Best Down Jacket: Women

Are you looking for a cozy warm jacket for your next adventure? Down jackets are honestly my favorite thing to wear on my hikes. They are comfy, warm, and they look so fashionably cute on all my hiking and backpacking pictures. Down jackets are known to be super compressible, lightweight but at the same time very expensive. So picking the perfect jacket for you is very important, especially if you are going to be spending a lot of money. Below I have listed the best down jacket for women. These jackets will help keep you warm and comfortable on all your adventures!

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Best Down Jacket Women’s Table Reviews

My Pick For The Best Hiking Jacket For Women

I picked the Ghost Whisperer because this jacket is extremely light and compressible yet warm at the same time. I have so much more room in my backpack and it is light as a feather. >Check it out here

10 Best Down Jacket: Women

Arc’teryx Cerium LT Down Hoodie – Women’s

I love this jacket, especially in the wintertime. It is warmer than the Ghost Whisperer, so I have switched to the Arc’teryx Cerium LT on cold frigid hikes. I do layer this with warm base layers in the winter. When I do layer with this jacket, I am extremely warm. The Cerium LT is a great winter jacket.

If you look at the fill, you will notice that it has some synthetic fill. Synthetic fill works better than down fill when wet. So Arc’teryx decided to put the synthetic fill in certain areas that are more likely to get wet. Like your armpits and the shoulders areas, for example. This does not mean the jacket is waterproof. But it is a cool feature, especially if you live in wet areas like me (The PNW). Synthetic is more cumbersome than down, so this feature does add a bit of weight and isn’t as compressible as the other jackets on this list.

Still, Arc’teryx has some of the best quality jackets known in the outdoor industry. I have owned a couple of their jackets, and I am always so impressed with the excellent quality put into their product. I highly recommend it.

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Feathered Friends Eos Women’s Down Jacket

One of the warmest yet compressible jacket on this list is the Eos Feathered Friends Jacket. This jacket is remarkable, and it is not a surprise to me as Feathered Friends is known to have some of the warmest yet compressible sleeping bags in the market (I have their awesome sleeping bags).

But this jacket is pretty expensive, and I am not jiving with the colors they offer or the style. Still, this jacket is exceptionally fluffy, warm, and durable. It is an excellent investment for cold weather backpackers.

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Mountain HardwearGhost Whisperer/2 Hoodie – Women’s

The Ghost Whisperer is my favorite jacket! If you look through my blog you might notice I am usually wearing a red or yellow jacket. Those are my Ghost Whisperer jackets. I loved this jacket so much that I bought two of them. This jacket is an ultra lightweight down jacket, compressible and warm. It probably has the best warmth to weight ratio. When I mean lightweight, I mean lightweight. When I bought this jacket, I thought it was a joke. It was so light that I thought, “How is this going to keep me warm?” But it did! It is a fantastic jacket that I take with me on almost all of my adventures.

I did say almost because it does have a flaw. It isn’t the warmest on frigid winter days. It is a little to thin for me. But I can sometimes get away with it if I layer enough. But I prefer the Arc’teryx Cerium LT for winter days.

I love taking the ghost whisperer with me on my summer hikes for emergency purposes as it is so compressible and lightweight; throwing it in my backpack is no biggie. I have also gotten so many compliments on this jacket; people love how it looks on me. So if you are looking for a perfect summer, fall, and spring jacket, the Ghost Whisperer is for you. It is for sure the best jacket on this list.

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REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket 2.0 – Women’s

Are you a beginner hiker or climber? Are you looking to dabble in the outdoor scene but not wanting to spend too much money💵 ? Then the REI 650 is the perfect jacket. It is pretty inexpensive, lightweight, and relatively warm for spring, fall, and summer days.

But it is inexpensive for a reason. The down is not high quality (only 650), which makes it hard to compress, and it isn’t as warm. It is still a great first-time hiker or backpacker jacket, or for people that are not sure if they want to commit to the outdoors.

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Patagonia Down Sweater – Women’s

Patagonia is known to be one of the best manufacturers in the outdoor community. Their high-quality products and their ethical standards really have helped their competition improve their standards. Patagonia women’s ultralight down jacket “the down sweater” is no exception to high quality. This jacket is durable, uses high quality down, and is extremely warm. The Patagonia Down Sweater is also pretty fashionable, as I always see people wearing them around Seattle. And the best part is that every year they release new colors! I am all about colorful jackets as they usually make my pictures look ten times better(sorry black is not my thing), so I am thankful when manufacturers release many different colors. I recently snagged a light blue color.

But the Sweater does have some negatives. Like all things Patagonia, it is expensive. But you do get what you pay for, so investing in something so high quality is not always a bad thing. Also, the jackets are on the heavier side. The jacket weighs around 12.2 ounces, which is heavier than the Mountain Hardwear and Arc’teryx jacket previously discussed.

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Rab Microlight Alpine Down Jacket – Women’s

Are you looking for a jacket that you can literally use anywhere? The Rab Microlight might be for you then! This jacket can be used around town (adorable jacket), or used on your sport climbing route. It is incredibly durable, so catching on rocks while climbing is no biggie. And the great part is that this jacket is weather-resistant as well. It is one of the most weather-resistant jackets on this list. You still need an outer layer for hard rain, but this jacket is great if you live in the pacific northwest, where it is continuously drizzling.

The jacket is on the more expensive and heavier side. But other than that, this jacket is fantastic and used all over the world by outdoor adventurers.

