Haglöfs Spitz Down Hood

Best Women’s Down Jacket Overall

Price: £279.95
Weight: 654g
Best for: Camping, climbing, unpredictable conditions
What we liked: Hydrophobic down, durable fabric, elasticated hood baffle
What we didn’t like: Bulky, loose sleeves

The Haglöfs Spitz Down Hood jacket is ideal for keeping warm on a belay stance or anytime when outside in the elements. The hydrophobic material repels moisture. This has kept us warm in the damp conditions of the persistent misty-rain that is common on the west coast of Scotland. At 800 goose fill-power, it is at the top end for providing a high level of warmth.

The outer polyester fabric on the jacket feels tough too. And following our rigorous testing, we do not expect it to easily rip, as might accidentally be the case with other down jackets.

At 554g it is not the lightest or most packable. It really needs a good stuff sack if you are planning to take it into more remote places. It is however a robust jacket that is worth its weight for blocking out the elements. Effective wind blocking design features include baffles around the hood, sleeves and along the full length of the zip.

Full Specifications

Hydrophobic 800 goose fill-power / polyester fabric outer / Nikwax treated / PFAS-free / baffled hood, sleeves and zip area / elasticated hood / elastic adjustable cord on rear of hood / helmet-compatible / long zip / straight cut / adjustable hem / elasticated cuff sleeves  / large reinforced zip tags / two-way zip / hidden inner pocket.

Read our full Haglöfs Spitz Down Hoody review.

Buy The Haglöfs Spitz Down Hood: £279.95 at Alpinetrek.co.uk

Rab Mythic Ultra Jacket

Runner Up

Price: £380
Weight: 537g
Best for: Climbing, hiking, backpacking
What we liked: Sustainably made, innovative, highly functional
What we didn’t like: It’s bulky so it doesn’t pair well with a rain jacket

This was formerly chosen as our best down jacket for women overall due to its impressive warmth-to-weight ratio. This thing feels super light but also super warm and there are loads of useful design details too. It’s since been knocked off the top spot by the Haglöfs Spitz Down which, while not as technical, still offers performance at a less eye-watering price.

The Rab Mythic Ultra is one seriously well-made jacket that’s designed to insulate in some very cold conditions. All the design details are there for those who want something to back them up on any alpine missions above the snowline, there are some admirable efforts around sustainability and, well, it just looks pretty smart too

You can expect a bunch of recycled materials, including Pertex’s 100% recycled fabrics on the inside and outside. The down all meets the Responsible Down Standard, and Nikwax’s Hydrophobic Down treatment is applied here to help the fill repel moisture. It’s a solution that’s completely water-based and earth kind.

There’s a clever baffle construction too including stitched-through baffles on the arms where more articulation and dynamic movement is required and box wall baffles on the body where maximum loft and warmth is wanted. It’s clever stuff and it works excellently. What’s more, the box wall baffles are all offset, further reducing the chance of any cold spots.

Full Specifications

100% recycled Pertex fabric / RDS-approved 900 fill power down / Nikwax Hydrophobic Down treatment / stitched-through and box wall baffle construction / Thermo Ionic Lining / two-way zip / stuff sack included / helmet-compatible hood / articulated arms.

Selected for our Greener Gear Guide – Here’s our full Rab Mythic Ultra Jacket Review

Buy The Rab Mythic Ultra: £420 at Ellis-brigham.com

Fjällräven Expedition Pack Down Anorak

Best Down Anorak 

Price: £360
Weight: 518g
Best for: Camping, hiking
What we liked: Responsibly sourced down, recycled fabrics, PFC-free
What we didn’t like: Warmth-to-weight ratio isn’t great

This is a light and packable down layer specifically designed for women. It offers excellent warmth for weight, thanks to its high-quality 700FP down fill, so it is suitable for multi-activity cold weather use. It works well as a standalone outer layer in cold, dry conditions, with a fit that will accommodate layers underneath. Having said that, it’s not so bulky that you couldn’t also wear it underneath a shell if required too.

The shell material and inner lining in the new series are both made of 100% recycled nylon, and the face fabric is also finished with a PFC-free water repellent treatment. This ensures added resistance to moisture without the need to resort to environmentally harmful chemical compounds. Similarly, the 700-fill power down is guaranteed to be 100% traceable and ethically produced. In fact, the Fjällräven Down Promise is recognised as one of the best in the outdoor industry.

The anorak design is actually very practical. Obviously, you sacrifice the slight convenience of a full-length zip, but in return you get extra insulation around the torso for additional core warmth, plus a useful central kangaroo-style dump pocket. There’s a cosy baffled hood and an extended hemline for full coverage too.

