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  Characterize: Scott Gilbertson

  Mammut

  Gigantic Height IN Hooded Jacket

  Mammut’s 700-possess-energy down Waymarker IN hoodie stuffs down remarkably runt (into its beget pocket), weighs limited for the warmth it offers, and makes a lawful all-spherical puffer. If truth be told, I feel this is unquestionably one of the most attention-grabbing all-spherical puffer jackets you ought to aquire. It be dapper sufficient to work nicely spherical town, nonetheless also colossal on the path. The possess weight is 4.5 ounces, which I feel is the right quantity of down for 2 very total scenarios: can compile to that you just will be out being active on a winter day with temps within the 20- to 30-level vary, where you don’t settle on anything else can compile to that you just will be transferring, nonetheless the minute you discontinue you want something. That is where a gentle nonetheless warm down jacket fancy this if truth be told shines. The a quantity of snarl is icy evenings and mornings during shoulder season journeys, can compile to you want warmth nonetheless don’t compile to possess your pack.

  The 100 p.c recycled, wind- and water-repellent Pertex outer shell is rather light, unquestionably compressible. It would not feel rather as durable as some others on this checklist, nonetheless I haven’t had any points after many months of making an strive out. My one gripe right here is that there’s no drawcord on the waist, which contrivance that you just can now not seal it up to boot to some others at this notice. The hand pockets are also on the high facet, which nicely incorporates a harness, and works nicely hiking with a pack, nonetheless couldn’t be the most attention-grabbing if that’s now not your utilize case.

  Specs
  Down possess energy	700
  Bear weight	4.5 oz.
  Weight	13.5 oz.

• Easiest Shoulder Season Jacket

  • Characterize: Scott Gilbertson

  • Characterize: Scott Gilbertson

  • Characterize: Scott Gilbertson

  • Characterize: Scott Gilbertson

  Birth air Vitals

  Vantage Alpine Down Jacket

  Birth air Significant’s Vantage Alpine down jacket is a almost ideal puffer for shoulder season backpacking journeys, where you want more warmth than an ultralight puffy, nonetheless don’t settle on the bulk and weight of a full –40-level jacket. The Vantage is designed to supply most thermal effectivity for as limited weight as most likely (16 ounces for males’s colossal), and it succeeds. Sooner than the usage of this jacket, I’d had been skeptical that which that you just can create a in actuality warm jacket fancy this and withhold it below a pound, nonetheless Birth air Vitals has performed it.

  There are two substances that create this jacket so lawful. The first is the ExpeDry down, which attaches gold particles to the all of the formula down to interrupt down hydrogen bonds in water and discontinue droplets from forming. This speeds evaporation and keeps the down dry in high humidity (you know, can compile to that you just will be sweating). As down collects humidity throughout the day, it loses its loft, and due to the this truth its skill to trap your physique warmth. ExpeDry mitigates this seriously. Birth air Vitals is now not the predominant to make utilize of it. Marmot, Katabatic Equipment, and others also compile varied slumbering baggage and jackets with it, nonetheless the Vantage is the predominant time I if truth be told compile noticed a right distinction. There could be intensely limited lack of loft in this jacket throughout the day.

  The 2nd thing that Vantage does is mitigate warmth loss via the zero-stitch baffle manufacture. In deserve to stitching (which lets wind, grime, and water in), Birth air Significant’s fabric is 2 items of cloth woven into one. This helps discontinue drafts and contrivance much less grime will get within the jacket, in principle which contrivance the down can compile to peaceable final longer (grime is one reason down starts to lose its loft). The Vantage inhabits a too-frequently unnoticed center floor of temps between what a summer season puffy can take care of and what requires a full-on expedition coat. For me this contrivance the bulk of my journeys, which are inclined to happen in September and October, and one more time in April and Would possibly perchance. For those shoulder season journeys, this is the most attention-grabbing jacket I’ve tested.

  Specs
  Down possess energy	850
  Bear weight	7.5 oz.
  Weight	16.1 oz.

• Easiest Price Puffer Jacket

  

  Characterize: Scott Gilbertson

  Decathlon

  Simond MT100 Hooded Puffer

  Decathlon’s Simond MT100 is my accepted budget down hoodie. It be got 3.1 ounces of 800-possess-energy down, giving it a colossal warmth-to-weight ratio for the price. At 10.3 ounces for the males’s medium, it’s impressively light, and it with out bother packs down into its beget pocket, which serves as its stuff sack, with a reversible zipper. The outer shell is 15D polyamide with a DWR carry out that stands up nicely to life on the path. I’ve had mine for almost a 365 days now, and the DWR peaceable does completely, shedding snow with out wetting out. Here’s a down puffer though, so that you just desire a shell if it rains.

