Filson Featherweight Down Jacket

Price: £295
Weight: 544g
Best for: Field use, everyday outdoor wear
Key attributes: Warm, durable

The Pacific Northwest sees some seriously gnarly winters. So brands coming out of the upper left USA usually make very good cold-weather gear. Filson is no exception. This 850-fill power down jacket is built tough from high-quality materials. It’s made to last, and it’s also very warm. In fact, after taking it out in both Norway and Wales, OM Editor Will Renwick said it was “one of the warmest jackets I’ve tested this season.”

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As a heavy-duty jacket, it’s no lightweight, despite the name. It may be ‘featherweight’ by Filson standards, but then, this is a company that makes pants and jackets from a 15-oz fabric called tin cloth. So it’s not a jacket to stuff in your pack and carry around just in case. But if you’re venturing out in sub-zero conditions, it’s definitely one to wear for all-day warmth.

Full Specifications

Men’s XS-XXXL, women’s XS-XL / 850 FP goose down / 100% nylon ripstop + 59% nylon/41% cotton overlay / Two-way front zipper closure with zipper garage and full inner storm flap / Interior hanging zipper pocket and Moleskin-lined kangaroo handwarmer pockets

Check out our full Filson Featherweight Down Jacket review

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Patagonia Macro Puff Hoody

Price: £380
Weight: 420g
Best for: Skiing, mountaineering, climbing, winter hillwalking
Key attributes: Warm, great wet weather performance

The Macro Puff is the biggest, burliest and warmest of Patagonia’s range of synthetic insulated jackets. It builds on the success of their Micro Puff jacket, using the same PlumaFill fibres. The fill is housed in offset baffles to reduce stitching (which can cause cold spots). However, The Macro Puff employs a greater fill density than the Micro Puff for added warmth. The jacket is cut longer too.

In terms of overall warmth, weight and packability, it strikes a superb balance. That makes the Macro Puff a very versatile option for all sorts of cold-weather pursuits. And as this is a synthetic jacket rather than a down piece, it also offers considerable wet-weather performance. That means it continues to insulate even in damp conditions. We were intrigued by the Macro Puff when we got a first look back in early 2019, and when we got our hands on the jacket for full testing, it performed really well. In fact, we were so impressed with the Macro Puff that it made it into our Outdoor 100 this year.

Full Specifications

Men’s XS-XXL, women’s XS-XL / 10D 100% recycled nylon ripstop shell with DWR / 100% polyester 135-g PlumaFill (body); 90-g PlumaFill (side panels and sleeves) / Two-way front zipper closure with zipper garage and full inner storm flap / Interior hanging zipper pocket and Moleskin-lined kangaroo handwarmer pockets

Read our full Patagonia Macro Puff Jacket review.

Mountain Equipment Triton

Price: £300
Weight: 774g
Best for: Hiking
Key attributes: Warm and waterproof

This jacket will keep you warm and dry, no matter what conditions you’re out in – and it has excellent eco credentials too. Virtually every part of the jacket is made from recycled materials. The 50-denier Drilite outer is recycled and PFC-free, as well as durable and completely waterproof, while warmth is provided by 700+ fill power down which is 100% recycled. The baffle construction helps optimise warmth distribution and everything else you need is present: close-fitting hood with stiffened brim, central zip stormflap, four pockets and adjustable cuffs and hem.

Full Specifications

Sizes: S-XXL (men’s),  8-16 (women’s) / Recycled 50 denier Drilite two-layer construction fabric / PFC-free DWR coating on the face fabric / 700 fill power down, 100% of which has been recycled / Stitch through baffle construction / Large helmet-compatible hood with adjustable toggles / Full-length two-way AquaGuard YKK zip with an internal storm flap / Two YKK zipped hand pockets

Rab Neutrino Pro Jacket

Price: £290
Weight: 570g
Best for: Climbing, mountaineering, alpinism
Key attributes: Warm, water-resistant

Warm, refined and versatile, the Rab Neutrino Pro is a well-built and reliable down jacket that’ll do pretty much everything in sub-zero conditions. Or as OM gear tester Jon put it in his review, it’s a “whopping great dose of portable warmth that you can take out wherever you are in anything short of seriously cold conditions, and rely on to keep you comfortably toasty”.

