The 22 Best Down Jackets for Women

The wind blows just as cold in the city as it does in the mountains come the winter season, and if you want to stay warm without the hassle of a heavy woolen coat, then a down-lined jacket is the perfect solution. From ultralight options ideal for mountainside hiking to longer windproof parkas designed for jaunts in the city and the country, there’s a brilliant range of goose and duck down jackets out there. This list compiles the best packable down jackets, the best waterproof down jackets, and the best budget down jackets all in one place so that you can find the perfect coat to keep you cozy in the cold.

There are few points to consider when shopping for a women’s Down jacket:

DOWN FILL POWER RATING

It was developed by the industry to represent a universal standard to describe the volume in cubic centimeters of a single gram of Down when fully fluffed up. This number will generally run from around 550 to 950. A higher number means that the jacket has a higher loft Down that is capable of trapping more air within the jacket to keep you warmer. However, one thing to note is that the Fill Power Rating does not take into account the total amount of Down in the jacket. 

JACKET LENGTH

A women’s down jacket will usually be a good hint of what the coat is best at doing. A longer jacket will do a better part of keeping your butt and upper thighs warm, but it also looks a bit more formal and generally provides less flexibility. Longer women’s down jackets are usually best suited for casual day-to-day wearing while you’re out and about in the city. Shorter-down jackets offer a different visual appeal and won’t get in the way of climbing, stretching, or running. 

HOODS

If you’re always prioritizing warmth over other features, consider getting a women’s Down winter jacket with a hood. Regardless of whether you choose a Faux-fur outer lining or not, the best Down winter coats for women will have a size-adjustable hood to keep your noggin’ warm when walking through a gale strength snowstorm. The only downside to considering getting one of these jackets with a hood is that it may reduce visibility or not fit over a helmet if you’re using the jacket for climbing or serious hiking.

Consider also that some hoods with a wired or polymer peak or some other internal structure keep their shape better amidst a wide variety of weather conditions.

DEEP POCKETS

Let’s face it. You won’t always have your gloves with you. They’re not always practical, which means they will leave you with bare hands that will get cold fast. That’s where a good set of hand warmer pockets in your Down jacket will play a big role. And while the depth of the pocket will vary based on the coat length and design, the general rule of thumb is that the deeper the pocket, the warmer your hands will get.

So let’s look at the best winter down jackets for women that money can buy from some of the best outdoor clothing brands for women.

1. Arc’teryx Cerium SV Hoody Women’s

Suppose you’re out for longer journeys or simply packing light. In that case, this lightweight Cerium SV Hoody from Arc’teryx is a top of the range weatherproof option for experienced hikers and day-trippers alike. Insulated with goose down and proven to withstand even the most extreme weather conditions, this is the best hiking down jacket for taking on mountainous terrain or cold environments and will keep you feeling toasty come rain or shine. The price may be high, but it’s genuinely hard to beat Arc’teryx when it comes to the finish-quality and weather resistance of their products.

2. Obermeyer Cosima Down Jacket

Whilst some jackets have to skimp on form to achieve a thick lining and strong weatherproofing; the Obermeyer Cosima manages to bring the heat without losing its sleek lines and straight-edged silhouette. A great hiking jacket that also works well as a layering piece, the Cosima is coated with waterproofing and will keep you dry and smiling even on a rainy day. Filled with YKK zippers throughout, it’s unlikely you’ll ever have a problem or snag with any of the zippers throughout this women’s down jacket.

3. Patagonia Women’s Silent Down Jacket

Patagonia is another brand that has seamlessly transitioned from hard-wearing weatherproof work clothes to a rough-and-tumble fashion icon. Their silent down jacket is a lovely hoodless waist-length jacket available in eight different colorways, each one using muted pastel colors in a matte style. Patagonia is renowned for its durable garments, and you can be sure this jacket will last many a season of rain and snow. This down jacket may be the ultimate everyday and travel jacket for women for the colder seasons.

