How to choose a Down Puffy Jacket

Ragen Davey

Nov 17, 2022

2 min read

Updated: Nov 30, 2022

800 fill, box walled vs stitched, $150 vs $400?? let’s break it down!

ask yourself:

✨is it going to be dry or wet conditions?

if dry, then down is the way to go

✨what’s the warmth needed? aka what type of adventure are you hoping to bring this down puffy on?

for an in town layer, a layer to throw on at the summit push, and a mid-layer add on than a stitch-through down construction is the way to go

stitched-through simply means the outer and inner layers are stitched together to create baffles where the down is held. this is why a lot of puffies have those horizontal lines throughout! stitched-through are usually cheaper, normally lighter and pack down smaller than box-wall.

now if you’re looking for a big layer to throw on at camp during the winter months or an expedition-type parka, box-wall is your winner.

box-walked puffies have a third layer perpendicular to the inner and outer shells, creating a 3D build. this gives the down more space to loft, making it warmer. this makes them more expensive and potentially heavier.

✨if you’re really trying to save weight and packability, the stitched-through will be your best bet.

✨in terms of fill, the higher grade of fill means more insulation. look for something 650-fill or higher, I typically always shoot for 800-fill! keep in mind, the higher grade fill (750-1000) are more compressible and last longer!

✨last thing (arguably should be the first thing) to think about is price! a day-to-day puffy doesn’t have to break the bank while the expedition type should be thought of more like an investment

the 4 down puffy jackets I’ve accumulated and shown here are

✨ Outdoor Research Helium Down Hoody / 800 fill / 15.4 oz

✨ Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Hoody / 800 fill / 7.8 oz

✨ Women's Stio Hometown Down Hooded Jacket / 800 fill / 20 oz

Code THEFROZENNUGGETT gets you 20% off all Stio

✨ Patagonia Expedition Hoody (most similar to the now Fitz Roy) / 800 fill / 17.1 oz

Other down jackets I'd consider depending on what you are looking for: