Lands End Mens Tall Lightweight Insulated Jacket Review Warmth

The research

• Why you lot should trust us
• Who should get this
• How we picked
• How nosotros tested
• Our pick: Montbell Alpine Low-cal Down Jacket
• Flaws but not dealbreakers
• Budget pick: REI Co-op 650 Downward Jacket 2.0
• Likewise slap-up: Arc'teryx Atom LT Jacket
• Upgrade pick: Stio Hometown Down Hooded Jacket
• Notable contenders
• The competition
• Care and maintenance
• What to look forrad to
• Sources

Why you should trust us

This guide'south primary author, Catherine Harnden, grew up with a wolf contingency plan: She and her brother were supposed to run up their platform play fort's slide if animals of a predatory nature showed up. All of this is to say that cold weather—and the jacket to combat it—has remained a abiding in her life since she was built-in. When she was researching this guide, she lived at the base of Mount Washington in New Hampshire, home of infamously volatile conditions and the highest recorded air current speeds in the Northern and Western Hemispheres. Plus, she's a multi-sport—including skiing—professional athlete, which has given her the opportunity to push a broad range of gear to its limit.

To reinforce what she'south learned from a lifetime spent outdoors, Catherine visited Dawn-Marie Jackson, manager of Sport Thoma ski shops and Waterville Valley Ski Resort, who has more than than 25 years of outdoors-industry product feel. She interviewed Outdoor Gear Exchange's consignment gear expert Aaron August. She likewise tapped viii accomplished athletes and testers to decide the elements that brand and break a jacket.

Freelance journalist and frequent Wirecutter contributor Jenni Gritters updated this guide with the newest models from 2020. Jenni has a decade of feel writing well-nigh health, the outdoors, parenting, and purchasing. She has covered items ranging from headlamps and downward jackets to hiking poles and backpacking tents to baby swings. She grew up in the wet and cold cities of Boston and Seattle, and she currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her son, husband, and dog. She spends her summers hiking, her falls and springs tromping through the rain, and her winters wearing snowshoes. Which means she's a pro at evaluating the all-time—and worst—winter gear.

In the past, Jenni contributed gear reviews to the REI Co-op Journal, which is an editorially independent publication run by the REI Co-op. To go on the findings of this review objective, we based our conclusions both on quantitative data (such as weight, compression size, length of the torso, then on) and qualitative information from tertiary-party testers who had no affiliation with any of the gear companies in this guide. The findings for this guide were as well reviewed and affirmed by 2 additional Wirecutter outdoors editors who have never had any professional relationship with REI.

Who should get this

We sought an everyday stand-lone insulator that could as well serve as a layer for people who enjoy outdoor pursuits (like skiing and backpacking) but who need a jacket that easily transitions to the demands of work, school, or home. If you lot're looking for one undecayed daily driver to boss your coat rack with warmth and functionality, this guide is for yous. If you're constantly chilled and wishing you had brought an extra layer, this is also for you. Simply if you're aiming to stay warm while you lot summit Everest, sad, these jackets haven't been selected with yous in mind!

How we picked

Photo: Rozette Rago

A great jacket is ane that provides reasonable warmth for daily tasks and for outdoor activities. Instead of a style choice or a specialized, sport-specific one, we were seeking the most functional, multi-use insulated jacket for a mix of activities. Subsequently peppering the above-mentioned jacket enthusiasts and experts with questions, we found the following features to be the most important for a great, multi-utilise insulated jacket:

• Warmth: A great jacket should keep yous warm, and nosotros tested both down and synthetic insulators to find jackets that, when worn over a light base layer, will maintain reasonable warmth for activities like starting the machine on a cold morning. Synthetics are better for those who live in damp, moist climates, every bit well as for pursuits that tend to be rougher on gear—shoulder-season hiking or bouldering, for case. Tester Tristan Baldwin chooses synthetics for "the high humidity conditions so normally seen in between-flavor mountain sports." When a synthetic jacket gets damp, it stays warm. Downward is favored by those who prefer the dry out wintery conditions that see frigid temperatures without much moisture. Known to maintain warmth without needing active motion, downwardly will protect confronting colder temperatures but will be rendered useless when moisture. And it is normally packaged in a soft outer textile that's more susceptible to rips and tears.For our down options, this meant looking for a reasonable volume of loftier-quality down filling, which is measured past "fill value." The fill value reflects how much loft and quality the downwardly has; fill values typically range from 650 to 850. One ounce of 850 fill will be warmer than one ounce of 650 fill since information technology'due south made upwards of higher-quality downward with more than loft. For a 650-fill-power jacket to be as warm every bit an 850-fill-power one, it would need to be thicker, bulkier, and heavier.

