This is a gear review about the Best Ultralight Down Jackets 2022.
In this review of the lightweight down jackets, I note that the quality of the down jackets is stepping up to the next level.
Many companies are using quality fabrics that repel water and match that with the best quality responsibly sourced hydrophobic down.
Let’s take a look at the down jackets for day hiking, backpacking, and ultralight thru-hiking.
Best Lightweight Down Jackets for Backpacking 2022
The Best Lightweight Down Jackets for Backpacking in 2022 are:
Best Lightweight Down Jacket
Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody Review
Weight – 309g / 10.9oz
Down Fill Weight – unknown
Total Loft – unknown
Down Fill Power – Responsibly sourced, non-hydrophobic 850 loft down
Outer fabric – Weather-resistant Arato 10D fabric with DWR
Hood – Yes
Pockets – Yes
Stuff sack – Yes
Pros:
> Ultra lightweight.
> 850 fill down.
> More fragile material than the other jackets reviewed.
Cons:
> Hydrophobic down would make this the best down jacket in this review.
The Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody is a super lightweight down jacket that is much warmer than it looks.
Although the Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody 850 fill-down jacket does not use hydrophobic down, it does have a water-resistant outer with DWR Treatment. Some of the high moisture areas use synthetic insulation instead of down. This leads to a good level of water resistance but the lack of hydrophobic down will keep this jacket from being a favorite wet environment.
The outer material of the jacket is a very lightweight fabric that is windproof and strong enough to withstand mild abuse. But it is a bit more fragile and care is needed to make sure it is not destroyed by sharp sticks on the trail. Hiking on trails, perfect. Bashing your way through an unmarked trail with sharp sticks in the middle of nowhere, maybe not.
Overall, this lightweight down jacket uses high fill power non-hydrophobic down and is one of the better down jackets. It is ultra-light and warm enough for thru-hiking all but the wettest of trails. The Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody would be close to the perfect ultra-light-down jacket for hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.
Best Down Jacket for Thru Hiking
Feathered Friends Eos Review
Weight – 300g / 10.6oz
Down Fill weight – 105g / 3.7oz
Down Fill Power – Responsibly sourced, non-hydrophobic, 900+ Fill loft down
Total Loft – 3330 cubic inches
Shell fabric – Pertex fabric 37g/m2 with DWR
Pros:
> Pertex shield shell fabric.
> High quality 900+ down.
> Great warmth to weight.
Cons:
> No Hydrophobic down
The Feathered Friends Eos has an overall weight 10.6 oz / 300 grams. This jacket offers some of the best warmth to weigh of any jacket in this review. The 105 g / 3.7 oz of 900 fill power plus down makes this great down jacket for its warmth to weight ratio, not to mention the new chest pocket that they added.
Add to that the quality ripstop nylon Pertex outer shield shell material with DWR to block the wind and bad weather.
The only thing stopping the Feathered Friends Eos Down Jacket from being the best in this review is the lack of hydrophobic down which makes this jacket, not as weather resistant as others.
But warmth provided for cold mornings or nights in good weather this jacket makes this jacket a great choice. Perfect as an ultralight thru-hiking down jacket on the Continental Divide Trail where hikers need a slightly warmer jacket than on other thru-hikes
Overall, the Feathered Friends Eos is one of the best light weight down jackets on the market. It feels much warmer than the lightweight would indicate. Perfect as an ultralight down jacket for thru-hiking. The use of hydrophobic down would rocket this jacket to the best ultra lightweight down jacket in this review.
Best Ultralight Down Jacket
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 Hooded Review
Total Weight – 249g / 8.8oz
Down Fill Weight – 85g / 3oz
Down Fill Power – Responsibly sourced, non hydrophobic 800 loft down
Total Loft – 2400 cubic inches
Shell fabric – 10D ripstop fabric 30g/m2 with DWR Finish
Hood – Yes
Pockets – Yes
Stuff sack – No, it stuffs into a pocket.
Pros:
> Ultralight
> very small pack size
> Perfect for the ultralight thru-hiker
Cons:
> No hydrophobic down
> No adjustments in the hood
The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 is one of the most popular Lightweight Down Jackets among the ultralight thru-hikers of the world. A brilliant combination of some of the lightest fabrics and no-frills designs combine to make this one of the top picks.