It packs a punch in the heat stakes thanks to plenty of 800-fill power goose down stuffed inside its roomy baffles. That gives reassuring, near-instant warmth when you put it on, making it ideal for everything from cold, exposed belay stances to winter nights in a remote Scottish bothy. It would even be suitable for grander adventures in the world’s great ranges.

Though it’s obviously not as toasty as an expedition box-wall down jacket, the Neutrino Pro does exactly what it was designed to do, and does it extremely well. All in all, this is a cracking all-rounder for all sorts of winter pursuits at home and abroad.

Full Specifications

Men’s XS-XXL, women’s UK 8-16 / 800 FP RDS-certified hydrophobic goose down / Pertex Quantum Pro Shell

Read our full Rab Neutrino Pro Jacket review.

Columbia OutDry Ex Eco Down Jacket

Price: £260
Weight: 460g
Best for: Hiking, general everyday wear
Key attributes: Waterproof, eco-friendly

The waterproof down jacket was a pretty niche product until Columbia came along. Now, many brands seem to be following suit. It’s a good idea – down, after all, is nature’s best insulator, but it only works well when it stays dry.

As one of the first brands to latch on to the concept though, Columbia remains a leader in the field. That’s largely thanks to their use of a unique waterproof-breathable technology, OutDry. This is an inside-out waterproof construction that places a toughened waterproof membrane on the face of the fabric rather than sandwiching it between two layers. This eliminates the need for a durable water repellent coating, and therefore means no harmful PFCs.

As well as this, the materials are all 100 per cent recycled and are completely dye-free (that’s why the jacket is white). Similarly, the 700 fill-power goose down fill is ethically sourced. It’s a very green product, inside and out. It’s also warm, completely waterproof and one of the best winter coats around.

Full Specifications

Men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL / 700 FP RDS-certified goose down / 100% recycled polyester OutDry shell

Read our full Columbia Outdry Ex Eco Down Jacket review.

Haglöfs Nordic Expedition Down Jacket

Price: £660
Weight: 850g
Best for: Winter climbing
Key attributes: Premium 800 fill goose down, bluesign approved fabrics, award-winning climbing-friendly design

Haglöfs’ new Nordic Expedition Down Jacket doesn’t disappoint, thanks to its mix of the brand’s own Mimic synthetic insulation and premium 800 fill power goose down. This fill is also hydrophobic and the face fabric utilises a three-layer waterproof construction across the shoulders, torso and arms, with a moisture vapour transmission rate of 10,000g/m2/24hrs. Put simply, this means that although the jacket is well insulated, it shouldn’t get too stuffy in those winter months when trapped moisture vapour can be dangerous.

We’re particularly impressed by the eco credentials of the Nordic Expedition as it’s made from bluesign approved fabrics, the down fill is certified by the Responsible Down Standard and the DWR treatment is PFC-free. What’s more, Haglöfs as a brand is a leading member of the Fair Wear Foundation and is a certified climate-neutral company.

The most striking element of the jacket’s design, however, are the straps placed across the front panel. Designed to help improve ventilation, these straps let you open up the main zipper without sacrificing too much in terms of rain and wind protection. You’ll also find a unique (and very handy) waterproof drop seat in the rear, a helmet-compatible hood and a two-way main zip. 

Full Specifications

Bluesign approved fabrics / Responsible Down Standard approved / PFC-free DWR treatment / premium 800 Fill Power goose down / Mimic Platinum insulation / 3-layer zoned waterproof-breathable face fabrics / hydrostatic head: 15,000mm / moisture vapour transmission rate: 10,000g/m2/24hrs / front panel straps / helmet-compatible hood / two-way main zip / ISPO gold winner / Scandinavian Outdoor Award winner / climate neutral-company.

Read our full Haglöfs Nordic Expedition Down Jacket review. 

