Do you ever wonder, how can I can stay warm while outdoors this winter? A down jacket might be your answer. These feather filled jackets are useful for all kinds of winter activities ranging from ski touring to hiking to outdoor photography. Finding the best down jacket for your specific needs should be your main focus before heading out into the cold.
Down jackets aren’t cheap but are a great investment that will keep you cozy and warm outdoors for years. But how do you know what’s the best down jacket for you?
Here at The Adventure Junkies, it’s our goal to help make the research process easier for you. To help you out, we have compiled a list of the best down jackets on the market right now.
For more of our top hiking gear recommendations, check out these popular articles:
Tents | Hammocks | Bivy Sacks | Tarps
Sleeping Bags | Sleeping Pads | Stoves
Backpacks | GPS | Headlamps | Poles| Watches
Boots | Shoes | Sandals | Pants | Shorts
Base Layers | Fleeces | Down Jackets | Rain Jackets
QUICK ANSWER – THE BEST DOWN JACKETS
1. PATAGONIA SWEATER HOODIE
2. ARC’TERYX THORIUM SV
3. RAB NEUTRINO ENDURANCE
4. OUTDOOR RESEARCH TRANSCENDENT
5. ARC’TERYX CERIUM SL
6. THE NORTH FACE NUPTSE
7. PATAGONIA DOWN SWEATER
8. ARC’TERYX CERIUM LT HOODY
9. MTN HARDWEAR GHOST WHISPERER
COMPARISON TABLE – THE BEST DOWN JACKETS
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DOWN JACKETS REVIEWS
PATAGONIA DOWN SWEATER HOODY JACKET
BEST FOR: Use at lower altitudes or even on the streets
WOMEN’S VERSION: Women’s Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody Jacket
WEIGHT: 15.1 oz.
FILL: 800-fill down
FEATURES: 1.4-oz. 20-30-denier recycling polyester ripstop shell, 1.5-oz. 22-denier recycled polyester ripstop liner, DWR finish, traceable down
PROS: Stylish, environment-friendly materials, warm, compact
CONS: Tear-prone fabrics
ARC’TERYX THORIUM SV HOODY
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Mountaineering and rock climbing
WOMEN’S VERSION: Women’s Arc’teryx Thorium SV Hoody
WEIGHT: 19 oz.
FILL: 750-fill down
FEATURES: Low-profile stormhood, DWR finish, two zippered hand pockets, one internal zippered pocket, one internal dump pocket, 40-denier shell
PROS: Weatherproof, stylish, warm, very durable
CONS: Rather heavy compared to other down jackets
RAB NEUTRINO ENDURANCE JACKET
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Adverse weather in the mountains
WOMEN’S VERSION: Women’s Rab Neutrino Endurance Jacket
WEIGHT: 22 oz.
FILL: 800-fill down
FEATURES: Pertex Endurance outer layer, Pertex Quantum inner layer, stuff sack, helmet-compatible hood, zippered hand-warmer pockets, zippered internal pocket
PROS: Extremely warm, weather resistant, helmet-compatible hood, high-quality compressible down
CONS: Heavy, expensive, European-style left-hand zipper
OUTDOOR RESEARCH TRANSCENDENT HOODY
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon | Backcountry
BEST FOR: Use in a system of layers
WOMEN’S VERSION: Outdoor Research Aria Hoody
WEIGHT: 15.4 oz.
FILL: 650-fill down
FEATURES: 100% polyester, 20D ripstop outer layer, 44D nylon lining, two zippered hand pockets, internal front-zip stormflap, left-hand pocket functions as stuff sack, adjustable hood, drawcord hem
PROS: Stylish, durable, breathable
CONS: Slightly less warm, less water resistant
ARC’TERYX CERIUM SL JACKET
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Commuting in cold weather and between après-ski bars
WOMEN’S VERSION: Arcteryx Cerium SL Jacket – Women’s
WEIGHT: 6.5 oz.
FILL: 850-fill down
FEATURES: Wind- and moisture-resistant Thisela outer fabric, DWR finish, comes with stuff sack
PROS: Extremely lightweight, stylish design, warm for its weight, compressible
CONS: Not breathable, less durable, no hood, less suitable for inclement mountain weather
THE NORTH FACE NUPTSE JACKET
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Casual everyday wear
WOMEN’S VERSION: Women’s Nuptse Jacket
WEIGHT: 24.7 oz.
