Best Down Jackets of 2023

JUMP TO: ULTRALIGHT | LIGHTWEIGHT | MIDWEIGHT | HEAVYWEIGHT | BUYING ADVICE

Author: Sam Brilleman | Updated: Jul 9, 2023
We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. Learn more.

The Short Version

The Long Version

Whether you are mid-summer backpacking or mid-winter snowshoeing, adequate warm layers are a necessity for cold nights around camp or when the weather closes in. And the beloved goose is unbeatable when it comes to producing ultralight insulation.

Goose down provides better warmth-for-weight than any alternative insulation on the market. So when you head into the outdoors a down filled jacket is one of the best pieces of insulating clothing you can take.

Of course, one downside of down (no pun intended) is that it doesn’t have great moisture management — once wet it doesn’t insulate at all and takes a long time to dry. For this reason you might want to consider a synthetic jacket for situations where excessive moisture is a serious concern.

 

Some of the down jackets we considered in our review.

 

But, in most situations, a down jacket will be the insulating layer you should reach for. Especially since these days the best down jackets have outer fabrics that are water-resistant by design or treated with a durable water repellent.

In this review we cover the best down jackets for lightweight backpacking and beyond — we’ve included options ranging from ultralight through to winter weight so you should be covered regardless of the conditions you plan to encounter!

If you love reading this review of the best down jackets, then you'll likely love stepping into some of our other hiking and backpacking content:

 

Need To Know What To Look Out For?

Not sure what a sewn through baffle is? Not sure what fill power you require? Wondering whether you need hydrophobic down? — If you are unsure about some of the terminology or features related to your jacket purchase, then rest assured, our buying advice at the bottom of the article should help point you in the right direction.

 

ULTRALIGHT DOWN JACKETS

TOTAL WEIGHT: 6.8 oz (192 grams)

FILL POWER: 950

FILL WEIGHT: 3.4 oz (96 grams)

RDS CERTIFIED DOWN: Yes

HYDROPHOBIC DOWN: Yes

SHELL: 7-denier Ventum ripstop nylon with DWR finish

STORAGE: Packs into chest pocket

PROS: Amazing warmth-for-weight, Packs into chest pocket

CONS: Only available online, Limited color options, Ultralight fabrics lack durability and lead to some down leakage

PRICE: $$$

It hasn’t been around as long as some of the others on this list, but the Zpacks Goose Down Jacket is almost certainly one of the best down jackets for three-season backpacking. This is the perfect jacket for the ultralight backpacker who is gram counting, or just anyone wanting to minimise their pack weight (which should be all of us!).

The warmth-for-weight is simply amazing. Zpacks have used top quality 950 fill power to achieve the minimal weight, along with a seriously ultralight 7-denier ripstop nylon fabric. This material is treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) to provide some water resistance, but don’t count on it being anything near waterproof.

It’s pretty impressive how many features Zpacks managed to pack into a jacket weighing less than 7 ounces. There is an internal chest pocket (that doubles as the storage sack), two handwarmer pockets, a one-way adjustable hood, and an adjustable hem.

Of course, a jacket this light must make some sacrifices. You won’t find luxuries like a zipper chin guard, and the handwarmer pockets forgo any zips. Plus, the 7-denier fabrics are never going to be as durable as heavier ripstop nylon fabrics. We also found that the ultralight liner and shell lead to some down leakage, which means this jacket isn’t the best if you want one that doubles as a jacket for around town. Finally, there are currently limited color options – it is only available in “azure blue”.

On the plus side — I am a massive fan of the fit of this jacket – it is a slim athletic fit (at least in medium), but thankfully retains enough length in the body, and plenty of length in the arms. However, the space around the chin does feel a little cramped when the hood is up — which isn’t helped by the lack of a zipper chin guard.

All-in-all though, if you are after ultralight warmth for three-season backpacking or thru-hiking then the Zpacks Goose Down Jacket is one of the lightest options you will find. You can read our full review here.

TOTAL WEIGHT: 8.8 oz (249 grams)

FILL POWER: 800

FILL WEIGHT: Not specified

RDS CERTIFIED DOWN: Yes

HYDROPHOBIC DOWN: No

SHELL: 10-denier ripstop nylon with DWR finish (recycled)

STORAGE: Packs into hand pocket

PROS: Seriously light, Recycled shell fabric

CONS: Elasticated cuffs are loose, No internal chest pocket

PRICE: $$$

The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 (men’s and women’s) is perhaps the perfect down jacket for the ultralight enthusiast. The Ghost Whisperer “2” is slightly heavier than the original, but comes with a couple of useful additional features — namely a little more down fill and an elasticated drawcord on the hem.

