Are Down Jackets Waterproof?

The short answer is no, not really. However, all the down jackets featured on this site are water resistant and will therefore withstand a light shower. Down jackets were originally designed for use in extremely cold mountain and arctic environments where it’s often too cold for rain! Down jackets tend to focus on warmth, including high resistance to wind chill.

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.