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Outdoor Research Illuminate Down Jacket – Women’s

The Outdoor Research Jacket is lightweight, durable, and has a cute look to it. It is great to wear around town. But sadly, this jacket lacks in weatherproofing. Down jackets are not supposed to be 100% waterproof, but most jackets have some waterproof coating. The Illuminate Down has none. So I only recommend to people that live in dry climates. Also, even though the down is high quality, there isn’t enough to keep you very warm, so I recommend to use this during milder temperatures.

The Illuminate is still a great jacket for hiking, and backpacking but only certain people that live in certain areas should buy this jacket.

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Outdoor Research Transcendent Down Jacket – Women’s

The Transcendent is pretty much a cheaper version of the Outdoor Research Illuminate. The down quality is lower, and it is not as compressible or lightweight as the Illuminate. But it is still very cozy and a great jacket for casual hikes. If you are looking for a jacket that is cheaper then some of the other jackets on this list, then the Transcendent is an excellent choice.

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Mountain Hardwear Super/DS StretchDown Hooded Jacket – Women’s

The new stylish StretchDown is such an unusual jacket. It gives you a bit more mobility than most down jackets, and the fabric is exceptionally comfy. But let me just say that this jacket is just way too expensive for what it offers you. It isn’t particularly warm; it doesn’t compress well, it is heavy, and not weatherproof. For the steep price, I would buy a more versatile jacket. But if you want a more stretchy, comfy jacket (like for rock climbing), then this jacket might be for you.

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The North Face Summit L3 Down Hooded Jacket – Women’s

Are you looking for a perfect rock climbing jacket? The North Face Summit L3 is explicitly made for rock climbing. It is comfortable, warm, and great for many other outdoor activities. But I am not going to lie, I am kind of turned off by the available colors on this jacket, and the jacket seems a little too heavy for me. But it still has some good quality down, and it is a very warm jacket so if you need something warm and comfy this jacket might be for you!

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More Information On Best Down Jacket Women’s

Weight

Ultralight jackets usually use good quality down (800 and above) and are also more expensive. Weight is especially important when it comes to activities like backpacking. If you don’t see yourself ever backpacking, it might be a good idea to get a jacket with a lower fill to save some money.

Price

Down jackets are expensive. The least costly jacket on this list is the REI 650 Down Jacket. It is a great beginner’s jacket, but it is not as compressible, warm, or lightweight as the other jackets on this list.

Pretty much the more compressible, warm, and lightweight a jacket is, the more money you are going to spend.

If you are a beginner at the outdoors, paying for weight or compressibility doesn’t seem to matter (I had the same thought years ago). But as I became more advanced and my backpack filled with more gear, I saw how crucial it was to get a lightweight and compressible jacket.

Warmth

Down jackets usually have the down information listed as 600-fill, 700-fill, 800-fill, or 900 fill. The higher the fill number, the better the down. This means that a 600 fill jacket needs more down in the jacket than an 800 fill jacket to keep you at the same comfort level. Which means the 600 fill is less compressible and weighs more.

Compressibility

Higher rated down (usually 800 and above) are the most compressible. This is important when you are hiking, or backpacking and space is a factor. Not worrying about your jacket fitting in your backpack is fantastic. That is why I always carry my Ghost Whisperer jacket even during the summer. It compresses so small that it doesn’t make a difference if I take it or not. If you are not worried about space, then getting a lower-rated down is fine, and you can save a lot of money.

DWR Treatment (Durable Water Repellant)

Most manufacturers use a DWR treatment on the outside of the shell of down jackets. Let me warn you that that does not mean down jackets are waterproof. It just helps prevent your jacket from soaking up the water for a while.

Down does not work as well when wet. Synthetic works a lot better when wet, which is why many people that live in wet areas, like wearing synthetic instead. But luckily, manufacturers have also started treating down to make it more water-resistant. They add a polymer to the down, which helps repel the water. But like I said, this does not mean that your down jacket is waterproof.

Hood

To get a hood or to not get a hood? Most jackets on this list have the option of either or. I personally use both. I always carry a beanie with me when my jacket doesn’t have a hood, and the hat works pretty well. You lose most of your heat through your head, so I recommend either bringing a hat or a hood in case it gets too cold.

Also buying jackets with a hood is more expensive, so if you have a warm hat, you can save some money and buy a jacket without a hood.

Taking Care Of Your Jacket

When you are back from your climb or hike, make sure to store your jacket correctly. It can be tempting to leave it in its stuff sack, but you can cause damage to your expensive new jacket. Hang it up in your closet for longevity.

Synthetic Insulation Jacket

Synthetic jackets are the alternative to down jackets. They are cheaper, breathable and are warmer than down when wet. But in the end, down can trap your body heat better, is more compressible and lighter. One of my first jackets was the Arc’teryx Atom LT jacket. It is a warm enough jacket, but taking it on my adventures was impossible. It does not compress well, and it was pretty heavy. Most of the time, it wouldn’t fit in my already full backpack. So if you need more space in your bag, down jackets are the way to go.

Final Thoughts On Best Womens Down Jackets

Thanks for reading all about the best down jackets for women. Make sure to check out some of my other posts hiking and backpacking:

• Best Pillows For Camping and Backpacking
• Best Hiking Sandals For Women
• Hiking 101 – Day Hiking Gear List

Pin For Later: Best Down Coats For Women