Looking for the most effective packable down jacket to take with you in your adventures? In this text, I’m going to stroll you thru just a few of my high picks plus share an in depth comparability on each.
You see, on any chilly climate journey, you’re going to need the most effective packable down jacket attainable. What is a packable down jacket, you could be questioning? Well, these are smaller winter jackets that may preserve you heat with out being cumbersome and taking on tons of area like most common winter down jackets do.
A packable down jacket is a really sensible merchandise for any fall or winter journey as a result of not solely will it preserve you heat, but it surely received’t take up extra area in your baggage. Like its title suggests, these jackets are extremely packable and compress to be fairly small, making for an superior jacket for your entire jet-setting adventures.
Choosing jackets generally might be ridiculously time-consuming. To prevent that treasured time, we’ve reviewed our ten favourite packable down jackets to assist together with your search!
Editor’s Picks for Best Packable Down Jackets 2023
Packable Down Jacket: Comparison Table
Best Packable Down Jackets for Men and Women 2023
Now that you understand what to search for that can assist you select the most effective packable down jacket for you, listed here are our decisions for the 9 high packable down jackets you should purchase in 2023.
Patagonia Down Sweater
Weight: 13.1 oz
Fill: 800-fill goose down
Pros: Form flattering | DWR end | Elastic cuffs
Cons: No hood | Heavier
One of the most effective packable down jackets in the marketplace is the Patagonia Down Sweater, produced from recycled polyester and stuffed with 3.4 ounces of goose down.
Patagonia is well-known for making sturdy and trendy out of doors gear and this premium down crammed jacket isn’t any exception.
This is a high choose for greatest packable down jackets due to how versatile it’s. It’s heat and tremendous trendy, making it nice for on a regular basis put on round city but it surely’s slim sufficient for use as a mid layer for snowy actions (suppose snowboarding or snowshoeing). The DWR completed shell wicks water off so you’ll be able to put on it in gentle rain or snow with out having to fret about it getting soggy.
All of this being mentioned, there are a pair downsides to this jacket. Like with any Patagonia gear, this jacket doesn’t come low-cost. It additionally isn’t the lightest in the marketplace as a result of the shell is produced from polyester, which is understood for being a heavier material. Finally, this jacket doesn’t have a hood which is a little bit of a bummer for these days with additional precipitation.
Despite these shortcomings, the Patagonia Down Sweater is an all-round nice packable down jacket that may make an superior journey companion on most chilly climate adventures. They even have a trendy girls’s model out there.
Weight: 13.5 oz
Fill: PrimaLoft Gold Insulation
Pros: Warm when moist | Stylish | Drawstring hem | Built-in stuff sack
Cons: No hood
Another chart-topper on our record of greatest packable down jackets is Patagonia’s Nano Puffer Jacket.
Besides being glossy in fashion, this jacket is water and wind-resistant, light-weight and heat. Coming in 9 completely different colours, the Nano Puffer is produced from ripstop polyester making it sturdy and lengthy lasting.
Okay, so the fill isn’t precisely down, however this jacket is insulated with PrimaLoft Gold which is eco-friendly, extremely compressible, and retains heat when moist.
Some issues we love about this jacket are the drawstring hem, elastic cuffs, and inner pocket that doubles as a stuff sack. This is tremendous handy for packing functions because it folds as much as be no larger than a can of tennis balls!
This jacket is nice for chilly climate backpacking, as a mid layer for snowboarding, and for on a regular basis put on when it’s chilly exterior.
That mentioned, this jacket isn’t with out its downsides. First, there’s no hood which is a bummer for when it rains.
However, the Nano Puffer Jacket is nice for energetic days within the chilly, particularly when you don’t need the added weight of a typical down jacket. Similar to the earlier down jacket on this record, in addition they have a feminine model for the Patagonia Nano Puff.
Weight: 10.7 oz
Fill: 850-fill European goose down
Pros: Hood | Premium down | Stuff sack included
Cons: Runs small | On the pricier facet
Another out of doors gear powerhouse, Arc’teryx doesn’t disappoint with their Cerium LT Hoody that’s an awesome packable down jacket.
The Cerium LT Hoody is an superior versatile jacket greatest suited to chilly climate exploring within the backcountry or metropolis strolling within the winter. With a nylon shell that’s handled with DWR, it’s waterproof, light-weight, and stuffed with premium down, guaranteeing heat. It has an elastic hem and cuffs which preserve the chilly out, and a snug hood for trapping warmth in.
This jacket is extremely compressible and folds right down to the scale of a water bottle while you use the stuff sack that’s included, making it excellent for journey.
