How to Evaluate Premium Down-Filled Outerwear

How to Evaluate Premium Down-Filled Outerwear

Down is the insulator of choice for backpacking, alpine climbing, and backcountry skiing.premium down-filled outerwear It's lightweight, compactable, and incredibly warm for its weight. However, it's not as durable as synthetic insulators and can lose its insulating ability when wet. The good news is that down insulation can be treated to resist moisture, and this has become a standard feature on many premium down-filled outerwear.

The amount of down used in a jacket is typically measured by its fill power.premium down-filled outerwear This reflects the quality of the down—the higher the number, the better—and is determined by how much space one ounce of down fills in a testing device when compressed. The higher the fill power, the more loft and warmth per ounce. Most entry-level down jackets use 550- to 650-fill down, while high-end climbers' jackets from brands like Mountain Hardwear and Rab use 800-fill or better.

Another factor in a jacket's warmth-to-weight ratio is its compressibility. We look for models that can be easily stuffed into their own pocket or a pack with minimal loss of loft (see the chart below for a comparison). We also evaluate fabric thickness, known as denier—the thinner it is, the more a jacket will compress. The best jackets in this category combine thin shell fabrics with ultralight down and a trim fit to deliver superior packability without sacrificing warmth.

While most of these ultralight options are designed to be worn as a midlayer over a lightweight base layer, we've included a few models that can be worn as a cold-weather stand-alone outer. These include the Outdoor Research Coldfront Down Hoodie, a staff favorite, which provides an excellent balance of warmth to weight with the added protection of weather-ready VerticalX Eco synthetic insulation in the cuffs and shoulders.

As a final note, we've included some down and synthetic hybrid jackets that are meant to be used as a top-layer in serious winter conditions and for activities like alpine climbing and snowshoeing. These jackets often offer features like a water-resistant shell and a soft inner liner that protects against abrasion and tears.

While Montbell may not spend money on paid athletes or splashy marketing campaigns, their gear has a solid reputation among alpinists and other outdoors enthusiasts. We particularly recommend their Plasma 1000 jacket, which is filled with ultra-premium 1,000-fill-power down in a paper-thin 7-denier shell for a light weight of only 4.9 ounces all-in.

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