However the feature set on the Ghost Whisperer 2 still isn’t as rich as some of its (slightly heavier) competitors such as the Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody, which includes an internal chest pocket and a drawcord on the rear of the hood. Feathered Friends and Arc’teryx also use slightly higher quality down, slightly more down fill, and slightly wider baffles — these features should translate into slightly more warmth than the Ghost Whisperer 2. However the Ghost Whisperer 2 does of course weigh in at about 2 ounces less.

The Ghost Whisperer 2 boasts 800 fill power hydrophobic down. The 10x10 denier fabric used on the Ghost Whisperer 2 is slightly thicker than the original (previously 7x10 denier) thereby providing a bit of added durability and warmth retention. Better yet the fabric used on the new Ghost Whisperer 2 is made from recycled materials.

Overall the Ghost Whisperer 2 is still an epic ultralight down jacket, perfect for ultralight enthusiasts or those who need a fast and light down midlayer for three season hiking. Of course for seriously colder temps or high altitudes you should look for something warmer.

The Ghost Whisperer 2 also comes in a non-hooded version (men’s and women’s).

TOTAL WEIGHT: 8.4 oz (237 grams)

FILL POWER: 1000

FILL WEIGHT: 3.4 oz (96 grams)

RDS CERTIFIED DOWN: No

HYDROPHOBIC DOWN: No

SHELL: 7-denier Ballistic Airlight ripstop nylon with DWR finish

STORAGE: Stuff sack

PROS: Super high fill power down, Great manufacturing quality, Good hood

CONS: Down isn’t RDS certified, Expensive, No chest pocket, Not great for tall people

PRICE: $$$$

It might be expensive – but with 1000 fill-power down, a high performance design, and top quality manufacturing – its understandable why the Montbell Plasma 1000 Alpine Down Parka (men’s and women’s) comes with such a price tag.

With a similar amount of down to the Zpacks Goose Down Jacket, but a slightly higher total weight, you might be forgiven for wondering where the Plasma 1000 fits in. But there’s no denying that the Montbell Plasma 1000 Alpine Down Parka – similar to other Montbell products – feels a bit more ‘premium’ than some of the competitors. The manufacturing standard is high, and the design is solid. Unfortunately however, their goose down does lack responsible down standard (RDS) certification, which has become somewhat of an industry standard.

The Plasma 1000 uses a ‘skip-stitch’ quilting pattern that is designed to reduce cold spots – and is somewhat unique relative to the horizontal baffles found on most competing jackets. Plus, although it uses an ultralight 7-denier shell and liner, we found very little down leakage – which was an issue we encountered with the Zpacks Goose Down Jacket that also uses a 7-denier liner.

The feature set includes two zippered hand pockets, two-way adjustable hood, a zipper chin guard, adjustable hem, and elasticated cuffs. The hood is particularly well designed – with two-way adjustment, protection around the chin without feeling cramped, and a zipper chin guard. You won’t find a chest pocket thought, which is a bit disappointing.

My main gripe was with the length in the body – I’m relatively tall and slim (6ft, 75kg) and although a medium was fine through the chest and arms, it was super short in the body. So, the Plasma 1000 might not be the best pick for tall people. But, for those with less length in the torso, the Montbell Plasma 1000 Alpine Down Parka is no doubt one of the best down jackets for ultralight thru-hiking, backpacking, and alpine endeavors. You can read our full review here.

TOTAL WEIGHT: 9.3 oz (264 g)

FILL POWER: 850

FILL WEIGHT: 3.6 oz (102 g)

RDS CERTIFIED DOWN: Yes

HYDROPHOBIC DOWN: Yes

SHELL: 10-denier Pertex® Quantum® Eco Ripstop with DWR finish

STORAGE: None provided

PROS: Well made, High quality down, Comfortable hood, Bluesign-approved fabrics

CONS: No internal or external chest pocket, No stuff sack and doesn’t pack into pocket, Fits quite small, Zipper can snag

PRICE: $$

The Katabatic Gear Tarn Down Jacket (men’s and women’s) is a high-value and high-performing ultralight jacket. This jacket strikes a fine balance between weight savings and reliable warmth, at a relatively wallet-friendly price compared our other top ultralight down jackets.