While this jacket is fairly costly, it’s a wonderful piece of top quality outerwear that’s sturdy and long-lasting. The solely factor to be careful for is it runs a bit small, and is reportedly tight in some areas. The feminine model of this jacket is pretty much as good and is a favourite by our staff!
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2
Weight: 7.7 oz
Fill: 800-fill down
Pros: Super light-weight | Lots of colours | Very versatile
Cons: Runs small
If you’re in search of a down jacket that’s packable and light-weight, this is without doubt one of the greatest choices.
Filled with 2.8 ounces of 800-fill down, Mountain Hardwear created this stunning jacket that’s meant for out of doors use or as a mid layer for days with heavier precipitation. This jacket has a 7D ripstop nylon shell handled with DWR which contributes to its low weight. While it’s skinny, it’s fabricated from sturdy materials and sound building.
Also with tons of colours, this form-fitting jacket is useful and classy.
That mentioned, due to its form-fitting fashion, it’ll in all probability be tough to suit one other sweatshirt beneath, so be conscious of this when selecting your dimension.
Wearers boast of utilizing the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer in beneath freezing temperatures and staying snug, in addition to utilizing it for energetic and on a regular basis use. We personally love the Mountain Hardwear Ghost 2 for males as they appear good and match nicely.
Weight: 15.5 oz
Fill: 600-fill down
Pros: Elastic cuffs and hem | Fitted hood | Treated down stays heat when moist
Cons: Lower fill energy | Sheds feathers
Marmot did an superior job crafting this light-weight down jacket at an affordable worth.This jacket is nice for each useful and informal put on and is a good price range alternative when it comes to packable down.
The Tullus Hoody is produced from nylon and 600-fill down, but it surely’s particular as a result of the down was handled to remain heat when moist. This, mixed with the water resistant nylon, makes it a perfect jacket for chilly, damp situations.
The elastic cuffs and hems preserve the jacket in place for energetic use and lock heat inside as nicely. The connected hood additionally has elastic so it matches snugly with out blowing off in harsher situations.
People who’ve bought the Marmort Tullus Hoody love the match and reward it for its heat, however complain about consistently shedding feathers. It’s additionally made particularly for males, however the Marmot Highlander Hoodie is a good various.
Eddie Bauer MicroTherm 2.0
Weight: 12 oz
Fill: 800-fill down
Pros: Has two kinds of matches, storm repellant, good trying, wonderful critiques
Cons: Thinner than most (which isn’t such a foul factor)
If you’re in search of a sturdy down jacket, Eddie Bauer jacket is without doubt one of the greatest cheap packable down jackets in the marketplace. Having perfected the design, the Eddie Bauer MicroTherm 2.0 is considered one of our high picks because it simply ticks each field.
Coming with its personal stuff sack, this jacket packs up additional small and it’s fairly gentle, making it a handy journey companion for ladies and men alike.
The shell is fabricated from 100% nylon that’s handled with DWR, which permits it to wick off gentle precipitation and preserve you heat and dry on your entire adventures.
The match of this jacket permits customers to put on layers beneath for added heat, and it matches true to dimension. This is tremendous useful because the one draw back to this jacket is that the fill energy is on the decrease facet.
In addition to common sizes, this jacket is even out there in Petite, Plus, and Tall sizes to make sure that there’s a match for everybody!
Coming in some good trying colours, this packable jacket is a good choose for a reasonable, packable down jacket for males. Their Eddie Bauer Women’s MicroTherm 2.0 comes with a hood and is available in 4 stunning colours.
Eddie Bauer Downlight StormDown Jacket
Weight: 9.9 oz
Fill: 800-fill
Pros: High fill energy | Packs into itself | Drawstring hem | Elastic cuffs |Ultralight
Cons: No hood | Runs massive
If you’re in search of a hotter, lighter possibility from Eddie Bauer, the Downlight StormDown jacket has 800-fill energy with a polyester shell handled with StormRepel DWR end.
What does all of this actually imply?
Well, this can be a heat jacket that’s water and wind-resistant, and can maintain up in a wide range of winter climate patterns.
What’s to like about this jacket? There’s a drawstring hem and elastic cuffs, with a design that enhances mobility. This makes it an superior jacket for winter adventuring and energetic days within the chilly.
When you’re achieved utilizing it, the jacket packs away simply. You merely fold it into the left-hand pocket which additionally has a carabiner clip-in loop.
The match runs a bit massive so preserve this in thoughts when buying. Otherwise, the Downlight StormDown jacket is tremendous light-weight and really packable. Overall, folks actually appear to like this jacket.
Weight: 7.7 oz
Fill: 80% duck down
Pros: Ultralight | Durable | Lots of pockets | Elastic cuffs, Very reasonably priced
Cons: Double test the sizing for bigger girls
Functional, sturdy, heat and cheap — it doesn’t get a lot better than the Wantdo Hooded Ultralight Down Jacket.
