didn't mind.
The Decathlon Forclaz MT100 performs on par with many of the other high-end jackets we tested, yet costs two to three times less. This model is stuffed with high-quality 800-fill-power down, which makes it highly compressible and packable enough for everything from ultralight backpacking to international travel. Our lead tester weighed his men's size Medium at a mere 10.3 ounces, which is competitive against the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer, our top choice for an ultralight puffy. “This jacket can hang on the trails with the best of them,” boasted our lead tester. “But its casual, not-too-technical look makes it a comfortable option for wearing around town at the end of the day, too.” Another affordable jacket that's perhaps better suited for casual wear is the REI Co-op 650 Down. Comparing the two, the REI 650 is ever so slightly more comfortable, and some may prefer a puffy jacket without a hood. The MT100, on the other hand, is better suited for situations like backpacking because it easily packs away into its own pocket.
SPECIFICATIONS
Down Fill
800-fill-power down
Responsible Down Standard (RDS) Certified
Yes
Outer Fabric
15D polyamide
Measured Weight
10.3 oz (M)
Hem Type
Drop hem (small)
The biggest downside of the Forclaz MT100 is its sizing. One of our testers, Sam, is often between Small and Medium sizes. “The size Medium I tested fit much more like a men's Small from every other brand,” Sam said. “I highly recommend sizing up with this jacket.” The MT100 is also not the warmest jacket we tested, but considering its weight, we're not at all surprised by that fact. For an affordable jacket that's super warm, check out the Columbia Delta Ridge II Hooded. “The Delta Ridge has a heat-reflective lining, which makes it extremely warm, especially considering its price,” one tester pointed out. Although the Delta Ridge is warmer, it's not nearly as comfortable or as breathable as the MT100. The MT100 strikes a nice balance of traits at an unbeatable price point.
Down puffies can get expensive, but not the Wantdo Packable Down Hoody. This model costs about half as much as the second most inexpensive down jacket in our testing lineup and less than a quarter of the high-end models. It has an average warmth-to-weight ratio and packs down into an included stuff sack. It's filled with 90% duck down insulation and has a thin outer shell with an adequately comfortable liner. “It's pretty astonishing how good this model is, considering the price,” admits our lead tester. The Camel Crown Packable Puffer – which costs nearly twice as much but is still very affordable – doesn't even come close to the warmth and comfort offered by the Wantdo. Whether you're heading to work or spending the day playing outside, a small and light insulation layer like the Wantdo is an excellent option to carry. “It's easy to take with you anywhere you go, just in case,” continues our lead tester. “And it costs less than an average lift ticket, so it's hard to pass up this deal.”
SPECIFICATIONS
Down Fill
90% duck down
Responsible Down Standard (RDS) Certified
Yes
Outer Fabric
20D 400T nylon
Measured Weight
10.6 oz (S)
Hem Type
Straight
Though it's lightweight, packable, and affordable, the Wantdo doesn't have the same premium features you'll find on many other jackets. The zippers on the hand pockets are very small and snag easily. This makes them hard to operate bare-handed and nearly impossible to use while wearing gloves. It's also one of the least warm jackets we tested. If you plan on wearing your puffy a lot, we think spending a little more for a more comfortable jacket like the Eddie Bauer CirrusLite or a warmer jacket like the L.L. Bean Ultralight 850 Hooded is well worth it. But at this price, it's hard not to recommend the Wantdo for folks living in mild climates or those who only need a down jacket for occasional wear.
The Stio Pinion Hooded is our choice for a top-tier jacket that's fairly affordable and capable just about anywhere — from the lift line to the alpine and the brewery patio afterward. This jacket is very comfortable, weather-resistant, and great for layering. Plus, it's less expensive than most other down jackets from premium brands. The Pinion is warm enough for cold conditions, and it has a slightly larger fit through the torso, making it easier to layer underneath. It has an adjustable stretch cinch cord around the hood to ensure it stays on your head. There is an internal chest zipper pocket to keep your phone warm, a drop-in pocket for your gloves, and two external zippered hand warmer pockets. The 800-fill down insulation is treated with a hydrophobic finish, and the recycled Pertex Quantum shell material withstands light precipitation to protect you on snowy slopes and in quick desert rains.