4. Columbia Polar Freeze Jacket

The Columbia Polar Freeze is a short down jacket for women in a single black colorway, stuffed with fine duck down. Designed specifically for warmth, this is a great winter down jacket, best suited to city outings or daily cold-climate living than long hikes. With the right care, the warm lining can last a long time, but if worn during strenuous activity, some feathers may work their way out, so perhaps shop around if you’re after something more hiking-oriented.

5. Feathered Friends Eos Down Jacket

Named after the goddess of dawn herself, Feathered Friends’ Eos jacket is a very well-regarded hiking and city jacket available in four distinct color options. With an adjustable hood and hand-warmer pockets, this is a great jacket to use as a layering piece during hikes or to wear over a jumper in the winter season when trekking about town. Made in the Pacific Northwest wilderness of Seattle and the scenic city of Vancouver, Canada – the Eos Down Jacket is incredibly light and packs up into a very compact form. So if you need something akin to being hugged by a warm and soft cloud, this is the right down jacket for you.

6. Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 Hooded Down Jacket – Women’s

If you’re looking for the Best down jacket for backpacking, then you can’t do much better than Mountain Hardwear’s Ghost Whisperer. While the name is somewhat suspect, the jacket’s quality is not; this is a strong, light piece of kit designed to be easily stowed and fit for all windy weather conditions. At only 221 grams, the Ghost Whisperer is one of the best ultralight down jackets on the market and will keep you warm without adding any extra weight.

7. The North Face Women’s Gotham Jacket

Perfect for the snowy streets of New York, The North Face Gotham is a parka-style winter down jacket for women who want to keep warm all winter long. The vintage white colorway is paired with a ruffled faux-fur hood, perfect for taking on the occasional inner-city snowstorm and for keeping the winter drizzle at bay. The adjustable hood with removable faux-fur ruff is an extra level of protection against those nasty winter elements.

8. Montbell Alpine Light Down Jacket Women’s

A functional standing-collar jacket designed for warmth while walking, the Montbell Alpine Light is an ultralight down jacket that works best as a mid-layer or well-enough on its own as a jacket for autumn spring. Available in three colorways, from midnight blue to burnished grey, this jacket will stop the wind in its tracks but won’t save your hair from the rain. Somebody pack the umbrella!

9. Arc’teryx Thorium AR Women’s Hoody

A versatile all-rounder, the Arc’teryx Thorium AR is more cool-weather focussed than the Cerium SV. If you’ll be taking on lighter trips or wearing a down jacket as a standalone piece rather than as one of several layers, then this is a great choice. Perfect for keeping warm on short tours or hiking in mixed seasonal weather, this is a mid-weight, versatile option, available in five lovely colorways.

10. Beinia Valuker Down Parka

Those seeking the best budget down jacket in a long-parka style might want to consider this down parka from Beinia. This longer coat sports a faux-fur hood and stretches to the knee for maximum coverage during winter. Available in seven colorways, this is a good budget option with a mixed down and feather lining. While windproof, this coat may struggle in the rain and would not be suitable for long hikes.

11. Fjallraven Greenland Down Liner Jacket

Winter down jacket liner, the Fjallraven Greenland, is a lighter, thinner jacket that works well either as a layering piece or standalone during spring or autumn. Lightly padded, the Greenland will keep you warm without appearing too bulky and provides decent protection from both rain and wind. Another jacket suited for both hiking and city outings, this is a good all-rounder.

12. Stio Hometown Hooded Jacket

The best packable down jacket is not always the lightest or smallest, as skimping on Down can lead to a coat that doesn’t stay windproof, even if it is easy to carry. The Stio Hometown is a nice compromise between weight and convenience, another good all-rounder that is especially strong in terms of water and windproofing. Using a HyperDry water repellent coating, this jacket is sure to keep you dry in even the worst of downpours.

