So if anyone hasn’t told you already, goose down is absolutely the best way to pack a super-warm jacket into a tiny package. It’s the warmest and most compressible clothing material that humanity seems to have discovered thus far, which is why it makes such a spectacular cold-weather jacket for ultralight backpackers.
But goose down isn’t just for winter adventures. Sure, you can stuff gobs of goose down into a jacket all day long and you’ll have a glorious Antarctic parka, but if you use just a little goose down, you’ll have a warm jacket, ideal for mild weather in spring or fall…except it’ll weigh practically nothing and stuff down so tiny that it’ll practically disappear.
Welcome to the wonderful world of the ultralight down jacket. Rather than using goose down for snowy winters, several companies have been pushing the ultralight boundaries to make jackets as light as a t-shirt, but as warm as a light fleece, allowing you to pack even lighter and smaller than ever before. For the weight-obsessed minimalists and scrawny weaklings alike, this can be incredibly helpful.
What an ultralight down jacket can do for you
Ironically, ultralight down jackets are at their best when you’re not using them. Since they pack down to nothing when not in use, they’ll be a lot less annoying than heavy jackets you have to haul around the whole time.
This is especially helpful on multi-season trips, multi-elevation trips, or mostly-warm trips that might include that one evening of unusually frigid temperatures that come out of nowhere. It would also be great for warm-weather hiking, where the minimal weight won’t hold you back, and the minimal warmth is all you need.
When not to use one
Keep in mind these items are designed to replace a mid-weight fleece, rather than provide winter warmth, though you could certainly combine them with other layers to provide year-round functionality. They’re also quite thin, so handle with care.
But the real setback is the price. At $200 to $300 each, these aren’t cheap, especially as they’re intended to replace a mid-weight fleece, which you can probably find for about $30. These are really just for the people who need absolute minimalism, and are willing to pay for it. A mountain rescue team, for example.
And I generally try to find the most normal-looking clothing I possibly can, so I can make use of high-tech gear in casual situations, but that’s not what this list is about. I wanted to compile the absolute lightest, for those who needed the very best.
A few of the best ultralight down jackets
Alright, time for the picks. These are the most gravity-defying items I can find, coming in under 10 ounces (or about 300 grams), for those who absolutely need it. Many of these jackets also come in hooded versions and vests, but I’m just comparing the standard jackets in men’s sizes to provide a good side-by-side comparison.
I’ve only included goose down jackets on this list, as they’re the absolute lightest around, but all of these brands have equivalent jackets made of synthetic materials that are definitely worth checking out, as they’re usually cheaper, and can withstand some rain.
Onward we go!
1) Montbell Plasma 1000 Down Jacket
This is the king of the ultralight world at the moment. If there’s a lighter down jacket out there, it’s probably doll-sized.
Montbell’s down jackets are all pretty light to begin with (and they have quite a few others not listed here that are worth checking out), but here’s where they really push the limit. By using 1000 fill power goose down, and some of the lightest nylon anywhere to be found, they’ve managed to build a down jacket as light as a t-shirt.
It’s sized to provide a slim fit, and has no pockets or other features of any kind. Just a jacket to keep you warm, and not weigh you down…at all.
It’s designed to be a replacement for a mid-layer, such as a fleece jacket, rather than providing outerwear protection, so it would be a good idea to wear another layer on top if it’s raining or you’re hiking through spiky bushes. But if you’re the most weight-obsessed ultralight adventurer on the planet, this is the winner.
- Weight: 4.8 oz (136 g)
- Fill weight: 1.6 oz (45 g)
- Fill power: 1000 fill power goose down
- Fabric weight: 7 denier
- Pockets: None
- Price: $270
Unisex sizes only; get it here.
2) Montbell Ex Light Down Jacket
This was the king of Montbell’s ultralight lineup until they subsequently developed the Plasma pictured above. But you’d need a scale to figure out which one is heavier.
The Ex Light uses 900 fill power goose down, which is still spectacularly light, to achieve a down jacket that weighs as much as a slightly larger t-shirt. But that extra weight makes it $70 cheaper, which is quite a big deal.
It also comes in a women’s version, whereas the Plasma is unisex, which…well, that just means men.