SPECIFICATIONS
Down Fill
800-fill-power AlliedFeather down with HyperDry hydrophobic finish
Responsible Down Standard (RDS) Certified
Yes
Outer Fabric
Recycled Pertex Quantum shadow 20D ripstop
Measured Weight
13 oz (M)
Hem Type
Drop hem (large)
If you like the sound of recycled Pertex and want more recycled content, the Jones Re-Up Recycled features a recycled nylon ripstop shell treated with a PFC-free DWR, and it's stuffed with recycled 750-fill-power down. “The Re-Up feels similar to the Pinion in terms of warmth and comfort,” commented one tester. “Even though it's not as baggy as the Pinion puffy, both of these jackets are great for layering underneath.” While we appreciate that the looser fit of the Pinion makes it easier to fit an extra layer or two underneath, if you're between sizes, we recommend sizing down. If you want everything the Pinion offers but with a trimmer fit, we recommend the Rab Microlight Alpine. “The Rab Microlight is just as versatile as the Stio Pinion,” noted our lead tester. “But the Microlight is a few ounces heavier and costs a bit more, which makes the Pinion a better value.”
In the cold months of the year, rain and snow are an inevitability for many climates, making the Outdoor Research Helium Down Hoodie a great jacket for staying warm and repelling some moisture. While we'd suggest a full-blown rain jacket if anticipating extended downpours, the Pertex Diamond Fuse fabric in the Helium's arms and shoulders greatly helps you stay dry when the sky goes dark. “The Helium is the down jacket I'd reach for when I want packable and do-anything insulation,” tester Zach Lovell shared. If you're needing a layer that'll offer more warmth in frigid temperatures, consider the Rab Neutrino Pro.
SPECIFICATIONS
Down Fill
800+ fill-power goose down
Responsible Down Standard (RDS) Certified
Yes
Outer Fabric
15D & 30D 100% nylon Pertex Quantum Diamond Fuse
Measured Weight
14.1 oz (S)
Hem Type
Straight
If your cold-climate adventures require your bag to be as light as possible, the Helium might not be the best option for you. As an alternative, the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer is both featherweight and warm, made with 800 fill goose down that'll keep you toasty. “While the Helium is a somewhat warm jacket, it doesn't sport the largest amount of insulation,” our review team offered. Besides a few nitpicky details, this is a very well-made down coat that'll help you stay protected during cold and windy adventures, also offering a great fit that encourages mobility.
While we would still recommend a true shell jacket in a rainstorm, the Outdoor Research Helium is a great puffy coat when some precipitation is in the forecast.
The Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody features the most unique shell fabric we've seen on a down jacket. Rather than the slick nylon found on most down jackets, the proprietary shell fabric is soft and stretchy, allowing you to move in any way imaginable without fear of it riding up. “I love this jacket for winter rock climbing in the desert,” one tester said, and we agree – our whole test team loved wearing the Stretchdown Hoody while climbing, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, or for any other cold-weather sport. It has a two-way zipper that allows you to vent your core without taking the jacket off. And it's so comfortable that you won't want to take it off, even after you come inside. “I often found myself wearing the Stretchdown Hoody around the house when I'd otherwise wear a cozy cotton hoodie,” admits our lead tester. The Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody and Rab Electron Pro come close for overall comfort, but both are still built with a sleek shell material that just can't quite compare.
Despite our love for this unique design, the Stretchdown Hoody is one of the heaviest down jackets we tested. It's also one of the few jackets in our lineup that doesn't come standard with a DWR coating on the shell. If you live in a cold, dry climate or plan to wear this with a shell in inclement weather, then this isn't a big deal. But if you're looking for a comparably comfortable down jacket that can better battle the elements, check out the The North Face Summit Breithorn Hoodie or the aforementioned Rab Electron Pro. Both of these models are lighter and slightly more packable than the Stretchdown Hoody, too. “But the Stretchdown is oh-so-cozy,” lauds our lead tester. And if you don't ever plan on taking a jacket off, does it really need to be packable?
The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer is the best down jacket when weight saving is your top priority. At 9 ounces for a men's Medium, it offers incredible packability. This model easily packs into its pocket and compresses into the smallest size of any jacket we've found. This is our go-to layer for backpacking and alpine climbing, and it acts as a just-in-case layer that will practically disappear into your pack when you aren't wearing it. “I wore this jacket while thru-hiking the Arizona Trail and Appalachian Trail,” noted Sam, our lead tester. “And I'll continue to carry this puffy on every backpacking trip going forward.” It breathes better than most down jackets, so you can keep wearing it as you move faster. The athletic fit accommodates broader shoulders, allowing for easy overhead movement. We recommend getting the larger size if you're in between sizes or plan to wear this puffy over anything more than a thin base layer.
