Down quality

You won’t find many winter jackets that can match the superior warmth and insulation of down jackets. There are many benefits of down jackets. Whether exploring snow-covered trails or walking the dog on a chilly, frosty morning, this type of technical jacket is renowned for its impressive insulation. But while they may have the same distinctive puffy, quilted look, not all down jackets are created equal. A down jacket’s insulation prowess is only as good as the quality of the down. From the different types of down to its fill power, down quality plays a key role in how your jacket performs. To help you choose a down jacket that’s right for you, let’s take a look at the key factors determining down quality.

Down consists of small, soft and fluffy feathers found underneath the outer, stiffer feathers of birds, usually geese and ducks. While the outer feathers help to protect the birds and repel water, down is what they use to keep themselves warm. It’s made up of small clusters of fibres that trap warm air and retain body heat. These pockets of air form a natural thermal barrier against the cold. This is what keeps birds insulated in cold weather and makes you feel warmer. Down is not just used in down women's jackets to keep you warm outdoors, but it’s also found in other types of clothing, duvets and pillows.

As down is a lighter form of insulation compared to other jackets, a hooded down jacket offers impressive warmth-to-weight ratios. A light down jacket can be easily compressed down and stuffed into your bag when required.

These soft, fine feathers may look unassuming, but they are actually incredibly powerful insulators. But what contributes to their quality?

This plays a key role in down’s performance and is something you’ll undoubtedly come across when researching down men's jackets. It is an important indicator of down quality. Fill power is all about volume. Down goes through laboratory testing to measure the space one cubic ounce of down can fill. You’ll typically see it printed on your down jacket as a three-figure number. A high fill power rating means the down is more effective at insulating. Fill power ranges between 400 and over 900.

• A lower fill power (generally 400 to 500) offers less warmth and is usually bulkier in order to achieve the same amount of warmth as down jackets with a higher fill power.
• Mid-range fill power (around 600 to 700) provides more of a balance of warmth and weight. They are a good option if you’re looking for a feather down jacket for when you venture outdoors in moderate winter conditions.
• High fill power (800 and over) is typically more expensive as it provides optimal warmth while also being lightweight. Their impressive warmth-to-weight ratios make them ideal for activities in the extreme cold, such as skiing or winter hiking.

Duck and goose down are most commonly used in a natural down jacket. However, while they both have insulation properties, there are some significant differences between the two, especially in terms of quality.

• Duck down: this tends to be used in lower-priced down jackets as it delivers less warmth.
• Goose down: the more superior down material of the two, goose down has larger and fluffier (loftier) clusters and provides much better warmth but with less weight. It also typically has a higher fill power.

At Columbia Sportswear®, we use goose down in our jackets due to its great quality and warmth. All of the goose down we use in our men's coat is certified for the Responsible Down Standard (RDS). This means that bird welfare is a priority at every stage of the supply chain and doesn’t use live-plucking or force-feeding practices.

While down is undoubtedly a remarkable insulator, it does have one downside: how it performs when wet. While many types of down warm jacket have water-resistant features, down is not waterproof. If it gets wet, the down will clump and stop insulating. It also takes an exceptionally long time to dry (and needs to be thoroughly dry to restore its loft). If you are going to be out in wet weather, we’d recommend you wear a lightweight waterproof jacket over the top. Alternatively, a synthetic down jacket performs much better in these types of conditions and will continue to keep you warm even when wet. When choosing between down or synthetic, just remember: natural down is better in dry, cold conditions, synthetic is better when it’s wet.

As our guide to down quality shows, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to the quality of your down jacket. Choosing quality gear, whether it’s a sleeveless down jacket, extreme cold jacket or other outdoor clothing items, is essentially a long-term investment. With the right care, your down jacket can last many years of adventuring.

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