- Weight: 5.6 oz (158 g)
- Fill weight: 1.8 oz (51 g)
- Fill power: 900 fill power goose down
- Fabric weight: 7 denier
- Pockets: None
- Price: $200
It looks like this one has been discontinued, but you can still get a hooded version of it.
3) Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket
So this one is just about the lightest I can find that isn’t from Montbell, and it has some extra features to take it beyond basic minimalism. It’s what you might prefer if you want something just slightly more full-featured.
But the real attraction is the water-resistant treatment added to the down, which allows it to keep its loft and warmth, even when wet. This improves on the one and only technical weakness of down, which is its wet weather performance. It’s not a magic bullet that’ll handle a downpour, but it’ll help keep you a little cozier if you get caught in unexpected showers.
Aside from that, it uses ultra-thin fabric, 850 fill power goose down, and has two hand pockets, while still weighing in at some impressively low numbers:
- Weight: 7.2 oz (205 g)
- Fill weight: Not listed
- Fill power: 850 fill power goose down
- Fabric weight: 7 denier
- Pockets: 2
- Price: $300
4) Patagonia Ultralight Down Jacket
Wear some Patagonia to stay warm in…Patagonia. And, you know. Elsewhere too.
Though it still manages to keep things incredibly light, it actually uses a slightly lower fill power, and a slightly tougher fabric than some of the others. It also has three pockets, which is nice for those who enjoy such things.
Though not quite as gravity-defying as other options, it still weighs practically nothing, and Patagonia’s ironclad guarantee means it’ll last forever. Besides, this is meant to be a little tougher and more full-featured than simply going for maximal minimalism.
- Weight: 8.3 oz (235 g)
- Fill weight: Not listed
- Fill power: 800 fill power goose down
- Fabric weight: 10 denier
- Pockets: 3
- Price: $300
5) Arcteryx Cerium LT Down Jacket
This one has an interesting mix of goose down in the main compartments, and synthetic insulation in the shoulders, collar, and hem, where they’re most likely to encounter some rain. I’m not sure how critical this would be, but the jacket is still plenty light anyway.
Arcteryx generally gets extra points for a casual appearance and decent colors, and this is probably the most normal-looking down jacket on this list (though other companies make other jackets that look nice too; it’s just that the ultralight ones sometimes look a little odd).
But, as with all things Arcteryx, it’s also the most expensive. Check for sales.
- Weight: 8.6 oz (243 g)
- Fill weight: Not listed
- Fill power: 850 fill power goose down (and Coreloft synthetic in some places)
- Fabric weight: 10 denier (assumed)
- Pockets: 2
- Price: $325
6) Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket
This is the budget pick. It may not have the specs of the gear listed above, but it’s 70% cheaper. I was surprised as well. I’ve been using one of these lately, and it’s surprisingly good, especially for such a tiny a price.
Uniqlo has built up quite a reputation for themselves by offering higher quality at better prices than the vast majority of standard fashion brands, in far more sizes and colors than pretty much anyone else, and their wide selection of down jackets is no exception. Sizes range from XS to XXXL, with plenty of colors, in hooded and regular versions.
The jacket “only” uses 640 fill power down, but it uses the European scale to measure fill power, which gives it a rating more like 700 or higher. The fill is also composed of 10% feathers, rather than consisting purely of down. This means it won’t be as warm or as compressible as some of the super-high-tech options listed above, but the price might make those extra ounces worth it for you.
On a minor note, it uses a left-handed zipper. Just so you know.
- Weight: Approx. 7 oz (198 g)
- Fill weight: Not listed
- Fill power: 640 fill power goose down (using the European scale, comparable to 700+ on American scale)
- Fabric weight: Not listed
- Pockets: 2
- Price: $70
Get it for men, or check out the women’s selection, which has several styles.
Off to some ultralight adventures!
Well, I hope these suggestions will help you stay warm and cozy without requiring any sort of physical exertion of any kind on your part. They’re spectacularly useful in certain very specific situations, though if you go a little heavier (and, really, just a little), you can actually get a full-featured, mid-weight jacket (a few favorites of which I’ve listed here), but this list was just meant to highlight the lightest of the ultralight down jackets to be found. They’re so light you won’t even notice them. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you might need.
