The 11 Best Down Jackets of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall for Women

Lolë Emeline Down Jacket

$159 at Amazon $159 at Nordstrom View on Lolelife.com

Our Ratings

• Fit
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Warmth
  5/5

The Emeline claimed its spot as the best down jacket for women thanks to how lightweight, comfortable, and warm it is. The fit is slim and feminine thanks to a slight scrunch in the back, but at no point did we feel restricted in terms of movement. We found that it does run a bit large, but with no bulky feeling, and it makes for easy layering underneath. The inner and zippered outer pockets are deep enough to hold whatever you may want to store in them, and there is also an adjustable, removable hood that you can button up and tuck into the neck buttons when you need extra warmth.

The fabric is breathable while still being warm, and it stayed as fluffy as the day we opened it throughout our two-month testing period, like wearing a cloud. It kept us warm down to around 40 degrees Fahrenheit — lower than that and you’ll likely need to add additional layers, though it’s rated down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. But it shines most in transitional weather and during casual activities. With 12 different colorways available, there’s one out there for everyone.

The Details: XXS to XXL | 100 percent nylon (solids) or 100 percent polyester (prints) | 550 fill power | 1.1 pounds

Best Parka for Women

Eddie Bauer Altamira Down Parka

View on Amazon View on Eddiebauer.com

Our Ratings

• Fit
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Warmth
  5/5

If you prefer your down jackets on the longer side, go for the Altamira from Eddie Bauer. There’s plenty of room for layering and movement, with a slightly longer back to avoid any draftiness. Throughout the four months of testing, we especially loved the velcro straps on the cuffs that help keep you insulated. Similarly, the removable hood also has buttons to help it fit more snugly. We loved how lightweight this jacket felt without letting any wind blow through, although you may want to opt for a heavier coat in freezing temperatures. Anyone who wants to be outdoors in transitional seasons will appreciate this parka’s versatility and excellent build quality. We also appreciate that it comes in regular, petite, tall, and plus sizing.

The Details: XS to XXL | Nylon | 650 fill power | 1.33 pounds

Best Packable for Women

Outdoor Research Helium Down Hoodie

$299 at Amazon $130 at REI $299 at Backcountry

Our Ratings

• Fit
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Warmth
  5/5

You don’t need to sacrifice style for portability with the Helium thanks to a flattering silhouette and a cinch at the waist. The back is slightly lower than the front, which we thought was great for keeping warm when sitting down because it keeps your bottom covered, and there’s room for light layers under (though nothing bulkier than a midweight zip-up). It’s still easy to move in and lightweight without giving up warmth or features — you get a drawstring closure on the hood and waist, elastic cuffs, zipper pockets, a clip for keys or your ski pass, a chest pocket, and a divided interior compartment, all of which are well thought-out for winter outdoor sports and activities. Throughout our two-month test, we even wore this coat both hiking and skiing and popped it into the wash afterward to get it looking good as new.

It then folds into its own pouch when it’s time to pack it away — perfect to take along on a winter camping trip. The hood and shoulders are waterproof, though the rest of the jacket isn’t, but the fabric is densely woven and super smooth to the touch, with no feathers escaping during our testing period and nicely lofted channels to keep things cozy. Even during night football games and cold-weather mountain biking, it still kept us warm but not sweaty, and it provides good wind protection as well. It has a more rugged and casual look, but you can still wear it all the way through après ski and not look out of place.

The Details: XS to 4X | Nylon | 800 fill power | 15.4 ounces

Best Lightweight for Women

Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket

$410 at Amazon $88 at REI $295 at Backcountry

Our Ratings

• Fit
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Warmth
  5/5

Cotopaxi’s bright colors decorate a jacket that runs true to size, with a full range of motion and minimal bulk. This jacket feels so lightweight that we were surprised to find it was really warm as well — in fact, warmer than some other heavier puffer jackets and peacoats we’ve tried this season. We loved the shape of the hood and the way it stayed on well even when running. It’s got plenty of features in addition to that secure hood, including water-resistant fabric, an adjustable drawcord on the bottom hem, an elastic hood, and cuff binding. After four months of testing, we especially love the spacious zippered pockets (including one internal pocket). You can also pack the jacket into its internal pocket, which is ideal for fitting it into a backpack when hiking. It may be too lightweight for seriously cold temperatures, and it has a more tailored fit, so you’re going to want to layer over it rather than under it if needed. It has more of a sporty than fashionable look to it, but it’s versatile enough for a range of activity levels thanks to its light weight and breathability, and that bonus packability makes it easy to carry. Plus, there are 12 different colorways available, ranging from bright to more subdued.

