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It’s -25 degrees It’s Fahrenheit outside and the wind is howling. If that sounds unpleasant to you, a down jacket would make it a lot less unpleasant. The cold should never stop you from going outside. You need the secret to staying warm in winter: the right clothes.
The down jacket offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any cold weather garment you can own. Most of the time, a good inhaler makes the difference between comfort and misery. To save you from this misery, we’ve spent years testing down parkas of all shapes, sizes, and fill powers to find the best jackets to keep you warm in the city, on the trail, and in the intense, dangerous cold of high-altitude, high-latitude adventures. And fear not, we’ve included a few synthetic-fill jackets for those who don’t want to use down.
Once you have your down jacket, I recommend you take it a little merino woolone of our favorite base layerswith a good sleeping bagand high quality sleeping mat for hiking. (You’ll be surprised how much a good sleeping pad helps you stay warm at night.)
WIRED external experts Martin Cordonnier, Chris HaslamAnd Adrienne So also contributed to this guide.
Updated January 2026: We’ve added new jackets including the Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer, Aritzia Super Puff, Columbia Amaze Puff, Decathlon Simond MT100, Outdoor Vitals Vantage Alpine Jacket, Stellar Ultralight Hoodie, and updated links and prices.
Photography: Scott Gilbertson
Mammoth
Broad Peak IN Hooded Jacket
The Mammut 700-fill-power Down Waymarker IN Hoodie packs down remarkably small (into its own pocket), weighs little for the warmth it provides, and is a good all-around down jacket. In fact, I think it’s one of the the best versatile down jackets you can buy. It’s stylish enough to perform around town, but also great on the trails. The fill weight is 4.5 ounces, which I think is the perfect amount of down for two very common scenarios: when you’re active on a winter day with temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees, where you don’t need anything when you’re moving, but as soon as you stop, you need something. That’s where a lightweight yet warm down jacket like this really shines. The other scenario is cool evenings and mornings during shoulder season travel, when you crave warmth but don’t want to fill your bag.
The 100% recycled, windproof and water-repellent Pertex outer shell is quite light, certainly compressible. It doesn’t seem as durable as some others on this list, but I haven’t had any issues after several months of testing. My only complaint here is that there is no drawstring at the waist, which means you can’t seal it as well as others at this price. The hand pockets are also on the high side, which can accommodate a harness and works well when hiking with a backpack, but may not be the best if that’s not your use case.
Specifications Down fill power 700 Filling weight 4.5 oz. Weight 13.5 ounces. Best shoulder season jacket
Photography: Scott Gilbertson
Photography: Scott Gilbertson
Photography: Scott Gilbertson
Photography: Scott Gilbertson
Outdoor vitalities
Vantage alpine down jacket
Outdoor Vital Vantage Alpine Down Jacket is a near-perfect down jacket for mid-season backpacking trips, where you need more warmth than an ultralight down jacket, but don’t need the bulk and weight of a full -40 degree jacket. The Vantage is designed to deliver maximum thermal efficiency at as light a weight as possible (16 ounces for tall men), and it succeeds. Before using this jacket I would have been skeptical that I could make a really warm jacket like this and keep it under a pound, but Outdoor Vitals did it.
There are two things that make this jacket so good. The first is ExpeDry fluff, which attaches gold particles to the fluff to break hydrogen bonds in water and prevent droplets from forming. This speeds up evaporation and keeps the down dry in high humidity (you know, when you’re sweating). As down accumulates moisture during the day, it loses loft and therefore its ability to trap your body heat. ExpeDry significantly alleviates this. Outdoor Vitals is not the first to use it. Marmot, Katabatic Gear and others also offer various sleeping bags and jackets, but the Vantage is the first time I’ve noticed a real difference. There is very little volume loss in this jacket throughout the day.
The second thing Vantage does is mitigate heat loss through the seamless baffle design. Rather than seams (which let in wind, dust and water), Outdoor Vital’s fabric is two pieces of fabric woven into one. This helps prevent drafts and means less dust gets into the jacket, which in theory means the down should last longer (dust is one of the reasons why down starts to lose its loft). The Vantage hits a too-often-ignored happy medium between what a summer swell can handle and what requires a full expedition coat. For me, that means the bulk of my travels, which usually take place in September and October, then April and May. For mid-season travel, this is the best jacket I’ve tested.
Specifications Down fill power 850 Filling weight 7.5 oz. Weight 16.1 ounces.