  I fancy the MT100 because it’s very warm, would not weigh too contrivance more, and is frequently on sale for spherical $80, making it an renowned good buy for ultralight hiking. I’ve old it as stand-alone warm jacket element on three-season journeys, and as piece of a winter layering gadget in more outrageous prerequisites, and it’s performed completely at each. I recommend sizing up, in piece because this one runs runt, nonetheless also because when which that you just can compile a merino mid-layer below it, you enhance the versatility seriously with out sacrificing the skill to make utilize of it as a stand-alone jacket in more light prerequisites.

  The MT100 is ecstatic and would not feel fancy that you just will be trapped in a slippery nylon sack the methodology some puffers enact. The 15D shell (which is much less vivid than lighter denier shells), blended with the much less technical minimize, contrivance this one looks comely spherical town and it’s my pick when touring to icy cities. The first competition to the Simond (which, by the methodology, old to be known as Forclaz, nonetheless turn into as soon as rebranded final 365 days) is the REI Magma 650 hoodie, which is in our honorable mentions.

  Specs
  Down possess energy	800
  Bear weight	13.2 oz.
  Weight	10.3 oz.

• The Warmest Puffer Jacket

  

  Fjällräven

  Expedition Down Lite Jacket

  According to a conventional manufacture from 1974, this deeply impressive jacket from Swedish open air specialists Fjällräven reminds us lawful how warm goose down will seemingly be. With 14.6 ounces of 700-possess-energy down, I doubt I will ever be icy in it. If truth be told, in a 17-level icy snap now not too long ago, I don’t assume I even zipped it up. It’s colossal, pudgy, nonetheless brilliantly insulating, due to the a knowing aggregate of sustainably sourced goose down, feathers, and a generous serving to of synthetic possess across the shoulders. This knowing thought contrivance you won’t raze the effectiveness of the down while you compile caught within the rain. Oh, and the hood is subsequent-level. Honest don’t build an snarl to in affirm to leer on the assist of you.

  The polyamide outer has a PFAS-free DWR coating and is 100 p.c recycled, as is the liner. The zippers are spacious too, making them easy to make utilize of when wearing colossal gloves and mitts, and there’s five generous pockets for stashing layers—now not that you just’ll need them. At 2.7 pounds (1,260 grams), this is now not a jacket for quick and light adventures, and the bulk from the down can feel almost outrageous while you’re having to enact a lot whereas wearing it, in particular across the spacious (gloriously warm) hood. But, while you’re confronted with a winter of subzero temperatures, this is as lawful as I’ve figured out with out having to put money into an Everest-ready suit. Remarkably, this is the Lite model. Whenever you enact need even more icy protection, there’s the traditional Fjällräven Expedition Down jacket with a protracted profile and 680 grams of insulation. —Chris Haslam

  Specs
  Down Bear Energy	700
  Bear Weight	14.6 oz.
  Weight	44.4 oz.

• Easiest Puffer Jacket for Backpacking

  

  Characterize: Scott Gilbertson

  Mountain Hardwear

  Ghost Whisperer UL Hoodie

  Mountain Hardware’s Ghost Whisperer UL hoodie has been a widespread pick amongst ultralight backpackers since it turn into as soon as presented a few years ago. It remains the most attention-grabbing puffer jacket for anybody seeking to shave every final ounce off their pack weight. It weighs lawful 6.7 ounces for a males’s medium (7.3 ounces for the males’s colossal I tested), packs all of the formula down to a limited limited thing (stuffing into its beget pocket), and the 1,000-possess-energy goose down presents unquestionably seemingly the most most attention-grabbing warmth-to-weight ratios on the market. The very lightweight shell discipline cloth is a aggregate of 5D and 7D ripstop nylon, which is a limited bit more fragile than heavier jackets, nonetheless it has held up nicely to date in my making an strive out. I will safely state that the Ghost Notify UL is everything I ever wanted in an ultralight down puffer after which some.