Minor update, regarding repairs: So you can obviously tape over any damage to the fabric with a piece of tape, and if you’re going to do that, I’d recommend taking a look at Tenacious Tape Tattoos. This is a permanent repair tape, but cut into fun shapes, like wildlife and other things like that, so a repaired jacket won’t look shabby, but downright adorable. The company sent me a few samples, and I’m looking forward to adding them when the time comes.
The Uniqlo ultralight down jacket is definitely the budget bargain here (and on sale for $50 at this moment in time: http://www.uniqlo.com/us/men/outerwear/ultra-light-down.html). It’s surprisingly warm and puffy at that price.
But the production of down — generally in China or Europe — usually involves some pretty awful treatment of ducks and geese. For instance, the down is often plucked painfully off the live bird, which is then later force-fed repeatedly to be slaughtered for fois gras. That’s not a problem for some folks — after all, the bird still ends up dead either way — but those with moral qualms should consider the (generally more expensive) brands like Patagonia, The North Face, and a few others who have moved, or are moving, to more humanely sourced down.
(See: http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2014/10/patagonia_the_north_face_and_cruelty_free_down_industry_standards_for_ethical.html or http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2014/02/10/patagonia-north-face-ethical-goose-down-jackets for instance.)
Myself, in addition to the ethical conundrums of down I worry about rain — which of course can kill a down coat dead pretty quickly. So I’m always looking for a good synthetic equivalent that will dry faster and still insulate some when wet. At the moment The North Face’s Thermoball technology seems to be the best thing going. It is giving down a run for its money, at a bit better price point.
I agree. I like the fact that synthetic materials offer a good option for the vegan crowd, as well as some rain resistance. I like everything Patagonia does in terms of environmentalism and ethics, but their prices are out of reach for some people, in which case the synthetics make a good alternative, if you still value animal welfare.
I really appreciate the animal welfare concerns expressed in this page. Its so easy to just ignore the details and go for the cheap option, and the differences in price are really significant.
thanks to all,
Jane
I agree. Using animal products has all sorts of complications, and I’d like to see a synthetic option that matches the warmth of goose down, and more ethical sourcing methods, which Patagonia has actively pursued. Or maybe a lab-grown version, from stem cells…hmmm…that’s not a bad idea…
Before reading this page, I had no idea that the ultra-light down jackets were not supposed to replace their heavy weight counterparts! I own a knee-length Patagonia, and it’s been keeping me warm for the past two winters with usually no more than a thin sweater and a t-shirt underneath.
Down is pretty great. Patagonia is also doing quite a bit in regards to animal welfare, as a lot of geese are grown in China without much in the way of oversight. But yes, you could have an ultralight down jacket replace a normal-weight down jacket, as long as the corners you’re cutting aren’t the down. They could make the fabric lighter, for example, but keep the same level of warmth by having just as much down, which barely weighs anything. But some of the really ultralight ones (less than 10 ounces) have only a tiny bit of down, as opposed to those super-puffy Antarctica ones.
Do you know anything about the waterproof version Uniqlo now have?
http://www.uniqlo.com/us/product/men-water-defender-ultra-light-down-jacket-139669.html
I can’t find the fill level or weight on their website. Is it different from the regular ones?
As far as I can tell, the only difference is that it has a flap behind the zipper to protect from rain getting inside (which I don’t consider all that important, unless it’s a “real” rain jacket and you need it to stand up to serious rain), and that it has a water-repellant finish…but the one I have (which is not a water defender version) seems to have a water repellant finish anyway, or the material is naturally somewhat water repellant, because it’s nylon. I’ve worn it in the rain here and there and it does fine in light conditions, but I’d be careful about taking it anywhere with heavy rain, or long periods of light rain. They’re selling both versions for the same price, though, so I suppose you might as well get the water repellant version, but I wouldn’t worry about it too much if the other one is on sale or there’s a color you like or something. You can always spray a DWR onto the jacket whenever you want, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much either way.
Just wanted to share the MARMOT QUASAR is on sale right now! This is another great Jacket:
http://marmot.com/products/details/quasar-jacket
$194
Just picked it up.