Down jacket with the best value for money
Photography: Scott Gilbertson
Decathlon
Simond MT100 hooded down jacket
The Simond MT100 from Decathlon is my favorite budget-friendly hoodie. It contains 3.1 ounces of 800-fill power down, giving it an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio for the price. At 10.3 ounces for the men’s medium, it’s incredibly lightweight and stores easily in its own pocket, which doubles as a stuff sack, with a reversible zipper. The outer shell is 15D polyamide with a DWR finish that holds up well to life on the trail. I’ve had mine for almost a year now, and the DWR still works great, removing snow without getting it wet. This is a down jacket, so you want a shell if it rains.
I like the MT100 because it’s very warm, doesn’t weigh too much, and is regularly on sale for around $80, making it a good deal for ultralight backpacking. I’ve used it as a standalone warm jacket component on three-season trips and as part of a winter layering system in more extreme conditions, and it works great in both cases. I suggest sizing up, partly because this one runs small, but also because if you can get a merino middle layer underneath, you greatly increase versatility without sacrificing the ability to use it as a standalone jacket in milder conditions.
The MT100 is comfortable and doesn’t feel like you’re stuck in a slippery nylon bag like some inhalers do. The 15D shell (which is less shiny than lighter shells), combined with the less technical fit, means this one looks great around town and is my choice when traveling in cold cities. The main competitor of Simond (which was formerly called Forclaz, but which was renamed last year) is the REI Magma 650 Hoodiewhich is in our honorable mentions.
Specifications Down fill power 800 Filling weight 13.2 ounces. Weight 10.3 oz. The warmest down jacket
The mountain fox
Expedition Lite Down Jacket
Based on a classic design from 1974, this very impressive jacket from Swedish outdoor specialist Fjällräven reminds us just how warm goose down can be. With 14.6 ounces of 700 fill power down, I doubt I’ll ever be cold in it. In fact, during a 17 degree cold snap recently, I don’t think I even closed it. It’s big, bulky, but brilliantly insulating, thanks to a clever combination of goose down, feathers and a generous dose of synthetic padding around the shoulders. This clever idea means you won’t ruin the effectiveness of the down if you get caught in the rain. Oh, and the hood is on the upper level. Don’t expect to be able to see behind you.
The polyamide exterior features a PFAS-free DWR coating and is 100% recycled, as is the lining. The zippers are also huge, making them easy to use when wearing large gloves and mittens, and there are five generous pockets for storing diapers, even if you won’t need them. At 2.7 pounds (1,260 grams), it’s not a jacket for fast, light adventures, and the thickness of the down can seem almost excessive if you have to do a lot while wearing it, especially around the huge (gloriously warm) hood. But if you’re facing a winter with subzero temperatures, this is as good as I’ve found without having to invest in an Everest-ready suit. Remarkably, this is the Lite version. If you need even more protection from the cold, there’s the original Fjällräven Expedition Down jacket with a longer profile and 680 grams of insulation. —Chris Haslam
Specifications Down fill power 700 Filling weight 14.6 ounces. Weight 44.4 ounces.
Best down jacket for hiking
Photography: Scott Gilbertson
Mountain equipment
Ghost Whisperer UL Hoodie
The Ghost Whisperer UL Hoodie from Mountain Hardware has been a popular choice among ultralight backpackers since its introduction a few years ago. It remains the best down jacket for anyone trying to reduce every last gram of their weight. It weighs just 6.7 ounces for a men’s medium (7.3 ounces for the men’s large I tested), packs down into a tiny thing (fits into its own pocket), and the 1,000-fill-power goose down provides one of the best heat-to-weight ratios on the market. The very lightweight shell material is a blend of 5D and 7D ripstop nylon, which is a little flimsier than heavier jackets, but it has held up well so far in my testing. I can safely say that the Ghost Whisper UL is everything I ever wanted in an ultralight down jacket and more.
What sets it apart from other very nice down jackets are the little details. First there’s the 1.9 ounces of 1,000 fill power down, which is as high a fill power as you’ll find in a jacket of this class, meaning you get the most warmth and loft possible for the least weight possible. My only downside to this jacket would be that if you’re the type of person who gets cold easily, you might want something with a little more padding. The classic Ghost Whisperer Down Hoodie (not the ultralight) has 3 ounces of 800 fill power and is slightly warmer in most scenarios, the trade-off being that it is also heavier (about 9 ounces for a men’s medium). Also check out the Katabatic Gear puffer below, which is considerably warmer. I don’t get cold easily and have found that the Ghost Whisperer UL works well for me as a warm layer to throw on at high altitude camp in the summer, as a mid layer for hiking in cold weather, and as a mid layer under the Rab Glaceon Pro in extremely cold weather.