SPECIFICATIONS
Down Fill
800-fill-power goose down
Responsible Down Standard (RDS) Certified
Yes
Outer Fabric
10D recycled ripstop nylon
Measured Weight
8.3 oz (M)
Hem Type
Drop hem (small)
The Ghost Whisperer has just two zippered hand pockets with no drawcord, no interior pockets, and no adjustment on the hood. “While the absence of these features makes it as light as it is, an additional pocket and more hood adjustment would be nice in some instances,” one tester commented. If you're not heading out on an alpine climbing expedition, the more casual MontBell Superior Down is another lightweight contender with a more casual fit and is much more affordable. The Decathlon Forclaz MT100 mentioned above costs even less, and despite its similarities to the Ghost Whisperer, it's much less technical in appearance. Overall, the Ghost Whisperer's packability and incredible overall performance make it the best option for anyone looking for an ultralight puffy jacket for fast and light adventures.
Made with recycled shell, lining, and insulation materials
N/A
N/A
N/A
Thermal-reflective linging in upper torso and shoulders
How We Tested
For over fifteen years, we've been thoroughly testing down jackets in real-world environments, updating our testing process regularly to ensure we're offering the most comprehensive jacket reviews possible. Our review experts are lifelong outdoors enthusiasts, from hiking to climbing to skiing, and some of our team even gets to enjoy these pursuits for a living.
We're a group of passionate climbers, skiers, backpackers, and travelers who love pushing these layers as hard as we can.
To evaluate each jacket, we wore every option back to back, in the same conditions on the same day, and assessed which kept us the warmest while also inspecting which jackets had extra insulation in areas prone to heat loss. We paid attention to which were the most comfortable and assessed how each felt on our bare skin. We sprayed them with water and put each against a fan to probe their weather resistance. We weighed them, packed them, sweated in them, and wore them for months of testing. For more on our testing regimen, see our full How We Test article.
We tested every jacket across 5 mutually exclusive metrics to take a deep dive into the performance of each model:
Warmth (30% of overall score weight)
Comfort (30% weighting)
Portability (15% weighting)
Weather Resistance (15% weighting)
Breathability (10% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
Our in-depth men's down jacket testing is headed up by Sam Schild and Zach Lovell, both gear mavens in their own right. Sam is a backpacker, trail runner, and mountain biker based in Colorado. He has backpacked the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Appalachian Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, Arizona Trail, and Colorado Trail (three times!), along with countless other outdoor adventures, long and short, in every season. Zach is a full-time IFMGA Mountain Guide who has spent nearly half of his adult life wearing jackets of all sub-classes. He estimates that he wears a down jacket (for at least some of his day) eight months a year, thanks to a home base high in the mountains and a travel-heavy schedule that keeps him in cold, snowy places into the summer.
From winter ski tours to chilly in-town hangs, our testers push every jacket in a variety of settings.
Credit: Zach Lovell
James Lucas also lent his expertise to this review. Growing up in New England, James's appreciation for quality insulation started young. After graduating from college, he worked for Yosemite Search and Rescue, where he saw firsthand that having the right outerwear can be the difference between a pleasant day out in the mountains and needing a rescue. Over the years, James has tested gear in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, the boulders of Rocky Mountain National Park, and his home in Boulder, Colorado.
We tested these jackets in the field and the lab, on everyday adventures and epic backcountry missions.
Analysis and Test Results
All the finalists in our lineup underwent our extensive, side-by-side testing that includes everything that makes up a great down jacket. We chose each contender based on exhaustive research on innovation, quality, and popularity, as well as countless other factors that make a top-quality down jacket. We aim to give you practical and thorough information so you can make the right purchasing decision for your needs.
Worse Value
Better Value
What's the Best Value?
One of our favorite high-value jackets that doesn't break the bank is the Decathlon Forclaz MT100 Hooded. It's lightweight and just warm enough for mild winter climates. It's also highly packable and very comfortable, making it a great option for backpacking and traveling.
The Forclaz MT100 is an exceptional value for backpackers.