Full Specifications

700-fill power traceable down / multi-activity compatible / 100% recycled nylon shell and inner lining / PFC-free water-repellent face fabric / repairable design / kangaroo-style front pocket / loose fit / half-length front zipper / side zipper / single-layer stitch-through baffles / extra insulation on elbows and shoulders / two hand pockets / pack into kangaroo pocket / baffled hood / extended hemline.

Selected for our Greener Gear Guide – Here’s our full Fjällräven Expedition Pack Down Anorak review.

Buy The Fjällräven Pack Down Anorak: £315 at Ellis-brigham.com

Forclaz -5 MT100 Mountain Trekking Down Jacket

Price: £59.99
Weight: approx. 329g
Best for: Everyday walking, camping
What we liked: Lightweight, water resistant, very packable
What we didn’t like: Slightly restrictive around hips for our tester

This has helped us see off some cold, damp and blustery conditions this winter, most recently with a hike in the wilds of Ireland. It’s got a relatively straightforward design featuring two zipped outer pockets, a sizeable hood and a fitted build. It can pack away into its left pocket too, and has longer sleeves than most for optimum coverage, particularly when you’re reaching up for a hold while scrambling. While not the warmest down jacket on the list here, it’s certainly a good contender for an everyday walking jacket – and a great budget option too – especially when layered with a good base layer and outer shell jacket. 

Our tester and editorial assistant Jazz Noble said: “I really like how lightweight and packable this jacket is. I like a jacket I can almost forget I’m wearing and this did just that. I was hiking in some light drizzle at one point and was impressed with the water repellency too.”

The elastication on the hips was slightly restrictive on some steep ascents, though there’s a toggle there for adjustments. We also liked Decathlon’s sustainability efforts here, including RDS-certified duck down and the PFC-free water repellant treatment. 

Full Specifications

RDS-certified down / 5° to -5° comfortability / PFC-free water repellence / abrasion resistant / outer fabric: 100% 15D polyamide, 35g/sqm / 90% duck down, 10% duck feathers / 800 down fill power / 2 pockets / packs into left pocket / available in men’s and women’s / multiple colour options / -5°, -10° and -20° versions available.

Buy The Forclaz MT100 Mountain Trekking Down Jacket: £59.99 at Decathlon.co.uk

Salomon Elixir Ultra

Price: £360
Weight: 402g
Best for: Winter hiking, winter sports
What we liked: Good warmth-to-weight, cosy cuffs
What we didn’t like: Could do with a two-way zipper

This jacket’s fill is extremely lofty. Pull the jacket on and it feels like you’re wearing a big, cosy duvet. We used this in the wild mountains of the Cairngorms in Scotland and it proved to be an ideal insulator when venturing up above the snow line. We found it be highly packable too; it was possible to compress it down to about the size of a pint glass. 

Interestingly, it features a vapour-deposited metallic coating that’s directly applied to the lining fabric. This reflects any body heat radiating outwards straight back at you, thus reducing the need for extra insulation material. 

The DWR is free from eco-hazardous chemicals and the fabrics used throughout this are made from 100% recycled Nylon. Other details include a cinch-able hood, four pockets in total and glove-friendly zipper tabs. 

We found that this has a slightly longer cut than some down jackets, dropping down just below the backside. 

Full Specifications

Also available in a men’s version / 800 fill power down (90% down and 10% feathers) / 4 pockets / reflective details / PFC-free DWR.

Read our full Salomon Elixir Ultra Down review.

Buy The Salomon Elixir Ultra Down: £288 at Salomon.com

Helly Hansen Verglas Glacier Down

Price: £180
Weight: 550g
Best for: Mountaineering, trekking, ski touring
What we liked: Very soft, RDS-approved, packable, great chin guard
What we didn’t like: More recycled content would be good

The Verglas Glacier down jacket features a mix of goose down and PrimaLoft synthetic insulation at a fairly light weight of 550g. Approved by the royal down standard, Helly Hansen’s fabrics here are also bluesign quality. In other words, it’s the good (and more sustainable) stuff. 

We’ve been taking it for a spin this winter and found it to be a very lofty and warm down jacket. While a slightly longer cut than many down jackets, this made for some warm protection for your rear end on those colder hiking days. That being said, it wouldn’t be our go-to if wearing a climbing harness.

OM tester and editorial assistant Jazz said: “I really liked how genuinely soft-to-the-touch the jacket felt, which isn’t always the case with down jackets. The fleeced pockets and chin guard were another nice touch, and really added to the overall comfort factor.