The Tarn is the heaviest among our ultralight picks, but not by much. With 850 fill power down, it remains very packable, and its 3.6 oz fill weight of down fill offers reliable heat retention in colder conditions.

The Tarn jacket is RDS certified, as Katabatic Gear sources all its down through Allied Feather and Down, an industry leader in ethical, sustainable, and traceable down supply chains. Plus, the down features a hydrophobic down treatment, which enhances the jacket's performance and durability in damp environments.

The jacket’s shell is crafted from 10-denier Pertex® Quantum® Eco Ripstop fabric with a DWR finish. The inside is lined with silky 20-denier Pertex® Quantum® Taffeta, which we find more comfortable on bare skin than many other technical fabrics.

The Tarn generally excels in all the important areas, but there are a few small drawbacks to note. In our tests, we found that the jacket zipper occassionally snags, which can be frustrating. Additionally, the lack of internal or external chest pockets limits storage options. It's also worth noting that the jacket has a trim fit. We recommend sizing up, especially if you tend to be between sizes.

Overall, the Tarn impresses us thanks to its craftsmanship, high-quality down insulation, and overall comfort. The use of sustainable, ethically sourced down and Bluesign-approved fabrics further adds to its appeal. A few minor drawbacks aside, the Katabatic Gear Tarn jacket remains an excellent choice for those seeking an ultralight jacket at a lower price point without significantly compromising on performance.

LIGHTWEIGHT DOWN JACKETS

TOTAL WEIGHT: 10.8 oz (306 grams)

FILL POWER: 900+

FILL WEIGHT: 4.0 oz (112 grams)

RDS CERTIFIED DOWN: Yes

HYDROPHOBIC DOWN: No

SHELL: 20-denier Pertex® Quantum® brushed nylon with DWR finish

STORAGE: Stuff sack

PROS: Great warmth for weight, Quality construction

CONS: Only available online, Fit is a little more boxy than some others

PRICE: $$$$

The Feathered Friends Eos (men’s and women’s) is an epic down jacket for three season backpacking. It packs in a little more goose down than some of the seriously ultralight options, yet retains great warmth-for-weight owing to the use of high quality 900+ fill power down.

It’s true that there are lighter jackets out there — like the Montbell Plasma 1000 Alpine Parka, Zpacks Goose Down Jacket, or the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 — but they have slightly less down fill than the Feathered Friends Eos, thereby sacrificing some warmth. So, depending on where you plan to head on your three-season backpacking trips, the Feathered Friends Eos may hit the sweet spot.

The fit is a little short & boxy rather than long, slim & tapered. So, if you’re tall and skinny and like a performance fit then perhaps look at something like the Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody instead. But for most people the Eos should fit great.

After a set of revisions, the Eos is now fully featured — with two zippered hand warmer pockets, a zippered chest pocket, one-way adjustable hood, adjustable hem, and zipper chin guard.

As with all Feathered Friends products, the manufacturing on the Eos is second to none. And in the rare event that you have any issues with your jacket then Feathered Friends epic lifetime warranty should have your ass covered.

Lastly, if you don’t like hoods then sorry you are out of luck — Feathered Friends don’t make a non-hooded version of the Eos. They do however make a vest (men’s and women’s).

TOTAL WEIGHT: 11.8 oz (335 grams)

FILL POWER: 850

FILL WEIGHT: 4.0 oz (113 grams), as well as some Coreloft synthetic insulation as well

RDS CERTIFIED DOWN: Yes

HYDROPHOBIC DOWN: No

SHELL: 15-denier Arato™ nylon with DWR finish (recycled)

STORAGE: Stuff sack

PROS: Beautifully designed, Awesome hood, Internal chest pocket

CONS: Expensive for the warmth, Slim cut might not be suitable for everyone

PRICE: $$$$

If style is high on your list of priorities, then the Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody (men’s and women’s) might be just the down jacket you are looking for. Arc’teryx make some of the most stylish outdoor gear on the market and the Cerium Hoody is no exception.

Of course Arc’teryx do also use some of the slimmest performance cuts for their clothing. This means that the Cerium might not be a great fit for everyone — if you prefer a wider fit or more boxy cut (with more space under the armpits and through the body) then perhaps look elsewhere.

