This definitive guide provides information on the 12 best ultralight Down Jackets available based on features like weight, fill material, durability, water-resistance and price. In it, we offer down suggestions exclusively for ultra light down jackets, perfect for minimalist travelers and digital nomads.
Scroll past the picks for tips on understanding down jacket specs and how to pick them and how to take care of them.
The guide was created with two key features in mind: weight – they have to be very light and packable.
What is a (packable) down jacket and why is so popular
A down jacket is a jacket which has been insulated with the soft and warm under feathers from duck or geese. Down is a great insulator as the layer of down creates thousands of tiny air pockets which trap warm air and retain heat. These keep the the body temperature very warm in cold weather. Another great upside of these types of jackets is that most of them are ultra light and compact.
The down fill of a jacket will be either goose down, duck down or a combination of the two. The goose feahers are considered some of the warmest and lightest but duck down jackets, or jackets with a combination, are often cheaper.
Best Ultralight Packable Down Jacket for Men
Main material: 100% polyamide Insulation: 100% down
Material type: Goose down, Synthetic fibre
Insulated Fill power: 800 cuin
Down-to-feather ratio: 90/10 (down to feather)
Buy Advice – What to look for in a Light Packable Down Jacket
Traveling light and compact is very important for any digital nomad or keen traveler. We know very well how hard it is to pack everything you (might need) in just a backpack.
One of the most important pieces of clothing a traveler must have, especially for excurisons in colder areas of the globe, is a reliable and warm packable jacket.
Any adventure lover who is travelling as a minimalist should be ready for any situation, including having a light packable in his or her backpack just in case the weather changes suddenly or the local climate asks for it. Getting sick can ruin the passage so one must make sure that the gear is there for any weather. Let’s explore below what are the top features you must look at when choosing your ultra light man or woman’s down jacket!
Interested in how to travel like a minimalist? We’ve got a great article here that will teach you exactly how to do that!
1. Pay special attention to the “fill power”
Fill power (600-fill, 700-fill, etc.) is the level of quality of how the down is measured, so the higher, the fill the better the down. This number is calculated based on how much space one ounce of down mass takes up in a tube. This is known as the amount of loft, and the more loft a jacket has, the more body heat it holds and the warmer you will feel. Achieving the same amount of warmth with a lower fill power requires more down, adding weight and bulk to achieve the same comfort goals.
Most entry and mid level models will have a 550 to 650-fill which is ok to wear for chilly weather, but this fill won’t keep you warm in cold weather.
Premium down is 800-fill and above, which is what Arc’teryx, Patagonia, and Mountain Hardwear use for down jackets which are usually on the high end spectrym. For this level of quality, you get the real benefits of down insulation: lightweight and ultra-compressible warmth.
Some high-end climbing brands like Feathered Friends and Montbell use 900-fill down, but that type of insulation is rare where the 800-fill is considered already premium.
Brands like Montbell have a 1,000-fill Plasma Down Jacket in their offering as well as Eddie Bauer which recently released their MicroTherm 1000 series.
If you want to go into the nitty gritty of it, the video below explains the fill power and fill weight and what you should care about them when choosing an ultra light down jacket.
2. Always go for down (feather) instead of synthetic insulation
The kind of down that your jacket is filled with is probably one of the most important things to look into when purchasing a packable down jacket.
There are two main types of down that you’ll find in jackets: goose down and duck down. Sometimes jackets will be filled with a combination of both.
Goose down is typically the warmest and lightest type of down, but it’s more expensive than the alternative. Duck down or a combination of goose and duck is a less expensive option. However, the goose down jackets are lightweight and easier to compress and pack. Go for the goose down, 100%.
3. Weight – a crucial aspect for “pro” travelers
This is probably the second most important factor of a great packable down jacket if you are a minimalistic traveler who cares about weight and space.