This jacket is produced from 20D nylon, making it sturdy and waterproof. It is stuffed with 80% duck down and 20% feathers, making a heat insulation with out including weight.
This ultralight trendy quantity is well-designed, with two exterior pockets and two inside pockets, in addition to a media port for headphones. Leave the bag at residence; this jacket will match every part you want for a day in town or a stroll within the woods.
Besides all of the performance, the Wantdo Hooded Ultralight Down Jacket additionally has an connected hood, elastic cuffs,and a hem seal to additional lock in heat it doesn’t matter what you’re doing, and a carrying pouch for stuffing it into when not in use.
Plus, it is available in 7 completely different stunning colours!
The one factor to bear in mind is that the sleeves are fairly lengthy whereas the physique of the jacket is usually a bit tight. It’s greatest to seek the advice of the sizing chart earlier than buying!
Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Jacket
Weight: 14 oz
Fill: 800-fill goose down
Pros: Fashionable | High fill energy | Elastic cuffs
Cons: Doesn’t unzip utterly | No hood
Finally, we’ve received one other trendy possibility from Cotopaxi. The Fuego Hooded Jacket is light-weight, sturdy, and heat, making it a perfect possibility for trying good on the go.
Made from 20D ripstop nylon with an 800-fill goose down and DWR end, you’ll be cozy wherever you go on this jacket. The goose down can also be waterproof so that you keep heat and dry when you get caught in a rain bathe.
It’s nice for athletic use, because of the elastic cuffs and drawstring waist, but it surely stands out as an awesome piece of streetwear as nicely with eye catching purple particulars. The athletic, streamlined match can even preserve you trying slim and classy, even when it’s chilly out. We’re additionally big followers of the retro vibes that this jacket is giving off!
The Fuego Hooded Jacket is light-weight and comes with its personal compression sack to maintain it tucked away in a small package deal while you’re not carrying it. We’re in love with the brilliant retro colours of the Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded for girls.
Packable Down Jackets for Travel
A packable down jacket is without doubt one of the most sensible gadgets for any chilly climate journey.
Why? It will preserve you heat, look trendy, and save area as well.
No one ever needs to take their large Canada Goose or knee-length winter jacket on a protracted journey. No hate to these jackets, however they’re only a problem to pack, and neglect about carrying it round while you don’t really feel like carrying it! What a large number.
To resolve this age-old drawback, some genius got here up with the thought of a packable down jacket which permits wearers to be as heat as they’d be of their typical winter jacket however with out the added bulk. This is what makes them superb for journey, and why they need to be in any adventurer’s closet.
Besides preserving you heat whereas carrying them, these are additionally a perfect journey companion as a result of you need to use them as a blanket on a chilly airplane or bus, and so they additionally double up as a journey pillow when you want one thing soft to put your head on.
Because they compress so nicely and weigh subsequent to nothing, packable down jackets are an superior addition to any jacket repertoire, and can be your new go-to when headed out into chilly climate.
How to Choose a Down Jacket?
Knowing how to decide on a packable down jacket will certainly show you how to select the best one for you and your travels. Here are some issues to bear in mind.
Consider the Size and Style
The very first thing to find out when selecting a packable down jacket is what dimension and elegance you’d like.
Getting a jacket that matches you nicely is tremendous vital, as a result of if it’s too free, it received’t preserve you heat sufficient and if it’s too tight you’ll be uncomfortable.
Most jacket manufacturers have a sizing chart, and my largest piece of recommendation is to measure your self towards that chart to be sure you’re getting the best dimension jacket. Another professional tip is to get one which’s a bit bigger than you usually put on so that you could match additional layers beneath as wanted.
The fashion of your jacket can even assist slim down the pool.
Do you need one thing that’s fitted across the waist? Has elastic sleeve? Has a hood? These are all issues to consider, and imply greater than you’d suppose when in search of a packable down jacket!
Warmth of Your Jacket
Probably an important facet of a packable down jacket is how heat it should preserve you.
You can decide the heat of a jacket by two issues: Fill Power and Fill Weight.
Fill Power is the principle indicator of the standard of the down inside a jacket.
The increased the fill quantity, the upper the standard of the down! Essentially, jackets with the next fill energy do a greater job at trapping physique warmth and preserving you heat.
Typically, inexpensive jackets will vary from 500 to 650-fill down. They’ll do an honest job at preserving you heat however aren’t good for significantly chilly climate.
If you’re in search of one thing that may actually stand as much as the weather, take a look at down jackets which have 800-fill or increased, which is taken into account to be premium down. You’ll discover jackets with over 800-fill at respected manufacturers like Patagonia, Arc’teryx and Mountain Hardwear, however you’ll be able to wager these jackets are going to be dearer than ones with a decrease fill energy.
