Best Puffer Jackets (2025): Patagonia, Arc’teryx, Rei

The temptation with a down jacket is to get the warmest thing you can do. If you’re spending winters in northern Wisconsin like I did while I was testing these, that’s not a bad idea. But if you’re looking for a little extra warmth during your shoulder season trip, but also looking for high altitude summer backpacking, you need a filling power of 800, a winter hoodie that’s very packed There is no.

I recommend sticking to a certain jacket Downfill power evaluation It can be used to use at least 500 light, but there is no reason to spend on a jacket with a power down of 900 fills (or you can Constantly cold person). If you’re spending time in mostly extreme climates, get a light jacket.

Also, when it comes to backpacking, don’t forget that you need to remember how packable the jacket is and how much weight you add to the pack. Unfortunately, the lightest jackets tend to have a higher filling force. Because less can lock in warmth, but again, it’s realistic about the temperature you’re in, and you can get away with a cheaper jacket.