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- This Patagonia P-6 t-shirt, for example, is currently 40% off. To reveal all the discounts (clothing & all others), click here: rei.com/f/scd-deals
Summary
Find the average lowest temperature ratings you can wear each jacket below.
These are only approximate lowest temperature ratings, assuming:
- you only have a shirt under and no shell over,
- during stationary use (strolls, power walks etc at most - no high output activities),
- with light wind,
- and when it's dry out.
If you think you run warmer or colder than the average person, then shift these ratings accordingly.
Always opt for the warmer option when in doubt.
| Name | Est. Temp (F/C) | Insulation | Review | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arc'teryx Alpha Parka (Men's - Women's) | -17/-27 | Down | Down | M | |
| Feathered Friends Khumbu (Men's) | -17/-27 | Down | Down | M | |
| Arc'teryx Ceres SV (Men's - Women's) | -15/-26 | Down | Down | Review | M |
| Mountain Equipment K7 (Men's - Women's) | -13/-25 | Down | Down | M | |
| Rab Positron Pro (Men's - Women's) | -13/-25 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Patagonia Grade VII (Men's) | -11/-24 | Down | Down | M | |
| Arc'teryx Firebee AR (Men's - Women's) | -10/-23 | Down | Down | Review | M W |
| Mountain Equipment Exo (Men's) | -10/-23 | Down | Down | M | |
| Arc'teryx Thorsen (Men's) | -7/-22 | Down | ParkaD | Review | M |
| Patagonia Frozen Range (Men's - Women's) | -6/-21 | Down | ParkaD | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Centrale (Women's) | -5/-20 | Down | ParkaD | Review | W |
| Rab Neutrino Pro (Men's - Women's) | -2/-19 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Therme (Men's) | -2/-19 | Down | ParkaD | Review | M |
| Arc'teryx Dually Belay (Men's) | 0/-18 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M |
| Arc'teryx Camosun (Men's) | 0/-18 | Down | ParkaD | Review | M |
| Arc'teryx Piedmont (Men's) | 2/-17 | Down | ParkaD | M | |
| Arc'teryx Fission SV (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M |
| Outdoor Research Super Alpine (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | Down | ParkaD | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Radsten (Men's) | 3/-16 | Synthetic | ParkaS | M | |
| Patagonia Fitz Roy (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Rab Electron Pro (Men's - Women's) | 5/-15 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Macai (Men's | 5/-15 | Down | Down | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Nuclei SV Parka (Men's - Women's) | 5/-15 | Synthetic | Synthetic | M W | |
| Patagonia DAS Parka (Men's - Women's) | 5/-15 | Synthetic | ParkaS | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Patera (Women's) | 5/-15 | Down | ParkaD | Review | W |
| Arc'teryx Cerium SV (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | Down | Down | Review | M W |
| Black Diamond Access Down (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Kappa (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M |
| Arc'teryx Prema (Women's) | 7/-14 | Down | ParkaD | W | |
| Arc'teryx Radsten Insulated Men's) | 7/-14 | Synthetic | ParkaS | M | |
| Rab Microlight Alpine (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Patagonia Macro Puff (Men's - Women's) | 8/-13 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Feathered Friends Eos (Men's - Women's) | 8/-13 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Macai LT (Men's) | 8/-13 | Down | Down | M | |
| Arc'teryx Seyla (Women's) | 8/-13 | Down | ParkaD | W | |
| Arc'teryx Koda (Men's) | 8/-13 | Synthetic | ParkaS | M | |
| Arc'teryx Thorium AR (Men's - Women's) | 8/-13 | Down | Down | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Kole (Men's - Women's) | 10/-12 | Down | ParkaD | W | |
| Patagonia Vosque 3-in-1 (Women's) | 10/-12 | Synthetic | ParkaS | Review | W |
| Arc'teryx Alpha IS (Men's - Women's) | 12/-11 | Synthetic | Synthetic | M | |
| Patagonia Jackson Glacier (Men's - Women's) | 12/-11 | Down | ParkaD | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Sensa (Women's) | 14/-10 | Synthetic | ParkaS | W | |
| Patagonia Hi Loft Down (Men's - Women's ) | 14/-10 | Down | Down | Review | M |
| REI Magma 850 Hoodie 2.0 (Men's - Women's) | 14/-10 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Atom AR (Men's - Women's) | 18/-8 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Patagonia Downdrift (Men's - Women's) | 18/-8 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Patagonia Down Sweater (Men's - Women's) | 19/-7 | Down | Down | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Magnus (Men's) | 19/-7 | Synthetic | ParkaS | M | |
| Arc'teryx Agrium (Men's - Women's) | 21/-6 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Patagonia AlpLight Down (Men's - Women's) | 21/-6 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Patagonia Topley (Men's) | 23/-5 | Down | Down | M | |
| Rab Xenon 2.0 (Men's - Women's) | 23/-5 | Synthetic | Synthetic | M W | |
| Patagonia Silent Down (Men's - Women's) | 26/-3 | Down | Down | Review | M W |
| Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisp/2 (Men's - Women's) | 28/-2 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Cerium LT (Men's - Women's) | 28/-2 | Down | Down | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Nuclei FL (Men's - Women's) | 32/0 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Patagonia City Storm Down (Men's) | 32/0 | Down | ParkaD | M | |
| Arc'teryx Atom LT (Men's - Women's) | 36/2 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Patagonia Micro Puff (Men's - Women's) | 36/2 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Patagonia Isthmus (Men's | 36/2 | Synthetic | ParkaS | M | |
| Arc'teryx Proton LT (Men's - Women's) | 37/3 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Patagonia Nano Puff (Men's - Women's) | 37/3 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Norvan SL Ins. (Men's - Women's) | 39/4 | Synthetic | Synthetic | M W | |
| Patagonia Nano Air (Men's - Women's) | 41/5 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Cerium SL (Men's - Women's) | 43/6 | Down | Down | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Proton FL (Men's - Women's) | 48/9 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Atom SL (Men's - Women's) | 52/11 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| The North Face Summit Down (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | Down | M W | |
| Mountain Equipment Lightline Echo (Men's) | Testing | Down | Down | M | |
| Mountain Equipment Kryos (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | Down | M W | |
| Mountain Equipment Xeros (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | Down | M | |
| Arc'teryx Andra LT IS (Women's) | Testing | Synthetic | ParkaS | W | |
| Arc'teryx Phoria IS (Women's) | Testing | Synthetic | ParkaS | W | |
| Feathered Friends Helios (Men's) | Testing | Down | Down | M | |
| Feathered Friends Volant (Men's) | Testing | Down | Down | M | |
| Rab Axion Pro (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | Down | M W | |
| Feathered Friends Rock & Ice (Men's) | Testing | Down | Down | M | |
| Rab Valiance (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | Down | M W | |
| Rab Expedition 8000 (Men's) | Testing | Down | Down | M | |
| Rab Zero G (Men's) | Testing | Down | Down | M | |
| Rab Generator Alpine (Men's) | Testing | Synthetic | Synthetic | M | |
| UBR Regulator Parka II (Men's) | Testing | Synthetic | ParkaS | M | |
| Helly Hansen LifaLoft (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Synthetic | Synthetic | M | |
| Mammut Eigerjoch (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Synthetic | Synthetic | M W | |
| Helly Hansen Lumines (Men's - Women's) | Unknown | Synthetic | Synthetic | M | |
| Haglofs V Series Mimic (Men's - Women's) | Unknown | Synthetic | Synthetic | M W | |
| Black Diamond First Light (Men's - Women's) | Unknown | Synthetic | Synthetic | M W |
Ratings are applicable for your torso and arms only.
