Best down jackets for 2024: Tested by our team of experts in extreme mountain conditons

When you come across a jacket like this, it becomes evident that the outdoor industry's innovation has remained relatively stagnant for quite some time. The Artilect Divide Fusion Stretch Jacket is one of the most innovative insulated jackets we’ve tested to date. It’s easy to be sceptical, but it has wowed us during our testing by bearing features and tech that genuinely enhance its performance in practical outdoor scenarios.

One of the standout features is the hydrophobic down treatment - Allied Down's ExpeDRY treatment utilizing FUZE technology. While the terminology may sound complex, the essence is simple: it employs a chemical-free method of, believe it or not, bonding gold particles to the down. We found this innovative approach significantly improves moisture evaporation.

There are several other clever additions to this jacket that have caught our attention. The inclusion of stretchy wool side panels enhances both comfort and breathability. And the main fabric features a unique DWR called EMPEL, which surpasses industry standards in terms of eco-friendliness and performance. During our testing, we encountered heavy rain while wearing this jacket, and to our surprise, it effectively repelled water for approximately 15 minutes, which is quite impressive for a non-waterproof jacket.

The jacket's slightly athletic fit, along with the addition of stretchy wool panels, makes it ideal for layering. Overall, the Artilect Divide Fusion Stretch proves to be an exceptional winter mid-layer and a reliable standalone outer layer.

Check out the women's version here

Read our full Artilect Divide Fusion Stretch Jacket here

An updated version of the Montane Featherlite Down Jacket, the Anti-Freeze offers top-of-the-line insulation with a couple extra tablespoons of comfort and style.

We were immediately drawn to this jacket for its cosy and protective hood system. Put it up while fully zipped and you’ll find your neck and head comfortingly enclosed in squishy down baffles.

There’s a hidden adjustment system on the inside of the hood to get it as tight or loose as desired, and the peak is subtle but does its job in the rain.

The Anti-Freeze is excellent as a stand-alone jacket, with subtle weatherproofing features like YKK aquaguard zips and a cinchable hem. It isn’t 100% waterproof, but Pertex ripstop outer does a good job of protecting the down filling, which is itself also water resistant.

For most outings, this may be your new go-to. Despite being well filled, the Anti-Freeze is surprisingly packable, and even comes with a stuff sack hooked inside the right pocket. An ideal bit of kit for varied weather.

Check out the women's version here

This is an excellent, chunky, and seriously warm down puffy that makes a great ‘chuck it on’ extra layer for winter hillwalking and mountaineering.

Its box-wall baffles house a generous serving of 800-fill down, so the Atle 2.0 is suitable for temperatures down to -20°C. We found the coverage delivers a big boost of warmth too, with its hip length hem, a thickly padded hood, and extended sleeves to keep your wrists warm.

The Atle 2.0 is currently our favourite winter insulator to throw on over other layers when paused for a break on the winter hill. We liked that the Atle 2.0 has very good wind resistance and some water resistance. If you’re in wet conditions, the Atle 2.0 can be layered under a relaxed fitting hardshell, if needed.

We thought the construction was reasonably tough. The Atle 2.0 has beefed up fabric over the shoulders, hood, and main zip. It really feels like one of those down jackets that could last you decades.

Check out the men's version here

A big, chunky winter jacket is something special. The section of an outdoor gear store that displays these is one we can spend a long time in. But more often than not, the prices are scary.

Mercifully, New Zealand outdoor gear brand Kathmandu is a brand that brings some much needed value to this arena. When we say 'value', we don't mean outright cheapness, we mean bang for buck.

The Epiq forms the nucleus of Kathmandu. Go to the antipodes in winter and everyone is wearing one. Following our testing, we think it's a wonderful jacket for sub-zero conditions that offers warmth and comfort in spades, but doesn't stray down the track of specialist (and therefore very expensive) winter jacket.

This means the Epiq doesn't have the highest fill power down, a hydrophobic down treatment, or heat-reflective lining. But the quantity of 600-fill down is generous so we found it's very warm indeed. And the Epiq features details like an adjustable hem and hood, stretch cuffs, and big baffles that are important for boosting warmth, too.

Kathmandu has kept sustainability as key aspect, which we were pleased to see. We found the Epiq is very well made and, with care, has the potential to last a lifetime. It also uses responsible materials, like a fully recycled and bluesign-approved Pertex Quantum Eco outer, and RDS down. Kathmandu is a certified B Corp as well, so you know its business practices are responsible.