“The multi-pocket options were also very handy when out and about. The internal mesh pocket in particular was a nice surprise and was great for slotting a map into. I wore it during some very light rain recently and the DWR seemed to hold up well, though I’m yet to face a more sustained  downpour so stay tuned for updates on that front.”

Other technical features include: a two-way main zip, some soft fleece at the chin guard, an adjustable hood and hem, two front hand pockets, and an inner chest pocket. The jacket also comes with a separate bag that it can be stuffed into. We were impressed with how small we managed to get it down to actually, especially given its size at peak loftiness. 

Full Specifications

XS to XL / insulation: 85% goose down, 15% goose feather / mix of European down and PrimaLoft water-resistant synthetic insulation / shell: 100% polyamide / lining: 100% polyamide / RDS-approved / bluesign approved fabrics / DWR treated / two front hand pockets / inner zippered chest pocket / internal mesh pocket / YKK zippers / 2-way main zip / ripstop fabric / fleece at chin guard / adjustable hood and hem / packable into separate bag (included).

Buy The Helly Hansen Verglas Glacier Down Jacket: £180 at Hellyhansen.com

Arc’teryx Thorium Hoody

Price: £280
Weight: 420g
Best for: Hiking, mountaineering, climbing
What we liked: Versatility, packability, lightweight, 750 fill power down
What we didn’t like: Lack of two-way zipper, harness friendly pockets and chest pockets

The Thorium AR is an exceptionally versatile down jacket that will work well across the seasons. It’s cosy, hardwearing, light and packable and fit for a variety of mountain missions.

With 750 fill European goose down, the Thorium AR packs a hefty punch on the warmth scale and can be worn as a mid-layer on those mega wild wintry hill days. A great option for winter mountaineers and adventures in the alpine, the Thorium AR does carry a bit of bulk so just make sure there’s enough room under your hardshell if you are considering using it as a mid. If you’re less in need of a full-on winter mid-layer and simply looking for a quality standalone warm outer to throw on at the summit, the wind and weather resistant Thorium AR will work equally well. The hardwearing Arato 20 nylon face fabric with DWR finish feels bomber and stands up well in the face of light precipitation.

In terms of features, the Thorium AR is a typical Arc’teryx piece – quality, well-designed, and zero fuss. From the corded zipper pulls that are easy to operate when wearing gloves to the low-profile StormHood with synthetic insulation, the Thorium AR is all about function over flash. And when the temps go back up and it’s time to return to mid-layers, the Thorium AR packs down into a 2.5L stuff sack that’s attached to the inside of the zipped internal pocket.

Full Specifications

Arato 20 nylon face fabric / DWR finish / 750 fill power down / two zipped handwarmer pockets / adjustable hem / elasticated cuffs.

Buy The Arc’teryx Thorium: £315 at Arcteryx.com

Artilect Divide Fusion Stretch

Best Hoodless Women’s Down Jacket 

Price: £320
Weight: 400g
Best for: General wear, winter sports
What we liked: Innovative, stretchy fabric, good water resistance
What we didn’t like: Face fabric is quite thin, lacking a two-way zip and external chest pocket

This is a very high spec down jacket and, during our tests, the quality of the materials really stood out. What’s perhaps most striking about this is just how stretchy and light the outer shell fabric is. We found that it allowed complete articulation while also feeling durable and resistant to any rough rocks or rogue branches. 

Related: Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets

Under the arms, an intriguing material called lavalan is used. This is made from 100% natural and renewable raw materials, including virgin wool and corn-based PLA. It feels like a stretchy cotton or synthetic fabric and, from what we’ve seen, definitely enhanced the overall performance and comfort of this down jacket. 

Another thing that stood out to us is the water resistant coating that Artilect have applied here. We noticed that this was excellent at keeping light rain from soaking into the insulation and, according to the brand, it’s a long-lasting application. In other words, it won’t wash out after a few washes. It has certainly lasted the length of our test period. 

Full Specifications

Men’s version also available / Also available as a hooded version / 700 fill power down / PFC-free DWR / YKK zips / 100% recycled lining / 20D Toray outer fabric / 1 zipped chest pocket / 1 inner dump pocket / Concealed lift pass pocket.

Read our full Artilect Divide Fusion review.

Buy The Artilect Divide Fusion: £185 at Alpinetrek.co.uk

The North Face Summit Pumori Down Parka

Best Expedition Down Jacket for Women

Price: £630
Weight: 538g
Best for: Mountaineering, climbing, layering
What we liked: Packs small, extremely lofty and warm
What we didn’t like: Potentially delicate outer

Designed for mountaineering, the Pumori is a seriously warm, technical, and packable down layer. Filled with a super lofty 800-fill power responsibly-sourced goose down, the Pumori is made to be worn over layers, including harnesses, mid layers or even a hardshell. And it can pack down into a small package and then return to a large, lofty jacket in a matter of seconds. The women’s version comes in radiant orange and sizes XS to XL.