• Flexibility: A smashing jacket should enable the wearer to experience their full range of movement without existence hindered. It should be comfortable plenty to hike in, cycle in, climb in, even sleep in (for those overnight camping trips with dropping temperatures).
• Durability: We defined this feature as a low susceptibility to ripping or tearing or seam separation. A dandy jacket should not rip, tear, or pill when used in average outdoor settings. Brushing against undergrowth or tree branches, jostling car keys in pockets, and backpack straps should not crusade harm to the jacket (but shouldering Grand Slalom ski gates might).
• H2o resistance/drying process: No downwardly jacket available in today's market place is truly waterproof. Although goose down is by and large considered to exist the warmest insulation material, the trade-off is it'due south useless when wet. A realistically corking jacket would be able to dry indoors in several hours and would accept some exterior treatment blanket (DWR) that would crusade h2o to initially bead on contact, rather than be absorbed immediately.
• Windproof: Similarly, we didn't find a good, truly windproof pick from any make. Notwithstanding, a bully jacket should exist able to at least minimize air current.
• Overall fit: A neat jacket should exist loosely comfy while still functional. It shouldn't be constricting, all the same it should also be able to fit underneath an additional layer (such as a wind- and waterproof outer crush), and you lot'll want to have room for a base of operations layer.
• Convenient zippers/pockets: A great jacket should have zippers that are piece of cake to use when you're wearing gloves and durable enough to withstand beingness frozen and defrosted and used oftentimes. A bully jacket should have the standard two front paw-warmer pockets, every bit well as interior pockets and a breast or shoulder pocket. At that place should be enough pockets to comfortably carry a jail cell phone, wallet, radio, snack, pocket knife, spectacles cleaner cloth, car keys, and the miscellaneous bits and pieces that accumulate—especially if an activity involves children.
• Packability: A keen jacket should pack down to roughly the size of a grapefruit and be comparable in weight to a golf game ball. It should and then be able to recover back to its original loft every single time, for more than ii years.
• Ethical sourcing: We looked for jackets that independent down certified past the Responsible Down Standard (RDS), which aims to ensure a company sourced its feathers from birds that weren't alive-plucked. Global Traceable Down Standard (Global TDS) is another down certification program that both guarantees the safety of the birds and too audits the farms distributing feathers. (There's talk of merging the Global TDS and RDS standardizing processes in the near time to come.)

How we tested

For the first iteration of this guide, we tested 33 jackets. For the 2020 edition, we looked at 12 more. When the jackets arrived, we made short piece of work of packing them downwards, and then measured their sizes and weights. Nosotros found that virtually online specs were right (although information technology was oftentimes hard to pack the jacket down equally minor every bit the advertised size).

Catherine and 8 enthusiastic friends collectively trail ran, hiked, skipped, crawled, and climbed through iv laps of the Presidential Traverse and 26 split up individual summits. The group totaled more than 220 miles and over 170,000 anxiety of meridian change (the combined total of all our pinnacle gains and losses over that distance, every bit measured past a Garmin tracker).

In 2020, Jenni took the updated models of our original picks and 12 new options on adventures in the Pacific Northwest, ranging from drizzly camping trips on the Olympic Peninsula to late-night strolls on the San Juan Islands to long alpine hikes in the North Cascades.

New Hampshire's Mount Washington Elevation, home to recorded wind gusts of up to 231 mph. Photo: Tristan Baldwin

• Attempt to stuff the following into the jacket pockets: eyeglasses case, cell telephone, pen, lip lotion, car/business firm keys, $1.50 in change, five $i bills, 2 newspaper receipts, wallet, earbud headphones, pack of gum, mittens, scarf, chapeau, granola bar, pocket knife, travel tissue pack. See what fits. Go out contents in pockets and attempt jumping jacks; getting in, sitting in, and getting out of a car; and a couple of basic yoga poses, to decide what pocket placements effect in protruding items or kidney jabs.
• Try clothing combinations such as layering a sweatshirt underneath or a vanquish on meridian.
• Compare shell material, insulation, construction, sleeve lengths, cuffs, seams, pockets, zippers, inexplainable, water resistance, drawcord hems, drop-dorsum hems (which make the front and back of a jacket slightly longer than the sides), collars, warmth.

