Down Is Still the Warmest, Most Packable Insulation — Here Are the Best Men’s Down Jackets

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A winter coat and a good pair of boots are most effective when there's a down jacket in between. A men's down jacket with lofty baffles trap air against the body to keep you warm when temperatures get near freezing. They cans serve as a mid-layer while skiing or be your top layer when running errands around town.

Buying a down jacket is an investment, and if you want yours to last several seasons, it’s important to go with a brand that prioritizes quality rather than fashion trends—your jacket should last long beyond the trendiness of puffies as leisure wear. As of late, down jackets made to hold up against the elements are considered stylish, and we think many of our recommended down coats work just as well at base camp as they do on city streets.

The Best Men’s Down Jackets

• Best Overall: Patagonia Down Sweater Hoodie

• Best Budget Option: L.L. Bean Bean's Down Jacket

• Best Parka: Outdoor Research Super Alpine Parka

• Best Packable Jacket: Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2

• Best Splurge: Arc'teryx Thorium Down Hoodie

What to Consider

What Does Denier Mean?

The shell material on down jackets—a.k.a., the outer material—employs polyester or nylon for water resistance and durability. Denier (D) is a unit of measurement used to determine the fiber thickness of the individual threads in the shell fabric—the higher the number, the more durable the fabric.

We’ve listed the denier measurement for jackets where manufacturers provided it— our Best Parka option has the highest count at 30D, so this jacket will stand up to daily wear as well as rough use outdoors or at work. Down jacket shells also have a DWR treatment—or durable water-repellent treatment—to keep out moisture. They'll repel water to a degree, but aren't waterproof like a 3-layer construction rain jacket. If you need warmth and waterproofing, we recommend layering a rain shell over your down coat, or opting for an insulated rain jacket like Patagonia’s Granite Crest jacket.

What Is Fill Power?

Fill represents the volume of an ounce of down when it's compressed. Down jackets typically have 450- to 900-fill power, and the higher the number, the warmer the jacket. Your best bet is to buy a jacket with at least 550-fill-power made with duck or goose down that’s ethically sourced and carries one of two sustainable down certifications, either Responsible Down Standard (RDS) or Global Traceable Down Standard (Global TDS). RDS certified ensures down feathers are ethically sourced and Global TDS provides transparency when tracking the source of down to ensure animal welfare.

Some product descriptions mention “mapping” when describing insulation. This means the down inside the jacket has weather-treated insulation at points of high moisture—like underarms—to ensure the insulation doesn’t get wet and compress, thus reducing its efficacy. In genuine duck and goose down jackets, this sometimes means opting for treated, recycled, or synthetic fill in those areas. Synthetic fill, like CoreLoft, provides the same amount of warmth and won’t compress when wet.

All of our recommendations use duck or goose fill without any synthetic down, except for the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 and Arc’teryx Thorium Down Hoodie. These have down mapping.

Fit and Features

Most of the down jackets we list are cut close to the body to trap heat and give you the option to wear as a mid-layer underneath a winter coat or shell. We mention styles with a more generous fit for those who want the option to layer underneath or just appreciate some extra room. Features that block wind are another important consideration, like Velcro or elastic cuffs, a drawcord or rib knit at the hem, high collars, and hoods that are adjustable or stow-able.

How We Selected

We considered insulating capability, materials, and style when we started researching the best men’s down jackets. We then consulted our editors as well as our test team for their recommendations for skiing, climbing, and commuting in frigid winter temps. Our selections cover brands we trust for their customer service and quality control, including Patagonia, L.L.Bean, and Arc’teryx. We also made sure to keep most of our recommendations reasonably priced, with budget-friendly options as well as a few high-end picks.

Sweater Hoodie Men's Down Jacket

Windproof and lightweight, the Down Sweater is the perfect all-around men's down jacket and will work as both a top or mid layer. It boasts an RDS-certified 800-fill giving you maximum warmth and the shell is DWR-treated so it can handle some rain or snow.

Elastic cuffs and pull-cord hem help to clock wind and rain out, and seal in warmth. Its internal chest pocket converts into its own stuff sack making the jacket easy to pack.