And in colder weather (below, say, 20 deg F (-6 deg C)), it becomes much harder to keep your hands, feet and head warm than your torso and arms.
This is why beanies, gloves and socks are mostly game changers in this regard. Getting them is recommended.
Ratings will best respond to men's physiology. As most women tend to run colder than men, for women, bumping each rating by 10 deg F (5 deg C) is recommended.
As you see, there's a strong correlation between FP x FW and temperature ratings, but not more than, say, 80%. I explained why this happens here in this post of mine.
Most companies will claim that providing temperature ratings isn't possible.
And I don't think that they're incorrect. There are tons of fluid parameters that are difficult to measure if not impossible.
Not to even mention the subjective nature of the feeling of warmth.
Having said that...
I think it is possible to provide approximate values for an average person making some strict assumptions around layering and weather conditions.
Which is what you'll find out in this post.
I'll be evaluating the context of this study in two parts:
- Down jackets,
- Synthetic insulated jackets.
Let's start.
Jump there:
All temperature ratings are reviewed and some are updated for Fall 2021.
Understanding the Working Principle of Down Insulated Jackets
Down quality and down amount are the two most important things when it comes to the ultimate warmth provided by any down insulated garment.
You'll mostly come across this as fill power and fill weight respectively.
Because the word "down" is typically referred to as "fill" within the language of down pieces.
Let's take a look at the former first.
Fill Power
Fill Power represents the fully expanded, end volume of a 1 oz down (goose or duck). It's in cubic inches.
For example, a 800 FP (fill power) down will end up getting 800 cubic inches when it's fully expanded.
Because the insulation occurs by trapping air within the vacant spots of down, followed by having that air heated using our body heat as the source.
So, the higher the volume of trapped air (which is directly proportional with Fill Power), the more air will be heated & work as insulation as a result.
Fill power.
In the end, you'll feel warmer inside the jacket you're wearing.
This number varies anywhere from 500 to 1000, although the majority of quality brands (such as Arc'teryx, Patagonia, Feathered Friends, Outdoor Research, Marmot, REI Co-op, Enlightened Equipment, Rab, Black Diamond, Mountain Equipment and Mountain Hardwear)...
...mostly use down between 650 FP and 850 FP.
As you'll see, there are outliers, though. A notable one would be Feathered Friends Eos, which is equipped with a whooping 900 FP down.
Now before we get to fill weight, speaking of fill power...
...warmth actually isn't the only thing that it affects.
Other roles of fill power
It has additional three important roles:
- Loft retention during movement: Higher FP down will retain its loft with minimal loss during movement. The lower the FP, the larger the loss in this department.
- Higher impact on end warmth: Compared to FW (fill weight), FP has a larger impact on the warmth the insulated jacket provides.
For the sake of minimizing confusion and keeping this as clear as possible, I decided to place equal importance (weight) on fill power and fill weight when calculating FP * FW values (which you'll come across as you read on).
...although I did include these effects when calculating the temperature ratings of jackets within their first year.
After all, FP * FW is not the only factor considered while laying out the temperature ratings.
Tens of parameters are assessed, and the values put together at the end are the final results, including the few extra effects of fill power.
- Durability of insulation capability
- A jacket with a higher FP down minimizes its loss of insulating power over time. You'd be able to use a 850 FP down jacket for decades, and it'd feel almost just as warm as the first day you put it on.
- A jacket with a lower FP down, on the other hand, might not and probably will not prove nearly as durable. In my experience, jackets equipped with 650 FP down will probably feel noticeably colder after, say, 2-3 years.
If you, on the other hand, are like me and not planning to use your jacket for more than a few years, then this might not be that important to you after all.
By the time it starts to lose its insulating power noticeably, you'll have gotten yourself a new piece anyway.
- Compressibility: A jacket with a higher FP down will offer a smaller packed size.
Here's a video that also does a good job explaining fill power:
Moving on to our other major factor...
Fill Weight
Fill weight is the total amount of down the jacket is equipped with.
Some other resources might claim that fill weight is much less important than fill power when it comes to warmth, but that's far from reality.
In terms of warmth, fill weight is very, very important. Almost (in some conditions it even is) just as important as fill power.
Because, just like fill power, fill weight also directly affects the total amount of air trapped within the vacant spots of down.
Warmth Calculation
So...
Like I said, fill power and fill weight are the two most important factors when it comes to warmth.
In many cases, on a larger scale, assuming both jackets are equipped with the same amount of equally capable synthetic insulation, it is possible to make very close estimations by multiplying them when comparing warmth ratings of two different pieces.
For example...
- Arc'teryx Cerium SV offers 162 grams of 850 FP down.
- 105*900 = 137,700
- Rab Positron Pro offers 300 grams of 800 FP down.
- 116*650 = 240,000
Since 240,000 is significantly greater than 137,700; it's safe to say that the former will be noticeably warmer than the latter.
One point that I must make here is that although the Positron will come warmer, thanks to the higher FP down of Cerium SV:
- it'll stay almost equally warm even after decades,
- it won't lose its insulation during movement,
- and it's quite a bit compressible.
Now...
There are reasons why this mostly won't work on a smaller scale (more on these later, under Other Factors heading).
Comparing two jackets with, say, 140,000 and 100,000 FP * FW values.
Understanding the Working Principle of Synthetic Insulated Jackets
Synthetic insulated jackets imitate the working principle of down insulated jackets.
They're equipped with artificial insulators, rather than natural down obtained by geese and ducks.
Some examples to the names of these artificial insulators can be given as Coreloft and PlumaFill.
Comparing the temperature ratings of synthetic insulated jackets is more difficult.
Because, unlike fill power parameter in down jackets, there isn't a common denominator to compare different types of synthetic insulators in an analytical way.
Maybe except one parameter?
CLO value
CLO value is the insulation power of an insulation setting.
For example, this value is 0.92 for 1 oz (28.35 grams) of a dry PrimaLoft One for one square yard.
The important thing here is that unlike fill power, CLO is not a characteristic that is unique to one ounce of the material.
As you see in the example above, it isn't independent from the area of insulation (square yards).
So, a higher CLO actually points out to the insulation capability of an insulation setting as a whole. It does NOT necessarily mean that the insulator being used is any more capable than an insulation setting put together with a weaker insulator.
Given the right amount of thickness, any insulator can achieve desired CLO value. It's just going to end up being heavier.
So, metaphorically, you can think of CLO value in synthetic insulated jackets as FP * FW value in down insulated jackets.