Other details that make the Ghost Whisperer UL our top pick for ultralight backpacking include two very nice zippered hand pockets with plenty of room for storing small things like a three-season hat and gloves, plus an adjustable drawstring waist to keep drafts out. I also like how small, this thing folds up, well under the size of a 1L bottle (see photo). It packs into its own left pocket with a reversible zipper, although it packs down even smaller if you get a separate stuff sack.
My only complaint about this jacket is that there are no drawstrings. The hood, cuffs and waist hem are all elastic. This works well for the cuffs and hood, but I wish there was a drawstring for the waist. For this reason, if I expect temperatures below 40, I bring a heavier inhaler. The rest of the time, this is what you’ll find in my backpack. Note that I found the cut a little small. According to the fit guide on the Mountain Hardware website, I fall between medium and large. I tried both and found the loose fit much better.
Specifications Down fill power 1,000 Filling weight 1.9 ounces. Weight 6.7 oz. Another remarkably lightweight jacket
Photography: Scott Gilbertson
Stellar
Ultralight Down Hoodie
Stellar’s Ultralight Down Hoodie packs 5.2 ounces of 850-power down in a remarkably lightweight jacket that weighs just 9.9 ounces (large men’s). Despite its low weight, it has 5 pockets (zipped hand pockets, chest pocket and interior patch pockets) and an adjustable hood compatible with a helmet. Our tester found it warmer than our top pick Ghost Whisperer (not surprising considering the added down and overall weight), and suitable up to around 30 degrees on its own, 15 if you throw in a good base and midlayer underneath. I like the larger baffles, which mean less drafts, and the sturdy zippers that you don’t usually find in such a lightweight jacket.
The 10 denier recycled ripstop nylon shell pairs well with the 850 fill down, the baffles fill up quickly when you take it out of your bag. The shell is water resistant and sheds snow pretty well in our testing, but it’s only 10D, which means if it really goes downhill, you’ll need a shell. The down is HyperDRY, water resistant thanks to the DWR coating (PFC-free).
Specifications Down fill power 850 Filling weight 5.2 ounces. Weight 9.9 oz.
An electric down jacket
Ointment
Heated Down Jacket
Unlike everything else on this page, Ororo’s Insulated Jacket isn’t just insulated. In addition to Thermolite synthetic insulation, the Ororo Heated Jacket generates heat through a series of carbon fiber heating elements, which plug into a rechargeable battery. There are heating pads on the left and right chest, middle back and collar. You can’t control the heat on individual pads, but there are three heat settings to let you set a comfortable temperature suited to your effort level. The outer shell is DWR treated nylon which protects well from light rain and snow, but as with most of these down jackets you will need a rain jacket if it really starts to rain.
Ororo claims up to 10 hours of battery life. It’s low. When running at high speeds in very cold conditions, I found five to seven hours to be more realistic, but that’s enough time for most things you’d want this jacket for (my daughter declared it the perfect ice skating jacket). Due to battery limitations, I wouldn’t take this jacket into the backcountry, but for walking around town, running errands, walking the dog, this is a great jacket for colder days.
Best synthetic jacket
The Cirrus Flex is a synthetic jacket, with PrimaLoft Silver RISE recycled synthetic insulation. It packs 5.5 ounces of padding in a medium sized jacket. Thermic stretch fleece side panels provide flexibility and freedom of movement you won’t find in any other jacket here. It feels less like you’re wearing a down jacket, but more of an intermediate layer (but with the warmth of a down jacket). I really liked the Cirrus Flex Hoodie because it keeps the weight down, packs down relatively small, and is easy to throw in your bag as a “just in case” sort of jacket. It’s not the warmest thing here, but it’s a great active insulating layer when temperatures drop or the wind picks up and you want to keep going.
Specifications Down fill power Synthetic Filling weight 5.5 ounces. Weight 15.7 ounces.
The classic down jacket
Patagonia
Down hooded sweater
I’ve had the Patagonia Classic Down for almost a decade and usually reach for it after the first snowfall. It uses 800-fill-power down and is almost over-stuffed, making it a beefier coat than many others I’ve tried. It still has plenty of volume, though, and the recycled nylon ripstop fabric still looks like it did the day I brought it home (this fabric is now made from recycled fishing nets). In my experience, Patagonia jackets tend to run a little big, and my down jacket is a size large even though I usually wear XL. —Martin Cordonnier
Specifications Down fill power 800 Filling weight 5.6 ounces. Weight 12.1 ounces. The city’s iconic Puffer
The elegance and style of Aritzia Great puff is one of the company’s flagship pieces; it can be found among city dwellers across the country (it’s Martha Stewart’s). favorite winter jacketFor example). There are a ton of different variations, including Rain supers and even a Super Puff for dogsbut for the purposes of this guide, I chose to try the compactable Super Stuff Mid.