FILL: 700-fill down
FEATURES: Zip-in compatibility with other The North Face clothing, zippered hand pockets, zippered internal chest pocket, double-layer taffeta on shoulders, 50D mini-ripstop nylon plain weave, stows in its chest pocket
PROS: Classic look, comfortable, durable
CONS: No hood, heavy
PATAGONIA DOWN SWEATER JACKET
BEST FOR: Everyday wear and occasional winter weekend outings
WOMEN’S VERSION: Women’s Patagonia Down Sweater
WEIGHT: 12.8 oz.
FILL: 800-fill down
FEATURES: 100% recycled polyester ripstop shell, two zippered hand pockets, one zippered interior chest pocket that’s also a stuff sack, nylon-bound elastic cuffs, traceable down
PROS: Environment-friendly and high-quality materials, lightweight, durable
CONS: No hood, boxy design, less compressible
ARC’TERYX CERIUM LT HOODY
BEST FOR: Ski touring, light mountaineering and winter hikes
WEIGHT: 9.7 oz.
FILL: 850-fill down
FEATURES: Stylish, lightweight, extra CoreLoft synthetic insulation in collar, underarms, cuffs and shoulders, DWR finish, down-insulated stormhood
PROS: Comfortable, warm hood, great combination of down and synthetic insulation, stylish
CONS: Expensive
MOUNTAIN HARDWARE GHOST WHISPERER DOWN JACKET
BEST FOR: Minimalist rock climbers and winter hikers
WEIGHT: 7 oz.
FILL: 800-fill down
FEATURES: Q.Shield down, stowable in pocket, Whisperer 7Dx10D ripstop 100% nylon, two zippered hand pockets
PROS: Very lightweight, warm for its weight, comfortable, compact
CONS: Loose cuffs
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST DOWN JACKETS
WARMTH
The number one reason to buy a down jacket is that it’s warmer than most other jackets. Warmth should be your main focus when browsing the web or stores for down jackets.
No other material comes even close to down in terms of warmth. Down insulation works so well because its many tiny feathers trap body heat exceptionally well.
There are two factors you should look at when it comes to warmth in a down jacket – Fill power and fill weight.
FILL POWER
Fill power measures the quality of the down (for example, 600-fill, 700-fill or 800-fill). The higher the number, the better the quality.
Most entry and mid-level jackets come in 550 to 650-fill down. This level of fill power works just fine for daily wear but won’t be able to keep up with heavy wear activities.
High-end premium down jackets use 800-fill and above. The advantage of this high grade fill is lightweight and highly compressible warmth.
FILL WEIGHT
Fill weight represents the actual amount of down in the jacket, expressed in ounces. More down, of course, means a warmer jacket.
WEIGHT
Weight can play a major role in finding the best down jacket. And it should.
If you plan to use your jacket for climbing, backpacking, mountaineering, ski touring, or any other sport that you have to carry all of your gear, you’ll want a jacket that’s as lightweight as possible. On the other hand, if you’re only using it as a piece of clothing to keep you warm outside, weight won’t be a significant factor in your decision.
HOOD OR NO HOOD?
Deciding whether to get a down jacket with a hood or without one depends on how you’ll use it.
Down jackets without a hood are often used as mid layers for hiking or skiing. They can be a perfect addition to your base layers for cold weather hiking. They’re usually a bit cheaper and weight less than their hooded counterparts.
We recommend a hooded down jacket if you’re going on more serious excursions. Climbers, mountaineers and long-distance backpackers should opt for a jacket with a hood. The added warmth is something that everyone appreciates.
COMPRESSIBILITY
The compressibility of a down jacket is particularly important during multi-day outdoor adventures. If you have to carry your things in a backpack, you’ll want them to be as small and light as possible.
A good thing to keep in mind is that the higher the fill power number is, the better the compressibility will be. Premium jackets with 800-fill and up pack down extremely small.
If you are in between choosing a down jacket or a synthetic-insulated jacket remember that down will win every time in the compressibility challenge.
The post Best Down Jackets of 2018 appeared first on The Adventure Junkies.
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