Unfortunately, obtaining the CLO value for commercial products is absolutely impossible.
Having said that...
We can (and we do) use a made-up parameter to CLO/oz/yd² to replicate FP in down jackets.
Honehstein Institute certified. A quick recap here: As you see, synthetic insulators lose minimal insulating power when they get wet. Down, on the other hand, loses a lot of it.
But unfortunately, a new problem arises here. A fair amount of manufacturers come up with their unique insulators - such as Coreloft, PlumaFill, Octa, Stratus, FullRange, etc.
And just like CLO values, they're unwilling to reveal the CLO/oz/yd² values of their insulators too. Which are the numbers we would need to determine the warmth.
I asked Arc'teryx and Patagonia Customer Services myself about this, and came back empty handed.
Having said that...
During my research, I did come across some useful information that I can leverage. For example, as it turns out, the CLO/oz/yd² value for PrimaLoft One is 0.92. It's also 0.79 for PrimaLoft Sport and 0.74 for PrimaLoft Eco.
However...
These values aren't certain or completely trustworthy by any means. They aren't the results of scientific studies. I didn't detect them in any other place rather than forums, Reddit, or contacting manufacturers myself.
In the end, I put what I could find together and did my best to make an estimation. Fortunately, this calculation using the numerical value CLO was not the only information I had in my hands.
I had two additional (at least equally helpful) data: trying them out myself when I could, and gathering offline user experience.
Warmth Evaluation
So, in the end, I used at least two of these three items to estimate the overall temperature rating of an insulated jacket:
- Analyzed them scientifically (as explained earlier),
- Trying them out myself when I can,
- And/or gathering offline user experience.
And mostly all three above.
In addition to insulation types and amounts (which is what I covered so far), there are also other factors that impact the warmth of an insulated jacket.
Other factors
Let's talk about the most important and most common examples of these factors.
In most cases, these are considered minor next to insulation specific qualities. But they do have a noticeable effect, and combined together, they might come close to affect the warmth as much as the insulator capability and amount.
- Bagginess,
- Length,
- Outer fabric,
- Distribution of insulation.
Bagginess
I also talked about this more in my my Arc'teryx Thorsen vs Therme vs Camosun post.
Baggier cut of Cerium SV helps with its incredible warmth.
Briefly, the amount of trapped air increases as the jacket gets baggier. So more air works as insulation, and ultimately you're kept warmer.
There certainly is something as "too baggy", though. After some point, more inner volume only holds the warmth back.
Length
This has two effects.
First one is that the amount of trapped air, which is explained above.
And second, in colder weather, it becomes much harder to warm your legs and feet than your torso and arms.
This is why a jacket with a longer hem length will feel warmer. And the difference is pretty noticeable.
Outer fabric
Outer fabric is actually much more about weather resistance, but it also affects warmth a little bit.
As explained earlier, no down jacket is able to offer top notch weather resistance since they get clumped and lose their loft when they get wet. Either from your sweat or from weather conditions. Doesn't matter.
Having said that, it's still possible to prevent it to a certain degree. Some products offer a more fragile face fabric, while others can bead water more efficiently. These are directly proportional to face quality and DWR coating.
DWR is a coating.
It's basically sprayed on to the surface of these jackets as a finish. It stands for Durable Water Repellent - which means that water will be repelled under wet conditions instead of soaking into the fabric.
DWR also decreases dry time.
It's a good thing these jackets are coated in DWR, but pay attention to the fact that DWR is a coating - meaning that it will wear off over time.
Which is why you might want to invest in a DWR spray such as this one for after treatment.
As you see, there's a strong correlation between FP x FW and temperature ratings, but not more than, say, 80%. I explained why this happens here in this post of mine.
For face fabrics, I'd list them like this:
Perfex Quantum Pro = Arato 30 > Perfex Quantum > Arato 10 = Drilite Loft 40D > Arato 7 = Drilite Loft 20D > others.
For synthetic jackets, outer fabric affects the warmth noticeably less.
Fill distribution
Some products of my favorite brand Arc'teryx are guilty of this. Take Firebee AR (read my review), for example. Nothing is wrong with the insulation at the back, collar and torso. They feel perfectly warm.
Whereas the insulation in arms, especially in lower arms, are seemingly slightly inadequate, which in the end affects the warmth feeling a little bit.
Reinforcements
Some (most?) down jackets are reinforced with synthetic insulation in strategical locations. More often than not, these are high wear areas such as shoulders, back, elbows, etc.
For the sake of simplicity, I don't list them in my tables - although I do take them into consideration when evaluating the end warmth of a jacket.
This is why you can see a jacket with smaller FP x FW rating outscoring a jacket with higher FP x FW rating. Because the former is equipped with (more) synthetic insulation reinforcements.
Results: Temperature Ratings
Down jackets lose insulating power noticeably when its wet out. Synthetic jackets don't. This is why the dry weather assumption was made for both of them.
This is why, I'd recommend synthetic insulated jackets for folks located in damp areas.
Down jackets
All Arc'teryx down insulated products are also equipped with a fair amount of synthetic insulators in addition.
This is why you'll see them rank higher with lower FP * FW values.
In addition, these synthetic insulators are placed strategically at high wear areas (like under arms, shoulders and back) to increase the life time of the insulation.
This is not only a great advantage in theory, but it also works perfectly fine in practice as well.
Approximate lowest temperatures you can wear each down jacket in the market without feeling uncomfortably cold are...
