Best Down Jackets for Men: Reviews + Recommendations

When winter travel beckons stay warm & toasty by bringing along one of the best down jackets for men. Like a warm & fuzzy fleece jacket, down jackets offer excellent comfort & warmth for your most epic fall & winter adventures. A good warm down jacket will be the perfect piece of travel gear to help you make the most out of your hiking, skiing, or climbing holiday.

Although many down jackets may be treated with durable water repellent (DWR), they won’t replace packing a solid rain jacket and won’t fare well in a heavy downpour. If down becomes wet it collects in clumps and won’t be able to keep you warm. Fortunately, most down jackets are form-fitting and the addition of an outer shell helps keep you dry when the rain comes down.

Start your search for the perfect down jacket for your travels with these reviews & recommendations for the best men’s down jackets…

Top-rated men’s down jacket: Reviews & recommendations

Image Product More Info
The North Face Summit L3 The North Face Summit L3
  • Weight: 13.8 oz.
  • Fill: 800 goose down

Best Overall

Arc'teryx Cerium LT Arc’teryx Cerium LT
  • Weight: 12 oz.
  • Fill: 850 goose down

Best Insulated

Patagonia Down Sweater Patagonia Down Sweater
  • Weight: 15.8 oz.
  • Fill: 800 goose down

Most Reliable

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2
  • Weight: 9.2 oz.
  • Fill: 800 goose down

Best Lightweight

Feathered Friends Eos Feathered Friends Eos
  • Weight: 13.0 oz.
  • Fill: 900 goose down

Best Warmth

Outdoor Research Transcendent Outdoor Research Transcendent
  • Weight: 16.2 oz.
  • Fill: 650 goose down

Most Durable

REI Magma 850 2.0 REI Co-op Magma 850 2.0
  • Weight: 13.2 oz.
  • Fill: 850 goose down

Best Value

Rab Microlight Alpine
  • Weight: 15.7 oz.
  • Fill: 800 goose down

Most Water-Resistant

The North Face Summit L3

The North Face Summit L3

Weight: 13.8 ounces

Fill: 800 goose down

Best Overall

If you’re looking for a really warm men’s down jacket that’s lightweight too, The North Face Summit L3 down jacket ticks the boxes.

Whether you’re hitting the snowy Alps or taking a hike through the Rockies, this jacket will keep you warm and dry along the way thanks to the 800-fill hydrophobic down.

The North Face Summit L3 down jacket for men is formfitting but still able to accommodate layering beneath. Its extra length adds to the warmth and the elastic hem pull keeps the cold out.

The sleeves have elasticized cuffs to keep them in place. Drawcords tighten the hood and the large zippered pockets can accommodate gloved hands.

While this jacket is not totally waterproof, it’s water-resistant since it is DWR treated ensuring that the water collects in beads and rolls off the skin.

The jacket is compressible and can be stowed into one of the side pockets. Use the clip hook to attach it to your backpack or belt and you’re ready to hit the slopes.

Pros

  • Warm
  • Lightweight
  • Great fit
  • Extra hem length

Cons

  • Premium price point

Arc’teryx Cerium LT Jacket

Arc'teryx Cerium LT

Weight: 12 ounces
Fill: 850 goose down

Best Insulated Jacket

While it’s certainly not the cheapest down jacket on the market, the Arc’teryx Cerium LT Jacket is one of the nicest. It’s light and highly compressible yet it doesn’t compromise on warmth and comfort.

Where there is a higher risk of moisture, the sewn-in panels are filled with Coreloft synthetic insulation to add that little bit of extra moisture protection. This jacket is not just good looking; it does its job, too!

The Arc’teryx Cerium LT allows for plenty of mobility and yet it looks quite sporty. It has two large zippered side pockets and a handy internal chest pocket which is great for protecting your valuables. The jacket comes with a stuff sack, so no fitting it into a pocket.

The hem drawcords tuck safely away, but they don’t have a buckle and they are quite difficult to loosen.

The StormHood fits well and has a drawcord at the back of the neck, to lock in the warmth. Certainly this top-notch men’s down jacket has all the features but they come at a price.

Pros

  • Warm and light
  • Compresses well
  • Good fit
  • Interior chest pocket

Cons

  • The hem drawcord is a little clumsy
  • Premium price point

Patagonia Down Sweater

Patagonia Down Sweater

Weight: 15.8 ounces
Fill: 800 advanced global-traceable down

Most Reliable

Over the years, the Patagonia Down Sweater has made a name for itself as a warm and trusty companion for ski trips and hikes.

This men’s down jacket contains 800-fill goose down with a fill weight of 3.4 ounces. Both the shell and down are DWR treated, but this jacket isn’t waterproof. If you’re expecting a downpour it may be a good idea to wear a shell over it.

The Patagonia Down Sweater isn’t the warmest down jacket on the market, but it’s more than adequate to the task. It fits like a glove without impeding movement. You can also compress the jacket into an interior chest pocket that has a double-sided zipper.

Weighing in at 15.8 ounces, this is not the lightest of these best down jackets for men, and it’s also not as compressible as some of the competing products.