The Cerium Hoody differs from the rest of the jackets on this list in that it uses some synthetic insulation in addition to the down fill. Although the warmth-to-weight ratio for synthetic insulation is not nearly as good as goose down, synthetic insulation does provide better moisture management and durability. The Cerium Hoody therefore uses synthetic insulation in areas prone to moisture (e.g. wrist cuffs, below the chin, under the armpits) or high wear (e.g. top of the shoulders).

The jacket has a host of useful features — a great hood with drawcord to tension at the rear, drawcord on the hem, two zippered hand pockets, a zippered internal chest pocket, and a stuff sack. The stuff sack is secured inside the internal chest pocket so that you don’t lose it.

Finally, for those that prefer to go hoodless, the Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody is also available in a non-hooded version — the Cerium Jacket (men’s and women’s).

TOTAL WEIGHT: 12.2 oz (346 g)

FILL POWER: 850

FILL WEIGHT: 4 oz (113 g)

RDS CERTIFIED DOWN: Yes

HYDROPHOBIC DOWN: Yes

SHELL: 10-denier Pertex® Quantum® with DWR finish

STORAGE: Stuff sack

PROS: Great moisture resistance, high quality construction and materials

CONS: Awkward fitting hood

PRICE: $$$

The Accelerator Hooded Jacket (men’s and women’s) is a lightweight and performance-oriented down jacket from mountaineering-oriented brand Himali.

Weighing in at 12.2 oz and featuring 4 oz of 850 fill down, the Accelerator Hooded Jacket has a very solid warmth-to-weight ratio. Featuring HyperDry™ Down to prevent internal moisture build up and Synthetic Insulation Mapping in high-moisture areas, the jacket is an ideal insulating layer for highly aerobic outings, like mountaineering and strenuous hiking.

The down in the Accelerator is RDS certified. The jacket’s shell is made from sturdy Pertex® Quantum® fabric and treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish, adding to the jacket’s standout water resistance.

The jacket has an athletic fit and is designed to fit over a baselayer. If you often hike with a midlayer below your down jacket, then it’s worth sizing up. One other aspect to note is the fitting of the hood, which feels a bit awkward for us. The base of the hood (around the neckline) seems to have a large circumference as if it’s designed for rugby players with wide necks, while at the same time the hood feels a bit short and pulls the shoulders up. Sizing up might provide a more natural fit overall.

All in all though, the Himali Accelerator is a solid lightweight down jacket at a competitive price, and performs especially well for technical, high aerobic pursuits. It is also available in a non-hooded design (men’s and women’s).

MIDWEIGHT DOWN JACKETS

TOTAL WEIGHT: 14.8 oz (420 grams)

FILL POWER: 800

FILL WEIGHT: Not specified

RDS CERTIFIED DOWN: Yes

HYDROPHOBIC DOWN: Yes

SHELL: 20-denier NetPlus® ripstop nylon with DWR finish (recycled)

STORAGE: Stuff sack

PROS: Stylish, Windproof, Recycled materials, Available in a range of colors

CONS: Slightly boxy, Not as lightweight as its competition

PRICE: $$$

The Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody (men’s and women’s) is a true classic. It has been around for years and continues to remain true to its original form: lightweight, simple and stylish. Part of its long lasting success is likely related to the fact it seems just as at home around town as it does in the backcountry.

It uses an 800 fill power down and — just like with all Patagonia products — you can be sure that the materials are ethically sourced. In fact the entire shell on this jacket is now made with 100% recycled fishing nets. The shell is then treated with a PFC-free DWR finish to help with water resistance, but the down itself is not hydrophobic.

There are a bunch of useful features… a drawcord on the hem, a drawcord on the rear of the hood, two zippered hand pockets, and an internal zippered chest pocket which doubles as the stuff sack for jacket. However, the feature set is no richer than say the Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody — which provides similar warmth and weighs almost 5 ounces less.

If you are looking for something exclusively for lightweight backpacking then there are other options on this list that provide similar warmth but in a lighter, more compressible package. But if you want a do-it-all jacket that performs well in the backcountry, still looks good around town, and is a fair bit cheaper than its more technical competitors… then the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody is probably it.

And you’ll be spoilt for choice — it comes in a vast array of color options. Plus, for those who prefer a jacket without the hood, you’re in luck — see the non-hooded Patagonia Down Sweater (men’s and women’s).

