When it comes to down jackets for men and women, there are a lot of different options available. But down itself is a great choice, and has a lot of benefits that you don’t get with other insulating materials like fleece or wool. For one, it has a better warmth to weight ratio than just about any other insulating material. Down also compresses very well, and if you’re stuffing that down jacket in to a backpack, for instance, the ability to get it in to a nice small package and not take up much room can be a real benefit.
Down Jackets for Men
What to look for when you're looking for down jackets for men.- Water Resistant – The one drawback of a down jacket is that you’re not supposed to get the down wet. That’s why a water resistant down jacket, if not a waterproof down jacket, is always a good idea. If you keep the down dry then the down, in turn will keep you warm, even when it drizzles a little bit.
- Down Quality – Another important feature to look at when buying a down jacket is the quality, or the fill number. A down jacket with a higher fill number, like 900+ fill, means that the down lofts more, and provides more warmth, relative to its weight. It also means that the down will compress down better.
Best Down Jackets for Men
Some of the better down jackets for men to choose from.- Mont Bell EX Light Down Jacket - If your main concern is weight, and if you want something that will pack down as small as possible in your backpack, then the EX Light is your best choice. It uses high quality 900+ fill down for insulation, and has a DWR treatment that makes it water resistant. But beyond that this jacket is lacking in features, in fact it doesn't even have pockets. What it does have is a very impressive weight of just 5.6 ounces, or 161 grams, which is better than just about everything else out there.
- Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoodie Jacket - If you want something lightweight that will go well with backpacking, camping and hiking, but you do at least want a few extras, like pockets, then this jacket from Patagonia might be a better choice. It uses 800+ fill down, and comes with two hand pockets, as well as a chest pocket and even a hood. It's also water resistant, but at 9 ounces, or 255 grams it's significantly heavier than the Mont Bell EX Light above.
- Canada Goose Chilliwack Bomber Down Parka - If you're more looking for something for around town, and maybe a few outings in colder temperatures, the Chilliwack from Canada Goose is a great choice. Despite the company name this jacket is actually stuffed with duck down, and plenty of it, because the object with this jacket is to keep you warm. And features like a fur lined hood do just that. It's also water resistant. A great choice if you want something for around town.