Fill Weight is one other essential contributor to a jacket’s heat. It is principally how a lot down is definitely within the jacket.
The warmest jackets can have a excessive fill energy and excessive fill weight. Fill weight is measured in ounces and is a vital determinant in a down jacket’s heat, however this quantity isn’t all the time listed. That being mentioned, it’s undoubtedly one thing to look out for.
Down Filling
While we’re on the subject of down, the sort of down that your jacket is stuffed with is one other vital factor to look into.
There are two essential kinds of down that you just’ll discover in jackets: goose down and duck down. Sometimes jackets can be stuffed with a mix of each.
Goose down is often the warmest and lightest sort of down, but it surely’s dearer than the choice. Duck down or a mix of goose and duck is a inexpensive possibility however received’t be as light-weight and compressible as goose down.
Waterproofing
Another factor to search for in a packable down jacket is how waterproof it’s.
Almost all packable down jackets can have some degree of waterproofing, whether or not this comes from the fabric the shell is made out of or some form of remedy it’s undergone. Some jackets are utterly waterproof, whereas some are merely waterproof and aren’t made for intense climate.
A jacket with a great quantity of waterproofing is tremendous vital as a result of down loses its insulating energy when it will get moist. Not to say, a soggy jacket is extraordinarily uncomfortable as nicely.
To fight this, some producers have began insulating jackets with artificial supplies that may take some moisture, or by including polymer to the jacket’s down.
Furthermore, when the shell is produced from waterproof supplies like nylon, it should wick gentle moisture off as an alternative of absorbing it. The shell may also be handled with Durable Water Repellent (DWR) which additionally wicks water.
These are all issues to bear in mind when trying on the waterproof issue of various jacket.
Weight of your Travel Jacket
Another crucial factor to search for in a packable down jacket is how a lot it weighs. Having a light-weight jacket is vital as a result of will probably be simpler to journey with and pack. The solely trade-off is that the ultralight jackets aren’t as heat as those which can be barely heavier.
There are a pair issues that contribute to the load of a packable down jacket. The first we’ve already talked about, and that’s the fill weight. How a lot down that’s packed right into a jacket will affect its weight. Another issue that provides to the load of a jacket is the denier of the jacket’s shell.
Denier is the load of the thread and is indicated with a quantity adopted by a D. The increased the denier, the extra sturdy a cloth. But on the identical time, the upper the denier, the heavier a cloth is as nicely.
Ultralight jackets have a decrease denier shell. However, these jackets are extra susceptible to rips, tears and abrasion.
If weight is an important issue to you, you could have to commerce some sturdiness and heat.
How Packable is Your Jacket
Finally, a last item to search for in a packable down jacket is its compressibility.
A very packable down jacket ought to be capable of compress right into a tiny package deal, making it straightforward to suit into your bag.
Compressibility is influenced by the kind of down the jacket is stuffed with and what the shell is made out of. If this can be a essential consideration for you, search for jackets that include a compression sack for straightforward storage and transport.
To sum all of it up, right here’s a fast infographic on how to decide on a great packable down jacket to take with you in your adventures.
Caring for Your Down Jacket
Each packable down jacket requires completely different care. We advocate fastidiously checking the tag in your jacket for distinctive washing and care directions.
Your greatest wager is to maintain it out of a machine (until specified), and wash it by hand in chilly water. Then, merely dangle it to dry.
For smaller grime spots, use heat soapy water to scrub the areas of the jacket that want some TLC. You ought to have a recent jacket very quickly!
When you’re not touring, preserve your jacket out of its pouch to assist retain its form and kind.
FAQ on the Best Packable Down Jackets
Goose down are normally bigger than duck down which suggests they’ve the next fill-power. The increased the fill-power, the hotter!
Packable down jackets are an awesome addition to any wardrobe as they’re light-weight, heat, and might simply be saved in your bag. They are additionally straightforward to layer, leaving room for each a shell rain jacket and thermals beneath.
The highest grade you may get for fill-down is 900. Most packable down jackets vary from 650-800 fill-down which is sufficient to preserve you heat and toasty.
While most individuals suppose that packable down jackets aren’t as heat, this isn’t all the time essentially true. The essential factor you could search for when selecting a down jacket is it’s fill-power and fill-weight.
Hopefully this text provides you a good suggestion of what to search for in a packable down jacket and also you’ve discovered one which’s excellent on your chilly climate travels. Seriously, these jackets are definitely worth the funding. Once you’ve gotten one, you’ll in all probability be kicking your self for not getting one sooner.
If you’re in search of extra inspiration on journey jackets, try our information on greatest journey jackets for any sort of journey. Stay heat!
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