The updated Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer 2 down jacket does not use hydrophobic down as it had done previously. In my opinion, this is a move backward but it has bought the price down a little which is positive.
Despite the lack of hydrophobic down, it does have a good DWR finish but overall this jacket does not fare well in damp conditions.
Another thing used to keep the weight down is the elastic on the hood rather than an elastic draw chord. This helps keep the overall weight. Overall the jacket works well and is a top pick for the ultra-light thru-hiker.
I would love to see the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 return to using hydrophobic down as was the case on the previous model before this update.
The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 is one of the best ultralight down jackets for backpacking in 2022. It is also one of the most packable as it stuffs into its own pocket. This jacket is best suited to ultra light hikers such as Thru Hikers who want the Best Down Jacket for the Pacific Crest Trail. This is one of the lightest possible down jackets with a good warmth to weight ratio.
Best Backpacking Down Jacket
Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody
Weight – 428g / 15.1oz
Down Fill Weight – unknown
Total Loft – unknown
Down Fill Power – Responsibly sourced, non hydrophobic 800 loft down
Outer fabric – 100% recycled ripstop nylon fabric with DWR
Hood – Yes
Pockets – Yes
Stuff sack – No, jacket stuffs into chest pocket
Pros:
> Reasonably priced considering it is Patagonia
> Warm
> Environmentally friendly
Cons:
> Not the lightest down jacket
> Bulky pack size
The Patagonia Down Sweater is one of the most popular down jackets in the world. A combination of environmentally friendly design and manufacturing, combined with a good lightweight fit makes for a great down jacket.
As you would expect with Patagonia, they use a recycled nylon face fabric coated with a DWR. The down is ethically sourced 800 loft.
The combination of the quality down, good face fabric, functional fit and good set of hand pockets and chest pocket make for a good down jacket. With the exception of the environmentally friendly heritage, there is nothing special about this jacket. And that it what makes it great. No frills, no marketing hype. It just works.
Overall, the Patagonia Down Sweater is a good, honest backpacking-down jacket without the frills and marketing hype. It just works. If you are heading off on the trails or traveling the world, this is one of the best backpacking down jackets on the market in 2022.
Best Water Resistant Down Jacket
The North Face Summit Hoody Review
Weight – 400g / 14.1oz
Down Fill Weight – unknown
Down Fill Power – Responsibly sourced, hydrophobic down, 800 fill loft
Outer fabric – Recycled ripstop fabric with DWR Treatment
Hood – Yes
Pockets – Yes
Stuff sac – Yes
Pros:
> Hydrophobic Down.
> Recycled shell fabric with DWR
> Very warm.
> One of the best lightweight weather-resistant jackets.
Cons:
> Heavier than the other jackets
> Not very compact.
The North Face Summit Down Jacket is the jacket to take a serious look at if you want a weather-resistant down jacket. The recycled outer face fabric is coated with a PFC-free DWR finish. And inside the jacket, the 800 loft hydrophobic down resists water absorption. When you get caught out in the rain, this is the water-resistant down jacket.
The North Face Summit Hoody may be slightly heavier than some of the other jackets in this review but it is one of the warmest. Making this better suited to someone who feels the cold or heading into temperatures below freezing. It also packs up slightly larger than some of the other jackets.
Overall, The North Face Summit Down Jacket is one of the better water resistant Down Jackets for those heading into bad weather or wanting one of the warmer jackets. Quality everything in this jacket. The added warmth comes at the cost of weight and it is not the most compact of all the jackets. Another jacket that is perfect for wet cold trails or early season starts on any of the Triple Crown Hiking Trails or the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand.
