20 Best Down Jackets In 2018

Arcteryx joins the down jacket free-for-all with this stylish, incredibly warm offering; the Cerium SV Hoody. It’s as light as a feather but durable and water resistant and has a tailored collar that’s second to none in the ultralight down jacket department. This is a slick looking addition to your winter wardrobe and we mean that in the best sense. You’ll look as great as you feel wherever you go.

The Nuptse is another North Face down jacket that cuts a smart profile while keeping you snug no matter how hard Old Man Winter tries to ruin your day. It’s filled with copious amounts of goose down and sports a fat insulated collar that will prevent drafts from leaking down your back. There’s double layered taffeta in the shoulders for added durability and an internal breast pocket where you can stow your wallet, work pen or any other piece of everyday carry.

Calvin Klein ventures into the practical winter wear arena with the Packable Down Jacket for men. It has the eclectic styling touches you’d expect from a big name fashion house but never loses sight of its primary function: to keep you warm. Like all of the down jackets on this list it will do that and then some but unlike some of the others it will also win you major style points. It slips on like a glove, has numerous zip pockets and comes with a nylon tote bag.

Columbia checks in with a winner here. Their Turbo Down Jacket is light, bright and warm as waffles. It features binding at the cuffs, a generous upright collar that blocks cold wind on your neck, has dual zippered hand pockets and an adjustable hem for when the temperature really drops. Another great feature of the Turbo down jacket is the water resistance that will stand up to snow and those light, cold drizzles.

While there admittedly isn’t a lot of design wiggle room when it comes to down jackets 32 Degrees manages to carve out a niche of their own with this minimalist beauty. It’s filled with 90% down and features dual zippered hand pockets just in case you forgot your gloves. The upright collar keeps the wind off your neck and the simple, elegant lines make this down jacket great for the pizza joint or the opera. For those that like their fashion unembellished.

Tommy Hilfiger couldn’t resist wading into the down jacket pool and we’re glad he did because the results are as effective as they are compelling. Surprisingly the Men’s Ultra Loft Quilted Packable Jacket is also one of the more affordable on our list. Go figure. The rich color helps brings some light to the winter season and the large zippered pockets acknowledge we carry around more stuff than our parents did. All in all a warm, well-built packable down jacket at a great price.

The next down jacket for men on our list is another from The North Face. This time it’s their Gotham Jacket II. The Gotham Jacket II occupies a grey area between down jacket and down coat. It’s the kind of hybrid that will have you nodding your head when you see it. It features dual side and breast pockets and an insulated hood with removable faux fur trim. It utilizes 550 down and does a great job as a windbreaker. Slip your hunting GPS into one of those pockets and wear it into the wild.

Arcteryx joins the down jacket free-for-all with this stylish, incredibly warm offering; the Cerium SV Hoody. It’s as light as a feather but durable and water resistant and has a tailored collar that’s second to none in the ultralight down jacket department. This is a slick looking addition to your winter wardrobe and we mean that in the best sense. You’ll look as great as you feel wherever you go.

The Frost Fighter down jacket by Columbia is about what you’d expect from a company with so much outdoor experience. It’s understated but effective, handsome without being garish and well-made from the stitching to the tough, easy-to-use zippers. The standing collar protects your neck from that old north wind and the whole thing drops easily into your washing machine. A great everyday down jacket you’ll find yourself wearing everywhere.

The Microlight is filled with 750FP goose down for excellent loft and heat retention. The outer shell is ripstop nylon so there’s no worrying about small cuts taking out the whole jacket and there’s an insulated hood because after all, your head is going to need some love when the temperatures drop too. Not the cheapest light down jacket on the list but worth the stretch if you can make it.

This down jacket from Rab takes a step toward being a down coat without ever completely crossing the line. The outer shell is made of 100% ripstop nylon and the insulation is lofty, ultra-warm 800FP goose down. There’s a generous sized hood with faux fur collar, “AquaGuard” hand warmers in the side pockets and adjustable cuffs with Velcro stays. This is not only one of the lightest down jackets you’ll ever wear it may also be the warmest one in its weight class.

While technically this isn’t a down jacket it has enough down jacket-like characteristics that we’re including it here. The Canada Goose Mens Expedition down coat is rated down to -20 F and there’s little doubt it will meet that standard. This is an impressive piece of winter weather gear that features plenty of pockets with Velcro closures, excellent wind resistance top to bottom, a generous insulated hood and a fetching design.

Here’s another down jacket that that is every bit as much mens down coat as it is jacket. It’s a well-insulated, snug fitting, hooded piece of winter wear with enormous kangaroo lined pockets, an insulated hood with faux fur collar and attractive leather detailing. This jacket is intended to fill the void between your standard winter jacket and your big time winter coat. There’s lots of storage space as we alluded to, and the shell is tough and water resistant.

Here’s another stylish and oh-so-warm down jacket from Rab. The Neutrino Endurance doesn’t have much to do with neutrinos but does have plenty to do with keeping you warm. This jacket uses 800FP goose down, has AquaGuard zipped pockets, a hood that zips to the chin and the whole thing can be easily packed away without compromising the integrity of the jacket or the insulation. A great looking, ultralight down jacket for work or pleasure.

Outdoor research pays a visit to our list with this Floodlight down jacket for men. It features a 22D ripstop nylon shell that’s filled with 800FP high-loft goose down for incredible warmth. This is a waterproof down jacket that’s breathable and does double duty as a windbreaker. It has a tailored look with a high collar, adjustable cuffs and a well-insulated hood. It’s a bit longer than some other down jackets for when the weather turns bone-chilling.

The 2nd Canada Goose entry on our list of best down jackets is their Hybridge Lite Hoody. This is a tres stylish light down jacket; one that will have you finding excuses to wear it even after the weather has begun to warm up. It’s extremely light, has snag-resistant zippers and a tough outer shell that resists tears and abrasions. There’s plenty of pockets and a snug hood that will keep your head warm when the Alberta Clipper comes sweeping down the plains.

The Brooks Range Mountaineering Mens Mojave Down Jacket is another stylish down jacket intended for younger guys who like to make an impression while staying warm on the coldest days. It features adjustable cuffs with Velcro stays, discreet zippered side pockets and a well-insulated hood. 800FP goose down is used to provide the extraordinary warmth and with its reflective ripstop surface you’ll make quite the entrance wherever you go.

This is a simple, almost elegant quilted down jacket intended for those days when a sweater isn’t enough but a coat would be too much. The 800FP high-loft down will provide all the heat retention you need while the windproof ripstop polyester shell will only enhance those warm, fuzzy feelings. There’s plenty of room for your essential gear but don’t look for a hood as this is a true down jacket.

Here’s one down jacket that will blow you away with its ability to keep you baking even when the river has frozen over. It does that by way of its Piumino goose down filling, its wind-breaking ripstop shell and its Polyamide lining. It has a bit of a throwback air to it but don’t let that fool you. This is a state of the art light down jacket that will take whatever Mother Nature can throw its way. It’s also pretty damned expensive but if you can swing it you’ll have the warmest down jacket on the block.

Rounding out this list of down jackets is the ZShow Lightweight Packable down jacket. This one is a bit longer than other down jackets and a bit puffier too. But it’s a true jacket through and through. It has a stand up collar that keeps the cold breezes off your neck, a tough nylon shell and 2 interior pockets for more sensitive items like cash and your phone. The cuffs are elasticized and the whole thing can be packed down to practically nothing.