Best Down Jackets for Men to Keep You Warm No Matter Where You Go

Lightweight and windproof, the Patagonia Down Sweater makes for the perfect packable trail, hiking, or travel jacket. (Don’t let the name confuse you, as it’s definitely an outer layer!) With an insulating layer under a shell, it’s also ideal for alpine skiing or snowboarding. It features sufficiently long sleeves with elastic cuffs and a high collar with a chin zipper guard for optimal comfort while sealing in warmth. The coat is available in a range of colors including cosmic gold, carmine red, navy, plum, and, of course, basic black. Shopping tip: Patagonia was on our list of the best men’s clothing brands, and they also earned spots on our list for the best hoodies and best casual pants for men.

Lined with an Omni-heat reflective lining, the Columbia Delta Ridge Down Jacket gives off futuristic vibes while doing an excellent job of keeping you warm. The jacket is also constructed with stitch free baffles, referring to the compartments created to keep the down evenly distributed. In most down jackets, baffles are achieved by sewing the outer shell to the lining, but the thing is, every one of these stitching lines is a potential cold spot. By eliminating them, the Delta Ridge prevents most cold spots from forming in the first place. Columbia is also a go-to cold weather brand, making our list of the best fleece jackets and best winter boots for men.

Made with 100% recycled fabric and responsibly sourced down insulation, the Ghost Whisperer will heat you up. Synthetic insulation in the first cuff baffle keeps them from getting soggy when it's wet and the elastic binding on the hood helps seal in the warmth on windy days. It’s available in seven vibrant colors including raw carnelian, moon moss, and dark caspian. Plus, it packs down into one of the pockets, stowing easily in your pack without adding much in the way of weight.

Designed specifically for mountaineering and alpine summiting, the Rab Neutrino Pro Down Jacket features a two-way front zipper for easy use while wearing a harness. It has an adjustable, down-filled, helmet compatible hood, and extra durability in the shoulder and upper sleeve areas (for those times when you need to connect with the rock and ice around you).

Both wind and weather resistant, the Neutrino Pro keeps you warm, even while trekking or climbing through blizzard conditions. If all that doesn’t convince you that this is the optimal jacket for all your alpine adventures, it also offers anatomically engineered twisted arm baffles–in other words, you’ll have full range of movement in your arms while belaying, repelling, and questing.

The Cotopaxi Fuego Down Jacket comes in a wide range of colors, including those with stylish, retro stripe accents, making it a great option for everyday use. As one reviewer wrote, it's only problem is, “It looks so good, I even wear it when it's too warm to wear a jacket.” Cotopaxi adheres to sustainable and ethical manufacturing processes (and their travel gear has made our lists for the best carry on luggage and best belt bags), so you can feel just as good about wearing it as you look. It’s warm enough on its own for colder temperatures, but if the temperature dips into freezing territory, you’ll likely want to add a layer underneath.

The Arc’teryx Cerium Down Hoody utilizes down composite mapping. The synthetic insulation is used in areas that may experience moisture buildup and a bio-derived lining material that is made from 60% castor bean oil. With an overall minimalist, lightweight, slim design, the Cerium works well as a mid-layer jacket when alpine climbing or a standalone jacket while camping or hiking. Plus, it packs down into the included stuff stack for easy portability.

Allowing you to endure temperatures down to -13°F, the Canada Goose Crofton Puffer is one of the warmest down jackets you can buy. While heavier than the others on this list, it’s still lightweight and packable enough to stuff into a carry case. This is the jacket you grab when you don’t expect the temperature to rise at all during the day and you’re going to be outside for the duration. Available in seven colors with black reflective details on the hood, underarm gussets, and articulated sleeves that accommodate a full range of movement, you can take (and wear) this jacket almost anywhere.

The Nano Puff features an incredibly lightweight and compressible recycled polyester insulation. This is the jacket I stuff into the seat bag on my bike or the corner of my backpack for “emergency” use when on long day trips or multi-day adventures. The polyester ripstop shell provides water resistance while the horizontal, double stitched quilting lines add an impressive level of abrasion resistance.

I’ve had my Nano Puff for over a decade. It’s traveled with me all over the world, has never let me down, and is yet to show any real signs of wear. My only complaint is that the front zipper is not two-way–if it were, this jacket would be perfect.

One of the best things about this waterproof down jacket from L.L. Bean is the underarm venting zippers, an important feature in a waterproof jacket. That’s because waterproof coatings render jackets much less breathable, so sweating is always a concern. Underarm zips provide the ventilation you need for fluctuating temperatures and activity levels which, along with its low bulk and warmth, is what makes this jacket so versatile. You can wear it hiking, walking, standing on the sidelines of your kids’ football game, or even to dinner. Plus, it's available in four different colors (black, navy, terracotta, and marine blue) to suit a range of tastes.

I own the women’s 2015 version of this jacket (called the Gala) and it's my absolute, all time, all-activity favorite jacket. I wear it pretty much every day while bike commuting through the fall, late spring and winter in New York City. The neck fit is wide and high enough to comfortably tuck your chin into while not hindering your movement (or choking you), the zip-out inner down lining can be worn on its own or as a layer when temperatures dip, and the outer shell is both waterproof and wind blocking. It even has underarm zippered vents.

The zippered wrist pocket is a handy place to stash your money, credit card, and Chapstick (or ski pass) and the side pockets are big enough to shove a large smartphone into (I have a Galaxy S21). North Face also offers a lifetime warranty and free repairs.