Best Down Jacket for Australia and New Zealand
Macpac Icefall Review
Weight – 300g / 10.5oz
Down Fill Weight – 95g / 3.3oz
Down Fill Power – 800 fill Hydrophobic Goose Down
Total loft – 2640 cubic inches of down fill
Shell fabric – Pertex Quantum Y Fuse 100% recycled Ripstop with DWR
Hooded Jacket – Yes
Pockets – Yes
Stuff sack – No, stuffs inside one of the two zippered hand pockets
Pros:
> Ultra lightweight
> Most water-resistant jacket in this review
> Highest quality everything
Cons:
> Only available in Australia and New Zealand
The Macpac Icefall has been fully updated in May 2022 and is even better than the previous model. It is one of the best down jackets on the market. This well-thought-out jacket combines everything that anyone could want from a tough lightweight jacket.
The outer shell material has been fully updated to the new high-quality Pertex Quantum Y fuse ripstop nylon that is 100% recycled. It is a strong, lightweight material that is a very water-resistant fabric. The DWR treatment assists in making this more water resistant than most of the other jackets in this test.
The addition of 800 loft fill power Hydrophobic down makes for a jacket well able to withstand the more some of the worst weather. Not only is there hydrophobic down but the areas most likely to get wet such as the shoulders and cuff area are filled with Synthetic insulation in the form of Primaloft Gold.
The new Macpac Icefall is a slim to average fit which is much better than the previous model and will fit much better than the previous model.
These Lightweight Down Jackets would be perfectly suited for all but the coldest hiking trips anywhere in the world and perfect for thru hiking in wet places such as the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand.
Overall, I think the Macpac Icefall is the best ultralight down jacket on the market. Well thought out with all the best design features possible. One of the top-spec Water Repellant Down Jackets reviewed and a personal favorite. But it is only available in Australia and New Zealand at this stage.
Best Packable Down Jacket
Montbell Plasma 1000 Down Jacket Review
Total Weight – 135g / 4.8oz
Down Fill Weight – 45g / 1.6oz
Down Fill Power – 1000 fill ex down
Total Loft – 1600 cubic inches
Outer fabric – 21g/m2 7 denier with DWR
Hood – No
Pockets – No
Stuff Sack – Yes
Pros:
> Ultralight
> Best warmth to weight ratio
Cons:
> Not using hydrophobic down
> Non responsibly sourced down
> No Pockets or Hood
For the hiker seeking out the lightest possible jacket with one of the best warmth to weight ratios there is no equal. But the best in class warmth to weight ratio comes at a small cost.
The 1.6 ounces of 1000 fill loft down is a much higher fill power than any of the other down jackets in reviewed. It is not hydrophobic down like many other brands but it does add up to 1600 cubic inches of loft to keep you warm.
The jacket uses a very thin shell material. It is a very light 7 denier fabric which combined with one of the best DWR treatments which does an ok job repelling water. But be careful of this jacket in bad weather and be careful not to get this jacket caught on sharp sticks and branches when hiking. All of this combines to make an incredibly lightweight jacket.
How durable is the 1000 loft down? Most people tend to agree that the sweet spot for the quality vs durable down lies somewhere between 750 fill and 900 fill power loft. I would expect many long years of use out of this quality jacket if taken care of and washed as needed.
This ultralight jacket has no frills. This is the non hooded version with no pockets. This keeps the overall weight down which is the main reason to consider this ultra lightweight down jacket.
At 4.8 ounces or 135 grams, this is a true ultralight weight jacket for the gram counting ultralight hiker or someone wanting to cover huge miles with all the lightest possible gear. Just be careful, it may not be as durable as the other jackets in this gear review. It is also not the best insulated jacket on the market and not as warm as it looks. For the this jacket to be awesome I would like to see a bit more loft and just a bit more down fill in the jacket.
Overall, if you are seeking the lightest down jacket on the list with the best warmth to weight ratio and the best packable down jacket then this is it. This ultra light packable down jacket simply is light in weight but it could be a little warmer. Also keep in mind, this jacket has no hood.
Want something warmer with pockets and a hood? Consider the Montbell Plasma 1000 Fill Power Alpine Down Parka.
Best Budget Down Jacket
REI Co-Op 650 Down Jacket 2.0
Total Weight – 312 g / 11 oz
Down Fill Weight – Unknown
Down Fill Power – 650 fill down
Total Loft – unknown
Outer fabric – Recycled Nylon
Hood – No
Pockets – Yes
Stuff Sack – No packs into the left pocket
Pros:
> Reasonably priced
> Will keep you warm enough, did I mention it is cheap!