TOTAL WEIGHT: 11.4 oz (323 g)

FILL POWER: 850

FILL WEIGHT: 5.5 oz (156 g)

RDS CERTIFIED DOWN: Yes

HYDROPHOBIC DOWN: Yes

SHELL: 10-denier Pertex® Quantum® Eco Ripstop with DWR finish

STORAGE: None provided

PROS: High quality down, Excellent warmth-to-weight ratio, Bluesign-approved fabrics

CONS: No internal or external chest pocket, No stuff sack and doesn’t pack into pocket, Fits quite small, Zipper can snag

PRICE: $$$

The Katabatic Gear Tincup Down Jacket (men’s and women’s) finds its place in the midweight jacket category, offering more insulation and warmth than its ultralight counterpart, the Tarn.

The Tincup is about 2 oz heavier than the Tarn, and just about all of that comes from extra down insulation. It has a 5.5 oz fill weight compared to 3.6 oz for the Tarn, giving it a fill-to-weight ratio of nearly 50%. This makes it a more reliable—but still quite light—jacket for colder or more unpredictable environments.

Like the Tarn, the Tincup utilizes ethically sourced RDS certified down via Allied Feather and Down. It also has the same 10-denier Pertex® Quantum® Eco Ripstop shell, DWR finish, and soft liner.

The Tincup does share a few drawbacks with the Tarn as well. We find the zipper again prone to snagging and miss the addition of a chest pocket. The jacket also fits small, so size up if you are between sizes or want some space for additional midlayers.

The Katabatic Gear Tincup Down Jacket strike a balance between weight and warmth that is hard to beat. While other midweight jackets are more insulating, like the Rab Electron Pro, few are this light. The fill-to-weight ratio and overall performance make this jacket solid choice for light but reliable warmth.

TOTAL WEIGHT: 16.5 oz (467 grams)

FILL POWER: 700

FILL WEIGHT: 5.4 oz (153 grams)

RDS CERTIFIED DOWN: Yes

HYDROPHOBIC DOWN: Yes

SHELL: 30-denier Pertex® Quantum ripstop nylon with DWR finish (recycled)

STORAGE: Stuff sack

PROS: Stylish, Good hood, Chest pocket, Recycled materials

CONS: Slim fit might not suit everyone

PRICE: $$$

The Rab Microlight Alpine (men’s and women’s) is perhaps the UK company’s best offering for lightweight three-season backpacking.

The Microlight Alpine is filled with 700 fill power, recycled, hydrophobic down. At that fill power this jacket doesn’t exactly provide industry leading warmth-for-weight. However — as you might expect — the lower fill power helps keep the price down, making the Microlight Alpine one of the least expensive jackets on this list.

The DWR finish on the shell fabric gives the Microlight Alpine a pretty good edge in terms of water resistance — by no means is this jacket waterproof, but it should perform better in damp conditions compared with the jackets on this list that aren’t using hydrophobic down.

The hood functions well — it doesn’t have a drawcord, yet it does have elastic tensioning at the rear to help keep it in place. It isn’t helmet compatible — see the Rab Electron below if that’s what you require — but that is of course fine for backpacking. The brim on the hood also has a stiffener to help keep it from collapsing into your eyes, a useful feature of all the Rab jackets in this list. The Microlight Alpine also includes a drawcord on the hem, two zippered hand pockets, an external zippered chest pocket, and comes with a separate stuff sack.

Overall the Rab Microlight Alpine isn’t the lightest jacket in its category. For instance it doesn’t provide any more warmth than the Feathered Friends Eos, even though it weighs about 5 ounces more. But it does look and feel good — the slim fit making it an ideal choice for taller or leaner hikers.

If you wanna go hoodless, then check out the Rab Microlight – sans “Alpine” (men’s and women’s).

TOTAL WEIGHT: 18.5 oz (523 grams)

FILL POWER: 800

FILL WEIGHT: 6.7 oz (190 grams)

RDS CERTIFIED DOWN: Yes

HYDROPHOBIC DOWN: Yes

SHELL: 20-denier Pertex® Quantum Pro nylon with DWR finish

STORAGE: Stuff sack

PROS: Stylish, Comfortable stretchy cuffs, Good hood

CONS: Might be overkill for summer backpacking but too light for serious winter conditions

PRICE: $$$

The Rab Electron Pro (men’s and women’s) is perfect for those situations in which a lightweight down jacket isn’t going to cut it, but a true winter alpine jacket would be overkill.

In terms of the Rab collection, the Electron sits somewhere between the Rab Microlight Alpine and the Rab Neutrino Pro in terms of warmth. It contains more down fill than the Microlight Alpine, but less down than the Neutrino Pro. Similarly, the sewn through baffles found on the Electron are sized somewhere in between the Microlight Alpine and Neutrino Pro.

