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As soon as I feel a slight chill in the air, I reach for my down jacket. There’s something luxurious about the feel and unparalleled warmth of a down jacket, but I also love that there’s one for every occasion. Since down can be tricky—quality is important, and you want to be sure that you’re getting responsibly sourced down, so no animals were harmed in the process of making your new jacket—we’ve rounded up the best down jackets for women, for every situation and wearer.
Patagonia’s Down Sweater is the iconic winter jacket: Its slim, contoured fit, range of colors, and Responsible Down Standard certified fill offer everything you could want in your down jacket. (The guys' version made our list of the best down jackets for men.) The two pockets are spacious enough to put your wallet, chapstick, and keys in while still having room to keep your hands nice and toasty, plus there’s an internal zippered chest pocket for additional storage. Patagonia designed the Down Sweater with comfort in mind, including an adjustable hem with a pulling cord and a zipper garage to stop the zipper from scratching your chin when it’s fully zipped.
The quintessential down jacket, as stylish as it is warm.
This Eddie Bauer down jacket gives you both warmth and a price tag that won’t cause sticker shock. With a classic fit, it has many of the features of jackets with higher price tags, like a water-repellent finish and zippered pockets.
A wallet-friendly down jacket that gives you style, even if it’s lacking in features.
Coming in at just 7.8 ounces, the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Down Hoodie doesn’t sacrifice function for the sake of being lightweight. The 800 fill-power down keeps you warm during your outdoor pursuits, and the water-repellent finish on the ripstop fabric creates an ultra-durable jacket that can pack into its own pocket.
A lightweight hooded jacket, ideal for the adventurer.
If negative temps don’t deter you from heading outside, this is the jacket for you. One look at the Rab Positron Down Jacket and its baffle construction (i.e., laying the down out in chutes), and it’s obvious this jacket is designed to handle the most frigid days. Reviewers agree, although some even express that it can quickly become too hot under strenuous conditions. However, if you’re looking for one of the best winter jackets for extreme cold, this one is a great pick.
A super-warm jacket made for super-cold days.
The Lululemon Wunder Puff Long Jacket is perfect for throwing on over leggings, a button-down shirt, and slippers to run outside with the dog, or to put over a dress and tights on your way to work. This versatile, calf-length jacket stays true to what you would expect from Lululemon, with a great and adjustable fit, plus the trendiest colors for every situation.
An uber-cool daily calf-length jacket for the woman on the go.
For the coldest and wettest days, the Arc’teryx Patera Down Parka is the jacket you need. This thigh-length coat has GORE-TEX waterproof and breathable protection, an adjustable hood to keep harsh winds out, and an updated, trim fit.
A splurge-worthy, thigh-length parka for the worst conditions.
Sustainability expands past what’s inside the jacket. Everlane is bluesign ® certified, meaning that the factory guarantees safe working conditions for laborers, alongside using 100% recycled down and feathers for the fill of this on-trend puffer. (For further info on down, particularly regarding sustainability concerns, read our guide to the best down pillows.)
A down jacket made with environmental and social sustainability in mind.
A Canada Goose jacket is a flex, but it’s definitely worth the splurge! It’s water- and wind-resistant, rated for temperatures down to five degrees, and has a cropped fit and down collar to keep you fashionable and warm. Shopping tip: If you’re looking for a gift, Canada Goose also made our list for the best winter jackets and coats for men.
An investment down jacket that’s sure to turn heads for years to come.
Mountain Hardwear's Stretchdown uses a single piece of stretch fabric to form pockets of down insulation, eliminating the need for glue or stitches. The result is this uber-flexible parka that makes it easy to move when hiking, biking, or commuting, while never having to feel like that bundled-up kid from A Christmas Story!
A super-comfortable parka for women who don’t want to feel restricted.
Sometimes, you don't want to crawl out of your sleeping bag, but with the Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho, you don't need to, since this incredibly warm poncho is like a sleeping bag you can wear in public! Our favorite part is that it can pack into its own pocket and compresses to roughly the size of a Nalgene water bottle.
A super-warm poncho perfect for camping trips or chilly evenings on the couch.
The silhouette on the Mackage No-Fur Jacket is to die for, thanks to an elastic belt with a signature M-clasp that cinches your waist perfectly. This jacket will set you back about $1,000, but it's packed with thoughtful features such as insulated pockets, an adjustable storm visor hood, thumb loops, and 2-way stretch fabric. If you want to marry function and style, you should buy this jacket.
A fashion-forward ski jacket that doesn’t compromise performance.
When choosing the best down jackets for women, I scoured the internet and stores for jackets that stood out from the crowd. I was hunting for stylish and functional jackets that could handle the rigors of their intended purpose and transition to apres-ski. The most crucial function in my selection process was the jacket's insulation, since jackets with higher fill provide better warmth.
Another top feature was a jacket's weight and compressibility: Depending on the intended use, a lighter jacket can be essential, whereas if a jacket was engineered with travel in mind, I wanted to be sure it could be packed into a suitcase without a fight. I also looked for features such as waterproofing or resistance, pockets, color options, and price. I leveraged reviews and ratings to ensure we're recommending the best options on the market.
The first thing to consider is exactly how much warmth you require: Are you going to be out shredding the slopes, do you live in a more mild climate, or are you braving blustery city streets on the way to work? 900 fill down will be the warmest option, but believe it or not, you can have a jacket that’s too warm, so choose appropriately.
Down isn’t known for being waterproof, or even resistant. Many jackets feature a variety of coatings ranging from water-resistant to waterproof to make them more versatile for a range of conditions.
Depending on whether you’re wearing your jacket casually or using it for an athletic pursuit, you may want an adjustable hood, packability, or additional pockets.
We like the lightweight Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Down Hoodie for a packable option. It folds into its own internal pocket, is water-resistant, and it has ripstop fabric for added durability.
Puffer and down jackets are similar in appearance, but they’re not the same thing. Puffer jackets are designed more with fashion in mind and are bulkier, whereas down jackets are streamlined and geared toward outdoor activities like hiking, running, and climbing. True to their name, puffer jackets are just that–puffy–and can be challenging to pack, as well as weighing more than their down alternatives.
700-fill down is generally rated for temperatures down to 0 degrees and lands towards the bottom of the spectrum; if you’re looking for the warmest jackets, you should reach for 900 fill down.
You can do a few tests on your own to see if your new jacket is good quality. First, when you squeeze the jacket, it should feel soft and return to form quickly; when looking at the jacket, the down shouldn’t be piling at the bottom of the coat. Ensure that the zippers work well; when you try it on, the jacket should feel light and comfortable.
Feathers are on the outside of the duck or goose, whereas the down is underneath and consists of light and fluffy filaments. Feathers are not as warm as down, but they maintain their shape better.
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