This jacket deserves the hype. Despite its high-end reputation, it is reasonably priced. Aritzia doesn’t list its fill weight or weight, but the small one comes down to my knees (I’m 5’2″) and offers remarkable warmth for its weight. I wore it during a humid Oregon winter where temperatures rarely drop below 40 degrees F at night; Aritzia rates this jacket up to 32 degrees, which is just about right. The sheer is soft but also water-repellent and wind-resistant. It’s hooded and packs into its own pocket.
It is about a city or a traveler; it’s designed more for looks than for layering. It’s cut very slim and I won’t be wearing my beloved Icelandic horse sweater underneath any time soon. However, I have packed it for several trips this winter and can highly recommend it for a trip, if that trip doesn’t involve sitting in the woods in the snow. —Adrienne So
Specifications Down fill power 800 Filling weight n / A Weight n / A
Best Warmer Ultralight Down Jacket
Courtesy of Katabatic Gear
Katabatic equipment
Tin Puffer
When you need more warmth than our best lightweight pick, but still want to stay as light as possible, this is the jacket for you. I have half a dozen down jackets in my closet, but the Tin Cup jacket from Colorado down specialist Katabatic Gear has been my go-to all winter. The jacket uses 850 fill power down and lightweight 10D fabric made from recycled yarns, giving it an impressive 48% fill-to-total weight ratio. It’s super lightweight, super packable and the XL size has a fit that fits me perfectly, snug to my body to maintain warmth without feeling constrained when active outdoors.
Be warned that it’s designed for performance rather than durability, and after months of wear and tear I was left with a mysterious burnt hole in the shell after a long night in the cold of New York, which I had to clumsily repair. I would still purchase and highly recommend this jacket, although I would keep it out of unpredictable urban environments. —Martin Cordonnier
Specifications Down fill power 850 Filling weight 5.6 ounces. Weight 12.7 oz. Ideal for climbing in cold weather
Photography: Scott Gilbertson
Rab
Glaceon Pro Down Jacket
When the weather drops well below freezing, when the wind burns my cheeks, this is the jacket I turn to. With a base layer on the bottom, a wool sweater on top, and then this jacket, I was nice and warm walking in the cool winter morning (usually -10 Fahrenheit in January). If you’re familiar with Rab (which is a much bigger brand in Europe), this replaces the Axion Pro. The shell is made of lightweight Pertex ripstop nylon (20D), which is very windproof and water resistant. I found that he was able to bring down the snow no problem, but if you’re in a good downpour you’ll need some sort of outerwear, like a rain jacketabove.
Inside, this jacket contains 9.3 ounces of 700-fill-power recycled down. There are generously large, fleece-lined hand pockets and a chest pocket, but no interior stash pockets. The drawcord at the bottom keeps drafts out and the generous hood is designed to cover your helmet. This, combined with the two-way main zipper, which makes belaying easier, makes it our choice for cold weather climbing. My only issue with the Rab Glaceon Pro is that I have yet to find a glove that can do for my hands what this jacket does for the rest of me.
Specifications Down fill power 700 Filling weight 9.3 oz. Weight 21 ounces.
A down jacket with excellent value for money
Photography: Scott Gilbertson
REI cooperative
Magma 850 down jacket
REI’s improved, warmer and compressible down jacket is the Magma line, available with or without a hood. It features a similar recycled ripstop nylon shell as the 650 Down Jacket below, but increases the fill power to 850. At 12.5 ounces, it’s not the lightest on the list, but for the price, it’s hard to argue.
The front zipper has a wind flap and there’s even a stand-up collar, something you almost never find in a down jacket at this price. Best of all, the hood uses an elastic cord in the back that allows you to tighten it and prevent cold air from blowing out the sides. I wore it in some pretty frigid winds coming off Lake Superior, and was nothing but warm. My only real concern is the angled baffles on the chest, which seem to lead to down piling and cold spots, but I didn’t see that in my three months of testing.
Specifications Down fill power 850 Filling weight not listed Weight 12.5 oz. Fashion looks, outdoor performances
The climbing mouse
Lopt hooded down jacket
Even more isolated brilliance from Sweden, where northern winter temperatures can reach -20 degrees Fahrenheit, or even -40. Klättermusen, which translates to “Climbing Mouse,” makes some of the highest-performing, most stylish outdoor gear available. Yes, they’ve been co-opted by the fashion-focused Gorpcore Gang, but don’t let the hipsters put you off. The Lopt, which is also available in version vest And without hood in men’s and women’s sizes, weighs just 15 ounces (435 grams) and boasts a generous 800 fill power of sustainably sourced white goose down. It is water-repellent, withstands temperatures between +10 and –10 Celsius, and the PFC-free, bio-based outer fabric is incredibly wind-resistant.