Cons:
> Discontinued so might not be in stock in the near future
> Heavy for the warmth
The REI Co-Op 650 2.0 Down Jacket is neither the lightest nor the best quality down jacket but is the cheapest. If you are looking for a budget down jacket then this is it.
It is filled with 650 fill RDS down and has a good outer fabric. At 11 ounces it is reasonable for the weight. Also, note that it is now discontinued so it is a real bargain at the moment.
Overall, this is a decent quality down jacket for those on a budget.
Down Jackets worth Considering
Outdoor Research Illuminate Review
Weight – 353g / 12.5oz
Down Fill Weight – Unknown
Down Fill Power  – Responsibly sourced, non hydrophobic, 800 fill power loft down
Total Loft – Unknown
Shell fabric – Weather-resistant 10D Nylon with No DWR
Hooded Jacket – Yes
Pockets – Yes
Stuff sack – No, Jackets stuffs into a pocket
Pros:
> Low cost (only just).
> Great customer service and warranty department.
Cons:
> Poor weather resistance.
The Outdoor Research Illuminate is a lightweight down jacket which is one of the cheapest high quality jackets on the market and worthy of consideration for those on a budget. The hooded down jacket has a cinch cord to keep the hood tight across the head, warm pockets for hands and one of the best warranties in the business.
Having used their warranty service in the past I rate them very highly, another very positive reason to consider this jacket.
The weather resistant shell material is lacking any DWR Treatment and the responsibly sourced 800 loft down is not hydrophobic. So this jacket performs poorly in anything other than good weather.
Conclusion – The Outdoor Research Illuminate is one of the best down jackets for those on a budget. It has everything a budget ultralight hiker would want minus anything that would add to the overall cost of the jacket. It could be lighter and a little more weather resistant.
Rab Microlight Alpine Jacket Review
Weight – 470g / 17oz
Down Fill Weight – 143g/5oz
Down Fill Power  – Responsibly sourced, hydrophobic, 750 fill loft down
Total Loft – 3750 cubic inches
Shell fabric – Weather resistant Pertex Quantum 32g/m2 with DWR coating
Hood – Yes
Pockets – Yes
Stuff sac – Yes
Pros:
> Very warm.
> Great weather resistance.
> Top quality materials.
Cons:
> Heavy.
> 750 loft down.
The 5 ounces of down creates a massive 3750 cubic inches of down to keep you warm. Although the Rab Microlight Alpine is slightly heavier than the other jackets in this review it is the warmest.
The Rab Microlight Alpine Jacket uses high quality hydrophobic down, quality DWR Treatment and one of the best in the business outer shell material fabrics, Pertex Quantum. This is a seriously weather resistant jacket.
If only this jacket was using higher loft down such as 800 plus and was a little bit lighter.
The Rab Microlight Alpine jacket has all the best features and all the best materials, if only the loft of the down was higher than 750 fill it would bring down the overall weight and increase the overall quality to make this one of the the best down jackets. I would love to see this jacket include 800 or 900 fill power hydrophobic down.
Overall, Rab makes some of the best outdoor and this jacket is no exception. For anyone heading off into cold damp areas this jacket will be a great fit. Perfect for wet cold trails such as early season starts on any of the Triple Crown Hiking Trails or the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand.
Best of the Rest
The following is a list of awesome Down jackets that are certainly worthy of a look:
- Rab Neutrino – The Rab Neutrino is the big brother of the Alpine jacket. It is warmer, bulkier and heavier and better suited as one of the best winter down jackets.
Best Ultralight Down Jacket for Thru Hiking
Most thru hikers only wear a down jacket at night or first thing in the morning until the body has warmed up. Hiking in a down jacket is not common unless the weather turns cold and nasty.
The Best Ultra lightweight down jackets for thru hikers are the Feathered Friends Eos, Arc’teryx Cerium, Ghost Whisperer 2, Macpac Icefall and Montbell Plasma.