The outer shell is made from 100% recycled nylon and has a non-PFC durable water repellent treatment which is able to deal with light drizzle. Here at Outdoors Magic we often advocate using Nikwax’s Down Proofing solution for giving down jackets a bit of extra wet weather resistance and we found using it with this jacket, once its original resistance had started to wear out, upped the threshold by quite a bit.

The parka has an adjustable internal hem cinch cord plus elasticated cuffs to help keep the warmth in but overall the fit is relaxed, leaving plenty of room for layers underneath, and the Pumori’s hood is helmet compatible and has a drawcord adjustment to help keep out any battering wind.

Full Specifications

800-fill power / responsibly-sourced goose down / 100% recycled nylon outer / non-PFC DWR / harness and helmet compatible / packs small / XS to XL / shaped for women / adjustable internal hem cinch cord / elasticated cuffs / relaxed fit / drawcord adjustable hood / two zipped hand pockets with YKK zippers / two internal mesh pockets / two-way zip with snap tab / lightweight stuffsack included.

Read our full The North Face Summit Pumori review.

Buy The North Face Summit Pumori Down Parka: £522 at Alpinetrek.co.uk

Passenger Northstar Jacket

Price: £179.95
Weight: 400g
Best for: Hillwalking, general outdoors use, day-to-day
What we liked: Uses ethically sourced down, durable construction, nice cut
What we didn’t like: There are warmer and lighter jackets

The Passenger Northstar is a lightweight down jacket featuring recycled materials and responsibly sourced down. We actually featured the men’s version, the Ashland, in our Outdoor 100 this year, and took it on rigorous tests in the Highlands. We found that, though not a technical jacket, it performed very well in the wet and chilly conditions around Glen Nevis and Glencoe.

In terms of features, the shell and liner fabrics are made from 100% recycled polyester that have a brushed look to it. There’s a PFAS-free DWR treatment too, though like most down jackets, you’ll want to throw a waterproof shell over it when the rain really sets in.

The hood has a flexible peak and it’s adjustable thanks to a cinch cord which is located at the back. The cuffs are elasticated and hold comfortably while also accommodating gloves. There’s also adjustment at the hem, so you can lock in warmth and keep out draughts, and zipped handwarmer pockets with a soft and comfortable lining.

Full Specifications

Downlite® Responsible down with 650 fill power / 100% recycled polyester shell and lining / PFC-free water resistant outer coating / packs into pocket / elastic bindings at cuff / adjustable shock cord on hood and hem / flexible hood peak / YKK zips / regular fit with straight hem / two zipped handwarmer pockets.

Buy The Passenger Northstar Down Jacket: £179.95 at Passenger-clothing.com

Rab Valiance Jacket

Best Waterproof Down Jacket for Women

Price: £330
Weight: 615g
Best for: Climbing, hillwalking, general outdoors use
What we liked: 800 fill power down, Pertex outer
What we didn’t like: Heavy, lacking two-way zip and external chest pocket

Another down jacket that makes use of a waterproof membrane for the ultimate protection against the elements – perfect for a winter weight belay jacket, or really cosy summertime jacket for freezing evenings.

Hiding under the Pertex outer shell is a high-quality 800 fill power goose down which has  been treated by Nikwax. This means that if by some chance any moisture is able to get through the waterproof outer shell, there’ll be no loft lost, and the jacket can keep on keeping you warm.

There’s also a helmet compatible hood with a useful wire-stiffened peak. The down insulation does not extend up into this, instead Rab have used synthetic insulation instead.

Other features worth noting are the Velcro adjustable cuffs, and the handwarmer pockets that have YKK zip closures. These pockets are both easily big enough for any of the usual essentials, so you won’t have problems with storage or access to your pockets even if you’ve got heavy duty gloves on your hands.

Full Specifications

Pertex Shield outer / 800 fill power R.D.S certified European goose down / Nikwax hydrophobic treatment / bonded box wall construction / Pyrotec synthetic insulation in the hood / drawcord adjustment at the hem / Velcro cuffs / stuff sack / two handwarmer pockets / YKK Vislon front zip with internal baffle / 2 YKK handwarmer pocket zips.

Read our full Rab Valiance Jacket review.

Buy The Rab Valiance: £330 at Ellis-brigham.com

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Article originally published by Sophie Nicholson with updates from Cat Nicol, Jazz Noble and the Outdoors Magic team.

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