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.

The Mountain Hardwear Phantom has fantastic high lofting, super compressing goose down making it one of the best high performing down jackets on the market. It is a really versatile jacket it is really light and will keep really warm doing many activities.

• Fleece lined hand pockets
• One handed hem and lower back drawcords
• Stuff sack included
• Interior zip pocket
• Zip chest pocket
• Lightweight and warm
• Box quilt construction
• Laminated front zip flap
• Laminated cuff tabs with Velcro closure
• Micro-Chamois lined chin
• Center Back Length: 28in (71cm)
• Insulation: 800-Fill down
• Material: 15D Nylon ripstop
• weight 425g

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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The Berghaus Akka is a good value down jacket that is ideal for winter walking, urban wear, camping and dog-walking.

• Drawcord hem
• Nylon outer
• 2 zipped handwarmer pockets
• 1 internal zipped security pocket
• 80% down
• 600 Fill power
• 645g weight

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The North Face Nuptse is a classic down jacket. Its features offer high practicality for outdoor pursuits whilst the North Face branding offers style on the streets.

• Reinforced upper torso
• Rip-stop Nylon outer
• 700 Fill power
• Taffeta emergency hood
• Double-layer taffeta on shoulders
• Internal zippered horizontal pocket
• Two external hand pockets
• Adjustable Velcro cuffs
• Hem drawcord
• Stowaway pocket
• 700g weight

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The Berghaus Liskamm offers high warmth and protection for winter mountain activities and adventures.

• Lined collar
• Articulated sleeves
• Pertex outer
• Elasticated cuffs
• Drawcord hem
• 3 external pockets
• 1 internal security pocket
• 80% down
• 650 Fill power
• Baffle construction
• 630g weight

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The Neutrino Endurance is a high-performance down jacket with exceptional warmth to weight ratio.  The Neutrino is perfect for lightweight alpinism and mountaineering, yet stylish enough to be seen in on the highstreets of Britain.

• Pertex Quantum Endurance Outer
• Velcro adjustable cuffs and elasticated hem at base
• Two external zipped hand-warmer pockets
• One inner zipped security pocket
• Full-length frontal zip
• Fixed filled down hood with drawcord closure and stiffened visor
• 96% Polish Goose down
• 750+ Fill power
• 625g weight

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The Rab Summit jacket is a technical jacket for mountaineering, which is suited to extreme alpine and winter use or for hanging around camp on cold evenings.

• Pertex Endurance outer
• Stretch Cordura panels
• Two external pockets
• 2 internal mesh pockets, one internal security pocket
• Full length front zip with studded, down filled storm flap
• Elasticated hem drawcord
• Adjustable cuffs
• Detachable down-filled hood with wrap around face protection and stiffened visor
• 90% goose down
• 660+ Fill Power
• Box wall construction
• weight 980g

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Made from the same materials as Mountain Equipment sleeping bags, the Xero down has an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. As it has no hood, the Xero Down is ideal for climbers wanting to wear a helmet.

• Ultra-light He30.rs outer
• 93% pure down
• 700+ fill power
• Stitch-through baffle construction
• Active cut
• Reversed out centre front zip with internal storm flap
• 2 external handwarmer pockets
• Internal stowaway pocket

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