The Details: XXS to 3X | Nylon | 800 fill power | 14 ounces

Most Versatile for Women

Rab Microlight Alpine Down Jacket

View on Amazon $295 at REI View on Rab.equipment

Our Ratings

• Fit
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Warmth
  5/5

This down jacket was so comfortable, we sometimes forgot we were wearing it. It’s extremely lightweight and allows for full range of motion whether you layer it with a T-shirt or a wool sweater. The hand pockets are deep enough to actually store things (always exciting in women’s clothing), plus there’s a small zippered chest pocket that’s extra convenient for storing the included stuff sack. The contrasting color liner is a stylish touch, and the fabric feels smooth to the touch. You can wear it under a rain shell for extra water protection or as an extra insulating layer under a different winter jacket, as it won’t be warm enough for single-digit temperatures on its own, but it should do well until then. 

The Details: XXS to XXL | Nylon and polyamide | 700 fill power | 14.6 ounces

Best Overall for Men

Kühl Spyfire Hoody

View on REI View on Kuhl.com

Our Ratings

• Fit
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Warmth
  5/5

Our favorite down jacket for men is the excellently designed Kühl Spyfire, which immediately shot to the top of the list of best down jackets we’ve ever owned. The jacket stands out with a distinctive but subtle color shift in certain lighting (we tested the Turkish coffee colorway, which had shades of deeper green amid the calm brown). It has plenty of pockets — on the chest, sleeve, waist, and interior — as well as an adjustable hood. The construction feels high-quality in the lightweight yet optimally warm design, which kept us warm every time we put it on, even when riding a motorcycle. And even after hitting the ground at 25 miles per hour, the jacket still looked exactly the same, with nary a feather creeping out.

Kühl added larger baffles on the front and back of the jacket for extra warmth, combined with smaller baffles on the side and arms to minimize bulk so it fits well and doesn’t flap around in the wind or feel like it’s dragging in any direction. It’s also fairly breathable and feels ideal for outdoor activities up to moderate intensity (it might be easy to overheat if you’re running or doing other intense outdoor workouts). It does run slightly small, so those between sizes or those who want to layer underneath may want to size up, but it also did such a great job of keeping us warm that we didn’t feel any need to layer under it.

The Details: S to XXL | Nylon | 800 fill power

Best Packable for Men

L.L.Bean Ultralight 850 Down Hooded Jacket

$269 at L.L. Bean

Our Ratings

• Fit
  4/5
• Design
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Warmth
  4/5

When you’re on the road, it’s a nice bonus to be able to pack your jacket into itself to make it more compact. L.L.Bean’s down jacket does just that in addition to fitting well and allowing plenty of room to move. We found that the sleeves and hem hit at the perfect length, and there’s room for layers underneath as well as space to stash your belongings — and then stash the jacket itself by folding it up into its own pocket. The fabric feels smooth even if you’re only wearing a T-shirt underneath, and the down is lightweight and bounces right back to its original volume after being packed. This jacket weathered rain, prolonged travel pacing, and long hours of wear without any damage to the fabric or loss of volume in the down during testing. It’s also windproof and weatherproof but still breathable, though you may need to add an extra layer or two underneath on extremely cold days. Note that it runs a little large, so you may want to size down if you like a closer fit or are between sizes, though with both regular and tall sizes, you should be able to find one that suits you.