Credit: Sam Schild
For folks on a really tight budget or for someone who only needs a jacket for infrequent purposes, the Wantdo Packable Down Hoody offers incredible value. It's not as high-performing as the premium jackets, but it rings up at a startlingly low price and offers a lot of bang for the buck. The Rokka and Rolla Ultra Lightweight Puffer is also notable for its low price, reasonable performance in everyday situations, and, therefore, high value.
The Wantdo Packable Hoody is a small fraction of the cost of most jackets we tested.
Credit: Sam Schild
We're fans of the REI Co-op jackets, the 650 Down and Magma 850. The 650 is the more affordable of the two, and it balances comfort and versatility well, but it's not as warm as the Magma (which costs twice as much). If you can afford the Magma, we consider it a great down jacket that will suit the needs of most people very well.
The REI 650 and the higher-end REI Magma 850 are both great jackets.
Lightweight jackets are notoriously expensive, as they typically utilize premium construction materials, but we were impressed with Eddie Bauer for listing the CirrusLite Hooded at an approachable price point, helping thru-hikers and alpine climbers get into a featherweight model for far less. On the other hand, if you're less worried about weight and more focused on durability, the Columbia Delta Ridge II Hooded is an affordable option with a nice abrasion-resistant polyester that was substantially harder to put holes into compared to the ultralight models. The Delta Ridge is just one more example of how Columbia continues to provide affordable jackets for the budget-conscious shopper.
We found the polyester shell of the Columbia Delta Rige II Hooded more durable than some of the pricier, high-end jackets. The trade-off is that it's heavier.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Warmth
When you're shopping for a down jacket, one of the most crucial considerations is how warm your prospective puffy coat actually is. While most manufacturers advertise some numbers to help quantify the warmth of a layer, it's important to be aware of a couple terms when deciding which puffer is the right one for you. The fill power refers to the quality and loft of the down, while the fill weight describes the actual amount of down in a jacket.
If you need a particularly warm jacket and are willing to trade some versatility, the Rab Neutrino Pro is a fantastic garment for heat retention and is the warmest down jacket we tested. With a generous amount of 800+ fill power down, the Neutrino is built for those extremely cold days and boasts hydrophobic down treatment, which helps down retain its loft even if it gets wet. The warm and lightweight Feathered Friends Eos has 900+ fill power down, which is the highest-quality down in our review.
The generous amount of 800 fill down in the Rab Neutrino Pro makes it a worthy cold-weather companion.
Credit: Zach Lovell
The REI Co-op Magma 850 Hoodie, Arc'teryx Cerium Hoody, and L.L. Bean Ultralight 850 Hooded are each stuffed with 850-fill-power down. These models have nearly as high of a down-to-feather ratio as the Feathered Friends Eos's 900 fill power and are nearly as warm. The Magma 850 and L.L. Bean 850 require more down to create the same warmth as the Eos, hence their higher weights. The Cerium doesn't have quite as much loft and isn't quite as thick as the Eos, so it isn't as warm.
The L.L. Bean Ultralight's 850-fill-power down and large, thick baffles make it a very warm jacket.
Credit: Sam Schild
Many jackets in our test use 800-fill down, including the Rab Electron Pro, Neutrino Pro, and The North Face Summit Breithorn. These jackets are thickly filled, so they are impressively warm, even compared to models with higher fill-power down. The Electron Pro and Neutrino Pro use the same type of down, but the Neutrino Pro uses slightly more, which makes it a warmer jacket overall. These jackets weigh significantly more than the Eos, Cerium Hoody, L.L. Bean Ultralight, and Magma 850, mostly because they contain more down and are actually warmer than these higher-fill-power jackets.
The Rab Electron Pro has a lot of 800-fill down insulation stuffed into every large baffle, making for a very warm jacket.
Credit: Sam Schild
The Jones Re-Up Recycled uses 750-fill down and massive, lofty baffles to keep you insulated in cold and snowy conditions. This jacket is about as warm as the Rab Electron Pro and TNF Summit Breithorn. Since it uses 750-fill down, the Re-Up has nearly as high a down-to-feathers ratio as these other ultra-warm models. It's also one of the only models that use recycled down.
The Jones Re-Up uses recycled 750-fill-power down to keep you cozy and warm in cold temperatures.