| Name | Est. Temp (F/C) | Fill Power | Fill Weight (grams) | Fill Volume (FP x FW) | Review | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arc'teryx Alpha Parka (Men's - Women's) | -17/-27 | Down | 850 | 280 | 238,000 | No | M | |
| Feathered Friends Khumbu (Men's) | -17/-27 | Down | 900 | 378 | 340,200 | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Ceres SV (Men's - Women's) | -15/-26 | Down | 850 | 240 | 204,000 | Review | Yes | M |
| Mountain Equipment K7 (Men's - Women's) | -13/-25 | Down | 800 | 300 | 240,000 | No | M | |
| Rab Positron Pro (Men's - Women's) | -13/-25 | Down | 800 | 300 | 240,000 | No | M W | |
| Patagonia Grade VII (Men's) | -11/-24 | Down | 800 | 335 | 268,000 | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Firebee AR (Men's - Women's) | -10/-23 | Down | 800 | 225 | 180,000 | Review | Yes | M W |
| Mountain Equipment Exo (Men's) | -10/-23 | Down | 800 | 265 | 212,000 | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Thorsen (Men's) | -7/-22 | ParkaD | 750 | 192 | 144,000 | Review | No | M |
| Patagonia Frozen Range (Men's - Women's) | -6/-21 | ParkaD | 700 | 268 | 187,600 | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Centrale (Women's) | -5/-20 | ParkaD | 750 | 157 | 117,750 | Review | No | W |
| Rab Neutrino Pro (Men's - Women's) | -2/-19 | Down | 800 | 212 | 169,600 | No | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Therme (Men's) | -2/-19 | ParkaD | 750 | 120 | 90,000 | Review | No | M |
| Arc'teryx Dually Belay (Men's) | 0/-18 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Review | Yes | M |
| Arc'teryx Camosun (Men's) | 0/-18 | ParkaD | 750 | 105 | 78,750 | Review | No | M |
| Arc'teryx Piedmont (Men's) | 2/-17 | ParkaD | 750 | 218 | 163,500 | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Fission SV (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M |
| Outdoor Research Super Alpine (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | Down | 800 | 182 | 145,600 | No | M W | |
| Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | ParkaD | 700 | 118 | 82,600 | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Radsten (Men's) | 3/-16 | ParkaS | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Patagonia Fitz Roy (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | Down | 800 | 128 | 102,400 | No | M W | |
| Rab Electron Pro (Men's - Women's) | 5/-15 | Down | 800 | 180 | 144,000 | No | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Macai (Men's | 5/-15 | Down | 750 | 90 | 67,500 | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Nuclei SV Parka (Men's - Women's) | 5/-15 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Patagonia DAS Parka (Men's - Women's) | 5/-15 | ParkaS | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Patera (Women's) | 5/-15 | ParkaD | 750 | 59 | 44,250 | Review | No | W |
| Arc'teryx Cerium SV (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | Down | 850 | 162 | 137,700 | Review | Yes | M W |
| Black Diamond Access Down (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | Down | 700 | 155 | 108,500 | No | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Kappa (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Review | Yes | M |
| Arc'teryx Prema (Women's) | 7/-14 | ParkaD | 750 | 92 | 69,000 | No | W | |
| Arc'teryx Radsten Insulated Men's) | 7/-14 | ParkaS | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Rab Microlight Alpine (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | Down | 700 | 153 | 107,100 | No | M W | |
| Patagonia Macro Puff (Men's - Women's) | 8/-13 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Feathered Friends Eos (Men's - Women's) | 8/-13 | Down | 900 | 105 | 94,500 | No | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Macai LT (Men's) | 8/-13 | Down | 750 | 49 | 36,750 | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Seyla (Women's) | 8/-13 | ParkaD | 750 | 92 | 69,000 | No | W | |
| Arc'teryx Koda (Men's) | 8/-13 | ParkaS | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Thorium AR (Men's - Women's) | 8/-13 | Down | 750 | 130 | 97,500 | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Kole (Men's - Women's) | 10/-12 | ParkaD | 750 | 0 | No | W | ||
| Patagonia Vosque 3-in-1 (Women's) | 10/-12 | ParkaS | N/A | N/A | N/A | Review | No | W |
| Arc'teryx Alpha IS (Men's - Women's) | 12/-11 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | M | |
| Patagonia Jackson Glacier (Men's - Women's) | 12/-11 | ParkaD | 700 | 141 | 98,700 | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Sensa (Women's) | 14/-10 | ParkaS | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | W | |
| Patagonia Hi Loft Down (Men's - Women's ) | 14/-10 | Down | 600 | 177 | 106,200 | Review | No | M |
| REI Magma 850 Hoodie 2.0 (Men's - Women's) | 14/-10 | Down | 850 | 120 | 102,000 | No | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Atom AR (Men's - Women's) | 18/-8 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Patagonia Downdrift (Men's - Women's) | 18/-8 | Down | 600 | 279 | 167,400 | No | M W | |
| Patagonia Down Sweater (Men's - Women's) | 19/-7 | Down | 800 | 104 | 83,200 | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Magnus (Men's) | 19/-7 | ParkaS | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Agrium (Men's - Women's) | 21/-6 | Down | 850 | 117 | 99,450 | No | M W | |
| Patagonia AlpLight Down (Men's - Women's) | 21/-6 | Down | 800 | 100 | 80,000 | No | M W | |
| Patagonia Topley (Men's) | 23/-5 | Down | 700 | 172 | 120,400 | No | M | |
| Rab Xenon 2.0 (Men's - Women's) | 23/-5 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Patagonia Silent Down (Men's - Women's) | 26/-3 | Down | 700 | 109 | 76,300 | Review | No | M W |
| Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisp/2 (Men's - Women's) | 28/-2 | Down | 800 | 85 | 68,000 | No | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Cerium LT (Men's - Women's) | 28/-2 | Down | 850 | 102 | 86,700 | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Nuclei FL (Men's - Women's) | 32/0 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Patagonia City Storm Down (Men's) | 32/0 | ParkaD | 700 | 191 | 133,700 | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Atom LT (Men's - Women's) | 36/2 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Patagonia Micro Puff (Men's - Women's) | 36/2 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Patagonia Isthmus (Men's | 36/2 | ParkaS | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Proton LT (Men's - Women's) | 37/3 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Patagonia Nano Puff (Men's - Women's) | 37/3 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Norvan SL Ins. (Men's - Women's) | 39/4 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | M W | |
| Patagonia Nano Air (Men's - Women's) | 41/5 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Cerium SL (Men's - Women's) | 43/6 | Down | 850 | 52 | 44,200 | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Proton FL (Men's - Women's) | 48/9 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Atom SL (Men's - Women's) | 52/11 | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Review | Yes | M W |
| The North Face Summit Down (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | 800 | 0 | No | M W | ||
| Mountain Equipment Lightline Echo (Men's) | Testing | Down | 700 | 295 | 206,500 | No | M | |
| Mountain Equipment Kryos (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | 800 | 234 | 187,200 | No | M W | |
| Mountain Equipment Xeros (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | 800 | 140 | 112,000 | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Andra LT IS (Women's) | Testing | ParkaS | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | W | |
| Arc'teryx Phoria IS (Women's) | Testing | ParkaS | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | W | |
| Feathered Friends Helios (Men's) | Testing | Down | 900 | 204 | 183,600 | No | M | |
| Feathered Friends Volant (Men's) | Testing | Down | 900 | 311 | 279,900 | No | M | |
| Rab Axion Pro (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | 700 | 295 | 206,500 | No | M W | |
| Feathered Friends Rock & Ice (Men's) | Testing | Down | 900 | 582 | 523,800 | No | M | |
| Rab Valiance (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | 800 | 170 | 136,000 | No | M W | |
| Rab Expedition 8000 (Men's) | Testing | Down | 850 | 526 | 447,100 | No | M | |
| Rab Zero G (Men's) | Testing | Down | 1000 | 130 | 130,000 | No | M | |
| Rab Generator Alpine (Men's) | Testing | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| UBR Regulator Parka II (Men's) | Testing | ParkaS | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Helly Hansen LifaLoft (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Mammut Eigerjoch (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Helly Hansen Lumines (Men's - Women's) | Unknown | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Haglofs V Series Mimic (Men's - Women's) | Unknown | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Black Diamond First Light (Men's - Women's) | Unknown | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | M W |
As you see, there's a strong correlation between FP x FW and temperature ratings, but not more than, say, 80%. I explained why this happens here in this post of mine.
These are only approximate values assuming:
- you only have a shirt under and no shell over,
- during daily use (strolls, power walks etc at most - no high output activities),
- with enough wind to cause an umbrella to twist in your hand,
- and when it's dry out.