As a digital nomad or someone who travels very often, the total weight of your down jacket should play a major role in your buying decision. Jackets like the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 (8.8 oz.) and Feathered Friends Eos (10.6 oz.) weigh very little for the warmth they provide and compress down extremely small in your pack. These are just a few of the examples we presented in our top for ultra light jackets for both men and women.
4. Fit and size– make sure it’s comfortable
Fit depends from jackt to jacket, so you should definitely follow the seller’s measure guidance on their website.
There are two main considerations here. First, down sweaters have a more casual fit than ultralight or performance jackets, including boxier torsos, arms, and hoods (when available). Fit also varies significantly by brand, so make sure you check very well the size guide when buying your ultra light packable down jacket.
5. Waterproofing
The down jackets have some level of waterproofing, but overall they don’t react very well to water.
Some jackets are completely waterproof, whilst others are simply water-resistant and aren’t made for intense rain.
A jacket with a good amount of waterproofing is super important because down loses its insulating power when it gets wet.
To counter this, some manufacturers have started insulating jackets with synthetic materials that can take some moisture, or by adding polymer to the jacket’s down.
Furthermore, when the shell is made from water-resistant materials like nylon, it will wick light moisture off instead of absorbing it. The shell can also be treated with Durable Water Repellant (DWR) which also repels water.
These are all things to keep in mind when looking at the waterproof factor of different jackets.
6. Features of the down jacket
- Hoods – A lot of down jackets can be bought with an included hood. It can be useful and can give extra warmth to your head, but it also adds bulk to the jacket and overall to your luggage. So if you are looking for an ultra light packable down jacket and you will not be traveling to place where it rains too much, maybe you should buy a jacket without the hood.
- Cuffed waist and wrists – Great to seal spaces and keep the warmth. This is something that any good quality down jacket should have to protect you from wind and water.
- Pockets – They are ideal to hide your cold hand and not carry gloves with you.
Most down jackets on this list are offered in hooded and non-hooded versions. The non-hooded version is slightly cheaper and weighs less, but you don’t get the advantage of the extra warmth and comfort. Yet again, if you want to travel light and be able to pack your jacket we recommend you to avoid the hooded versions. You can always carry a compact beanie with you.
The models with hoods are ideal for backpacking and climbing and many people that get the hood model don’t regret it. You’ll notice that in our picks above, we listed down sweaters in the non-hooded versions (when available), which are the most commonly purchased.
7. Compressability and packed size
What minimalist adventurers and digital nomads love the most in a down jacket is the fact that it can compress a lot and it’s easy to carry. An ultralight jacket like the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 can be stuffed into its own little sack and end up much smaller than a bottle. The tiny packed size means you have little reason to leave it behind, and can fit it easily into a nomad backpack, next to your tech gear and packing cubes.
Keep in mind that the higher the fill power the more easily it will compress. This is noticeable when you get into premium levels of down (800-fill and above), which pack down to unbelievable sizes, and yet bounce back after only a few minutes out of the bag. Fabric thickness also plays an important role, and thinner denier fabrics logically pack down smaller. Along with warmth for the weight, compressibility is an area where down dominates the vast majority of synthetic-insulated jackets.
Men’s ultra light packable down jacket
Fill:800-fill-power down
Weight: 12.5 oz
The Illuminate Down Hoody and Jacket are the lightest, warmest, easiest-to-grab midlayer pieces that pack 800-fill responsibly sourced down insulation into their own left-hand pocket. A sturdy nylon shell and lining provide light weather resistance and next-to-skin ultra-soft comfort, while fine-tuned details like a brushed tricot interior and zip chest media pocket ensure hands and valuables stay warm, dry, and safe. Elastic cuffs and drawcord hem trap in warmth and seal out cold, and a color-blocked design looks as good as it performs in freezing temps.