  What items it moreover some a quantity of very nice puffers available are the limited facts. First there’s the 1.9 ounces of 1,000-possess-energy down, which is as high a possess energy as which that you just can safe in a jacket of this class, which contrivance that you just will be getting the most warmth and loft that which that you just can for the least quantity of weight. My easiest caveat for this jacket could perchance be, when that you just will be the form of particular person that will get icy with out bother, which that you just can perchance perchance settle on something with a limited bit more possess. The traditional Ghost Whisperer Down Hoody (now not the ultralight) has 3 ounces of 800 possess energy and is barely warmer in most scenarios, the trade-off being it’s heavier as nicely (about 9 ounces for a males’s medium). Also check out the Katabatic Equipment puffer below, which is seriously warmer. I enact now not compile icy with out bother, and I if truth be told compile figured out the Ghost Whisperer UL works nicely for me as a warm layer to throw on in camp at high elevation is summer season, a mid-layer for hiking in icy prerequisites, and a mid-layer below the Rab Glaceon Professional in outrageous icy.

  Other facts that create the Ghost Whisperer UL our prime pick for ultralight hiking encompass two very nice zippered hand pockets with a lawful quantity of dwelling to stash limited stuff fancy a 3-season hat and a few gloves, alongside with an adjustable drawstring on the waist to withhold drafts out. I also esteem how runt this thing packs down, nicely below the scale of a 1L bottle (leer photograph). It packs into its beget left pocket with a reversible zipper, though it can perchance stuff down even smaller while you compile a separate stuff sack.

  My easiest gripe about this jacket is that there’s no drawstrings. The hood, cuffs, and waist hem are all elastic. This works comely for the cuffs and hood, nonetheless I wish there had been a drawstring for the waist. This is why, if I am ready for temps below 40, I bring a heavier puffer. The the rest of the time, this is what which that you just can safe in my backpack. Sign that I figured out the fit to be a limited bit runt. According to the fit handbook on the Mountain Hardware web sites, I am right between medium and colossal. I tried each and figured out the colossal fit a lot greater.

  Specs
  Down possess energy	1,000
  Bear weight	1.9 oz.
  Weight	6.7 oz.

• But one more Remarkably Light Jacket

  

  Characterize: Scott Gilbertson

  Stellar

  Ultralight Down Hoodie

  Stellar’s Ultralight Down Hoodie packs 5.2 ounces of 850-energy down possess into a remarkably light jacket that weighs a mere 9.9 ounces (males’s colossal). Despite the low weight, it manages to compile 5 pockets (zippered hand pockets, chest pocket, and descend pockets within) and a helmet-applicable, adjustable hood. Our tester figured out it to be warmer than our prime-pick Ghost Whisperer (now not comely given the added down and overall weight), and lawful all of the formula down to about 30 degrees on its beget, 15 while you throw a a lawful snide and mid-layer below it. I fancy the greater baffles, which mean much less drafts, and the heavy-accountability zippers that you just don’t in most cases safe in a jacket this light.

  The recycled 10-denier nylon ripstop shell pairs nicely with the 850 down, the baffles possess out mercurial can compile to you pull it out of your pack. The shell is water-resistant, shedding snow shiny a lot in our making an strive out, nonetheless it’s a long way easiest 10D, which contrivance if it’s if truth be told coming down which that you just can settle on a shell. The down is HyperDRY, which is water-resistant due to the the DWR coating (PFC free).

  Specs
  Down possess energy	850
  Bear weight	5.2 oz.
  Weight	9.9 oz.

• An Electrical Puffer Jacket

  

  Ororo

  Heated Puffer Jacket

  Now not like everything else on this online page, Ororo’s insulated jacket is now not lawful insulated. As nicely as to the bogus Thermolite insulation, the Ororo Heated Jacket generates warmth via a sequence of carbon-fiber heating substances, which chase into a rechargeable battery. There are heating pads on the left and right chest, mid-assist, and collar. Which that you just can perchance perchance now not withhold watch over warmth to particular particular person pads, nonetheless there are three warmth settings to can enable you to dial in a ecstatic temperature to match your inconvenience level. The outer shell is a DWR-handled nylon that does a lawful job of shedding light rain and snow, though as with these kinds of puffer coats, which that you just can settle on a rain jacket if it if truth be told starts to rain.

  Ororo claims as a lot as 10 hours of battery life. That is on low. Running at high in some very icy prerequisites, I figured out that five to seven hours turn into as soon as more life like, nonetheless it’s quite loads of time for quite loads of stuff you would settle on this jacket for (my daughter declared it the right ice-skating jacket). Due to the the constraints of batteries, I’d now not snatch this jacket into the backcountry, nonetheless for spherical town, running errands, walking the canine, this is a colossal jacket for those coldest of days.