Credit: Sam Schild
The Columbia Delta Ridge II has welded seams to create the baffles. This means there aren't tiny holes from stitching the baffles, though there are still thin spots where the two layers of fabric are bonded. This jacket also has a thermally reflective lining that bounces your body heat back at you. The Outdoor Research Helium Down Hoodie comes in at a similar weight to the Delta Ridge II, but its weight comes from water resistance rather than insulation or heat retention properties.
The Helium offers 800 fill power down, but it's not the warmest if your outdoor missions are in colder regions.
Credit: Zach Lovell
The Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody also uses welded baffles. This jacket is stuffed with a whole lot of 700-fill-power down, and it's nearly as puffy as the Electron Pro and Summit Breithorn Hoodie. The welded baffles, combined with all that down, make this model very warm.
The Stretchdown is stuffed with tons of 600-fill-power down and uses welded seams to reduce cold spots.
Credit: Sam Schild
Similar to the Columbia Delta Ridge II, the Camel Crown Packable Puffer also uses a thermally reflective lining material to increase the jacket's overall warmth. However, the thermally reflective material in the Camel Crown is only on the top half of the jacket. Unfortunately, this doesn't really increase the warmth as much as we'd hope.
The Camel Crown Puffer only has thermally reflective lining material on the top half of the jacket, which doesn't add much warmth.
Credit: Sam Schild
Responsibly Sourced Down
In the past few years, most companies have started using certified Responsibly Sourced Down. Harvesting down from ducks and geese can be a cruel process. To be RDS-certified , the animals must be treated compassionately.
Comfort
While comfort is subjective, we gathered several opinions on every jacket and found the Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody to come out on top. This jacket uses a comfortable stretchy material that feels almost cotton-like. The fabric is not only soft, but since it stretches, it doesn't restrict your movement in any way, making it extra comfortable. Fortunately, there were several additional models that were almost as comfy.
The Summit Breithorn Hoodie is also incredibly comfortable. It has stretchy, soft-knit wrist cuffs and a knit edge along the outside seam of the hood, where it can rub against your cheeks. The Rab Microlight also fits really well. It features a knit zipper garage to prevent your chin from chafing in cold conditions and has a fabric that is similar to the other most comfortable jackets.
The Rab Electron Pro and Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody both have an extremely comfortable fabric feel against your bare skin. The Electron Pro has some of the most comfortable wrist cuffs and knit fabric on the inside of the hood. The Down Sweater doesn't have any extra comfortable features built in, but the fit for the men's version is about as close to perfect as we found. This awesome fit, paired with the softest fabric of any we tested, makes this jacket a joy to wear all day long.
Our testers agree that the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody is one of the best-fitting jackets available.
Credit: Sam Schild
Men's vs. Women's Down Jacket Fit
This seems obvious when we write it down, but just because the men's version of a jacket fits men really well doesn't mean that the women's version is going to fit women as well. All our male testers found the fit of the Marmot Highlander was too boxy to be very comfortable, and the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody fit so well that it nearly earned a perfect score in our comfort metric. On the other hand, our female testers of down jackets for women found the opposite was true of the fit of these jackets. Our lady testing team found that the women's Marmot Highlander fit nearly perfectly, while the women's Patagonia Down Sweater Hoodyjust didn't fit right. So, just because we're saying a particular men's jacket fits really well, that doesn't mean the corresponding women's version will fit as well.
As a final note, all bodies are different, and we can't possibly assess how well any jacket will fit everyone, no matter how many testers we have wear these jackets.
Testing the range of motion in the Feathered Friends Eos.
Credit: Sam Schild
The Stio Pinion Hooded has some of the softest face fabric we've ever had the pleasure of wearing. It's also slightly looser fitting — but not too loose — in a way that allows for maximum range of motion. It's so comfortable that we often forget we're even wearing this jacket.
The Stio Pinion Hooded has an ultra-soft face fabric and allows for maximum range of motion.
Credit: Sam Schild
We found slimmer-fitting jackets like the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer fit really well over a thin base layer or short-sleeve shirt, but if you plan to layer thicker fleeces underneath, you might want to get a size larger than you normally would. The same is the case with the Rokka and Rolla Ultra Lightweight Puffer--if you want to wear this over anything more than a T-shirt, we recommend getting a size larger than you normally wear. This model also had the shortest sleeves of any jacket in our review and allowed for the least range of motion overall.
