The idea is so simple, and so useful, that the American Army changed their rules to allow the inventor to put his company’s logo on their clothing. But imagine coming up with that idea for the first time? And imagine who invented it?

Eddie Bauer

You might have heard of the American shops, Eddie Bauer. They became a big group of stores, owned by a very big company. But Eddie was a real person – an outdoorsman from Washington state. Born in 1899, he patented the first Down Jacket in 1940.

Hypothermia

In the late 1930s, Eddie went on a winter fishing trip in the cold waters of Washington state. In those days, winter wear consisted entirely of heavy woolen clothing. Fishermen would hike for miles to reach rivers and seas, and then would spend the day casting & reeling. Both of these made carrying heavy wool really impractical and, as a result, Eddie Bauer developed hypothermia.

Goose Down

After recovering, he spent the next few years looking at alternatives to wool garments. He eventually settled on the naturally warm, light feathers of the local geese. In 1940 he patented his first quilted goose down jacket: The Skyliner.

Following that, Down Jackets quickly became so popular that they were used in Himalayan expeditions, and several journeys through Antarctica. In total, Eddie patented more than 20 different types of outdoor clothing. A real pioneer who was responsible for a multi-million industry that protects explorers, hikers and keeps many other people warm today.

Eddie Bauer: Born October 19, 1899. Died April 18, 1986. Inventor of the down jacket.

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1. Down Jackets are extremely warm and comfortable as they have excellent natural feather insulation.
2. Down Jackets are very light and weigh as little as 425g, compared to most synthetic jackets which weigh more than twice as much (over 1kg).
3. Down Jackets can been worn in both winter and summer seasons.
4. Down Jackets allow you to choose to simply wear a t-shirt or to layer up on top of or underneath the jacket.
5. Down Jackets are very durable and tend to out live their synthetic counterparts.
6. Down Jackets are great to wear in extreme wind conditions, they can keep the wind at bay and resist against a high wind chill keeping you nice and warm.
7. Down Jackets are water resistant and will keep you dry in light showers.
8. Down Jackets can be packed down really small saving valuable space, this is due to their feather insulation, as opposed to most synthetic jackets which have bulky insulation leaving you less room in your backpack/ day sack etc.
9. Down Jackets are really versatile and can be worn for many different activities such as: commuting; walking; hiking; climbing; camping and ski-touring to name a few.
10. Down Jackets are made by many different brands offering you a choice of lots of colours, styles and cuts meaning there will a Down Jacket to suit everyones needs.

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Fill Power and the Down: Feather Ratio
The fill power is a measure of the loft, or ‘fluffiness’ of the jacket, which is related to its insulating ability per weight. A higher fill power also enables the jacket to be compressed more easily. Thus a higher fill power means that the jacket will be warmer than one of a lower fill power rating for the same weight. 500-550 is a good loft rating, 550-750 is very good, whilst 750 is excellent.

The percentage down refers to the ratio of down to coarse feathers. Pure down is more expensive as it has higher loft properties. A good quality down jacket should have at least 80% down content.

The Construction
Down jackets are usually constructed in baffles i.e. compartments, which improve the evenness of the spread of the down. Larger individual compartments will allow the down to ‘bunch’ more, leaving you with colder and warmer patches.

Another aspect of the construction to consider is the cut: Is the jacket gender specific? Does it have an ‘active’ cut? Is the lower back of the jacket scooped to prevent heat loss if you are moving your arms up and down?

Finally, reinforced panels on the outer shell of the jacket can help to resist abrasive wear and tear; particularly important on the shoulders if a rucksack will be carried for extensive periods and on the elbows for climbers.

The Hood
Some down jackets feature a hood, some don’t. There is no best option, as it depends on what you want to use the jacket for. As most down jackets are not fully waterproof, a hood many not be necessary and less preferable to a hat. For climbers who wear helmets, a hood may simply get in the way. For commuters a hood affords extra protection when you do get caught out in that rain shower. If the jacket does have a hood, it may or may not be down-filled. A visor really helps to adjust the hood and retain usability in high winds.