I use this jacket daily in London and also as a mid layer while skiing, and I have been impressed with the high warmth of the down and the comfort of the fit. It can also fit in a pocket, which is always a bonus. The asymmetrical opening, something you find on a lot of their gear – takes a little getting used to, but once fully closed there is absolutely no chin chafing or discomfort from the zipper. You might not think you’ve ever been irritated by a zipper, but trust me, you notice when it’s been eliminated.
It’s hard to beat the high price of Klättermusen gear, and you don’t need to spend $400 to find a jacket that keeps you warm, but if you have deep pockets, I think the brand offers a significant upgrade in athletic performance and aesthetics over fashion-focused brands like Moncler and Canada Goose. —Chris Haslam
Specifications Down fill power 800 Filling weight not listed Weight 15.3 ounces.
Honorable mentions
Courtesy of REI
Outdoor Research Transcendent Down Hoodie for $279: Technical category director Martin Cizmar likes this jacket as a midlayer. It has 800-fill down, has tighter baffles than usual, and folds into its own pocket.
Arc’teryx Cerium Hoodie for $400: This is editor-in-chief Adrienne So’s favorite down jacket. It has 850 fill down and is roomy and has gussets around the shoulders for climbing. However, it is expensive and does not let the rain fall.
REI Co-Op 650 Down Jacket for $129: REI down jackets offer remarkable value for money; this is small and the DWR works reasonably well. However, its down fill is 650 compared to the Decathlon jacket above, and there is no Magma 650 women’s hoodie. (Why REI? why?)
Columbia Amaze Puff Mid for $260: This Columbia bestseller is reasonably priced and has a water and stain repellent coating. Editor Adrienne So found the fabric and feel to be remarkably plush. She also appreciated the internal carrying straps. However, it only has 650 down and doesn’t pack well.
What to look for in a down jacket
The temptation with down jackets is to choose the warmest one possible. If you spend the winter in northern Wisconsin, as I did while testing them, this isn’t a bad idea. But if you’re just looking for a little extra warmth during shoulder-season backpacking trips, or even high-altitude summer trips, you don’t need an extremely padded winter parka unless you’re a perpetually cold person.
Price closely follows fill power and fill weight. The higher the fill power and the more down, the more expensive a jacket will be. We suggest sticking to jackets that have down fill power at least 650 fill power, but there’s no reason to spend on a jacket with 900 fill power down if you’re OK with a few ounces more. This is especially true if you don’t even plan to take your down jacket into the backcountry. There are some good deals out there if you stay away from 900+ fill power. For example, our best-value down hoodie, the Decathlon Simond MT100, has a fill power of 800, weighs just 4 ounces more than our top ultralight pick, and costs significantly less.
That said, remember that when hiking you also need to keep in mind how compressible a jacket is. Unfortunately, compaction capacity versus heat is affected by swelling power: the higher the swelling power, the more it will compact when all other things are equal.
Other things to look for include interesting extras. We love pockets, at least two exterior pockets for your hands are nice and a plus when large enough to store your hat and gloves. Pay attention to the cuffs and hem around the cuffs, waist and hood. The drawstrings will help you adjust and protect you from the wind. Some high-end jackets also use synthetic insulation for the first baffle on the arms, so if you get your sleeve wet while filtering water (for example), it doesn’t wet the down. I also like jackets that pack into their own pocket, although this usually only applies to lighter jackets.
Down jackets are difficult to compare, but the best place to start is to understand the fill power and weight of down, which we’ve explained in our guide to the loft of down. This guide explains what the numbers mean (and don’t mean) and how you can use them to compare jackets. The short answer is that fill power tells you the quality of down you’re getting, while down weight tells you how much of it is in the jacket.
Combining down fill power with fill weight gives a rough way to compare jackets. For example, a 600 fill power jacket with 2 ounces of fill weight will have about the same warmth as an 800 fill power jacket with 1.5 ounces of fill weight (because 2 ounces times 600 equals 1,200, and 1.5 ounces times 800 also equals 1,200). There are other things to consider, like baffle construction and loft height, but fill power and fill weight give you a good starting point.
Down comes from ducks and geese. The Responsible Down Standard is a voluntary effort to improve the welfare of ducks and geese used for down. The idea is to let you know that the down you are getting comes from geese and ducks that have not been mistreated. You can find out more about what the Responsible Down standard entails. on the site. Note that jacket manufacturers often abbreviate this to “RDS certified down.”
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