Fjällräven Vidda Pro Wool Padded Jacket

Price: £415
Weight: 1.4kg
Best for: Winter walking, general everyday use
Key attributes: Warm, eco-friendly

The Vidda Pro Wool Padded Jacket is one serious bit of kit that you could imagine would be right at home in the wild depths of a Swedish winter. It’s a jacket that’s really impressed us here at Outdoors Magic, not just because of its performance but because of the range of eco-friendly materials that have Fjällräven have used for it.

Out of the 30 items selected for our 2021 Green Gear Guide, this is perhaps one of the most qualified products. You’ve got the shell that’s made from G-1000 Lite Eco, a mix of recycled polyester and organic cotton that’s treated with Greenland Wax for eco-friendly water resistance. Then there’s the insulating fill which is made from a blend of Fjällräven’s Recovered Wool (wool from the meat industry that had been headed for landfill) and a bioplastic made from corn starch. Perhaps best of all though, you’ve got that incredibly snug hood that’s lined with a flannel made from recycled wool.

It’s seriously cosy and excellent at keeping the wind off you, thanks to an adjustable hem and a generously padded hood that is particularly snug.

Full Specifications

Men’s XS-XXL, women’s XS-XL / Wind- and water-resistant G-1000 Lite Eco / Sustainable padding in Swedish wool and PLA from corn starch / Two-way front zipper with protective flap and buttons / Adjustable hood with lining in recycled wool / Drawcord adjustments at hem and buttons at sleeve cuffs.

Selected for our 2021 Green Gear Guide. Read our full Fjällräven Viida Pro Wool Padded Jacket review.

Páramo Bentu Windproof Jacket

Price: £100
Weight: 420g
Best for: Breezy British weather
Key attributes: Eco-friendly, good features, innovative design

The Páramo Bentu is a windproof, breathable yet protective outer layer intended for breezy but mostly dry conditions. However, this is no featherlight and minimalist windshell – instead, it’s a fully-featured jacket equipped with a zoned pump liner in the hood and shoulders that, when worn with the Bentu Plus fleece, brings a great deal of wind and rain protection to the table.

It’s made from Nikwax Windproof fabric, which is a tightly woven polyester treated with a Nikwax water repellent finish. It’s soft, supple and comfortable, though it has no stretch.

The hood and shoulders are also lined with Paramo’s unique mesh pump liner, as found in the Analogy waterproof garments. This provides an additional layer of weather protection and helps to move moisture away from the body, keeping you dry and comfortable through light to medium-heavy downpours. If a very heavy downpour does end up soaking the jacket, you can rest assured that the fabrics and Nikwax treatment will work away to ensure it dries up quickly.

Full Specifications

Nikwax windproof polyester fabric / Nikwax water repellent finish / zoned pump liner in hood and shoulders / durable and repairable / adjustable, peaked hood / two large chest pockets / two zipped hand-warmer pockets / adjustable, Velcro cuffs / articulated fit with scooped  tail and elasticated hem / combines with Bentu Plus fleece.

Read the full Páramo Bentu Windproof jacket review.

The North Face L6 Summit Cloud Down Parka

Price: £650
Weight: 780g
Best for: Mountaineering, alpinism and very, very cold hikes
Key attributes: Very technical, eco-friendly aspects, incredible warmth-to-weight

OK this is one pretty extreme option, but, hey, some people feel the cold more than others. A quick look at some of the stats of this down jacket, you’ll soon realise that this thing’s not been designed for the mass market. With premium down fill, an intricate baffle design and strategically placed Futurelight waterproof protection, this jacket is designed to serve those heading into places with particularly challenging weather. At just 780g, it’s not exactly heavy either.

We found the impressive asymmetrical baffle design gave this a very close but comfortable fit, one that really helps to maximise heat retention. Another feature that really impressed us was the draft yoke which covers the neck and shoulders to prevent any potential heat escape. Sitting above this draft yoke is a huge, fully baffled hood that’ll retain bucket loads of warmth even with a helmet under it.

Full Specifications

Men’s S-XXXL, women’s XS-XL / 10D X 30D 26g/M²100% Recycled Nylon with non-PFC durable water-repellent finish / 800 Fill ProDown™ RDS certified / FutureLight waterproof panels.

Read our full The North Face Summit L6 Cloud Down Review

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