Best Lightweight Down Jackets For Backpacking

A comprehensive backpacking guide to the best ultralight down jackets for thru hiking in 2020.

Best lightweight down jackets for backpacking.

The 11 best hiking jackets of winter 2019. Climbers long distance hikers skiers snowboarders and athletes of every shade have embraced ultralight down jackets. There are a lot of good jackets on the market so do your research thoroughly to make an informed purchasing decision. All in all the skyline wouldn t be our first choice for lightweight backpacking trips but it s an awesome down jacket for everyday use winter hiking and snowshoeing and even as a midlayer at the resort for those who run cold.

But for the price the skyline is cheaper than many lightweight down jackets that offer considerably less warmth. With hundreds of models available on the market you ll be spoiled for. Models reviewed include mountain hardwear montbell rab arcteryx marmot rei feathered friends westcomb uniqlo sierra designs big agnes. This may seem like a lot to ask from one jacket but there are some strong contenders.

10 of the best puffy jackets for ultralight backpacking now i ve gone over the important aspects of a good puffy jacket it s time to look at ten of the best options on the market. Car camper day hiker ultralight backpacker urban hiker wilderness backpacker the arc teryx cerium lt hoody is a meticulously engineered down jacket. Get your family ready for the trail with this hand me down worthy kit. The best lightweight down jacket for backpacking is one which compresses and packs down to sit in your backpack until it is needed without taking up space.

In our rigorous testing scheme we wear them while tackling hiking hundreds of miles on the vermont trail and hunkering down in each at cold climbing areas. The best down jackets are lightweight but highly effective even the harshest situations. This update for 2020 analyzes 10 of the year s best models. No matter the weather these jackets are ready to help you get outside and hit the trail.

Remember that the higher the down fill power the lighter the jacket will be for the provided warmth. Our jacket experts have tested over 55 of the best down jackets in the last decade. Down fill insulation vs synthetic fill insulation. Many of the best hiking jackets will meet all these specifications and more depending on the climate.

Down jackets are in general light for the warmth they provide and therefore perfect for lightweight hiking and mountaineering. We break them down hiking jackets into four categories hard shell down soft shell and mid layer that way you can find the perfect hiking jacket. A down jacket should have conveniently placed pockets for storing hiking and mountaineering accessories. The best lightweight down jacket for the outdoors arc teryx cerium lt hoody.