But a massive benefit of the Electron Pro — compared with say, the Neutrino — is that you can still squeeze it under a rain shell when the weather turns bad. Whereas the Neutrino would be too large to fit under most backpacking rain jackets.

It has a nice (helmet-compatible) hood that can be tensioned via a drawcord — with the two cord locks neatly tucked away on the inside of the collar. The hood also has a stiffener in the brim that helps it holds its shape — meaning it works pretty well when the weather turns and you need to batten down the hatches.

The wrist cuffs are made of a stretchy elastic that is simple and comfortable — but note that it is a different design to the Rab Neutrino Pro which uses Velcro straps on the wrists. The collar has soft fabric on the chin guard and interior front to add comfort. Two external hand pockets and one internal chest pocket provide plenty of storage. And the two-way front zipper adds more versatility (e.g. belaying).

The Rab Electron Pro comes in a variety of colors and can be packed down into the provided stuff sack. All in all, it’s a pretty epic down jacket if you need a bit more warmth than the usual lightweight backpacking options.

WINTER DOWN JACKETS


TOTAL WEIGHT: 20.6 oz (585 grams)

FILL POWER: 800

FILL WEIGHT: 7.5 oz (212 grams)

RDS CERTIFIED DOWN: Yes

HYDROPHOBIC DOWN: Yes

SHELL: 20-denier Pertex® Quantum Pro nylon with DWR finish (recycled)

STORAGE: Stuff sack

PROS: Super warm, Looks good around town, Great weather protection

CONS: Not as lightweight as a more minimalist design

PRICE: $$$

The Rab Neutrino Pro (men’s and women’s) is perhaps the ultimate down jacket for colder weather activities. If you are heading to a high alpine environment or getting out and about during winter then this jacket might just be your new best friend.

Rab has managed to pack in some serious warmth and weather protection — yet this jacket still only weighs just over half a kilogram. It might not be as lightweight as something like the Feathered Friends Helios, but the Rab Neutrino Pro provides significantly more weather protection and has a host of additional features.

It has an awesome (helmet compatible) hood with several drawcord adjusters and a wire brim. The hood also provides a significant amount of face coverage so that you can keep the wind and weather out when you need to batten down the hatches.

The Neutrino Pro also has two zippered insulated hand pockets, an internal zippered chest pocket, a drawcord on the hem, velcro straps on the cuffs, an insulated baffle behind the front zipper, uses hydrophobic down, and has a DWR treatment on the shell fabric. The 20-denier Pertex Quantum Pro shell fabric provides pretty solid wind protection. Plus, the entire shell and liner are now made using recycled materials.

All-in-all the Neutrino Pro is one seriously storm-ready piece of kit (of course it isn’t fully waterproof so you’d still need a rain shell if you are using it wet conditions!). And better yet, it still looks good around town, owing to its longer length and regular (not too boxy, not too slim) fit.

TOTAL WEIGHT: 18.0 oz (510 grams)

FILL POWER: 900

FILL WEIGHT: 7.8 oz (221 grams)

RDS CERTIFIED DOWN: Yes

HYDROPHOBIC DOWN: No

SHELL: 20-denier Pertex® Endurance® LT nylon with DWR finish

STORAGE: Unspecified

PROS: Great warmth for weight

CONS: No drawcord on the waist, Hand pockets aren’t zippered, Only available online

PRICE: $$$$

Another fine piece of cosy comfort from Feathered Friends, the Helios is one of the best belay jackets you’ll find. This jacket is likely to be overkill for three-season hiking at lower altitudes. But if you are heading into high altitude areas (such as the Pakistani Himalayas) or undertaking winter activities (especially mountaineering or winter climbing) then the Helios might be the perfect addition to your kit.

As with all Feathered Friends products, the Helios jacket is made with top quality 900 fill power responsibly sourced down. Coupled with the 20x20 denier Pertex Endurance outer fabric this jacket provides serious warmth for weight.

The Helios has several features you’d hope for on a jacket designed for colder temps — e.g. the hand pockets are insulated (there is down fill on the outer side of the pocket) and the front zipper has a full length insulated draft tube to help prevent heat escaping.