• Hike both higher up and beneath the tree lines, ideally for a 5-mile department, to appraise a jacket'south functionality (with backpack straps, layers, and zippers). Contain overnight backpacking for the pinnacle contenders, taking notes on how they retain warmth every bit the temperatures drop drastically.
• Habiliment each jacket for daily commute from dwelling to office to errands in town and back again. Determine level of comfort in going from indoor to outdoor to commercial-space temperatures.

Our pick: Montbell Alpine Calorie-free Down Jacket

Photo: Rozette Rago

Our pick

Weighing but over ten ounces (with a little more than than iii ounces of that beingness made upwards of 800-fill up-power down), Montbell's Tall Light Downward Jacket (available in women's and men'south sizes) is an incredible value when you're comparison warmth with price. This ways you're getting a jacket that's warm enough to wear in the winter for activities like skiing, snowshoeing, camping ground, sledding, and commuting, but at a price typically reserved for jackets that are much less warm and comfy. This isn't to say that the Alpine Light coat isn't equipped to handle fall or spring weather condition, merely rather that it is capable of meeting your needs in fall, spring, and winter, thanks to its breathability.

Beyond warmth, the Montbell jacket packs downward to fit into a cinch sack, and its features include ii large inner pockets; 2 microfleece-lined hand-warmer pockets; a microfleece-lined neckband; YKK zippers of appropriate sizing to the jacket; a driblet-back, drawcord hem; loftier-quality rubberband cuffs; and a DWR coating that actually keeps out some wet. This coat was also soft plenty to comfortably sleep in.

Many of our testers preferred a jacket that could pack into one of its own pockets and did not crave a stuff sack. The Montbell does come with a stuff sack, but it'south as well capable of existence compressed into ane of its own pockets. Even though this jacket isn't the nearly stylish of the agglomeration, its boxy fit makes layering like shooting fish in a barrel. And sure-fire cords around the waist will keep cold air from getting in or warm air from escaping.

Nosotros appreciated these extra features on a multi-twenty-four hour period trip during which we comfortably stashed cell phones in a manus-warmer pocket for easy selfie-taking access, without experiencing any pack-strap/pocket conflicts. This jacket met and exceeded expectations as an insulator to take into the backcountry, keeping united states warm at night. And it behaved beautifully equally we walked through belatedly-autumn rain clouds—the moisture beaded off the surface, keeping the downwards inside from getting matted.

The Montbell's YKK zippers are polish and like shooting fish in a barrel to grab, even with cold hands. Photo: Kyle Fitzgerald

Our testers went for a multi-day backpacking trip in this jacket, putting it through stone scrambles, contact with pack straps and grabby undergrowth, and, on i memorable occasion, hugging a scraggly pino tree to avoid falling into a stream. Throughout our adventures, there were no glaring signs of wearable and tear. In fact, over multiple seasons of long-term testing during the winter months, the Montbell jacket has held up beautifully. Just if you lot do finish upwardly needing to repair your coat, Montbell offers "reasonable rates" for repairs; it volition also fix manufacturing errors for free, for the lifetime of the jacket.

Flaws just not dealbreakers

The Montbell Alpine Light Downward Jacket has held upwards well for us throughout multiple winters. But if you're someone who has a tendency to destroy gear, the downside of this jacket's exceedingly soft feel is that it likely wouldn't survive, say, puppy-training sessions; for that, we'd prefer the Arc'teryx Atom LT. As well, the down used in Montbell's jackets is not certified by the Responsible Down Standard (RDS)—although the visitor pledges on its website to avoid live-plucking methods and to use only feathers that are collected as a by-product of h2o fowl raised for the food industry. We as well wish this jacket came in plus and petite sizes.