Zips
Frontal zips are obviously a key area from which heat can be lost from the jacket. Overlap panels can help prevent this. Reverse zips can help prevent snagging. For improved heat regulation, a two-way zip may also be useful.

Pockets
Down jackets usually feature both external and internal pockets. Consider how many are necessary although from my experience, it is usually the pocket features that are more important. Zipped or secure internal pockets are ideal for commuting and backpacking, whilst handwarmer pockets are useful for camping. A stowaway pocket can be a useful additional feature for jackets which are used for infrequent trips rather than regular or continuous use.

Outer shell fabric
The outer shells of down jackets are generally water resistant and highly windproof. However, the degree to which depends on the type of fabric used. Many high-end jackets have specially developed outers, which increase the jacket’s water resistance and reduce abrasive wear and tear.

Hems and drawcords
Adjustable hems are really useful, as they allow the wearer to regulate the temperature more easily. Velcro, drawcords and/or elasticated cuffs feature on most jackets. A lined collar is a really nice feature if the jacket will be worn for prolonged periods or expeditions but tends to only feature on pricier models.

Now you know about the different features take a look at our list of individual down jacket specifications

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The degree to which a down jacket resists water largely depends on the type of fabric that its outer shell is made of. Whilst the Nylon outer of more basic down jackets are water resistant, increased water repellency is afforded by specialised fabrics such as Pertex and Drilite. Jackets such as the Rab Neutrino and the Mountain Equipment Lightline offer enhanced water repellency.

A down vest makes an excellent addition to your wardrobe, especially for the spring/autumn transition period to and from the full down jacket. A down vest also takes up less storage space than a full jacket so is useful for commuting to the office or when packing space is limited. North Face, Berghaus and Rab all produce vest versions of their respective down Nuptse jacket, Akka jacket and Active jacket.

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1. Storing
Over summer, store the jacket flat and opened out i.e. not in a stuff sack or hanging up on a peg (as this will cause the down to settle into the bottom of the jacket’s compartments). Make sure the jacket is stored in a cool, clean and dry place when not in use.

2. Cleaning
Cleaning a down jacket takes time and ultimately reduces its effectiveness so it’s best to try and avoid having to clean it too often. If it does get dirty, follow the instructions on the jacket, as different linings need different treatments.

Generally, down jackets should be washed at no more than 30 degrees Celsius, preferably with special down soap (such as Nikwax Down Wash). Use lots of water to rinse the garment, each time squeezing the water out by pushing the water against the sink. Do not wring the jacket as this may tear the baffles which spread the down evenly over the jacket. After the last rinse, leave the jacket on a flat rack to drain for a while then tumble dry according to the garments instructions – pay very close attention to the recommended drying temperature. I also find that putting a tennis ball in the dryer along with the jacket assists in returning it to original fluffiness.

Have a look at our recommended Down Care Products below.

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Types of Down Jacket
This website reviews down jackets that are designed with outdoor enthusiasts in mind. Although the level of features varies with the jacket, the products described here are all high performance outdoor wear. Down jackets are designed to keep you warm when pursuing activities such as walking, climbing, hiking, fishing, camping and ski-touring. They have the added advantage of looking extremely stylish so they also make ideal jackets for commuting in winter. Down jackets make a fantastic birthday or Christmas present for the special person in your life!

Our Favourites
We’ve picked our top favourite down jackets and listed the specification of each one for easy comparison. To learn more about the down jacket see our features guide and browse through individual jacket specifications to choose the one right for you.

Our Top Seven Down Jackets are:

• North Face Nuptse
• Berghaus Akka
• Rab Neutrino
• Rab Active
• Mountain Equipment Lightline
• Mountain Equipment Xero
• Mountain Hardwear Phantom

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