10 Best Packable Down Jackets for 2024
When you’re traveling to a cold climate, you need to pull out the big guns—that is, the big winter coat. But trying to squish your long, plushy winter coat into your carry-on suitcase is easier said than done. What’s a girl to do? Invest in a packable down jacket that will keep you warm without filling up your entire suitcase. Below are this year’s best picks.
What is a down jacket?
A down jacket is filled with down (i.e., warm feathers) from geese and/or ducks. Down jackets are known for their top-tier insulation abilities, making them a crowd favorite for staying warm and beating the chill during the winter months.
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10 best packable down jackets for women
1. Best overall packable down jacket: Quince
Comfy, convenient, and consciously made. That’s what you get with the Lightweight Down Puffer Jacket from Quince. With a relaxed fit and cropped length, this packable down jacket plays nicely with everything from jeans to skirts to dresses. Side pockets make it easy to store winter gloves or a hat, while a stretch cuff helps seal in warmth and keep the chill out. Plus, it’s made out of responsibly-sourced down and in an ethical, BSCI-certified factory.
Price: starting at $50
2. Best high-end packable down jacket: Patagonia
If you think a packable down jacket may not be as luxe as your mid-length wool coat, think again! The Women’s AlpLight Down Jacket from Patagonia is changing our minds about what a luxe winter coat looks like. Featuring NetPlus® (a 100% post-consumer recycled nylon fabric made from recycled fishing nets) with a featherlight insulating layer and 100% virgin goose down, this high-end packable down jacket will keep you looking cool but feeling toasty even in the harshest winter conditions.
Price: starting at $299
3. Best mid-length packable down jacket: Tommy Hilfiger
For extra warmth on windy days, you probably want to ditch the cropped jackets for something with a little more length. Enter the Mid-Length Puffer Hooded Down Jacket from Tommy Hilfiger. With a front-center zipper and a stand-up collar, the wind is no match for this mid-length packable down jacket. Meanwhile, a quilted chevron design and tailored details add a distinction of elegance so you can stay warm and cozy without feeling like a stuffed-up marshmallow.
Price: starting at $100
4. Best hooded packable down jacket: Eddie Bauer
Not into sporting a winter hat? To stay warm even in the coldest climates, make sure you travel with a hooded packable down jacket, like this one from Eddie Bauer. Made with 650 fill Responsible Down Standard (RDS) down, the Microlight Down Hooded Jacket will keep you warm to the very tip of your head with its insulated hood. It even features a StormRepel DWR finish to shed moisture so you won’t catch a cold on wet, icy days. Best of all, this comfy down jacket folds up and packs into its own hand warmer pocket for easy transport when the weather starts to clear up.
Price: starting at $120
5. Best lightweight packable down jacket: Lands’ End
Being snug and bundled in a thick, heavy overcoat is fine for your day-to-day winter routine. But when you’re on the go and need to live out of a suitcase, all that extra fabric becomes inconvenient—fast. Streamline your winter packing list with a lightweight packable down jacket that will help you stay warm without the extra bulk, like the Ultralight Packable Down Jacket from Lands’ End. A water-resistant shell keeps out the rain; an 800-fill HyperDRY power-down insulation keeps out the frost; and flattering stitching keeps it sleek and easy to pack when it’s time to hit the road.
Price: starting at $70
6. Best machine-washable packable down jacket: Rokka&Rolla
Let’s be honest… How often do you actually make it to the dry cleaners? Keep things feeling fresh without having to deal with handwashing or professional cleaning with a machine-washable packable down jacket. We love the Lightweight Packable Puffer Jacket from Rokka&Rolla. You can shop it in five colors, fold it into a travel-sized pouch when not in use, and confidently head out into the rain, sleet, and snow without catching a cold. And when it’s time for a wash, just through it in the machine—easy-peasy.
Price: starting at $60
7. Best colorful packable down jacket: Calvin Klein
It seems like everyone got the same memo when it comes to cold-weather fashion: black, drab, and dreary. While we love a good neutral, it also puts a spring in our step to rock a little color on a cold, cloudy day. For a colorful packable down jacket that’ll warm you up and cheer up you, try the Chevron Quilted Packable Down Jacket from Calvin Klein. Available in 21 fun colors, like Shine Spruce, Sunburst, Pearlized Crimson, and Ultra Pink, this cold-weather jacket is a cheery delight to make you stand out on your next cold-weather vacation.
Price: starting at $75
8. Best budget packable down jacket: Alpine Swiss
Traditional down jackets are filled with goose and/or duck down, which are fabulous insulators—but also very expensive materials. Luckily, Alpine Swiss is offering an alternative. Their Down Alternative Puffer Jacket features a polyester fill and lining to give you the same insulating power without a high-ticket price tag. The nylon shell keeps you dry and unbothered even when it rains, while the elastic piping helps trap in heat so you never catch a chill.
Price: starting at $35
9. Best packable down vest: Slow Down
What’s the best packing tip of all time? Layers, layers, layers. When you travel to a new locale, it’s hard to know exactly what the weather will be like. That’s why we love to travel with a packable down vest, like this one from Slow Down. Made with 650 fill power down insulation and water-resistant nylon, this wind-proof vest is the perfect travel companion for your favorite sweaters and turtlenecks, giving you an extra layer of warmth without making you overheat under a full-on coat when the sun comes out. Plus, its small size means you can easily pack it up in your suitcase when not in use. Win-win.
Price: starting at $40
10. Best packable down jacket with metallic lining: Camel Crown
“This one’s too warm… This one’s too cold…” If shopping for a coat has you feeling like Goldilocks, then consider turning your attention to the Hooded Down Jacket from Camel Crown. This packable down jacket is made with a metallic lining, which (believe it or not) actually works as a sophisticated heat management system. By reflecting body-generated heat, dissipating excess heat, and helping pass moisture away from the skin, this down jacket helps keep you comfortable even when the weather gets finicky.
Price: starting at $57
Packable down jackets - common FAQs
How should a packable down jacket fit?
A packable down jacket should fit snugly—not too tight nor too loose. While you should wear a packable down jacket close to the skin, it shouldn’t be too tight that you feel restricted. But it shouldn’t be too loose either, or you risk letting air inside and catching a chill.
What is the difference between a down jacket and a puffer jacket?
Down jackets and puffer jackets look similar, but they have different insulation. A down jacket is usually filled with goose-down, duck-down, or both. A puffer jacket, on the other hand, is usually filled with synthetic fibers.
Are down jackets warmer than puffer jackets?
Yes and no. Puffer jackets use a synthetic filling that can be just as warm as the down filling in down jackets—if you shop high quality. Lower-quality puffer jackets with cheaper fibers won’t have what it takes to keep you warm in a below-zero chill.