Hem cords keep the cold out and you can adjust them from inside the side pockets. The hood has a single drawcard and the softly-fleeced front can pull up to cover your nose.

Pros

  • Warm
  • Interior hem cords
  • Fits into the interior chest pocket
  • Includes a drawcord

Cons

  • Heavier than average
  • The down isn’t treated

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2

Weight: 9.2 ounces
Fill: 800 goose down

Best Lightweight

A good-looking jacket at a great price, the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 is also one of the lightest in its class. If, however, you want a down jacket that will keep you warm on the coldest days, you may have to consider layering with this one as it isn’t the warmest of men’s down jackets of the bunch..

The soft lightweight fabric is DWR-treated so it’s somewhat water-resistant. The hood has an elasticated front but no drawstring.

The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Jacket has a hem cord but it doesn’t tuck away so it could snag. There are two side hand pockets one of which serves as the compression sack. The jacket compresses very well to take up little room in your backpack.

With this down jacket, the designers had to sacrifice something on the altar weight and compressibility, so it has few features and is not as durable as some of the competing products.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Inexpensive
  • Compresses into a very small pack

Cons

  • Waist drawcord doesn’t pack away
  • The hood has no drawcord

Feathered Friends Eos

Feathered Friends EOS

Weight: 13 ounces
Fill: 900 goose down

Best Warmth

One of the loftiest jackets on the market, it’s clear that the Feathered Friends Eos is packed with warmth and comfort, thanks to the generous 900-fill goose down.

This jacket features a nicely fitted hood that stays in place without the need for a drawcord. You won’t be able fit a helmet under the hood. If you’re planning on mountain climbing the Feathered Friends Eos may not be for you.

The Pertex Quantum shell is DWR treated to repel water. The hem is equipped with two drawcords to keep out the cold. Unfortunately, the cords hang loose and could get in the way and snag on the undergrowth.

The Feathered Friends Eos compresses nicely into a stuff sack that comes along with it.

Pros

  • Warm and lofty
  • Compresses well
  • Made from durable materials

Cons

  • The hood doesn’t fit well over a helmet
  • No internal pocket

Outdoor Research Transcendent Jacket

Outdoor Research Transcendent

Weight: 16.2 ounces
Fill: 650 goose down

Most Durable

If you’re looking for a down jacket that can stand some abuse and still look good, the Outdoor Research Transcendent Jacket may be the just jacket you need.

The down inner is protected by a hard-wearing ripstop outer shell treated with a durable water repellent coating.

This Outdoor Research Transcendent Jacket is reasonably priced at the bottom end of the price range, but it isn’t as warm as many of the competing jackets. If you’re taking off into sub-zero territory, you’ll need something warmer.

The cuffs are elasticized and drawstrings on the hem and jacket will keep the cold out. The side pockets of the Outdoor Research Transcendent are fleece-lined and the front is equipped with a storm flap. Large zip pulls on the pockets and the front makes it is easy to open and close even with gloves on.

Pros

  • Hardwearing
  • Large zip pulls
  • Fleece-lined pockets

Cons

  • Not the warmest jacket
  • Above-average weight

REI Magma 850 Down Hoodie 2.0

REI Magma 850 2.0

Weight: 13.2 ounces
Fill: 850 goose down

Best Value

This may not be the warmest or lightest down jacket on the market, but for durability and price, you’ll find it hard to beat the REI Magma 850 Down Hoodie 2.0.

Both the 850-down fill insulation and the shell is DWR-treated to resist water and dry quickly. The shell is made from durable ripstop Pertex Diamond Fuse that’s abrasion-resistant.

You can close out the cold with cords located on the hem and jacket. The jacket is a little longer than some of the other jackets on review, offering additional warmth.

Two side pockets and an exterior chest pocket offer plenty of places to stash your valuables. One of the hand pockets serves as a stuff pocket. The clip looks a little flimsy but the jacket rolls down to a nice small package.

The REI Magma 850 also comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

Pros

  • Durable Pertex Quantum shell
  • Light and warm
  • Affordable
  • Limited lifetime warranty

Cons

  • Not as lightweight as some of the competing products

Rab Microlight Alpine

Weight: 15.7 ounces
Fill: 750 goose down

Most Water-Resistant

Just a little heavier than some of the competing products, the Rab Microlight Alpine is warm and comforting and it’s made to keep the water out. If you’re likely to encounter rain on your hiking expeditions then this is the jacket for you.

The premium goose down fill has been Nikwax treated to resist water and it’s covered with Pertex Quantum fabric, DWR treated to keep the water out. Pertex Quantum is more water and wind resistant than standard nylon. The jacket has a deep wired brim to keep the rain off your face.

Unlike some of the other men’s down jackets, this one doesn’t fold up into the pocket. It comes with a sack that has a clip-in loop for storing and carting. The jacket has side handwarmer pockets and an exterior chest pocket.

The Rab Microlight Alpine has a limited lifetime warranty.

Pros

  • Water-resistant down
  • Pertex Quantum fabric keeps water out
  • Wire brimmed hood
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Above-average weight
  • Lower down fill
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