However there are a few features you might want to be weary of depending on your use case. First, there is elastic on the hem but no drawcord. Second, there is elastic on the cuffs but no velcro straps. Third, there are no zippers on the hand pockets but there is an internal zippered chest pocket. Fourth, the Helios is relatively short — which makes it ideal as a winter belay jacket, but less ideal for tall people or as a jacket for around town. Of course its short length and minimalist design helps to maximise weight savings!

Feathered Friends do not sell a women’s specific version of the Helios, however they do sell the Ellia Women's Down Jacket — which sits somewhere between the Eos and Helios in terms of warmth.

And if you prefer to go without a hood, then you’re in luck — check out the non-hooded version of the Helios.

BUYING ADVICE FOR DOWN JACKETS

Down vs Synthetic Fill

One of the major choices when buying a new insulated jacket is whether to go with a down filled jacket or a synthetic filled one.

DOWN FILL: Down (usually goose down) provides the best warmth-to-weight ratio out of any insulating material. It is also highly compressible. This makes it the perfect material for a jacket that is warm, yet weighs the least it possibly can. However there are downsides to down (no pun intended) — namely that it has poor moisture management properties and it is expensive.

SYNTHETIC FILL: Synthetic insulation on the other hand is better at handling moisture — it still retains some insulating value when wet and it dries faster. And it is cheaper than down. However synthetic insulation isn’t as compressible and it weighs more for equivalent warmth.

For these reasons I generally prefer a down jacket for most backpacking environments. Nonetheless, if you plan to backpack in particularly wet environments, then synthetic fill might be worth considering.

 

For most backpacking environments a down jacket is preferable to a synthetic filled jacket, due to its unbeatable warmth for weight.

 

Moisture Management

If down gets wet, then it doesn’t insulate and it takes forever to dry. This can be bad news if you are in the backcountry and you need warmth and all you have is a wet down jacket!

DWR TREATMENTS: To try and mitigate this, most manufacturers tend to treat the jacket’s shell fabric with a durable water repellent (DWR). A DWR treatment helps to improve water resistance of the shell fabric and therefore helps to prevent the down getting damp in the first place.

But a DWR won’t mean your jacket is waterproof, so the best protection is always prevention! Do your best to make sure your jacket stays dry. Keep it in a waterproof dry sack when it’s not in use and wear a rain shell over the top of it when it is raining.

HYDROPHOBIC DOWN: Some manufacturers also use “hydrophobic down”. This means that the down itself is actually treated with a DWR. This helps to stop the down from “wetting out” (i.e. absorbing moisture) as easily and also helps the down to dry faster.

Hydrophobic down can be beneficial, however it isn’t a magic fix — you still want to prevent your jacket from getting wet in the first place.

 

The Zpacks Goose Down Jacket is an example of a jacket using hydrophobic down — they use DownTek treated 950 fill power goose down.

 

Down Fill Power

Fill power is a metric used to measure the quality of down. Down with a higher fill power provides better warmth for weight and is more compressible than down with a lower fill power.

Fill power of 800 or above can be considered high quality, with some of the best manufacturers using 900+ fill power down.

Of course the higher the fill power, the higher price tag! So you will have to aim for the highest fill power that falls within your budget.

Fill power is actually a measure of volume. It is the space (measured in cubic inches) that one ounce of down will occupy. So a higher fill power means that each ounce of down will occupy more space.

More space being occupied = More loft & more trapped air = Better insulating properties!

 

Close up image of a down plume. Photo credit: Feathered Friends.

 

Fabrics

Modern lightweight fabrics used for down jackets provide an amazing balance between weight and durability.

The most seriously ultralight down jackets will use a 7 denier or 10 denier fabric for the shell and/or liner. These are amazing lightweight but will require care to ensure their lifespan.

On the other hand a 20 denier fabric is still lightweight but will provide significantly more durability.

Many shell fabrics used on down jackets are also sewn and treated in such a way that they are highly water resistant (although not usually waterproof). Ideally you want a shell fabric that has been DWR treated to provide additional water resistance.

Do You Need A Hood?

All of the down jackets in this review list include a hood, because I believe the weight penalty of having a hood is easily justified by the added warmth and comfort.

A hood is generally warmer than a hat because it is connected to the collar of the jacket and that helps with heat retention.

A hooded down jacket is useful for extra warmth when sleeping, especially if you use a backpacking quilt or a hoodless sleeping bag. And the weight penalty of a hood is generally small (usually about an ounce or so).

