If you’re an avid traveler and explorer, chances are that you may come across some cold climates. Or perhaps you just like to go visit the snow with the family for a day. Whatever the reason, having a packable down jacket is crucial to have in a moments notice. This article looks at the top 3 down jackets found for men, women, and babies. But first, it’s necessary to understand exactly what a packable down jacket is.
What is a Packable Down Jacket?
Any jacket can keep you warm enough until the cold really sets in. These jackets are made to be both lightweight and warm. They’re designed to be thin enough and compress to your body so that you are not wearing something bulky. When enjoying winter recreation such as skiing and snowboarding, flexibility is a key aspect.
What Features Should You Look for in a Down Jacket?
Below are the top features that you should consider when looking for the best down jacket to take on your next trip.
- Warmth: Down jackets provide you with the best insulation for your body.
- Durability: Make sure that the fabric is able to last strenuous activity so that you don’t waste your money and your time.
- Down leakage: Believe it or not, some low quality down jackets may leak the down material kept inside.
- Accessories: Although not the most important feature to consider, good quality zippers and pockets will add to your experience.
- Sleek fit: Down jackets are supposed to be form-fitting. If they are too loose, it defeats the purpose. Find one that fits you just right.
Now that you are more familiar with what you should look for, we can discuss our top “down jackets” for men, women, and babies.
The 3 Best Down Jackets for Men who Travel
- The North Face ThermoBall Insulated Jacket
- 32 Degrees Nano Light Packable Down Jacket
- Tommy Hilfiger Packable Down Jacket
The North Face ThermoBall Insulated Jacket
[earnist ref=”the-north-face-thermoball-full-zip-jacket” id=”10984″]
Features and Benefits:
- Synthetic type of insulation that is very similar to down. Allowing you to keep warm without becoming wet.
- Resistant to wear and tear with its Ripstop shell. It is entirely made of Nylon, giving it strong durability.
- Drawcord in the waist for a more snug fit.
- Elastic sleeve cuffs to help you fight any unwanted chills.
- Two pockets with zippers to hold on to your belongings.
- A short collar that stands up to protect your chin and neck from the elements.
Our Verdict:
Though this is a formidable men’s jacket that will keep you or your loved ones warm, it does not offer a hood to protect the head. Other than that, it offers resistance to cold with a rugged material, making it an ideal candidate.
32 Degrees Nano Light Packable Down Jacket
[earnist ref=”32-degrees-nano-light-packable-down-jacket” id=”10985″]
Features and Benefits:
- Made entirely of Polyester, with 90 percent down and 10 percent with feathers, this is a warm option for any outdoor activity.
- Designed to run big so that sleeves are comfortable underneath any layering added to your outfit.
- Water-resistant jacket for maximum security.
- Collar with a medium height to protect your chin and neck.
- Elastic sleeve cuffs to ward off gusts of chilly wind.
- Comes with its own bag for packing up quickly.
- Main zipper is water-resistant.
Our Verdict:
This product offers a great range of features such as elastic sleeve cuffs and a water-resistant zipper. But that matches our other men’s down jacket. What sets this one apart is that it is made from actual down instead of mimicking the inside. This will contribute a great deal of warmth even after being in the snow for hours. We also noticed that the collar does come up higher than the down jacket from The North Face.
Tommy Hilfiger Packable Down Jacket
[earnist ref=”tommy-hilfiger-packable-down-jacket” id=”10986″]
Features and Benefits:
- The combination of a 100 percent Nylon shell with the inner lining of 100 percent Polyester makes for a comfortable, secure jacket.
- Insulation provided with 90 percent duck and 10 percent feathers.
- Horizontal and vertical stitching keeps the insulation in place.
- Water-resistant, but much more suitable for dry weather as the down can get wet, losing its purpose.
- Collar with a medium-height for protected neck and chin.
- Elastic cuffs for your wrists.
- Two pockets on the side to warm your hands as well as two inner pockets to hold any belongings.
- Comes with its own drawstring bag for easy transportation.
Our Verdict:
Of the three packable down jackets, this product is probably our least favorite. Although it offers great insulation with top-notch stitching to hold it in place, it is not the best jacket for wet environments. If the down inside the jacket were to get wet, then the jacket would become nearly useless. Other than that, it is a worthy purchase for those looking to spend a day or two in the snow. Just not for explorers who will need a durable jacket for longer trips.
The 3 Best Down Jackets for Women who Travel
- The North Face Aconcagua Jacket
- Columbia Flash Forward Down Jacket
- Eddie Bauer Sun Valley Down Parka
The North Face Aconcagua Jacket
[earnist ref=”the-north-face-aconcagua-jacket” id=”10987″]
Features and Benefits:
- Made entirely out of Nylon for a warm packable down jacket.
- 550-fill power goose down for the ultimate comfort.
- Both the pockets for your hands and the collar are fleece-lined.
- Tough exterior shell to make for a durable jacket.
- Water-resistant shell that will keep you mostly dry in the winter.
Our Verdict:
This is a great pick for any woman wanting to experience the snow. We really think that the fleece lining on both the pockets and collar are essential to staying warm. One aspect to keep in mind is that this jacket is a bit on the thicker side, making it more difficult to layer.