The Rokka and Rolla ran small and didn't offer great range of motion.
Credit: Sam Schild
The Decathlon Forclaz MT100 fits really well – similar to the Ghost Whisperer – but it runs a full size small, so be sure to size up with this one. We were debating whether to buy a men's Medium or a Small with this model. If we'd chosen a size Small, it wouldn't have fit.
The Decathlon Forclaz MT100 runs quite small, so be sure to get a size bigger than you normally would.
Credit: Sam Schild
Portability
While portability barely matters when you're wearing a jacket close to home, the higher, further, and steeper you venture, the more every ounce matters. In the backcountry, we prioritize weight to conserve energy and allow us to get farther up the mountain. Thus, a jacket's portability is a crucial consideration for backpackers, travelers, climbers, and anyone else who plans to carry the jacket in their pack at least some of the time.
Packability is important with a down jacket, because sometimes you won't need to wear it.
Credit: Sam Schild
In general, down is the best insulation material for packability since it is very compressible, but some down jackets are still more portable than others. To test portability, we weighed every jacket. We packed and unpacked each model repeatedly to see how well the fabrics held up over extended use and assessed which ones packed away the easiest.
The size and weight of every jacket varied, as did how well they stuffed into their included stuff sack or stash pocket.
Credit: Sam Schild
Generally, down fill power, the type or weight of the fabric, the amount of down, and the number of features all affect the weight and portability of a down jacket. Using higher fill power down translates to a higher loft with less filling, so higher fill power jackets tend to be lighter (or at least warmer) but more expensive. Similarly, thinner fabric can make a jacket lighter, but that thinner fabric can compromise durability. Lastly, to save weight, some models include fewer features or simply use less down. A jacket with chest pockets, burly zippers, multiple drawcords, and tons of down packed into every baffle is going to weigh more than a jacket with two hand pockets, thin baffles, and little else.
The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer, at 8.3 ounces in a size medium, is the most portable jacket we tested. This model doesn't have any hood adjustment features and only has two zippered hand pockets. But, it packs into its own pocket and is light enough that we never hesitated to pack it just in case. We have used the Ghost Whisperer as the only warm layer we carry while backpacking for thousands of miles on multiple long-distance thru-hikes, and you can't do better than this jacket if ultralight packability is your top concern.
The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Hoody weighs a mere 8.3 ounces.
Credit: Sam Schild
As much as we loved the weight of the Ghost Whisperer, it's very expensive, but options like the Eddie Bauer CirrusLite are only slightly heavier and are a fraction of the price. We measured the CirrusLite at a mere 9.9 ounces in a men's small, and it was extremely packable. The CirrusLite is right up there with the best of the best in the uber-light down jacket world, and it won't drain your bank account.
The scale numbers don't lie. This is an easy jacket to carry, whether you're wearing it or it's in your bag.
Credit: Zach Lovell
The Feathered Friends Eos is one of the best jackets you can get for warmth in an extremely portable package. This jacket weighs only 11.8 ounces yet is almost as warm as the warmest jackets we tested. The MontBell Superior Down weighs a mere 8.7 ounces, too, but we found this jacket wasn't nearly as warm as the Ghost Whisperer and didn't come close to the Eos in terms of warmth.
Every jacket varied in weight and packed size, so depending on your needs you should get a more or less packable option.
Credit: Sam Schild
The Rab Electron Pro, TNF Summit Breithorn, and Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody are some of the heaviest jackets in the lineup. These jackets weigh about a pound and are examples of how warmth and weight are often a tradeoff. Though the MHW Ghost Whisperer is warm for its weight (it weighs half as much as the Electron Pro), it isn't nearly as warm as these ultra-thick jackets.
The Wantdo Packable and Rokka and Rolla Puffer are light in your pack and on your pocketbook. These jackets weigh 10.6 and 9.2 ounces, respectively, though we worry about the long-term durability of these budget options. They're also not nearly as warm, and we end up carrying more layers when taking these jackets into seriously cold places, which negates any weight savings we get from them. But if mild climates are your gig, their weight savings may suit you well.
The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer practically disappears inside your bag when it's time to shed a layer.