If you think you run warmer or colder than the average person, then shift temperature ranges accordingly.
Synthetic insulated jackets
If a jacket is insulated primarily with down and secondarily with synthetic insulators, then that's counted as a down jacket, and is listed above.
The reason that they're counted as down is because most down jackets out there are already supported with synthetic insulated at high wear areas.
Approximate lowest temperatures you can wear each down jacket in the market without feeling uncomfortably cold are...
| Name | Est. Temp (F/C) | Insulation Material | Insulation Amount | Review | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arc'teryx Alpha Parka (Men's - Women's) | -17/-27 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Feathered Friends Khumbu (Men's) | -17/-27 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Ceres SV (Men's - Women's) | -15/-26 | Down | N/A | N/A | Review | Yes | M |
| Mountain Equipment K7 (Men's - Women's) | -13/-25 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Rab Positron Pro (Men's - Women's) | -13/-25 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Patagonia Grade VII (Men's) | -11/-24 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Firebee AR (Men's - Women's) | -10/-23 | Down | N/A | N/A | Review | Yes | M W |
| Mountain Equipment Exo (Men's) | -10/-23 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Thorsen (Men's) | -7/-22 | ParkaD | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M |
| Patagonia Frozen Range (Men's - Women's) | -6/-21 | ParkaD | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Centrale (Women's) | -5/-20 | ParkaD | N/A | N/A | Review | No | W |
| Rab Neutrino Pro (Men's - Women's) | -2/-19 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Therme (Men's) | -2/-19 | ParkaD | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M |
| Arc'teryx Dually Belay (Men's) | 0/-18 | Synthetic | ThermaTek | 92 g/m² | Review | Yes | M |
| Arc'teryx Camosun (Men's) | 0/-18 | ParkaD | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M |
| Arc'teryx Piedmont (Men's) | 2/-17 | ParkaD | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Fission SV (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | Synthetic | Coreloft Continuous | 90 + 65 g | Review | No | M |
| Outdoor Research Super Alpine (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | ParkaD | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Radsten (Men's) | 3/-16 | ParkaS | Coreloft Compact | 120 g/m² | No | M | |
| Patagonia Fitz Roy (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Rab Electron Pro (Men's - Women's) | 5/-15 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Macai (Men's | 5/-15 | Down | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Nuclei SV Parka (Men's - Women's) | 5/-15 | Synthetic | Coreloft Continuous | 190 g/m2 + 90 g/m2 | No | M W | |
| Patagonia DAS Parka (Men's - Women's) | 5/-15 | ParkaS | PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco | 133 + 40 g | No | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Patera (Women's) | 5/-15 | ParkaD | N/A | N/A | Review | No | W |
| Arc'teryx Cerium SV (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | Down | N/A | N/A | Review | Yes | M W |
| Black Diamond Access Down (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Kappa (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | Synthetic | Coreloft Continuous | 140 g/m² | Review | Yes | M |
| Arc'teryx Prema (Women's) | 7/-14 | ParkaD | No | W | |||
| Arc'teryx Radsten Insulated Men's) | 7/-14 | ParkaS | Coreloft Compact | 120 g/m² | No | M | |
| Rab Microlight Alpine (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Patagonia Macro Puff (Men's - Women's) | 8/-13 | Synthetic | PlumaFill | 135 + 90 g | Review | No | M W |
| Feathered Friends Eos (Men's - Women's) | 8/-13 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Macai LT (Men's) | 8/-13 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Seyla (Women's) | 8/-13 | ParkaD | No | W | |||
| Arc'teryx Koda (Men's) | 8/-13 | ParkaS | Coreloft | 200 g/m² | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Thorium AR (Men's - Women's) | 8/-13 | Down | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Kole (Men's - Women's) | 10/-12 | ParkaD | No | W | |||
| Patagonia Vosque 3-in-1 (Women's) | 10/-12 | ParkaS | ThermoLite | 100 g | Review | No | W |
| Arc'teryx Alpha IS (Men's - Women's) | 12/-11 | Synthetic | Coreloft Continuous | 65 g/m² | Yes | M | |
| Patagonia Jackson Glacier (Men's - Women's) | 12/-11 | ParkaD | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Sensa (Women's) | 14/-10 | ParkaS | Coreloft Compact | 120 g/m² | No | W | |
| Patagonia Hi Loft Down (Men's - Women's ) | 14/-10 | Down | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M |
| REI Magma 850 Hoodie 2.0 (Men's - Women's) | 14/-10 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Atom AR (Men's - Women's) | 18/-8 | Synthetic | Coreloft Continuous | 120 g/m2 + 80 g/m2 + 60 g/m2 | Review | No | M W |
| Patagonia Downdrift (Men's - Women's) | 18/-8 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Patagonia Down Sweater (Men's - Women's) | 19/-7 | Down | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Magnus (Men's) | 19/-7 | ParkaS | Coreloft | 80 g | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Agrium (Men's - Women's) | 21/-6 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Patagonia AlpLight Down (Men's - Women's) | 21/-6 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Patagonia Topley (Men's) | 23/-5 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Rab Xenon 2.0 (Men's - Women's) | 23/-5 | Synthetic | PrimaLoft Silver | 60 g | No | M W | |
| Patagonia Silent Down (Men's - Women's) | 26/-3 | Down | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisp/2 (Men's - Women's) | 28/-2 | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Cerium LT (Men's - Women's) | 28/-2 | Down | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Nuclei FL (Men's - Women's) | 32/0 | Synthetic | Coreloft Continuous | 65 g/m² | Review | No | M W |
| Patagonia City Storm Down (Men's) | 32/0 | ParkaD | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Atom LT (Men's - Women's) | 36/2 | Synthetic | Coreloft Continuous | 60 g/m² | Review | No | M W |
| Patagonia Micro Puff (Men's - Women's) | 36/2 | Synthetic | PlumaFill | 65 g | Review | No | M W |
| Patagonia Isthmus (Men's | 36/2 | ParkaS | ThermoGreen | 60 g | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Proton LT (Men's - Women's) | 37/3 | Synthetic | Coreloft Compact | 80 g/m2 + 60 g/m2 | Review | No | M W |
| Patagonia Nano Puff (Men's - Women's) | 37/3 | Synthetic | PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco | 60 g | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Norvan SL Ins. (Men's - Women's) | 39/4 | Synthetic | Coreloft Compact | 40 g/m² | Yes | M W | |
| Patagonia Nano Air (Men's - Women's) | 41/5 | Synthetic | FullRange | 60 g | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Cerium SL (Men's - Women's) | 43/6 | Down | N/A | N/A | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Proton FL (Men's - Women's) | 48/9 | Synthetic | Octa Loft | 98 g/m² | Review | No | M W |
| Arc'teryx Atom SL (Men's - Women's) | 52/11 | Synthetic | Coreloft Compact | 40 g/m² | Review | Yes | M W |
| The North Face Summit Down (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Mountain Equipment Lightline Echo (Men's) | Testing | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Mountain Equipment Kryos (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Mountain Equipment Xeros (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Arc'teryx Andra LT IS (Women's) | Testing | ParkaS | Coreloft | 60 g/m² | No | W | |
| Arc'teryx Phoria IS (Women's) | Testing | ParkaS | Coreloft | 100 g/m² | No | W | |
| Feathered Friends Helios (Men's) | Testing | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Feathered Friends Volant (Men's) | Testing | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Rab Axion Pro (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Feathered Friends Rock & Ice (Men's) | Testing | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Rab Valiance (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M W | |
| Rab Expedition 8000 (Men's) | Testing | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Rab Zero G (Men's) | Testing | Down | N/A | N/A | No | M | |
| Rab Generator Alpine (Men's) | Testing | Synthetic | PrimaLoft Gold | 133 g/m2 + 80 g/m2 | No | M | |
| UBR Regulator Parka II (Men's) | Testing | ParkaS | PrimaLoft Innovation | 120 g | No | M | |
| Helly Hansen LifaLoft (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Synthetic | LifaLoft | 100 g | No | M | |
| Mammut Eigerjoch (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Synthetic | Polartec Alpha Direct | 95 g | No | M W | |
| Helly Hansen Lumines (Men's - Women's) | Unknown | Synthetic | PrimaLoft | ??? | No | M | |
| Haglofs V Series Mimic (Men's - Women's) | Unknown | Synthetic | Mimic Platinum Ultracluster Graphene | ??? | No | M W | |
| Black Diamond First Light (Men's - Women's) | Unknown | Synthetic | PrimaLoft Silver Active | 60 g | No | M W |
As you see, there's a strong correlation between FP x FW and temperature ratings, but not more than, say, 80%. I explained why this happens here in this post of mine.