So, we think that there are more technical and weatherproof options out there. But the Kathmandu Epiq offers fantastic performance and comfort for far less than many winter down jackets. It's also available in non-hooded and vest versions.

Check out the women's version here

Encountering jackets and sleeping bags with 800 fill-power ratings signifies the use of very high-quality down. Occasionally, you might come across 900-fill down, which is remarkable. In the quest for an unparalleled warmth-to-weight ratio, Rab's Mythic G goes even further by utilising 1000-fill power down.

This might either pique your excitement or merely appear as a number. However, our testing was conclusive. The Mythic G provides noticeably more warmth compared to other garments of similar weight (under 300g) that we've worn.

The exceptionally high-quality down is further enhanced by a heat-reflective lining, which manages to make the Mythic G 13% lighter than Rab's already impressive Zero G.

It's important to note that the Mythic G is intentionally tailored for a niche audience, specifically geared towards alpine activities like mountaineering, climbing, or skiing. Our tester reports the Mythic G jacket has a slim fit, a short hem, and handwarmer pockets positioned quite high to accommodate harness use.

While we think the materials used are of high quality (with commendable eco credentials too), they do feel delicate, particularly the 7D nylon fabric. We're not suggesting that this jacket is inevitably prone to falling apart. Instead, we emphasize the need for care to ensure its potential to last for many years, especially with Rab's repair service readily available.

Check out the women's version here

With the Halogen, we found Alpkit brings value to high performance down jackets just like it does to so many areas of the hiking market. But one of the unique things about Alpkit is that you aren’t sacrificing quality or eco credentials.

The 255g Alpkit Halogen uses high-loft, RDS-certified, 800-fill down, which our tester thought offered a versatile option for those seeking a mid-layer for sub-zero hikes or an outer layer for less frigid days. It's made from 100% recycled 10D nylon with a PFC-free DWR for moisture resistance.

We liked the inclusion of a trio of pockets, including a small zip chest pocket and two front 'hand warmer' pockets. However, we think that the hand warmer pockets' lack of zip closures limits their functionality for securing items like phones. The chest pocket doubles as a stuff pocket, but we found it's a bit small and can strain when packing the jacket.

On test, the Halogen offered a nicely tailored fit with half-elasticated cuffs and panelled down formation for a snug feel. Sizing is true to Alpkit's guide, but for a more comfortable fit, we suggest considering a size up from your normal clothing size. Like the other super lightweight jacket here, the Rab Mythic G, we found the Halogen suffers from a bit more down leakage than the others.

Check out the men's version here

The Cotopaxi Fuego is a high-quality down jacket that has earned its right to be featured here on the grounds of performance and sustainability.

It’s easy to look at a colourful jacket like this and think ‘form over function’. Not so here. The Fuego is lightweight and has a regular fit, which makes it super easy to slot into a layering system. But the use of 800-fill down also makes it a very efficient insulator.

On test, we particularly liked the relatively chunky main zip, and clever internal pocket design, which features an open drop-in pocket and a zip pouch. There are external handwarmer pockets too.
From winter weekend dog walking to peak-to-pub hillwalks to travel, the Fuego is a versatile down jacket at a good price.

Cotopaxi is certified climate neutral and a B Corp. While Cotopaxi is a reasonably sustainable brand on the whole, the Fuego jacket isn’t one of its standout sustainable products. It of course uses responsibly sourced down, and is made in a Fair Trade Certified factory. But the nylon fabric isn’t recycled or repurposed, and the DWR isn’t PFC-free.

Check out the women's version here

The Elixir Ultra Down is another jacket that employs a heat-reflective finish to boost warmth without increasing bulk.

We found the Elixir Ultra Down jacket very comfortable and suitable for frigid conditions. The HeiQ XReflex-800-fill goose down combo creates a very warm design. Touches such as the stretchy fabric sleeves help not only keep out the cold but improve comfort and freedom of movement. The hood and hem are adjustable, too.

We were also pleased with the number of pockets on offer – two chest and two handwarmer pockets. This makes it easy to distribute items and not have to stuff them all in one or two pockets.

The fit is like a classic puffer jacket: snug but a little boxy – however it can be layered with a regular or relaxed-fitting hardshell waterproof jacket if needed. If you’re going to wear it on its own, you’ll be pleased to know the outer material has a PFC-free DWR, which keeps a smattering of drizzle at bay.

Check out the women's version here