The Details: S to 3XL | Nylon | 850 fill power | 13.76 ounces

Most Warm for Men

Mountain Hardwear Phantom Alpine Down Jacket

$400 at Amazon $210 at REI View on Mountainhardwear.com

Our Ratings

• Fit
  5/5
• Design
  4/5
• Value
  5/5
• Quality
  4/5
• Warmth
  5/5

For the blusteriest of days, turn to the Phantom. While it’s made for cold temperatures, we found it very comfortable even in milder winter weather thanks to its breathability. It can work for winter sports as it has a good range of motion and smart design touches like elastic wrist cuffs, a drawstring at the waist, two interior pockets (one zippered to hold your phone safely), and two zippered exterior pockets. The jacket is lightweight but still feels like it’s good quality and will stand up to winter activities from skiing to sitting outside for football games, retaining plenty of heat while still being stylish as well. It’s water-repellent but not completely waterproof or windproof.

The Details: S to XXL | Nylon | 800 fill power | 1 pound

Best Active for Men

Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Hoody

$399 at REI View on Patagonia.com

Our Ratings

• Fit
  4.5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Quality
  4/5
• Warmth
  5/5

We love the Patagonia Fitz Roy jacket for how lightweight and breathable it is while still insulating body heat. It’s quite roomy, making it easy to add layers underneath if needed, and the down is a little bulky but not so much so that it’s cumbersome. The adjustable bungee at the waist helps you dial in your fit, and hand pockets are nice and deep for storage. It also features a zippered front chest pocket and an interior stow pocket so you have plenty of storage space if you’re wearing it while hiking. The hood is large enough to be helmet-compatible, making it a great option for rock climbing, although we had questions if the fabric would hold up to rough, abrasive surfaces. The outside fabric is fairly light and feels great to the touch, full of plush and airy down so we never felt overheated. After wearing the coat regularly for four months, it has also proven to be a durable coat despite the light materials. We think it would work well for outdoor activities like hiking or light jogging, but we wouldn’t necessarily want to do extreme workouts in it for fear of getting sweaty and compromising the down.

The Details: XS to 3XL | Nylon | 800 fill power | 1.07 pounds

Best Everyday for Men

Lolë Odin Down Jacket

View on Lolelife.com

Our Ratings

• Fit
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Warmth
  5/5

For a down jacket that can take you from your commute to a powder day, opt for the Odin. It was easy to move around in, with a full range of motion and a good layering capacity. It runs a bit large, so size down if you’re usually between sizes, and it felt slightly bulky in terms of volume but not heavy or cumbersome. It also has plentiful features, including a detachable powder skirt, two interior pockets, three exterior pockets, an adjustable hood, and wrist gaiters with thumbholes in the sleeves. All of the components are well done, from the comfortable interior and fuzzy pockets to the durable, matte exterior. The jacket is lighter than it looks and warm enough to be a solid winter jacket, handling wind and rain easily. It’s best for cold-to-freezing temperatures since it’s rated all the way down to -4 degrees Fahrenheit, but we still found it breathable and comfortable in more moderate temperatures. It was both agile enough for daily city wear and warm and waterproof enough for outdoor activity. The clean, minimalist design and stylish accents make it versatile across environments, though we wouldn’t recommend it for rugged outdoor activity like backcountry hiking. It has one of the best ratios of warmth to weight we’ve found.

The Details: S to XXL | Polyester, polyurethane, nylon, elastane | 700 fill power

Best Budget for Men

Adidas Essentials Down Jacket

$108 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Fit
  5/5
• Design
  4/5
• Value
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Warmth
  4/5

Opt for affordable, classic style with Adidas if you don’t need maximum heat retention. We were pleased with the fit of this jacket, which fit true to size and didn’t limit any motion or layering potential. It has a simple and streamlined design, with two snap-closure hand pockets, two inner pockets, and a zip front. The interior and exterior fabrics both feel high-quality, smooth, and comfortable to the touch, and they held up during our testing. The fill isn’t especially thick, so it’s good for moderate climates or as a layer in the winter. It didn’t hold warmth quite as effectively as some heavier jackets in our tests, but it’s still great for transitional weather or layering (we like it with a crewneck sweatshirt). It’s also stylish enough to wear out and about thanks to Adidas’ retro embellishments.

The Details: XS to 3XL | Polyester | 13.6 ounces