These are only approximate values assuming:
- you only have a shirt under and no shell over,
- during daily use (strolls, power walks etc at most - no high output activities),
- with enough wind to cause an umbrella to twist in your hand,
- and when it's dry out.
If you think you run warmer or colder than the average person, then shift temperature ranges accordingly.
Full list
Full temperature rating list of all high quality insulated jackets.
Find the average lowest temperature ratings you can wear each jacket below.
These are only approximate lowest temperature ratings, assuming:
- you only have a shirt under and no shell over,
- during stationary use (strolls, power walks etc at most - no high output activities),
- with light wind,
- and when it's dry out.
If you think you run warmer or colder than the average person, then shift these ratings accordingly.
Always opt for the warmer option when in doubt.
| Name | Est. Temp (F/C) | Insulation | Review | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arc'teryx Alpha Parka (Men's - Women's) | -17/-27 | Down | Down | M | |
| Feathered Friends Khumbu (Men's) | -17/-27 | Down | Down | M | |
| Arc'teryx Ceres SV (Men's - Women's) | -15/-26 | Down | Down | Review | M |
| Mountain Equipment K7 (Men's - Women's) | -13/-25 | Down | Down | M | |
| Rab Positron Pro (Men's - Women's) | -13/-25 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Patagonia Grade VII (Men's) | -11/-24 | Down | Down | M | |
| Arc'teryx Firebee AR (Men's - Women's) | -10/-23 | Down | Down | Review | M W |
| Mountain Equipment Exo (Men's) | -10/-23 | Down | Down | M | |
| Arc'teryx Thorsen (Men's) | -7/-22 | Down | ParkaD | Review | M |
| Patagonia Frozen Range (Men's - Women's) | -6/-21 | Down | ParkaD | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Centrale (Women's) | -5/-20 | Down | ParkaD | Review | W |
| Rab Neutrino Pro (Men's - Women's) | -2/-19 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Therme (Men's) | -2/-19 | Down | ParkaD | Review | M |
| Arc'teryx Dually Belay (Men's) | 0/-18 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M |
| Arc'teryx Camosun (Men's) | 0/-18 | Down | ParkaD | Review | M |
| Arc'teryx Piedmont (Men's) | 2/-17 | Down | ParkaD | M | |
| Arc'teryx Fission SV (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M |
| Outdoor Research Super Alpine (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | Down | ParkaD | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Radsten (Men's) | 3/-16 | Synthetic | ParkaS | M | |
| Patagonia Fitz Roy (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Rab Electron Pro (Men's - Women's) | 5/-15 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Macai (Men's | 5/-15 | Down | Down | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Nuclei SV Parka (Men's - Women's) | 5/-15 | Synthetic | Synthetic | M W | |
| Patagonia DAS Parka (Men's - Women's) | 5/-15 | Synthetic | ParkaS | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Patera (Women's) | 5/-15 | Down | ParkaD | Review | W |
| Arc'teryx Cerium SV (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | Down | Down | Review | M W |
| Black Diamond Access Down (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Kappa (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M |
| Arc'teryx Prema (Women's) | 7/-14 | Down | ParkaD | W | |
| Arc'teryx Radsten Insulated Men's) | 7/-14 | Synthetic | ParkaS | M | |
| Rab Microlight Alpine (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Patagonia Macro Puff (Men's - Women's) | 8/-13 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Feathered Friends Eos (Men's - Women's) | 8/-13 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Macai LT (Men's) | 8/-13 | Down | Down | M | |
| Arc'teryx Seyla (Women's) | 8/-13 | Down | ParkaD | W | |
| Arc'teryx Koda (Men's) | 8/-13 | Synthetic | ParkaS | M | |
| Arc'teryx Thorium AR (Men's - Women's) | 8/-13 | Down | Down | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Kole (Men's - Women's) | 10/-12 | Down | ParkaD | W | |
| Patagonia Vosque 3-in-1 (Women's) | 10/-12 | Synthetic | ParkaS | Review | W |
| Arc'teryx Alpha IS (Men's - Women's) | 12/-11 | Synthetic | Synthetic | M | |
| Patagonia Jackson Glacier (Men's - Women's) | 12/-11 | Down | ParkaD | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Sensa (Women's) | 14/-10 | Synthetic | ParkaS | W | |
| Patagonia Hi Loft Down (Men's - Women's ) | 14/-10 | Down | Down | Review | M |
| REI Magma 850 Hoodie 2.0 (Men's - Women's) | 14/-10 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Atom AR (Men's - Women's) | 18/-8 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Patagonia Downdrift (Men's - Women's) | 18/-8 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Patagonia Down Sweater (Men's - Women's) | 19/-7 | Down | Down | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Magnus (Men's) | 19/-7 | Synthetic | ParkaS | M | |
| Arc'teryx Agrium (Men's - Women's) | 21/-6 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Patagonia AlpLight Down (Men's - Women's) | 21/-6 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Patagonia Topley (Men's) | 23/-5 | Down | Down | M | |
| Rab Xenon 2.0 (Men's - Women's) | 23/-5 | Synthetic | Synthetic | M W | |
| Patagonia Silent Down (Men's - Women's) | 26/-3 | Down | Down | Review | M W |
| Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisp/2 (Men's - Women's) | 28/-2 | Down | Down | M W | |
| Arc'teryx Cerium LT (Men's - Women's) | 28/-2 | Down | Down | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Nuclei FL (Men's - Women's) | 32/0 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Patagonia City Storm Down (Men's) | 32/0 | Down | ParkaD | M | |
| Arc'teryx Atom LT (Men's - Women's) | 36/2 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Patagonia Micro Puff (Men's - Women's) | 36/2 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Patagonia Isthmus (Men's | 36/2 | Synthetic | ParkaS | M | |
| Arc'teryx Proton LT (Men's - Women's) | 37/3 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Patagonia Nano Puff (Men's - Women's) | 37/3 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Norvan SL Ins. (Men's - Women's) | 39/4 | Synthetic | Synthetic | M W | |
| Patagonia Nano Air (Men's - Women's) | 41/5 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Cerium SL (Men's - Women's) | 43/6 | Down | Down | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Proton FL (Men's - Women's) | 48/9 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| Arc'teryx Atom SL (Men's - Women's) | 52/11 | Synthetic | Synthetic | Review | M W |
| The North Face Summit Down (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | Down | M W | |