Columbia Flash Forward Down Jacket
[earnist ref=”columbia-flash-forward-down-jacket” id=”10988″]
Features and Benefits:
- With a sporting bonded baffle construction, the stitching on this jacket provides premier durability.
- Made entirely with a polyester taffeta shell and polyester lining for the maximum comfort, aided by 650-fill power insulation.
- Extremely lightweight and thin for optimal layering.
- Water-resistant exterior for a stress-free outing.
Our Verdict:
This packable down jacket is ideal for those who want to layer for the cold. It is not enough by itself as it is seemingly thinner than most jackets. But, it does offer heat seal technology and a water-resistant exterior lining.
Eddie Bauer Sun Valley Down Parka
[earnist ref=”eddie-bauer-womens-sun-valley-down-parka” id=”10989″]
Features and Benefits:
- 650-fill premium down for your ideal warm jacket.
- Mixture of nylon, polyester, and cotton for the shell and inner lining.
- StormRepel durable water repellent finish ensures that you stay dry.
- Two-way front zipper that allows you to make adjustments no matter what you are doing.
- Detachable faux fur hood for easy cleaning and added warmth.
Our Verdict:
Out of the three women’s packable down jackets, this product is our favorite. It is made with not only comfort in mind, but also your body temperature. The hood is a great feature when out all day in the snow as we lose a great deal of heat from the top of our heads.
The 3 Best Packable Down Jackets for Babies who Travel:
- The North Face Infant Reversible Perrito Jacket
- Patagonia Nano Puff
- Gotham Down Jacket
The North Face Infant Reversible Perrito Jacket
[earnist ref=”the-north-face-infant-reversible-perrito-jacket” id=”10990″]
Features and Benefits:
- Elastic binding on the hood, cuffs, and hem to keep them warm while moving around in the snow.
- Chin zip guard for added warmth.
- Cuffs include fold-over mittens for their hands.
Our Verdict:
When babies visit cold climates, their hands and necks can get cold very quickly. This down jacket helps combat the chills by snug-fitting cuffs and a hood that will keep their head warm.
The North Face Infant Thermoball Bunting
[earnist ref=”the-north-face-infant-thermoball-bunting” id=”10991″]
Features and Benefits:
- Relaxed Fit
- Elastic binding on hood, front zip, and cuffs
- Fold-over mitts at arm cuffs and booties at feet
- Three-piece, fixed hood with ears and chin zip guard
Our Verdict:
Rating this item based on how bundled the little one will be in the snow, this product receives very high marks. Compared to The North Face Infant Perrito Jacket, it’s a full body experience, keeping your baby warm everywhere.
The North Face Gotham Down Jacket
[earnist ref=”the-north-face-gotham-down-jacket” id=”10992″]
Features and Benefits:
- Waterproof jacket for those long days in the slushy snow.
- Fastened hood with a faux-fur trip that snaps off, allowing you to clean it without hassle.
- Bomber-style ribbing on the cuffs and hem to keep the 550-fill down insulation inside the jacket.
- Hand pockets with a secured zipper for any mittens or toys.
Our Verdict:
Out of the three best down jackets for babies, this is our second favorite, right behind The North Face Infant Reversible Perrito Jacket. Made with quality stitching and the proper insulation, this durable outer layer will keep your child warm. They also have a 2.0 version, which is for girls, while the product linked above is for boys. You can find it at The North Face as well.
Now that you have seen what goes into a high-quality down jacket, let’s decide on the best down jacket from each category and briefly describe why you probably want one.
Overall Best Men’s Down Jacket for Travel:
32 Degrees Nano Light Packable Down Jacket
[earnist ref=”32-degrees-nano-light-packable-down-jacket” id=”10985″]
Why is this the best?
The reason for this jacket being our favorite out of the men’s options is for its high-quality insulation with 90 percent down. Unfortunately, a lot of down jackets are not made out material that mimics down. This is also our best down jacket for men because the collar gives more protection from the wind as it is taller than the other two products.
Overall Best Women’s Down Jacket for Travel:
Eddie Bauer Sun Valley Down Parka
[earnist ref=”eddie-bauer-womens-sun-valley-down-parka” id=”10989″]
Why is this the best?
Chosen as the best down jacket for women, this product was highly liked for its faux fur hood. The other women’s jackets did not offer this feature. It also has a two-way front zipper which is ideal when your fingers are numb from the cold.
Overall Best Baby Down Jacket for Travel:
The North Face Infant Reversible Perrito Jacket
[earnist ref=”the-north-face-infant-reversible-perrito-jacket” id=”10990″]
Why is this the best?
Out of all the down jackets, this one took the cake. We rated it the best down jacket for babies because of its warmth benefits. The chin zip guard, elastic binding, and hood all keep your child from getting too cold while allowing them to be active.
Decision Time: Which Down Jackets will You and Your Family Choose?
When considering which packable down jacket to buy for your loved ones, or even yourself, it is important to think about certain features. These include the price, quality, fit, and insulation included in the jacket. You might prefer a thinner option that you can choose to layer, or maybe you just want a down jacket that holds plenty of warmth on its own. Overall, we hope that this guide helped to give you the 3 best packable down jacket contenders when buying a jacket for men, women, and babies. Ryan from Travel Freedom has the 32 Degrees Insulated Jacket and loves it!