Budget pick: REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket 2.0

Photo: Jenni Gritters

Budget choice

If you lot're looking for an inexpensive down jacket to wear occasionally, the REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket 2.0 (which comes in men'southward and men's tall sizes, and women'south and women's plus sizes) got top marks from our testers for its warmth and fit. The 2.0 is made with ethically sourced down, and it weighs around x ounces, depending on the size (like our superlative option). Its 650-make full-power downwards is better than that of budget competitors, which don't even list information about fill power on their websites. Though this jacket doesn't match the warmth of our superlative or upgrade picks, we found it to exist just right for shoulder-season adventures.

During a cold and wet fall camping ground trip to the Olympic Peninsula, the REI 2.0 coat emerged as a favorite. Its boxy fit allows for piece of cake layering, and the jacket blocked light current of air and fended off lite rain and overall dampness without the down turning into clumps, thank you to the fabric's DWR finish. The jacket cinches around the waist, and the wrist cuffs are comfortably lined with soft nylon textile. Information technology also has 2 zippered mitt pockets. And a major bonus: The 2.0 packs down smaller than most of its competitors, plumbing equipment easily into its own pocket; this, combined with the jacket's light weight, makes the coat unproblematic to stash in a haversack if the weather changes.

The REI 650 offers decent warmth, especially given its depression cost point. Photo: Sean Gritters

However, that'due south where the extras stop—and where you can run across the cost savings. The baffles on this jacket are wide, which means the down occasionally moves around and could clump up over time. After just a day of wearable, tiny feathers started to emerge from the seams (the sign of a jacket that will agree up for a few seasons simply that won't retain its warmth over the long haul). And the zippers tended to catch on the nearby fabric, just every bit they might on a poorly designed tent.

We did capeesh that this jacket comes in many shapes and sizes, offering options for tall men and plus-size women. Unlike many of the brands that offer plus-size clothing, REI'due south extended size options for this jacket actually lived up to the quality of the standard-size line; rather than just adding a side console to make the jacket larger, the REI 650 plus and tall options have continuous baffles for consequent warmth, and they contain nonetheless features as the standard offerings. Several online reviewers noted that the women's plus-size line can be a chip besides brusque and boxy, depending on your body shape. The men's model also comes in a hooded version.

Should yous find that this option doesn't work for yous, REI has a 100% satisfaction guarantee, which ways you tin can return any purchase for any reason within a yr. Ordinary wear and tear is non covered by the warranty (although some stores accept repair shops, or they tin can straight yous to their favorite down pros), just manufacturing defects are covered at any time. The down in these jackets is RDS-certified.

Likewise great: Arc'teryx Atom LT Jacket

Photo: Kyle Fitzgerald

Also great

If you lot're the accident-prone friend no i will lend gear to considering of your trend to shred equipment, or you lot live in or are headed to a clammy expanse, the Arc'teryx Atom LT Jacket (available in both women's and men'south sizes) is our pick for you lot. This jacket is as durable equally they come, not showing any signs of wear, even later we play-wrestled with a 1½-year-erstwhile pitbull puppy. This is but one of the advantages of choosing synthetics. Some of our testers are avid rock climbers, with accolades that include climbing Jungle Rex in Laos and Lost Arrow Spire Tip in Yosemite National Park. Their go-to jackets are before variations of the Atom LT because of how well information technology breathes, fits, and holds up to abuse. Even if you stand likewise close to a blaze and embers burn holes into this jacket, no filling will come unstuffed. (Yep, nosotros've tried this.)

Features include ane inner attachment pocket at breast level: For anyone with a tendency to get hangry during or shortly after high-intensity aerobic sports like trail running, being able to comfortably stash a Clif Bar in the inner chest pocket will prove invaluable. This coat also has buttery YKK zippers, too as ii fleece-lined paw-warmer pockets and stretch cuffs, which brand for very comfy and warm wrists.

Breathable side panels make the Atom an platonic pick for sweaty outdoor activities. Photo: Rozette Rago

The jacket as well cinches effectually the waist, to go along warm air in and cold air out as well every bit possible. But the goal of this jacket is non then much extreme warmth as information technology is breathability. Ultra-stretch, breathable side panels permit for piece of cake movement, which made the Atom our favorite for wintertime trail runs and alpine climbs. Information technology's lined with Coreloft insulation, which we establish dries much more apace than downward.