| Mountain Equipment Lightline Echo (Men's) | Testing | Down | Down | M | |
| Mountain Equipment Kryos (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | Down | M W | |
| Mountain Equipment Xeros (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | Down | M | |
| Arc'teryx Andra LT IS (Women's) | Testing | Synthetic | ParkaS | W | |
| Arc'teryx Phoria IS (Women's) | Testing | Synthetic | ParkaS | W | |
| Feathered Friends Helios (Men's) | Testing | Down | Down | M | |
| Feathered Friends Volant (Men's) | Testing | Down | Down | M | |
| Rab Axion Pro (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | Down | M W | |
| Feathered Friends Rock & Ice (Men's) | Testing | Down | Down | M | |
| Rab Valiance (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Down | Down | M W | |
| Rab Expedition 8000 (Men's) | Testing | Down | Down | M | |
| Rab Zero G (Men's) | Testing | Down | Down | M | |
| Rab Generator Alpine (Men's) | Testing | Synthetic | Synthetic | M | |
| UBR Regulator Parka II (Men's) | Testing | Synthetic | ParkaS | M | |
| Helly Hansen LifaLoft (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Synthetic | Synthetic | M | |
| Mammut Eigerjoch (Men's - Women's) | Testing | Synthetic | Synthetic | M W | |
| Helly Hansen Lumines (Men's - Women's) | Unknown | Synthetic | Synthetic | M | |
| Haglofs V Series Mimic (Men's - Women's) | Unknown | Synthetic | Synthetic | M W | |
| Black Diamond First Light (Men's - Women's) | Unknown | Synthetic | Synthetic | M W |
Ratings are applicable for your torso and arms only.
And in colder weather (below, say, 20 deg F (-6 deg C)), it becomes much harder to keep your hands, feet and head warm than your torso and arms.
This is why beanies, gloves and socks are mostly game changers in this regard. Getting them is recommended.
Ratings will best respond to men's physiology. As most women tend to run colder than men, for women, bumping each rating by 10 deg F (5 deg C) is recommended.
As you see, there's a strong correlation between FP x FW and temperature ratings, but not more than, say, 80%. I explained why this happens here in this post of mine.
Supporting documents
Some manufacturers don't reveal vital product information such as fill weight or even fill power at times.
This is why I had to make some calls and send some mails to access them. I thought that it could be helpful for some of you guys to share the written documents with you.
Unfortunately I'm unable to report the results of verbal communication that took place over the phone calls.
I hope this post was helpful for you to learn more about the jacket(s) in your mind.
Feel free to ask me any questions or provide feedback and I'll be happy to respond in the comment section below.
Guide: Insulated & Shell Jackets
Start here:
Complete list:
Also see:
Thank you for reading!
Where’s Fission SV fitting in this warmth chart?
Hi Brandon, Fission SV is added to chart.
Because my site is using a cache, you might not be able to see the updated chart when you refresh this page. In that case, try reloading the page through Shift + F5 keyboard shortcut.
Hope this helps.
Where would you put the macro puff hoody in the chart?
Thank you for your comment Benoit! Macro Puff is just added into the chart.
Hi, I was just wondering if/when you may be able to include the new Patagonia DAS Light Hoody and the re-released Patagonia DAS Parka on the charts above..?
Additionally, I noticed that you included the OR Refuge, but any chance that the Refuge Air will be included as well? Just curious.
Thanks!
Hi, I was wondering if you would be able to rank/add Patagonia’s new DAS Light Hoody and re-released DAS Parka to the list…?
Additionally, while you did include the OR Refuge, just out of curiosity, where would the OR Refuge Air sit on the list?
Thanks!
Hi. I’m not seeing wool blend options in this lineup. How would something like Icebreaker’s Stratus (180g merinoloft) compare to down/synthetic as far as warmth?
Hi from spain, first of all thanks for your wonderful page.
Do you know the Outdoor Research Ascendant?
In what temperature range is it?
Like the atom lt?
Thank you!!
Thank you for your comment and kind words Fernando.
I was going to review the Ascendant, but then I couldn’t find the product page of its men’s version at outdoorresearch.com. Seems like the only available option now is women’s counterpart.
Do you know what happened to the men’s version? I contacted the OR about this and now waiting for their response.
There’s an error in your math in the example of Eos versus Transcendent. 141 x 700 is over 98000, much more than what you state, and more than Eos.
Also, if you converted to ounces your calculations would have units of cubic inches rather than some odd cu. In. * Gram / Oz
Otherwise looks like a good resource and looking forward to reading through all this.
Thank you for your comment Alexander!
That’s a great catch, thank you for paying attention to the post. The incorrect numbers of the calculation was actually the “141 x 700”, though. The correct values for the Transcendent are 116 x 650 (source: https://www.outdoorresearch.com/us/mens-transcendent-down-hoodie-268084#eyJvcl9zaXplIjoiNzIifQ__) as mentioned.
The typo is now fixed, but the placements and results stay the same. You might not be able to see the edited version of the page right away. Because my site uses caching, and it might take a few days until it’s purged.
I’ll check out your comments about the units and will make edits accordingly.
Glad you found this post helpful.
Thanks!
Rab has now changed their 750 down in the Microlight Alpine to a 700 totally recycled down. This is from their site:
“Insulation: Recycled 700 fill-power down Nikwax hydrophobic (water-resistant) finish (153g Size L)”
The old jacket was :
“750FP R.D.S Certified European Goose Down (143g/5oz in Size L)”
Thanks for this great information!
Thank you for the depth review. Helps a lot. I hope there is a donation button to appreciate your hard work and researching
Glad it was helpful for you.
Yes, you can this donation button: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=EVA3S7ME6LZB6¤cy_code=USD
I’m flattered, appreciate it, thanks!
I mean great article. This is how everything should be written. As much info as possible.
I’d say the only thing missing is how down fill powder is created/made. I’m very curious how a duck feather can go from 600 to 850fp. Is it a different part of the feather or do they do something to the feather. I would love to see that added to this Article.
Glad to hear it was helpful for you JC.
They don’t do anything to the feather. It’s all natural. In most cases, the difference is mostly due to the genetics of ducks.