Credit: Sam Schild
Except in extremely cold conditions, strenuous activity causes overheating in down jackets. That means your puffy may spend a lot of time in your pack when you're backpacking, climbing, or hiking. The superior compressibility of down jackets versus synthetic ones is significant. More importantly, down's durability is greater than synthetic insulation, which degrades and loses its re-lofting ability over time. Taking weight and stuffability into account, our total scores for the portability metric are shown below. The Ghost Whisperer and MontBell jackets are the most portable, while the Fjallraven Expedition and Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody are some of the heaviest and least packable models we tested.
Most of the jackets in our review use high-quality down that remains lofty, compression after compression. The size and how easily they pack away set the different jackets apart. Most models we tested stuff down into an internal pocket, while others come with a stuff sack to pack it away. The Feathered Friends Eos, Wantdo Packable, Arc'teryx Cerium, Rokka and Rolla Lightweight Puffer, Camel Crown Packable Puffer, and MontBell Superior pack into a stuff sack. While we found it easier to pack a down jacket into a separate stuff sack than into its own pocket, we don't love having to keep track of a stuff sack while we're wearing the coat.
The MontBell packs down into a reasonable size and includes a separate stuff sack.
Credit: James Lucas
As one of our warmest jackets, the Rab Neutrino Pro's poor performance in this metric wasn't a surprise, with a measured weight of 20.1 ounces and a packed size that was akin to a volleyball or bigger. Compared to other jackets of its heavyweight class, the Neutrino is actually not a particularly large puffer, but most of the models in our lineup are in the light to medium weight category, making this garment stick out like a sore thumb in portability.
This is one sizeable jacket, but it's fortunately very warm.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Weather Resistance
While you shouldn't rely on a down jacket to stay dry, we'd like to stay dry enough in a light mist or when it's snowing. It's also very important that a down jacket blocks the wind because if the wind can cut through your jacket, it isn't going to keep you warm. We measured water and wind resistance for these reasons.
We gauged the weather resistance of each jacket against the other down jackets in our testing lineup, keeping the rest of the outdoor apparel wardrobe out of the comparison. When we discuss the quality of a jacket's water resistance, we compare it to other down jackets and not to truly water-resistant options like rain jackets.
If you expect your puffy layer to get wet, consider a jacket with synthetic insulation instead, as (unlike down) it will stay warm when soaked. For something a bit less technical, our review of winter jackets walks you through the best parkas for more casual wear. Or if you're hitting the slopes, we've also tested top ski jackets.
There are a variety of down treatments that jacket manufacturers use to make their puffy coats more resistant to rain or snow, as down loses its insulating properties once it gets wet. While there are a dizzying number of in-house names for making down hydrophobic, we simply recommend looking at whether or not your prospective jacket has down treatment, and then investigating the jacket's shell material.
The Rab Microlight Alpine has a robust DWR coating and hydrophobic treated down for extra weather resistance.
Credit: Sam Schild
The Outdoor Research Helium Down Hoodie was a unanimous favorite amongst our testing team for its resistance to precipitation, with a robust Pertex Diamond Fuse fabric in the arms and shoulders, where you're most likely to first get hit with snow or water. While most of the competition had some sort of shell fabric construction that warded off at leastsome moisture, the Helium was able to actually bead up and repel water.
The Pertex fabric in the shoulders and hood were closer to a rain shell than a down jacket, making this model a top-scorer.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Another great choice for wet weather is the Rab Microlight Alpine and Stio Pinion, which both use a water-resistant Pertex Quantum shell fabric with an impressive DWR coating and hydrophobic down. While not waterproof, these jackets can handle a light amount of precipitation.
The Stio Pinion Hooded features a water-resistant recycled shell material and hydrophobic down insulation for maximum weather protection.
Credit: Sam Schild
The warmer and heavier-duty Rab Electron Pro and Neutrino Pro sport hydrophobic down, Pertex Quantum Pro shell material, and have protective hoods. When the thermometer pushed below freezing, the Neutrino Pro was a go-to for the entire review team, and we stayed toasty dry in several snowstorms, though it wasn't as repellent when the snow got particularly wet in coastal mountains like the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades.
The Neutrino Pro can handle blowing snow like no other, but we'd keep it out of rainstorms.
Credit: Joseph Hobby
The TNF Summit Breithorn has down that's been treated with a water-repellent coating, and this jacket's shell material performed decently in spray and rub test. The REI Magma 850 and L.L. Bean Ultralight 850 also insulate with down that's been treated to be water-resistant. The Magma uses a bluesign-approved DWR treatment to add waterproofing to the 850-fill-power down, while the L.L. Bean Ultralight uses a DownTek water-repellent down.