Each are under 300g and withstand the harsh treatment they will be put through. The Montbell Plasma is far and away the lightest making it great for those who want the lightest jacket and don’t mind the lack of features such as a hood or pockets.
If hiking on wet thru hikes such as the Appalachian Trail or Te Araroa Trail the Macpac Icefall and The North Face Summit are the stand out choice.
Best Down Jackets for Rainy Weather
With hydrophobic down, quality DWR repellent and the best outer materials it is hard to go past the Macpac Icefall, The North Face Summit, Rab Microlight Alpine
The Macpac Icefall and Arc’teryx Cerium LT add synthetic insulation into the high moisture areas which are likely to get wet such as hoods, cuffs and shoulders, but the lack of hydrophobic down really lets it down in foul weather.
Overall, the Macpac Icefall is the best down jacket for bad weather, closely followed by the Rab Microlight Alpine and The North Face Summit which are both quite a bit heavier but are both warmer jackets.
Best overall Ultralight Down Jackets
Ever single jacket in this review could do something that would make them the standout winner and best choice. As it stands a couple of jacket rise to the top but could be improved.
The Feathered Friends Eos would reach the top spot if it used hydrophobic Down. It is very warm, light, a good fit and great in all but rainy weather. The exact same can be said for the Arcteryx Cerium LT.
The The North Face Summit and Rab Microlight Alpine would reach the top spot if they were lighter in weight. Despite being feature rich, weather resistant and warm, they are slightly too heavy.
Montbell is ultralight in weight but lacking in features. This is the best pick for the hiker who doesn’t care about pockets, hood or weather resistance and wants the lightest jacket on the market.
Outdoor Research is the cheapest (only just) and is a good lightweight jacket. Adding more features would add to the price, but would make it a better jacket.
The Macpac Icefall ticks all the boxes for weather resistance, quality, lightweight and warmth. It would take out the top spot if it was available for non New Zealanders or Australians.
Overall, I like the Macpac Icefall for hiking in bad weather. For a combination of warmth and ultralight weight I like Arcteryx Cerium LTÂ and Feathered Friends EOS.
Buyers Guide
Here is some information you will need to know when purchasing a high quality ultra lightweight down jacket.
How to choose a Down Jacket
The are several factors you need to take into consideration when looking at down jackets.
They should be, lightweight, have a good quality fill power and fill weight of down and some form of weather resistance is good in the form of Hydrophobic down, water resistant face fabric and a DWR finish.
Another important consideration when buying a down jacket is that the down is responsibly sourced. The Responsible down standard ensures the down is traceable and sourced from animals that comply with animal welfare standards.
Warmth of a Lightweight Down Jacket
The Best Down Jackets for Thru Hiking or Bikepacking will be a compromise between lightweight and features.
It is unlikely that most lightweight down jackets will be used by anyone climbing Mt Everest but they will certainly be seen on backpacking trips or thru hiking trails such as the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail or Bikepacking the Great Divide Mountain Bike Trail.
All the ultralight down jackets reviewed here are compact, lightweight and warm enough for most people in temperatures around freezing. For temperatures significantly below freezing extra layers will be needed, specially if at camp and inactive.
What is Fill Power and why Is it important?
All the best down jackets should have a fill power of 800 or higher. The number 800 fill power refers to its lofting ability. If you take 1 ounce of down it will expand or loft to 800 cubic inches. 850 will loft to 850 cubic inches and so on. Overall, Confused?
The video below does a great job at explaining everything to do with Fill Power.
Water Resistance of a Down Jacket
Down does not like getting wet. It has a tendency to clump together and when that happens it looses its ability to keep you warm. To prevent that from happening all the best down jackets use a tightly weaved outer sheel fabric to prevent as much water as possible from making contact with the down.
Pertex is considered one of the best outer fabric but many companies use similar materials that protect water from getting into the down as much as possible.
Some jackets use a small amount of synthetic insulation material in the areas with high contact with moisture such as shoulder and arm cuffs.
Down jackets such as Macpac Icefall and Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody use a small amount of synthetic fill material in the shoulders and cuffs to prevent high moisture areas from wetting out the down.