I Don, t see anything from the Canada goose line in any list, just wondering why?
Currently I’m on this. Gathering information, analyzing products, etc. They’ll be added soon.
Simply Amazing !
i’ve been hunting and pecking tryying to find this type of information for a purchase(s) and stumbled upon your site.
you have spend a loooooot of time putting this together. the “sales” sites almost never have enough information upon which to make a good decision by making comparisons! it’s been quite frustrating to have to spend hours looking for data like this and the manufacturers aren’t really forthcoming with this data.
Simply Amazing ! thank you so much for all of your work.
i immediately copied it all off in case i don’t find this again.
i forgot to add that it’s time to replace all of my outside gear as it all is 50, or so, years old, and is totally disintegrating. prices have changed in that time ! –it makes me groan when i see the price tags, but it was well worth it, waaay back when, to do research in what i was buying and to obtain the best that i could. this really helps me thru the labryinth of finding what i want.
these next purchases, i figure, will be my last as i’m 68 and probably won’t be around for another 50….but maybe my kids or grandkids can wear what i leave behind. when i got my first gear there were no stores to buy anything in. outside clothing and equipment was not anywhere to be found, at least for someone living in Northern Wisconsin. my first boots came from a garbage can ! they had holes in the bottoms but were warm and rugged ! thanks again.
Amazing research! Thank you. As mentioned above, would be very curious to know where the new Patagonia DAS parka sits, also the Black Diamond Belay (Stance) Parka or whatever they keep renaming it to – definitely interested in the synthetics that push the low temp limits.
Hi Fantastic information and research, thank you, can you add the Rab Valiance please?
Thanks
Jon
Awesome work! Reading this all the way in South Africa. We basically buy one brand nationwide. This helped quite a lot with figuring out what I need. You’re soo technical. It’s inspiring
I’m in awe.
What a great review, so much research..thank you. whilst this lists the minimum temperature the parkas are rated for what is the maximum temperature. Would a 650 rating be good for 5 – 15 degrees Celcius for example
Arc teryx has Agrium on their website now. Where would that sit in the chart?
Hi ! I am super cold natured and usually wear an insulated Carhartt hoodie and thermal jacket in 40 degrees weather. Usually a North Face Nuptse. Can you recommend a good jacket I can wear without having 3 to 4 layers under it. A lot of the times I wear an insulated Carhartt suits bibs and jacket over this. I do wear insulated underwear all winter.
Thank you!
Please add Eddie Bauer Peak XV. (Great value at once a year 60% off sale).
Great work! The trouble is that many of the selections you have listed are not available. Very disappointing because I get all excited then I can’t get one. I suppose it’s lots of work to keep up with the market and remove pieces that go out of production.
thanks for your work!
Very informative article, but you missed off one of the main factors that affect the warmth of a down jacket…construction!
3 identical jackets, with the same face fabric, fill weight and fill power, will not be the same warmth depending on construction. If one is stitch-through, one box wall and one is over lapping baffles, then the warmth (and cost) will vary.
This is why jackets like the Berghaus Ramche 2 down jacket (my favourite jacket I own) weighing 456 grams with only 183g of 850fp down is rated to minus 20 / minus 25 degrees C, as it has overlapping insulation meaning it is much warmer than heavier, higher fill weight jackets.
Construction is one of the key things I look for as it is a better indicator of warmth than FW x FP alone.
That aside, some very informative and detailed descriptions and analysis.
Hi,
RESPECT for a detailed research and review. Stumbled upon this while researching for jackets.
I have a question if I may, for synthetic jackets I see that the least temp for sameg/m2 isn’t the same for jackets with coreloft(arc tryx kappa) vs. those thermatek (arc tryx Dually). is this a case of one tech being better than other or is it a function of the overall jacket build?
In corollary, can it be assumed that jackets with same g/m2 ratings would be equally warm irrespective of technology?
Hi Murali,
Thank you.
Good question. The difference is actually caused by a combination of both of the reasons you mentioned – tech differences and overall jacket build (mostly the nature of face fabrics).
Hi, thanks a lot for the comprehensive testing/analyses. Would you mind adding Mountain Hardwear or Mammut insulation jackets? They are also regarded as high quality products (especially the EigerExtreme line)
Hello. Thank you so much for sharing this amount of information. I don’t see in this list some Scandinavian or other European outdoor clothing brands (except RAB). When possible, can you review some of these? I don’t have any versus American brands. I had a Tommy Hilfinger and PME Legend jacket (both stolen in a discotheque), and I’m planning to buy a new jacket: I like Patagonia, Marmut, Columbia (who has acquired Mountain Hardware), The North Face and others; but some Nordic brands are great, too. For example, Fjallraven makes his own products instead of using Gore-tex etc. Sorry for my English, I’m Italian.
Thanks Francesco. I’ll take your comments into consideration and see what I can do. Great to hear you found my site helpful.
medium sized cerium lt has 102g 850 power fill down with Arato 10 face fabric. kole has 72g 750 power fill with 20D nylon. why temperature chart of cerium is -2* and kole is -12*? and how about agrium which has 117g 850 power fill down with Arato 15 fabric? thank you.
Hi James,
As I explained earlier into the article, this difference is caused by additional synthetic insulator use.
Best,
C
Thanks for this great information. As a hiker who lives in the southeastern US (and not in, say, Jackson Hole), I struggle to know how to make adjustments from reviews often written for more aerobic activities in colder climates. Note: Almost exactly half the US population lives south of about 37° latitude, roughly the line from the North Carolina-Virginia border, across northern Oklahoma, to central California (about Fresno). While some of us head to New England or Colorado for winter skiing, lots of others are just trying to figure out how to stay comfortably warm while active in the outdoors nearer home.) The information on your site helps.
I noticed that your temperature ratings no longer include the Outdoor Research Refuge or Transcendent (and perhaps others). I assume this is because OR is no longer making these two jackets. I’d like to encourage you to keep orphan items in your list for a bit longer. Outdoor gear sites are still selling these jackets new, and lots of us with limited means look for good used gear online, so it would be helpful to keep archived data In your rankings for a few years (or start a third table for discontinued items?). Thanks.
About down insulation you’d to consider other elements and in particolar the ratio between down and feathers and the baffle construction.
Higher percentage of down mean more warmth. The right calculation should be fill power x fill weight x ratio between down and feathers. For example, Feathered Friends Rock and Ice parka, in size medium, has 20,5 oz, fill down 900, ratio 0,96 (96% down 4% feathers), Rab expedition 8000 m jacket has, in size medium, 19 oz of down 850, with a ratio of 0,90.
Another important element is the baffle construction: a box baffle jacket is far warmer than a serena through jacket with the same fill power and fill weight. The construction is important also for synthetic cloths because stitch through cause cold spot.
The least but not the last, the material of the outer layer and the type of insulation. Some are waterproof and windproof, others are water resistant and windproof, others water and wind resistant, others more breathable and only slightly wind resistant, like the patagonia nano air or the arc’teryx atom. Matetials like fullrange and polartec alpha are very permeable to wind