Testing the water resistance of the TNF Summit Breithorn.
Credit: Sam Schild
Remember that most folks aren't looking at down products for their water-resistance properties. This is not their intended purpose, nor is any down jacket truly waterproof. We stress warmth as the top priority when selecting a puffy. However, a down jacket should be weather-resistant enough to protect you when it snows.
Durable Water Repellent Treatments
The chemical coating of a durable water-repellent (DWR) treatment causes water to bead and roll off the treated material. Out of the box, DWR-treated models effectively keep the down dry and lofty in light rain. Unfortunately, these chemicals lose their effectiveness as the jacket is worn. Everyday use exposes the shell fabric to dirt and oils, causing spots on the jacket to “wet out,” especially on the back of the neck and shoulders. Regular cleaning prolongs the DWR treatment, and you can reapply DWR treatments with a product like Nikwax.
Of our budget models, we found the Columbia Delta Ridge II to offer some decent weather resistance, thanks to a thicker Omni-Shield polyester shell. We found the lighter-weight and wallet-friendly models like the Rokka and Rolla or Wantdo jackets have worse water repellency.
Breathability
You want a jacket to keep you warm, but when you're working hard outside, you don't want to overheat, either. For this reason, it's important that a down jacket is breathable enough so you don't work up a sweat when your body is working harder. Whether you're chasing your dog (who is finally going to catch that squirrel) or on that final push to reach the summit, a breathable jacket is key.
Thinner jackets don't keep you as warm, but they're also typically more breathable. If a jacket has less down, it means there is less insulating material to trap your body heat. The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer is a perfect example of this. This ultralight jacket vents heat better than the thicker and warmer down jackets we tested.
We regularly wear the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer as an insulating layer while hiking.
Credit: Sam Schild
The Arc'teryx Cerium has thinner synthetic insulation under the arms and on the top of the shoulders. While the overall performance of this jacket in terms of breathability didn't blow us out of the water, we did find that the thinner insulating material under the armpits helped with breathability. On the completely opposite side of the price spectrum, the Eddie Bauer CirrusLite was also found to be quite breathable, with a more modest amount of down and thinner shell fabric, which helps usher some heat away from the body during higher output missions in the cold.
The Arc'teryx Cerium Hoody has thinner synthetic insulation under the arms and on the tops of the shoulders to resist moisture from your sweat and the elements.
Credit: Sam Schild
The Rab Electron Pro, Neutron Pro, and Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody have two-way zippers to aid in ventilation. This design allows you to unzip the jacket from the top, bottom, or both at the same time, which helps a ton with breathability. Even with the two-way zipper, these jackets are likely too warm for uphill sports, but at least they won't flap in the wind as you sweat your way up the mountain.
Two-way zippers allow you to vent your core, and also make activities like belaying easier.
The Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Hoody has stretch cuffs as well. And since the entire jacket is stretchy, you can push the sleeves all the way up to your biceps. The soft stretch material also doesn't get as clammy as other jackets made with slippery, ultralight materials. This makes the jacket feel less like wearing a rain jacket in a sauna, and we love that.
The Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown breathes better than many jackets, and the shell material doesn't feel clammy when you sweat.
Credit: Sam Schild
Many manufacturers also sew thinner baffles into high-heat areas to aid in breathability. The Patagonia Down Sweater and Rab Microlight Alpine both have smaller baffles in the armpit area for this reason. The Stio Pinion Hooded alternates between wider and thinner baffles through the garment to allow for more breathability. While down doesn't compare to a highly breathable fleece, we found these jackets are breathable enough while hiking, biking, and generally moving around.
The Patagonia Down Sweater has thinner baffles under the arms for breathability.
Credit: Sam Schild
Conclusion
There are a vast number of down jackets available on the market today, with fill weights covering a wide range of seasons and intended uses. Headed on a summer alpine trip? Consider any number of excellent mid-weight options that offer warmth, but not too much so you don't overheat. If you're headed to frigid environments, consider something heavier that'll retain your hard-earned body heat. Are you an ounce counter? There are some ultralight jackets that are great options when you need to keep your bag as light as possible. Rest easy knowing we've done the hard work for you; now all you need to do is choose the jacket that best fits your intended uses and budget.