• Easiest Synthetic Jacket

  

  The Cirrus Flex is a artificial jacket, with PrimaLoft Silver RISE recycled artificial insulation. It has 5.5 ounces of possess in a size medium jacket. The Thermic stretch fleece facet panels supply a flexibility and freedom of circulate which that you just can now not safe in any a quantity of jacket right here. It feels much less fancy that you just will be wearing a puffer jacket, more fancy a mid layer (nonetheless with the warmth of a puffer). I beloved the Cirrus Flex hoodie loads because it keeps the burden down, packs up rather runt, and it’s easy to toss to your discover as a form of “lawful in case” jacket. It be now not the warmest thing right here, nonetheless it’s colossal as an active insulating layer when temps descend or the wind picks up and to boot you compile to withhold going.

  Specs
  Down possess energy	Synthetic
  Bear weight	5.5 oz.
  Weight	15.7 oz.

• The Traditional Puffer Jacket

  

  Patagonia

  Down Sweater Hoody

  I’ve owned Patagonia’s traditional down puffer for the greater piece of a decade and most incessantly reach for it after the predominant snowfall. It uses 800-possess-energy down and borders on overstuffed, making for a beefier coat than many others I’ve tried. It has quite loads of loft nonetheless, and the recycled nylon ripstop fabric peaceable looks fancy it does the day I took it dwelling (that fabric is now produced from recycled fishing nets). Patagonia jackets enact are inclined to stride a limited bit colossal in my expertise, and my puffer is a size colossal though I most incessantly wear an XL. —Martin Cizmar

  Specs
  Down possess energy	800
  Bear weight	5.6 oz.
  Weight	12.1 oz.

• The Iconic City Puffer

  

  Aritzia’s graceful, dapper Huge Puff is unquestionably seemingly the most company’s flagship items; it can perchance be figured out on metropolis dwellers all the contrivance in which via the nation (it’s Martha Stewart’s accepted winter jacket, for instance). There are a ton of a quantity of variants, which encompass the Rain Supers and even a Huge Puff for dogs, nonetheless for the needs of this handbook, I opted to examine out the packable Huge Stuff Mid.

  This jacket deserves the hype. Despite its top class recognition, it’s fairly priced. Aritzia would not put up its possess weight or weight, nonetheless the runt goes all of the formula down to my knees (I’m 5’2″) and offers outstanding warmth for its weight. I if truth be told had been wearing this during a moist Oregon winter where lows now not incessantly ever dip below 40 degrees F at night time; Aritzia rates this jacket for all of the formula down to 32 degrees, which is precisely right. The sheen is gentle nonetheless also water-repellent and wind-resistant. It be hooded and packs into its beget pocket.

  Here’s a metropolis or bolt puffer; it’s designed more for looks than layering. It be minimize very slim, and I will now not be stuffing my beloved Icelandic horse sweater below it anytime soon. Alternatively, I packed this for quite loads of journeys this winter and can highly recommend it for bolt, if that bolt would not involve sitting within the woods within the snow. —Adrienne So

  Specs
  Down Bear Energy	800
  Bear Weight	n/a
  Weight	n/a

• Easiest Hotter Ultralight Down Jacket

  

  Courtesy of Katabatic Equipment

  Katabatic Equipment

  Tin Cup Puffer

  Whenever you happen to need more warmth than our prime lightweight pick presents, nonetheless peaceable compile to protect as light as most likely, this is the jacket to grab. I if truth be told compile a half-dozen down puffers in my closet, nonetheless the Tin Cup jacket from Colorado down specialist Katabatic Equipment has been my spin-to all winter. The jacket uses 850-possess-energy down and a gentle-weight 10D fabric produced from recycled yarns, which presents it a ambitious Forty eight p.c ratio of possess to whole weight. It be colossal light, colossal packable, and the scale XL has a minimize that fits me completely, hanging cosy to my physique to withhold warmth with out feeling constrictive when I’m active outside.

  Be warned that it’s constructed for efficiency over sheer durability, and after months of wear I did discontinue up with a mysterious burned hole within the shell after a long night time out in frigid Novel York, which I had to awkwardly patch. I’d peaceable aquire and heartily recommend this jacket, though I’d withhold it out of unpredictable metropolis environments. —Martin Cizmar

  Specs
  Down possess energy	850
  Bear weight	5.6 oz.
  Weight	12.7 oz.