Features
- Adjustable Hood
- Zip Hand Pockets
- Two Internal Shove-It™ Pockets
- Zip Chest Pocket with internal Media Pocket
- Left-Hand Pocket Doubles as Stuff Sack
- Carabiner Loop
- Brushed Tricot Back of Hand Inside Pockets
- Key Clip
- Water-Resistant
- Wind-Resistant
- Lightweight
- Single-Separating Front Zipper
- Low-Pro Binding™ Elastic Cuffs
- Elastic Drawcord Hem
Fill: 700-fill-power down
Weight: 1lbs 0.76oz
The Zeus jacket is great piece of clothing for city life in the winter or autumn as a digital nomad. The extremely ightweight down proof fabric is stuffed with the finest quality 700 fill power down. A wind flap is tucked behind the front zipper to suppress drafts. Packs away into its own pocket for easy storage or travel!
This warm, snazzy-looking down jacket, from popular outdoor outfitter Marmot, brings the company’s all-mountain warmth to wintry city streets. Available in a variety of style-conscious colors, the jacket is made of surprisingly lightweight, “down-proof” fabric that won’t let precious warmth-boosting feathers escape. With a certified minimum 800 fill power of Marmot’s renowned, top-quality down, the Zeus additionally features a wind flap tucked behind the front zipper to seal out the wind-driven cold, and the entire jacket packs down into its own stow pocket for easy packing (and a handy travel or camp pillow).
Features
- Durable, lightweight fabric prevents down feathers from escaping
- Zippered hand pockets
- Entire jacket packs into pocket
- Wind flap behind front zipper protects against drafts
- Elastic draw cord hem for adjustability in serious weather
- Angel-Wing Movement allows full range of motion without jacket riding up
Fill: 700-fill-power down
Weight: 1 lb. 1 oz.
Stretchdown™ weaves pockets of down insulation from a single stretch fabric, giving you freedom to move. A durable material blend comes together with the highest quality goose down insulation in an ultra-engineered construction to combine warmth and movement for the full range of winter activities. From trailhead to summit, over bases or under a waterproof shell: this layer is made to mobilize.
Features
- Puffy midlayer built specifically for excursions in the high alpine
Stretch woven body offers non-restrictive movement and durability - 700-fill goose down adds a solid warmth-to-weight ratio
- Alpine-oriented fit stays comfortable in a harness or as a midlayer
- Zippered hand and chest pockets keep items organized
- Woven baffles further boost durability while keeping down in place
- Insulated hood enhances warmth when winds pick up at the crag
Fill: 750-fill-power down
Weight: 16.5 oz.
With a fresh design aesthetic and recycled construction, the highly packable Microlight Alpine Jacket is the go-to gear for rapid warmth when the temperature drops.
The redesigned Microlight Alpine Jacket takes the versatile, easy-pack insulation of the established classic and dials in some intelligent new upgrades. It features a combination of zoned micro and nano baffles to increase core warmth without inflating weight or bulk – and the jacket’s ethical credentials are now equally sound. With ripstop nylon, as well as GRS-certified, 700 fill power P.U.R.E recycled hydrophobic down, the Microlight Alpine Jacket now features fully recycled shell, insulation and lining. Practical and user-friendly, both as an everyday jacket and as a mountain layer, additional features include three harness-compatible pockets, an easy-carry stuff sack and a down-filled hood with stiffened peak. It’s leightweight and can easy to pack in your luggage or backpack.
With its refined styling, improved down distribution and ethical upgrades, the Microlight Alpine Jacket is the definitive multi-purpose down jacket.
