Ultralight Down Jacket Backpacking

We recommend however that any backpacking down jacket be ultralight.

Ultralight down jacket backpacking.

While many ultralight shells are similar in appearance and weight they can vary significantly in functionality. A down jacket should have conveniently placed pockets for storing hiking and mountaineering accessories. These down jackets generally have similar fill weights as lightweight down sweaters but are ultralight due their use of premium down fill power thin shell fabrics denier and minimalist. The rei co op 650 down hoodie 2 0 is another exceptionally light jacket at 11 9 ounces for a men s large but at the cost of warmth as its 650 fill duck down insulation isn t as warm there isn t a whole lot of it in the jacket and it lacks crucial cold blocking features like hood and waist cinches.

Ultralight down jackets are focused pieces designed for backpacking climbing backcountry skiing and other outdoor pursuits where every ounce matters. Down fill insulation vs synthetic fill insulation. A comprehensive backpacking guide to the best ultralight down jackets for thru hiking in 2020. Choosing a down jacket for backpacking.

By design ultralight down jackets are constructed from material that sacrifices toughness for the sake of saving weight. Pictured is a custom 1 2 zip jacket made for me by ben at goose feet gear. Models reviewed include mountain hardwear montbell rab arcteryx marmot rei feathered friends westcomb uniqlo sierra designs big agnes. Beyond a few basic recommendations listed below your down jacket choice is up to personal preference.

Down jackets are in general light for the warmth they provide and therefore perfect for lightweight hiking and mountaineering. The new warmth to weight king. Car camper day hiker ultralight backpacker urban hiker wilderness backpacker the arc teryx cerium lt hoody is a meticulously engineered down jacket. For puffy jackets however synthetic insulation has its place.

The best lightweight down jacket for the outdoors arc teryx cerium lt hoody. Remember that the higher the down fill power the lighter the jacket will be for the provided warmth. Simply put the best ultralight jackets for trail running may be different from the best models for cool weather hiking climbing or ultralight backpacking and your choice will also depend on the typical weather you encounter. Ultralight down jackets will almost certainly not be as tough or durable as a mid heavy weight down jacket.

For fit aim for a slim to medium style to save weight and bulk. At 61 down for its weight the goosefeet gear jacket trounces former top warmth to weight efficient ultralight down jackets like the mountain hardware ghost whisperer or montbell mirage. 2020 goosefeet gear custom down jacket 380 as shown. I stated in my recent ultralight backpacking sleep system post that down is a superior choice for a quilt or sleeping bag.