13. Marmot Women’s Montreal Coat

Some long winter down jackets for women skimp on aesthetics for the sake of warmth, but the Marmot Montreal manages to combine a stylish look with an extra-protective 700-fill down filling for a supremely cozy coat. Unsightly bunching is prevented with a two-way zipper, and the eight colorways available all complement the snuggly synthetic fur hood perfectly. Both fashionable and functional, the Montreal is a great winter-weather coat.

14. Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Hoody

Another strong offering from Patagonia, the Fitz Roy Down Hoody, is perhaps the best waterproof down jacket for mixed-weather hiking. It’s kitted out with an ultralight nylon shell, a helmet-compatible hood, and a dual-cord lock system to help keep the heat in or give you a moment to cool off, depending on the conditions of your hike. Using only traceable down, this jacket is both ethical and efficient, a great choice for any mountainous hike or cold-weather trek.

15. Fjallraven Keb Touring Jacket Women’s

A high-range winter jacket designed for remaining pliant and malleable on tricky snowbound ventures, the Keb touring jacket is light and compressible without skimping on insulation. With an adjustable hood and two-way zipper, this jacket is designed to help you bind heat into other layers and works well as a top-layer against wind and snow.

16. Basin + Range Wingate Down Jacket

Sometimes the best down jacket isn’t the one that’s the most wind or waterproof, but the most convenient! The Basin + Range Wingate strikes a nice balance between functionality and special features. It has a fur hood and two-way zipper to help keep the heat in and sports plenty of pockets to save you time fumbling with cold fingers in bags. The Wingate makes for a strong casual parka choice.

17. Outdoor Research Helium Jacket – Women’s

A super-warm jacket for alpine skiing and winter hiking, Outdoor Research’s Helium is a winter down jacket constructed from polyamide and goose down for superior heat retention. Whether you’re heading from ski lodge to ski-lodge at night or taking on the slopes come morning, the Helium will keep you warm and toasty, especially when used as the top piece of a layered outfit.

18. Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody Women’s

This women’s Down jacket is a lightweight variant of the Cerium SV model. The LT model is designed to give maximum warmth with minimum extra weight. Available in eight bright color options, this versatile jacket is a mid-length jack-of-all-trades, and gram for gram, it’s one of the best choices you’ll find when it comes to heat retention. One of the best down jackets in terms of versatility, this is another sterling product from Arc’teryx.

19. Montbell Plasma 1000 Alpine Parka Women’s

Another winter women’s down jacket with great warmth to weight ratio, the Montbell Plasma 1000 is quilted for the sake of heat retention and is an excellent choice for snowy outings. Down is a natural insulator, and Montbell let the feathers do the work by stitching them in tight. This jacket is easy to pack down thanks to extremely thin nylon covering, and though the price may be somewhat high, you’re getting a quality product, dollar per dollar.

20. Eddie Bauer Sun Valley Down Parka

The best down jacket is not always the most expensive, and Eddie Bauer’s Sun Valley parka proves that point with a high-quality build at a mid-range price. I’d wait for this one to be highly stocked and selling at RRP rather than above, as the coat’s construction is strong but not worth above $300. The Sherpa fleece lining is a lovely bonus, and additionally, the outer shell is relatively waterproof. This is a really strong choice, but you don’t have to splash out to get it.

21. Patagonia – Women’s Down With It Parka

Here is another coat that is focused on warmth over maneuverability, the Patagonia Down With It parka is a lovely city choice or the perfect long jacket for winter strolls. With a side seam to allow extra movement when sitting down, bending over, or walking, this is a practical parka choice that skips the faux-fur for a subtler cozy shell hood.

22. Marmot – Women’s Ithaca Down Puffer

Combining lined down jackets with faux-fur parkas, the Marmot Ithaca gives you the best of both worlds with a removable hood and 700-fill down. Remove the hood whilst hiking on clear days to reduce weight and discomfort, and zip it right back when the clouds roll in. Perfect for snowstorms and rain showers, the Ithaca is a safe choice for any odyssey.

You might also like these articles:

How to Break In Your Cowboy Boots – A Complete Guide

The 18 Cutest Hoodies for Women

The Best Hiking Boots for Women