Features
- Adjustable hood with stiffened peak
- Zoned lightweight micro and nano baffle stitch-through construction
- Pertex Quantum ripstop nylon fabrics are soft and packable
- YKK® zipped hand pockets and large zipped chest pocket
- Internally elasticated cuffs and drawcord adjustable hem
- Main Fabric: Recycled 30D nylon Pertex Quantum, 50g/m², with DWR
- Lining: Recycled 20D nylon, 38g/m²
- Insulation: Recycled 700 fill-power down Nikwax hydrophobic (water-resistant) finish (153g Size L)
- Composition: 100% recycled polyamide outer with 100% recycled polyamide lining
- Stuff sack included
Fill: 900-fill-power down
Weight: 10.6 oz
Named for the goddess of the dawn, we designed the Eos jacket for early morning starts that call for an extra layer of no-fuss insulation. With just the right amount of premium 900+ fill down, this hooded down sweater excels at keeping you warm on its own when conditions call for moving light and fast, or as a layering piece when weather moves in. Equally at home on the trail or around town, this lightweight and packable jacket will do wonders in your outerwear quiver.
Fill: 850-fill-power down
Weight: 12 oz
The Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hooded Down Jacket is perfect for a backcountry or even city tour on a cold morning, or use it as an outer layer for chilly fall hikes. The combination of 850-fill goose down and strategically-placed Coreloft insulation keeps you warm during bone-chilling days in the backcountry. Plus, this superlight hooded jacket comes with its own stuff sack so you can easily bring it along on your next ski tour.
This is definitely of the top performer light down hackets for two of the factors we care about the most in this top: a lightweigh and warm jacket.
Its 850-fill power down gives it super high loft and heat retention, while also weighing less than the competitors who used lower fill-power down. Arc’teryx pairs its warm and light down with Arato 10 denier super light nylon shell fabric, ensuring that this jacket uses only the lightest materials available. However, while its high quality led to maximum performance, it doesn’t come without a price. This was easily one of the most expensive down jackets in our review.
Features
- Light, durable, and toasty midlayer for cool backcountry conditions
- 850-fill goose down is light and compressible
- Coreloft insulation for areas prone to overheating
- Lightweight Arato shell with DWR treatment repels moisture
- Adjustable, insulated StormHood protects head from wind and cold
- Jacket stuffs into pocket for easy packing
- Slim fit makes it easy to throw on under a shell
Fill: 800-fill-power down
Weight: 8.5 oz
Features
- Midlayer that has your back on your most adventurous days
- Whisperer Ripstop is a recycled outer with impressive durability
- DWR coating fights off light precipitation to keep you dry
- 800-fill down keeps things lightweight without limiting warmth
- Two zippered hand pockets keep snacks and necessities nearby
- Elastic on hood and cuffs cuts out bone-chilling winds
- Designed to pack into its own pocket to simplify stashing
Fill: 800-fill-power down
Weight: 13.1 oz
Tthis puffy sweater-style jacket is a favorite for backcountry adventurers and urbanites as well.
It has interior and exterior zippered pockets, one of which doubles as a stuff sack with a clip. The front zipper on the jacket has a storm flap to protect against wind and light precipitation, and the bottom hem tightens with a drawcord. The jacket is designed with recycled materials, traceable down, and an environmentally friendly DWR finish that all comes together to create a semi-slim fit, leaving a comfortable amount of room for layering.
Features
- Lightweight insulation for climbing, backpacking, and skiing
- 800-fill down insulation is warm and highly compressible
- Down sourced from geese that were never force-fed or live-plucked
- Recycled ripstop shell is windproof and water-resistant
- Internal chest pocket doubles as a stuff sack
- Adjustable hem can be cinched tight to lock in body heat
- Regular fit with contoured body and bound cuffs
- Patagonia has been crafting sustainable goods since 1973
women’s ultra light PACKABLE down jackets
Fill: 550-fill-power down
Weight: 226 gr
TRAVEL IN STYLE with this packable down jacket ,ade of 20D 400T nylon, with a stylish and compressible winter jackets for women are ideal for on-the-go use with its carrying pouch – perfect to bring on travels and commutes
It is windproof& warm and this jacket lets you indulge in superior support and warmth even under challenging weather conditions
Build from an EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY, this fully-zippered and hooded light down jacket for women boasts a waterproof coating and robust construction, perfect for slight rain and snowy weather. The puffer jacket has 2 zippered pockets, 2 interior pockets, and a media port for earphone wires.