If you're looking for a super-warm wintertime jacket, look elsewhere. But if your goal is to wear one layer and be comfy running errands, exercising, and commuting to the function, this jacket is fantastic, with the bonus of venting appropriately. We should besides note that the fit of the Atom is quite narrow; it volition non piece of work for all body types, and the size range isn't as inclusive equally we'd like. (For a more size-inclusive synthetic option, endeavor the L.Fifty.Bean PrimaLoft Packaway.) It tin can also be hard to layer under this jacket (beyond a base layer) because of the narrow fit. Arc'Teryx offers a limited lifetime warranty programme for its gear.

Upgrade pick: Stio Hometown Down Hooded Jacket

Photo: Rozette Rago

Upgrade pick

Stio's Hometown Downwards Hooded Jacket (in men's and women's versions) has an abundance of pockets and offers a significant increment in warmth over other jackets we tested, making the additional value for cost instantly apparent. (Nosotros've seen this jacket retail for as low as $100, though, and then spotter for sales.) The Hometown jacket feels similar butter and features a tailored fit that yet allows for easy layering. Information technology boasts a soft yet durable DWR-treated crush; a drop-back, drawcord hem (which makes the forepart and back long and adds additional warmth); and fleece-lined hand-warmer pockets. The 800-fill-power, water-repellent goose-downwards insulation and an elastic-seamed hood (to seal confronting the elements) besides provide warmth and protection.

Though both models have microfleece-lined hand-warmer pockets, the men's jacket also has an outside zipper chest pocket that is microfleece-lined; the women's coat'southward zipper chest pocket is an interior pocket, so the equivalent microfleece is in the neckband of the jacket instead. The other notable variations can exist found in the terminate of the cuffs and the outer fabric. The women'southward cuffs are angled, reminiscent of a high-low dress, but with function rather than fashion in mind. The angled cut makes the pinky-finger side longer than the thumb side, keeping rogue elements similar snow and wind from going up your sleeve. The women'southward version'due south outer fabric made the jacket soft enough to sleep in only even so durable enough to play hard in, and information technology was surprisingly much improve at shedding water than both the men's version and the vast majority of the competition.

The soft-as-butter Hometown jacket is ideal for everything from backyard hangouts to days spent on the slopes. Photo: Kyle Fitzgerald

Both jackets characteristic drop-back, drawcord hems; massive inner dump pockets; YKK zippers; and a helmet-uniform hood consummate with a drawcord. An elastic inner seam gives the hood a perfect seal to keep the elements from sneaking downward your neck or around your confront. These features worked together to brand the après feel enjoyable and unlimited. After a difficult workout, a limiting social factor is usually how apace chill volition set in, requiring you to leave to modify into dry, fresh clothes. Just the immediate increase in core warmth when we put on this jacket, even after mountain biking or running, allowed united states of america to stay out, celebrating adventures indefinitely with friends. Tester Tristan Baldwin anticipates that the extra element protection would enable him to comfortably fit in a full day of skiing at the East Coast'southward windiest mountains.

Stio'due south down is RDS-certified, and you can even track the origins of the downwardly in your specific jacket using the product lot number on the hang tag that came with it.

A few downsides: This jacket definitely won't stuff into its own pocket, and it packs down only to the size of a 2-liter bottle or growler. Although this isn't a jacket to stash for just-in-instance scenarios and then forget, you wouldn't want to, given all of the additional features and fill weight. The Hometown coat as well doesn't come up in as broad a range of sizes as our budget pick.

We also heard complaints from our readers and online reviewers nearly Stio's customer service squad; at times, information technology can be slow to reply or even unavailable during regular business organization hours. Nosotros didn't feel any issues with client service during testing.

Notable contenders

Photo: Rozette Rago

The Patagonia Down Sweater (in men'southward and women's sizes) is a very stylish jacket for those who want to embrace an athletic vibe during the wintertime months in colder cities. It's an 800-fill up-power jacket that weighs betwixt 12 and thirteen ounces, depending on which model you lot order, and it has soft cuffs, well-fabricated zipper pulls, and a waist sure-fire. We found it to be very comparable to our budget pick in features and fit, although the Patagonia is much pricier. The downwards sweater likewise comes in hooded versions (men'south and women'due south), for people who need actress warmth.