Nice info. I’ve been looking for an alternative to my light-but-bulky fleece for an annual Asia trip. Occasional warmth is needed, but not enough to haul the fleece around for 3 months (again).
I just picked up a “32 Degrees Heat Weatherproof” brand ultralight down jacket at Marshall’s for $40. Also apparently available on Amazon (and elsewhere) at various prices, and well reviewed. http://www.amazon.com/32Degrees-Weatherproof-Packable-Puffer-Jacket/dp/B00N5PLOJS
It’s got:
650 fill, 90% duck down, 10% feathers
Full zip, with small wind flap behind.
Stuff sack, about 8″ long by 4″ diameter.
My scale says 0.6 pound, but I don’t know if that’s accurate
2 external zip pockets, which also form 2 vestigial internal pockets.
Made in China
“Protects against light precipitation”
They run slightly large; I’m 5’10” 150 lbs and wound up with a small, which I can layer under a shell. Mine has a hood, which I didn’t really want, but a couple of safety pins turn it into a roll collar sort of thing. Others note quality issues, but mine is just fine. It’s no Montbell, but I won’t cry too much if it gets thrashed.
Thanks for the article, I’ve gotten much useful info from your site (but still can’t seem to get below three pair of shoes for adventure travel!)
I really like my Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket and you can’t beat the price. It’s a great jacket but I wouldn’t wear it in cold conditions below say 40 degrees Fahrenheit or so. Funny that I never noticed the left-hand zipper. I love this site..keep up the great work.
Yeah, it’s definitely light, so you’d need something else underneath. I like combining two layers in this way; something soft on the inside, like fleece or wool, and something weather-resistant on the outside, like the smooth nylon exterior of a down jacket. But once it gets close to freezing, it’s better to pick one of the midweight options instead of ultralight.
Here’s a comprehensive video review of the top three jackets on your list: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URZYcJDuJro By the way, thanks for the blog, I go here first before buying anything!
Nice article, even if it’s relative old.
The ultralight down jackets can be worn as an outershell but only in cool temperatures (~40-60 F) and that’s with wearing a long sleeve shirt and a light-/mid-weight fleece underneath. It won’t be warm under ~40 F and then best worn under a insulated jacket/parka.
I’ve tried the Uniqlo ultralight hooded down jacket and, while it’s stylish and light, it was too light and wasn’t that warm, at least for cold and windy New England weather.
I have the Sierra Design Gnar Hoody and it’s relatively warm while wearing appropriate warm winter clothing as mentioned. It does provide good wind protection for the most part but not really against sharp cold winds. Also, it would’ve been better if a DWR coating was used.
I love the thumbholes at the end of the sleeves and wished that other brands put thumbholes into their winter jacket products.
Hi, I really don’t know why I keep coming back to your sight to read your articles. Probably because I really like them and am trying to, at least, lighten my load. And being a business traveler it has helped me reduce the load quite a bit and I thank you for that.
I want to bring up in this section a partial discussion of (please don’t wince) reversible jackets. These thing are mostly abhorrent at best with the bad seams and disgusting use of dark color on one side and gawdy bright ugly coloring on the reverse side. Especially the ones with plaid on the one side. Was Herb Tarlek (WKRP) really that inspiring?
Anyway, for those that are willing, I’ve found 3 jackets that are not too off-putting but are of medium weight. Unfortunately, they are not lightweight as this section is about. But some of us, besides me I hope, are willing to take the hit for some slight dual option look. So I’d like to point to 3 options that I have found to help those who might me interested:
ZeroXposur Density Reversible Sweater-Fleece Hybrid
IZOD Men’s Reversible Ripstop Stand-Collar Coat
GChoic Mens Reversible Detachable Hood Windproof Water-repellent
If you google these you should have no problem finding them. The color combinations are reasonable and seem to not hurt the eyes so much.
I apologize if this is incorrect etiquette for this forum…….
That’s no problem. I actually like the idea of reversible jackets, because it requires very little weight to add this extra functionality, but the problem is that one side is usually a lot nicer-looking than the other, so nobody bothers with reversing it anyway. It also makes more sense for sweaters, whereas a jacket that’s weather-resistant only on one side wouldn’t work quite so well.