The best down jackets are some of the most versatile pieces of outdoor wear you can use to protect yourself from the cold weather. Lightweight they might be, down jackets from brands such as The North Face, Adidas Terrex, Patagonia, Columbia, and more provide plenty of insulation and warmth when the temperatures drop.
Here, we review and rank all the best down jackets you can buy right now for hiking, mountaineering, and urban adventures. We also look at the best waterproof, lightweight and cold-weather down jackets, just for good measure. If you think down jackets are the best winter coats, you're in the right place. We'll explain how to buy the best own jackets and other frequently asked questions at the bottom of this guide (you can use the jump links to navigate around).
Best down jackets to buy right now
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Best down jacket overall
Best for: Coldest weather conditions
Features: RDS-certified down, Bluesign-certified fabric, Packable, Storm hood and cuffs
Fill: 850 down fill power (90% down, 10% feather)
Sustainability: The shell, lining and pocket bags are constructed of 100% recycled nylon
+ Super warm 850 fill down construction
+ Sustainably made
- Performance fit might suit all body types
Shackleton is famous for its functional, high-quality gear and calls the Rothera the "ultimate down jacket" of its collection. And while we're always a bit critical when it comes to marketing claims, we have to agree that the Rothera is a pretty decent down jacket. In fact, from a functional point of view, it's the best down jacket we tested.
From its fully RDS-certified 850 down filling to the many pockets accessible with the zips all closed, the Rothera is the jacket we would take should we ever be required to go and explore the South Pole. And indeed, the Rothera is said to maintain body warmth in temperatures as low as -10 degrees when accompanied by a mid-layer.
There is very little to dislike about this jacket, although we appreciate the price might be a slight issue for some. However, from a value-for-money perspective, it's worth every penny. The resilient 100% recycled nylon ripstop fabric ensures the Rothera is the last down jacket you need to buy for the foreseeable future.
Our rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Best down jacket for style
Best for: Windy, drizzly conditions
Features: High-density, water-repellent nylon shell, Funnel collar
Fill: 700-fill power down (90% white duck down, 10% white duck feather)
Sustainability: No information available
+ Stylish design
+ Water-repellent shell
- Italian sizing can be confusing (for non-Italians)
- Zip is a bit iffy to use
The Belstaff Radar Jacket's military-inspired design caught our attention for all the right reasons: we love the oversized pockets (gloves fit in them nicely), the large branded buttons and the funnel neck that protects the neck from wind. The Radar is one of the cosiest down jackets we tested and kept us warm even in the windiest conditions.
What we appreciate the most about the Belstaff Radar Jacket is the combination of good looks and the practical nature of the jacket. Sure, some of the most hardcore outdoors people might not like the style-driven approach of the Radar, but we love that it looks distinctively different from The North Face jackets, all the while effectively shielding you from the elements.
Our rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Best down jacket for women
Best for: Really cold weather/people who often feel cold
Features: Omni-Heat Infinity thermal reflective technology, Cuff with thumb hole
Fill: 650-Fill
Sustainability: RDS-certified down
+ Lining reflects heat back to the body
+ Allows for more movement than puffy down jackets
- It wasn't quite as warm as expected during testing
Our tester Sophie's review of the Opal Hill Down Jacket: "It's one of the loveliest jackets I've ever tried! I love the silhouette, the colours and that it doesn't make me look as puffy as the longline down jacket I bought a couple of years ago. Thanks to the Omni-Heat Infinity lining, the Opal Hill Down Jacket manages to keep the thickness of the coat to a minimum without sacrificing warmth."
"This also allows for better freedom of movement and less bulk, even though this winter jacket is long enough to cover your bum and thighs. My only criticism is that although it's not cold, the Opal Hill Down Jacket is not as warm as I expected it to be; maybe Columbia can cover even more surface area with the Omni-Heat technology in the next iteration. Finally, I like that the 650-fill down is fully RDS (Responsible Down Standard) certified."
Our rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best down jacket for intermediate weather
Best for: Hiking, intermediate weather
Features: 50/50 ThermoBall Eco baffle construction, Dual internal hem adjust, Stows in the left-hand pocket
Fill: 700-fill
Sustainability: Made from post-consumer recycled polyester
+ Highly breathable construction
+ Lightweight and packable
- Not the best down jacket for extremely cold weather
The North Face Thermoball 50/50 ticks all the right boxes for us. It's lightweight and warm, but not too toasty, so you can't wear it on a fresh winter autumn morning. The 700-fill construction might sound too hot, but thanks to the special baffle construction – a series of fibre-proof baffles are paired with a highly air-permeable face fabric – the Thermoball 50/50 is super breathable to keep you ventilated.
As well as offering layers of warmth, this packable jacket is also sustainable, thanks to the post-consumer recycled polyester down-filled fabric tubes. Plus, The North Face claims the Thermoball 50/50 has been made with less waste and fewer chemicals. From a features point of view, this down jacket has a three-piece hood with binding (non-removable), chin zip guard (the jacket covers the neck nicely), elastic binding on cuffs, and dual internal hem adjusts to keep the draft out when it's breezy.