Reviewers say this jacket is extremely light and warm and requires little layering when temperatures drop to the upper teens and lower 20s. Patagonia's stellar reputation for standing behind their product is also a huge bonus so you can buy with confidence.

Bean's Men's Down Jacket

The Bean's down jacket is great for casual wear and light hiking. Its 650-fill power keeps your warm and the nylon shell repels light rain or snow. The paracord zipper are easy to pull even if you're wearing a pair of gloves and an adjustable hem allows you to cinch and seal out the cold.

Its lined with fleece at the neck and upper back to give you some extra warmth but unlined throughout the body and sleeves allowing for easy layering. It doesn't have a hood but the high neck helps to keep you protected against the elements. This jacket isn't DWR coated so while the nylon shell provides some protection, you'll want to wear something with more substantial weatherproofing. Still, it's great on cold, dry days or can serve as a warm mid layer.

Super Alpine Men's Down Jacket

This down parka will keep you warm when hitting the slopes, snowmobiling, and pretty much anything else you want to do outside during a particularly frigid winter. The 800-fill down jacket extends past the hip for extended coverage and has design details you want in an activewear jacket: a helmet compatible hood, adjustable cuffs and hem, plenty of stash pockets, and soft chin guard.

It uses a 30-denier nylon shell which is more durable than other nylon and polyester shells. Like most parkas, it has a generous cute and makes for easier layering. It packs down into an included stuff sack but since it's a bigger parka, it won't pack down as small.

Ghost Whisperer 2 Hooded Men's Down Jacket

This lightweight jacket is less than 9-ounces but is stuffed with 800-fill goose down with synthetic insulation used only in the wrists so the cuffs don't get damp with runoff.

It has a slimmer fit to be worn underneath a shell and comfortably fits under a backpack waist belt. This jacket also packs down small and has great compressibility to throw in a backpack or hang off your daypack.

The zip pockets and zip closure are small and use a small paracord tab and the hood has not adjustable cord but fully covers the neck. While these might seem like a drawback, these details keep this jacket nimble and out of the way for those that are climbing or tackling trails. The adjustable drawcord hem can seal out the elastic cuffs fit snug against your wrists.

Thorium Hoodie Men's Down Jacket

The Thorium is warm, wind-resistant, and lightweight from the outerwear experts at Arc’teryx. It’s insulated with 750-fill gray goose down that’s RDS-certified and synthetic Coreloft insulation strategically placed throughout the jacket in areas prone to moisture. The elastic cuffs and drawstring hem help to keep out the cold and the jacket packs plenty of pockets to stash belongings.

Customers love the fit of this jacket because it’s easy and comfortable to layer and fits past the hip for a bit of extra coverage. The two-way zipper gives you more venting options when it gets too hot or you want to seal out the cold.

It’s compressible and packable, making for a good travel jacket, and packs down into its own included stuff sack.

Autumn Park Men's Down Jacket

If you have more to spend and want something that's a bit warmer but still reasonably priced, this option from Columbia is an excellent choice.

The jacket also has RDS-certified 650-fill down, but there's more loft and better baffle construction. A high zip-up collar blocks wind along with the soft elastic cuffs. There are also zippered pockets at the sides and chest. This jacket also uses a reflective lining that helps to trap in heat while letting moisture out to keep you comfortably dry.

Its simple design is easy to dress up in the city or use for casul hikes and trails.

Stormhenge Hybrid Men's Down Jacket

The Stormhenge gives you the best of both worlds: it has a two-layer construction and seamless shoulders like a rain shell but is stuffed with 850-fill goose down and fleece-lined pockets for warmth. The baffles are welded instead of sewn to keep out moisture and reduce cold spots.

Adjustable cuffs and hem seal out the rain and cold and the helmet-compatible hood is perfect for winter sports. It has hand pockets as expected (meant to be accessible with a backpack waist strap) but also a bunch on the inside—a zip chest pocket and two drop pockets can hold onto gloves, beanies, and other necessities. Pit zips allow for quick venting if you overheat.

Hikers and campers can appreciate having waterproof warmth even if this jacket isn't as packable as others on our list. It's also good if you find the baffles on down jackets unflattering since they're only on the interior of this jacket.

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