An insulated jacket is an essential item in autumn and winter. It feels great to wrap up against the cold winds as you get out your sandwiches. Buying one is pretty straightforward, too, with only one key decision to make: down insulation or synthetic insulation. Here you’ll find three picks and our buyer’s guide.
Best for freezing conditions
Fjällräven Expedition Pack Hoodie
This is a lightweight but seriously warm down jacket. The kind of easily packable garment you’d want at below zero on a windy Lake District mountainside.
It’s based on the original Fjällräven Expedition Down Jacket from 1974, but this flexible iteration uses a mix of ethical down and, across the shoulders, synthetic fill. The latter feels — and warms — very much like down but has extra oomph in damp conditions.
Very impressive overall.
fjallraven.com | £315
Best for British hills
Rab Xenair Alpine Light Jacket
The Rab Xenair Alpine Light Jacket is a lightweight, insulated winter jacket designed for quick mountain activities.
It is filled with PrimaLoft Insulation Gold Active+, which insulates when you’re stationary but allows some ventilation when moving. The weather-resistant outer shell is also highly breathable and continues to insulate when wet.
The fit is exceptional. A great British all-rounder.
rab.equipment | £190
Best for budget insulationÂ
H&M Move ThermoMove Hybrid Jacket
Yep, that H&M. And why not?
H&M’s ambition is to make quality technical kit at affordable prices, with an emphasis on clothing that can be used for a wide variety of activities, meaning you only need one piece.
The ThermoMove Hybrid Jacket is exceptionally light and breathable and uses 80 per cent down and 20 per cent other feathers.
We particularly liked the versatile extended cut and long sleeves.
hm.com | £55
How to buy and care for an insulated jacket
An insulated jacket has one single aim: to keep you warm. The insulation isn’t in the material itself but in the spaces between, where the air gets trapped and heated. How well a jacket performs this task is down to several key factors. The main decision is whether to choose down insulation or synthetic. After that, you can mainly consider how it fits and looks!
Insulation type
This is the biggie: down or synthetic.
Down: Down insulation offers an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio and compressibility. It’s lightweight and effective at trapping heat. However, it loses its insulating properties when wet and tends to be more expensive.Ethically sourced down is now, thankfully, commonplace in the outdoor industry, but it still comes from an animal, and that doesn’t sit well with everyone.
Synthetic: Synthetic insulation is more water-resistant and retains warmth even when damp. It’s a better choice for wet conditions but is generally less compressible and warm than down.
Water resistance
Some insulated jackets have waterproof outer shells but tend to be too warm and not breathable. We’d recommend instead using a layering system with a waterproof jacket.
Synthetic insulation is more water-resistant than down and will insulate better than down when wet — although all down jackets have a treatment that will fend off a quick shower.
Details
Decide whether you need a jacket with a hood. It can provide vital extra warmth and protection from the elements but also get in the way if you plan to wear it with a helmet for climbing or cycling.
Give thought to the pockets you’ll need too.
Care
Down doesn’t like water, so looking after anything down is complicated. If it gets wet, it can clump up. Any dirt on the outer, try and wash it off with a damp cloth.
If it needs to be washed, use Nikwax’s Down Wash and Down Proof treatment. Tumble dry it afterwards and put a tennis ball in to plump up the down.
Each manufacturer will have clear instructions. Synthetic insulation is much more forgiving.
Did you know?
All YHA members receive discounts at gear stores including Cotswold Outdoor, GO Outdoors, Snow+Rock, Runners Need and Cycle Surgery