The Uniqlo Ultra Light Downward Jacket (in men's and women's) has been a budget pick in this guide for many years, by and large due to the fact that you lot can sometimes discover it for less than $30. For people who don't live in very common cold places, or those who need a only-in-case jacket to stash in a become-pocketbook, this jacket does the flim-flam. It's non well fitted and non very h2o-resistant, and the zippers experience similar they might pause at any second. And the down gets clumpy chop-chop if it'due south squished down in a pocket (which information technology does well) or if information technology gets moisture. Uniqlo'south customer service is mostly hard to come up by, and though this jacket sometimes comes in extended sizing, online reviewers note that the plus-size jackets tend to be of lower quality. But for the price of this coat, we really tin can't complain. Some of our staffers take even seen these jackets in airport vending machines.

The L.L.Edible bean PrimaLoft Packaway (available in both men's and women's sizes) is a synthetic selection that packs downwards beautifully. Compared with our also-great synthetic choice, the Packaway didn't provide equally much warmth, and information technology was tough to layer nether or over, given its boxy shape. We think it's worth considering, though, if you're looking for extended sizing (it comes in both women's petite and plus sizes) for wet, agile adventures.

The men'south Eddie Bauer CirrusLite Downwards Jacket, which comes in "regular" and "alpine," was another favorite upkeep option amid our testers. If you're looking for a cheaper down jacket that'due south more fitted than our budget option and more fashionable for the city, this is a good pick. In nearly ways, it was comparable to our budget pick, though slightly more expensive: It has simple, broad baffles, large inner and outer pockets, and a narrower profile, which makes it more stylish but still like shooting fish in a barrel to layer under. The 650-fill-power down is warm, but as with our budget option, feathers speedily started emerging from the seams, indicating a lack of long-term immovability. The women'due south version didn't perform also every bit the men'due south.

The competition

We plant the down Swix Romsdal (in both women'southward and men's sizes) to be both surprisingly puppy-proof and durable. This promising offering was form-flattering and functional, and it would take been a top contender—if not for the difficulty of really finding it in stock online. Should y'all notice it in-store, though, it'southward a quality purchase.

The synthetic-fill up Patagonia Nano Puff, available in both women'due south and men's sizes, is popular and widely accustomed as setting the standard in fit. Information technology allows unconstricted motion without bunching or binding, and sees shoulder seams and sleeve lengths falling to appropriate lengths, allowing someone to guild their standard US size medium with conviction in fit. But unfortunately this choice remains underwhelming in warmth when compared with other options in our pool, and it'due south not as flexible or comfortable as our also-slap-up constructed-make full pick.

The women's Eddie Bauer CirrusLite Down Jacket leaked at the seams, fifty-fifty in a light rain shower. The down clumped when it got wet and didn't recover, and the jacket fabric was nearly see-through, allowing for an oddly unbalanced look with the clumpy downward. The cuffs aren't lined, and the coat felt restrictive across the chest and shoulders—fifty-fifty for our petite testers—which fabricated layering difficult. That said, nosotros similar that it comes in widely varying sizes, from petite to alpine to plus.

The Mountain Hardwear Super/DS Stretchdown (in men's and women'due south) was fashionable only less warm than many of its similarly priced competitors. The 700-fill-power downwardly—matched with a weight of 15-plus ounces and the fact that it didn't pack down small—put it lower on the listing than we'd hoped.

Beautifully fitted, the Helly Hansen Verglas Downward Insulator (in men's and women'south sizes) is uncommonly warm for its weight and easily packs into its ain hand-warmer pocket. Those pockets function beautifully as hand warmers, just there wasn't acceptable room for storage—even a cell phone and car keys fit uncomfortably. Some of our readers also noted escaping down after just one flavor of clothing.

The Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody (men's, women's) is a skillful effort at solving the age-old outcome of low-cal packable warmth versus waterproofing. This jacket does manage to serve the same functions as the Nano Puff—at a fraction of the weight—and nosotros found it to be virtually waterproof (cheers, DWR!). Unfortunately, the stitching seams that hold the PrimaLoft insulation in place are still, at the end of the day, stitched. This means that h2o was able to bead through at each of these holes. Our testers too took effect with the crinkly experience of the outer material.

The Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Hoody (women'south and men's) proved there can be such a matter as "too warm." Day-to-mean solar day functions caused testers to overheat, fluctuating betwixt sweating and freezing. The Fitz Roy is non intended for indoor or commuter employ. If a winter camping or ice fishing trip is in your future, though, this would be a bully choice because the increase in price is matched past equivalent warmth.

The Arc'Teryx Cerium SL, in a men's jacket and a women's hoody, was i of the most expensive options we tested, but we found the performance to be slightly disappointing for the price. The 850-make full-power down was, indeed, warm. And the 7.6-ounce weight for the women's small jacket (which was slightly heavier than the weight listed on the Arc'Teryx website) made it the lightest option in the agglomeration. During an overnight in xl-caste Fahrenheit temperatures, this was the jacket nosotros liked best. But the narrow fit made for limited mobility and difficulty layering, and it had no lined cuffs, only basic pockets, a not-great zipper, and a uncomplicated drawstring hood. The narrow baffles go on the downwardly from moving effectually or clumping, though, and this jacket would be a good option if you're headed out on a long, common cold ultralight backpacking trip.

The North Face up L3 Summit Downward, in men'southward and women'southward, is a popular jacket in Midwestern states, where hunkering down in the winter is a necessity. We can see why: Its 800-fill-power down is warm, and the jacket is very, very puffy. The wrist cuffs are nicely lined, and the fit is pretty run-of-the-mill (size upward if you plan to layer extensively). The hood has rubberband on information technology, too, to continue cold air from getting to your face. But this jacket is big and heavy, and it doesn't pack down small. Compared with the similarly priced Stio jacket, in that location'due south no competition.

Intendance and maintenance

We required all of our picks to be machine-washable, so you lot can wear your jacket anywhere you choose without living in fear of high dry-cleaning bills. For detergents, the Nikwax Tech Wash and Grangers Down Wash Kit are popular options. But a couple of lawn tennis balls and a mild soap will also get the job done, as detailed in this easy method from CleverHiker.

If yous don't trust your front-load washing motorcar with loftier-tech gear, endeavour adding two capfuls of regular Woolite to your bathtub, and and so requite the jacket a good scrub (or stomp!) with your easily or anxiety.

To dry out, drain the bathtub, stomp out as much water as possible, and so employ the towel-rolling method (which anyone who has done dress in a hotel sink knows): Lay a bath towel apartment, lay the garment on meridian of the flat towel, so whorl both together. To eliminate the remainder of the dampness, move your drying rack in front of the forest stove and terminate with a lite dryer cycle, in case there's any truth in the widespread instructions that the dryer has DWR-restorative backdrop.

No matter which technique you choose for cleaning your jacket, when information technology comes to storage, you should always unpack the jacket from its stuff sack to allow it breathe. Long-term, packed-downwards storage is widely discouraged because it can potentially break downwards the jacket'due south power to return to loft. Your jacket's power to insulate is dependent on that loft. To ensure its longevity, simply hang the jacket for its summer hibernation.

What to look frontward to

Nosotros'll be testing all of our picks and notable contenders throughout the winter in varying environments to meet how they handle air current, sleet, rain, snow, and ice. We likewise programme to test updated versions of down jackets from Columbia, Cotopaxi, and Feathered Friends. The Feathered Friends Eos Jacket, in particular, is a top choice manufacture-wide. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is experiencing product delays, and a representative told united states that it would exist dorsum online by next winter.

Sources

1. Dawn-Marie Jackson, 25-plus-twelvemonth outdoors industry expert, manager of Sport Thoma ski shops and Waterville Valley Resort , in-person interview , September 28, 2017

2. Aaron Baronial, Outdoor Gear Exchange'south consignment gear proficient , email interview , October 13, 2017

3. Beth Lopez, How to Care for Your Downwards Jacket, Backcountry , November 21, 2013

4. Dave Collins, How to Wash a Down Coat, CleverHiker

5. Andy Wellman, How to Choose the All-time Down Jacket, OutdoorGearLab , November xix, 2016

6. DWR Decoded, Backcountry , September 11, 2013

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Source: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-insulated-jacket/