• Easiest for Chilly Weather Mountain climbing

  

  Characterize: Scott Gilbertson

  Rab

  Glaceon Professional Down Jacket

  When the climate will get down nicely below freezing, when the wind makes my cheeks burn, this is the jacket I grew to change into to. With a snide layer on the bottom, wool sweater over that, then this jacket, I turn into as soon as toasty warm walking within the early morning sit back of winter (most incessantly –10 Fahrenheit in January). Whenever that you just will be familiar with Rab (which is a bigger notice in Europe), this replaces the Axion Professional. The shell is lightweight (20D) Pertex ripstop nylon that’s nicely windproof and water-resistant. I figured out it turn into as soon as in a predicament to shed snow with out snarl, though when that you just will be in a tight downpour which that you just can settle on some achieve of outerwear, fancy a rain jacket, over it.

  Interior, this jacket has 9.3 ounces of recycled 700-possess-energy down. There are generously colossal, fleece-lined hand pockets and a chest pocket, though no within stash pockets. The drawstring on the bottom keeps drafts out, and the generous hood is made to head over your helmet. That, blended with the two-methodology necessary zipper, which makes belaying simpler, create this our pick for icy-climate hiking. My easiest snarl with the Rab Glaceon Professional is that I’ve but to safe gloves that could enact for my hands what this jacket does for the rest of me.

  Specs
  Down possess energy	700
  Bear weight	9.3 oz.
  Weight	21 oz.

• A Huge Price Down Jacket

  

  Characterize: Scott Gilbertson

  REI Co-op

  Magma 850 Down Jacket

  REI’s upgraded, warmer, and packable down jacket is the Magma line, which is on hand with or with out a hood. This functions the same recycled ripstop nylon shell because the 650 Down Jacket below, nonetheless united statesthe possess energy to 850. At 12.5 ounces it’s a long way now not the lightest within the checklist, nonetheless for the price it’s laborious to argue.

  The entrance zip has a wind flap, and there could be even a draft collar, something you now not incessantly ever safe in a puffer at this notice. Even greater, the hood uses an elastic cord within the assist that helps you to cinch it down and withhold icy air from blowing within the perimeters. I’ve primitive this in some shiny icy winds coming off Lake Superior, and I haven’t been anything else nonetheless warm. My easiest right snarl is the sloped baffles on the chest, which seem fancy they would lead to down piling up and icy spots, nonetheless I haven’t seen that in my three months of making an strive out.

  Specs
  Down possess energy	850
  Bear weight	unlisted
  Weight	12.5 oz.

• Vogue Appears, Birth air Efficiency

  

  Klättermusen

  Lopt Hooded Down Jacket

  But more insulated brilliance from Sweden, where northerly winter temperatures can hit −20 degrees Fahrenheit and even −40. Klättermusen, which interprets to “Mountain climbing Mouse,” manufactures some of the absolute top-performing and sublime open air equipment on hand. Yes, they’ve been co-opted by the vogue-oriented Gorpcore Gang, nonetheless don’t let the hipsters build you off. The Lopt, which is also on hand as a vest and with out a hood in each males’s and girls folk’s sizes, weighs lawful 15 ounces (435 grams) and boasts a generous 800 possess energy of sustainably sourced white goose down. It’s water-repellent, temperature rated between +10 and –10 Celsius, and the PFC-free bio-based outer fabric is impressively wind-resistant.

  I’ve been the usage of this jacket every day in London and to boot as a mid-layer whereas snowboarding, and I’ve been impressed by the lofty warmth from the down and the consolation of the fit. It can also pack down into a pocket, which is continuously a bonus. The asymmetrical opening—something you peep on a quantity of their equipment—does snatch a limited little bit of growing older to, nonetheless as soon as fully zipped up there’s fully zero chin chafing or annoyance from the zipper. Now you can’t assume you’ve ever been annoyed by a zip, nonetheless have confidence me, you leer when it has been eliminated.

  It’s a long way laborious to survey past the high notice of Klättermusen equipment, and to boot you enact now not compile to converse $400 to safe a jacket that keeps you warm, nonetheless when which that you just can compile deep pockets, I feel the notice presents a necessary upgrade on athletic and pleasing efficiency when in contrast with vogue-focused brands comparable to Moncler and Canada Goose. —Chris Haslam

  Specs
  Down possess energy	800
  Bear weight	unlisted
  Weight	15.3 oz.