Our rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best water-resistant down jacket
Best for: Drizzly conditions
Features: Ripstop and water-resistant Pertex shell, Down-filled storm hood
Fill: 133g Primaloft synthetic down fill (equivalent to between 500 and 550 down fill)
Sustainability: No information available
+ Water-repellent outer shell
+ Comes with a travel pouch to pack the coat in
- Military-style branding might be off-putting for some
ThruDark's technical down jacket made it to our roundup thanks to the ultra-thin water-resistant coating that provides increased weather resistance for extreme conditions. Indeed, during our tests, the Engage Jacket fared well in keeping us warm and dry, no matter how drizzly the conditions got. We aren't saying you'd be able to stay dry during a proper downpour, but the Engage can keep you protected from light rain and fog.
As for insulation, we found that the ThruDark Engage was warm enough for temperatures near or under zero degrees. Warmth is provided via the PrimaLoft Gold Active technology, which allows for four-way stretch performance and warmth designed specifically for "high-output adventures", ThruDark says. And, of course, the jacket uses YKK zips to ensure they never jam or break.
Our rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best down jacket for hiking
Best for: Hiking, Cold weather trail running
Features: HeatSeal overlapping baffle construction, Lightweight Pertex Diamond Fuse ripstop shell
Fill: 800-fill (90% goose down, 10% feathers)
Sustainability: Generated from production waste, e.g. cutting scraps and post-consumer household waste (contains a minimum of 25% recycled content)
+ Super warm yet lightweight construction
+ Includes repair patch
- Slimmer construction isn't ideal for people with larger bodies
This sporty number from Adidas' Terrex brand is the perfect down jacket for hikers, trail runners, and everyone else who appreciates warmth when exercising outdoors. The Techrock Year-Round Jacket features the HeatSeal construction with overlapping baffles to reduce cold spots.
The Pertex Diamond Fuse ripstop shell is said to be 10 times stronger than ripstop made using traditional yarns and offers a high degree of weather repellency. The elastic cuffs and a stretch knit gaiter in the collar also help keep your extremities warm when needed.
Our rating: 4 out of 5 stars
How to buy the best down jacket for you
We live in an age when down jackets sometimes involve more technology than the best running watches, making it harder and harder to decide which one to get. The most important feature to consider is insulation, which can be determined by looking at the fill power of the jacket. As a rule of thumb, the higher the number, the warmer the jacket, although this also depends on the quality of the down and other factors (see below.)
What you want to do in the jacket is also important. Many puffer jackets are designed for 'urban exploration', meaning they are more fashion items than performance garments. Probably one of the biggest names in the industry, The North Face, offers anything from fashion puffers to skiing down jackets – make sure you check what the manufacturer recommends as best use.
Price is admittedly a key factor. Many of the best down jackets cost more than a windbreaker. However, it's not impossible to find quality cheap down jackets if you know where to look—for example, Mountain Warehouse and Kathmandu (both retailer links) both stock inexpensive downs. A cheaper down jacket combined with an insulating base layer will cost less than premium puffers. They might not look as stylish, but from a warmth point of view, this mix of clothes is more than adequate.
How we test the best down jackets
We're lucky enough to live in a country with almost four seasons, and it can get very cold during the winter, giving us plenty of opportunity to test the best down jackets. In fact, when this guide was created, temperatures often plummeted below zero degrees celsius, allowing us to try the insulating properties of every puffer jacket listed in this guide.
Where applicable, we also tried the jackets for the purpose they were created (e.g. mountaineering, hiking, etc.) to ensure they live up to the manufacturer's claims. We paid meticulous attention to the sustainability rating of each jacket – we think it's essential for the best down jackets to be as sustainable as possible.
FAQ
Which brand makes the best down jacket?
There are many excellent down jacket manufacturers, but we think The North Face makes the best down jackets right now. Their jackets cater for a wide variety of uses, from stylish urban puffers to specific mountaineering coats for technical climbs. Our current no1 choice for the best down jacket is The North Face Thermoball 50/50 Jacket, as although it’s super warm and stylish, it’s also comparatively lightweight and inexpensive.
Is a down jacket the warmest?
Down jackets are considered the warmest outdoor garments compared to other types of jackets, such as windbreakers, parkas and raincoats. Air gets trapped in between the down fibres of the coat, helping you retain heat even in the coldest of conditions, hence why mountaineers often use down jackets.
Is 800-fill down warmer than 600?
As a general rule of thumb, the higher the fill number, the warmer the down jacket. This, of course, isn’t always the case; how warm the down jacket is dependent on the quality of the down and other technologies involved in the coat. For example, Columbia’s Omni-Heat Infinity lining reflects heat back to the body and doesn’t only rely on the down filling to keep you warm.
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