What is Hydrophobic Down? And why you should use it in a down jacket
In recent years Nikwax has developed a hydrophobic down that resists the vast majority of contact with water, hence is able to stay nicely lofted if in contact with water.
Jackets with hydrophobic down should be considered of higher quality than those without. I have a preference to use a jacket with hydrophobic down but it hasn’t always been that way. It providers a safer option if I am wearing a jacket in bad weather.
If heading out into bad weather like I experienced on the Appalachian Trail and Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand, the following jackets would be perfect. The jackets below use hydrophobic down:
Watch the crazy video below which demonstrates how good hydrophobic down is.
What is a DWR Coating and why do I need it?
Think of the DWR finish as being like putting a layer of wax on the car. It allows the water to bead and run off the fabric. And like a layer of wax on a car it does not last forever and eventually the DWR will wear off and the fabric will wet out.
All of the companies except Outdoor Research use a DWR on the outside of the jacket. DWR stands for Durable Water Repellent.
Retreating the outer fabric with Nikwax TX Direct or similar will make the fabric resistant to water again.
How to repair Ultralight Down Jackets
Ultralight Down Jackets are not the most durable of outdoor gear. The use of lightweight fabrics combined with sharp sticks and branches, a spark from a campfire or a fall in rough terrain can easily damage a down jacket.
A small rip or tear in the fabric will occur if used for a prolonged time in the outdoors. There are two ways to repair the out fabric.
The first and easiest way is to cover the hole with some Tenacious Tape. Think of this tape as the superglue of fabric tapes. Cut to size a cover the hole. Tenacious tape on down jackets are a sign of a well used jacket that has spent quality time in the outdoors.
The second way is to sew on a patch over the damaged layer of fabric. I prefer the first method of using Tenacious Tape as it is cheap and it works. I have used it many times of the years to patch small holes.
Best Features in a Lightweight Down Jacket
What features are important on the best lightweight down jacket for backpacking? For most people a hood is super important. The need for a down jacket in the outdoors is to keep warm. A hood is one of the easiest ways to do this. The added weight to the down jacket is worth it.
Pockets are another great feature. Any hiker that has been hit by colder than expected temperatures will appreciate warming their hands in the pockets. Sometimes gloves are not enough. Other times you may have forgotten to bring gloves with you.
A stuff sac is a great idea to store the jacket. Otherwise, the ability to pack the jacket into one of it’s two zippered hand pockets or zippered chest pocket to make them packable when not being worn. All the reviewed jackets have some form of storage method.
Cinch cord on the hood and bottom of the jacket are used to restrict the amount of cold air entering the jacket and providing the best fit. Not all jackets have this feature.
Some jackets use simple elastic stitched into the jacket to provide a tight fit around the waist or hood. The cinch cord does add a small amount of weight and cost to the jacket but for the most part this is considered well worth it.
Best Value Down Jackets
If the best quality jacket costs so much that you can’t afford to spend time outdoors or are too scared to take the jacket somewhere for the fear of damaging it then we have a problem. Some of the jackets reviewed are very well priced and the lack of some features make them worthy of consideration.
A quality down jacket will last many years and if well cared for it is worth spending a little more now for something that will last many years in the great outdoors.
Down Jackets vs Synthetic Jackets
Synthetic jackets are slowly but surely catching up to down jackets with their warmth to weight to packability ratio. Fabrics like Polartec Alpha and Primaloft Gold are some of the best available at the moment but they are still not as a good as down.
Down also has a beautiful ability to be compressed and lofted without damaging the down. The same can’t be said for all synthetics just yet. I suspect in the next 10 years a synthetic product will come along that will make down obsolete. Watch this space.
Eventually synthetics will surpass down but the time is not here yet.
Conclusion
With so many Down Jackets on the market here are the best ones:
Frequently Asked Questions
Ultralight Down Jackets usually weight less than 500 grams / 17.5 ounces with some of the most expensive, highest quality jackets weighing less than 142 grams / 5 ounces. As they are so light they are perfect for backpacking and hiking.
Hydrophobic Down is a specially treated down that repels water. As a result it is well suited to hiking and backpacking in wetter climates as it will not absorb as much water as non treated down.