Features
- Filling: 90% duck down with RDS-certified
- Water-repellent
- Warm & insulated
- Windproof
- Ultra light
- Packable
Fill: 700-fill-power down
Weight: 390 grams
Made with recycled materials, the North Face ThermoBall technology revolutionizes synthetic insulation by offering a synthetic alternative to down and provides all-weather warmth.
It is made from 100% recycled fabric with Durable Water-Repellent (DWR) Finish.
SLIM FIT. Lightweight and packable, this slim fit jacket fits the body for a close, warm layer. Pack this jacket in your tote when you’re commuting to and from work or throw it in your hiking backpack for an extra layer
PACKABLE DESIGN. This jacket stows in the hand pocket, creating its own pouch and making it great for keeping in your backpack or throwing in your luggage. An internal, secure-zip chest pocket and covered zip hand pockets store your phone and wallet.
The elastic cuffs fit over gloves and a cinch-cord will let you customize the fit at the waist.
Features
- ECO INSULATION. Made with recycled materials, ThermoBall technology revolutionizes synthetic insulation. Developed in partnership with PrimaLoft, this innovative insulation offers a synthetic alternative to down and provides all-weather warmth.
How to wash and take care of you packable down jacket
Here are 8 tips for maintaining the loft and insulation of your down jacket:
1. Wash Frequency: Experts recommend washing your down jacket just once a season
2. Before Washing: fasten buttons, snaps, and close any zippers. Then, before doing anything else, check the manufacturer’s instructions Different jackets have different cleaning rules so make sure you do that to extend your down jacket’s life.
3. Detergent: Use a special down detergent like Gear Aid ReviveX, Nikwax,as these are specifically designed to revitalize water resistance and clean without harming loft.
4. Removing Stains: For stains, use a little mild soap or water and dab the area with a sponge or dishcloth. To wash the entire garment, you can hand wash it or use a front-load machine.
5. Drying: It’s okay to dry it in the dryer, but use the lowest heat setting and toss a tennis ball or two in to revitalize the downs fluff, and check on the jacket every 20 minutes to ensure it doesn’t overheat.
6. Storage: Do not store it stuffed in a sack. This causes the loft to clump together which leads to spotty insulation and cold spots. Instead, leave the jacket hanging and let it breathe while in a wardrobe.
7. Rain: Ultra light down jackets can be worn in the rain ONLY if they’re underneath a shell. Never directly expose them to prolonged moisture as it can cause the down to clump and lose its warmth. It would be good if you could avoid humid hikes and not sweat on it.
8. Tears: Be careful with them. They can break relatively easily. They aren’t designed to be worn through brush or trees. They’re best for at night around camp where there’s less chance of coming into contact with sharp objects. In case it tears, just bring it to a local dry cleaner that can fix it nicely on the cheap.
Last words…Why Choose an Ultra-Light Packable Down Jacket for Your Travels
A packable down jacket is one of the most practical items a traveler can have in cold seasons or environments.
IAnd that’s because it will keep you warm, look stylish, and save space in your backpack or luggage.
A regular “unpackable” jacket can take up a lot of space and it’s extremelly difficult to pack therefore, as an adventurer with limited space, you should always be looking for an ultra light weight down jacket either that you buy a men’s or women’s one.
The packable down jackets offers the best of both worlds (yes, there is no compromise). It allows wearers to be as warm as they would be in their typical winter jacket, but without the added volume. This is what makes them ideal for travel, and why they should be in any adventurer’s closet.
Besides keeping you warm while wearing them, these are also an ideal travel companion because you can use them as a blanket on a cold airplane or bus, and they also double up as a travel pillow if you need something cushy to lay your head on.
Because they compress so well and weigh next to nothing, packable down jackets are an awesome addition to any jacket repertoire, and will be your new go-to when headed out into chilly weather.