But many of the jackets in this review are also available in a non-hooded version — so I’ve noted those where appropriate. Whether you purchase a jacket with hood is down to personal preference.

 

All of the jackets in this review come in a hooded version — just like the Dark Peak Neesh Down Jacket (discontinued) shown here.

 

Drawcords, Straps & Adjustments

HOODS: On many down jackets (e.g. the Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody or Rab Electron) the hood will have drawcord adjustments on the side and/or rear to help secure it in place. There is nothing more frustrating than a hood that swallows your head when you turn to the side. However, some ultralight jackets (e.g. the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 or Feathered Friends Eos) have elastic around the hood with no manual adjustments possible.

HEMS: The best down jackets will have some form of manual adjustment on the hem. This allows you to trap heat in when the temp really drops. (Occasionally it can also be useful if you want to store items like gloves or a hat inside your jacket and there isn’t a chest pocket).

CUFFS: Most ultralight and lightweight down jackets will have an elastic cuff. These are the lightest option and sufficient for most backpacking situations. Some heavier down jackets (like the Rab Neutrino Pro) have a velcro strap on the cuff that provides more manual adjustment — particularly useful if you are pairing the jacket with winter gloves in seriously cold conditions.

 

Depending on your body shape, some down jackets will fit better than others — e.g. even though they are both medium and fit me in the chest and arms, the Montbell Plasma 1000 Alpine Down Parka (left) is much shorter in the body than the Zpacks Goose Down Jacket (right).

 

Pockets

HANDWARMER POCKETS: Most down jackets — except seriously ultralight jackets like the Montbell Plasma 1000 — feature hand warmer pockets. Hand warmer pockets located on the front of the jacket and the best jackets are designed so that the handwarmer pockets can sit above your backpack’s hip belt when it is fastened.

Zippered handwarmer pockets are the best choice because it means you can store loose and/or valuable items in them without having to worry about the items falling out. The only jacket in our review that didn’t use a zipper on the handwarmer pockets was the Feathered Friends Helios.

CHEST POCKETS: Some down jackets also include a chest pocket(s). The chest pocket can be internal (like on the Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody or Rab Electron) or external (like on the Rab Microlight Alpine). Chest pockets are almost always zippered so that they can be used for storing loose valuable items.

My preference is for a down jacket with two handwarmer pockets and one chest pocket.

Stuff Sacks & Storage

Most down jackets come with a method for packing down and storing them. The most common approach is a separate stuff sack. Some — like the Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody have the stuff sack attached to the jacket so that you don’t misplace it. Another relatively common approach is that the jacket stuffs into its own chest pocket. This can be better, because it means that you cannot misplace the stuff sack!

 

Relative packed sizes and storage methods for several of the jackets we reviewed (left to right) — Zpacks Goose Down Jacket (chest pocket), Montbell Plasma 1000 (stuff sack), Dark Peak Neesh (discontinued, hand warmer pocket), Rab Electron (stuff sack).

 

Common questions

Is a down or synthetic filled jacket better? Down jackets provide superior warmth-for-weight and compressibility, but synthetic jackets are less expensive and retain some warmth when wet. Unless you regularly hike in wet environments, then we’d recommend a quality down jacket over a synthetic filled one.

What is down fill power? Fill power is a metric used to measure the quality of down. Down with a higher fill power provides better warmth for weight and is more compressible than down with a lower fill power, but higher fill power down is more expensive.

Is goose down better than duck down? The highest fill power down is generally only available as goose down. However, at lower fill powers there is not much difference between goose or duck down. You can read more about the differences in this article.

What are the best features for a down jacket? The best down jackets come with two handwarmer pockets (ideally zippered), a zippered chest pocket, two-way adjustable hood, adjustable hem, and zipper guard at the chin. Some ultralight jackets might forgo the chest pocket. The warmest alpine-worthy down jackets will also include adjustable cuffs and perhaps interior “drop in” pockets for things like winter gloves.

Should I get a down jacket with a hood? Although most down jackets come in a hooded and non-hooded version, we’d suggest going for the hooded version. The added warmth and comfort provided by a hood is generally enough to justify the small weight penalty. Plus, a hood provides much better heat retention than a warm hat, and so can be a lifesaver in particularly cold conditions.

MORE INFORMATION

If you loved this gear review article, then you'll likely love traversing some of our other hiking and backpacking content:

Or check out our entire list of Gear Reviews, Knowledge Base Articles, or Destination Guides for more hiking, backpacking, and outdoors related content.