Katabatic Gear Tarn Ultralight Down Jacket Review
The perfect ultralight puffy jacket for backpacking, thru-hiking, or everyday use
September 25th, 2023
The author in the Methow Valley, Washington in winter wearing the Katabatic Tarn jacket.
Our Verdict
The men’s and women’s Katabatic Gear Tarn Jacket is the perfect ultralight puffy jacket and perfect outer layer for outdoor adventures. It hits the sweet spot for most 3-season uses but is extremely lightweight.
The warmth-to-weight ratio is the best of any down jacket we've tested. The outer shell fabric is light but durable, soft but strong. It outperforms every other ultralight puffy we've tested.
As with other Katabatic Gear products, the attention to details is what makes this jacket shine. And the brand's commitment to sustainability aligns with Treeline's focus on environmental impact. In this Katabatic Gear Tarn Jacket Review, we go in-depth on its construction and why we like this ultralight jacket.
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
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Specs
Weight, size medium: 8.6 ounces (W), 9.3 ounces (M)
Fill power: 850+
Fill weight, size medium: 3.2 ounces (W), 3.6 ounces (M)
Pockets: 2 zippered hand warmer pockets
Hood: 2-way adjustable
Ethically sourced down? Yes, Responsible Down Standard (RDS)
Recycled shell fabric? Yes, bluesign approved
Hydrophobic down? Yes, HyperDry
Price: $269
Fit: Trim
What We Liked
Incredible warmth-to-weight ratio
Excellent loft
Box wall construction where it's needed (top of hood and shoulders)
Fabric is soft and pliable, not cold or clammy
The perfect balance of weight and features
Best cost-to-performance ratio of any down jacket we've tested
Katabatic's commitment to sustainability
Front close up on the materials and construction on the Katabatic Gear Tarn jacket.
Materials and Construction
Outer fabric
MATERIAL
The Tarn's outer shell is made from lightweight Pertex Quantum Eco Ripstop 10 denier. According to Pertex's website, Quantum "uses a tightly woven structure to provide a light and soft fabric that allows insulation to fully loft. Precisely constructed from incredibly fine yarns, Pertex® Quantum fabrics are designed to trap still air and improve the efficiency of insulation." My experience with the Tarn and my Katabatic Gear down quilt (both of which use Pertex Quantum) is that Pertex's claim holds true—the loft is easily and fully restored after compression with a bit of shaking—and it doesn't take much. Pertex Quantum is also windproof—a must for down jackets.
Katabatic Gear uses the recycled yarn version of Pertex, which we're also extremely happy about. It's bluesign approved — meaning that the fabric was made under strict requirements to reduce the environmental burden.
I like the feel of the shell fabric. It's softer to the touch than the fabric of my Patagonia Down Sweater — think more silk-like than taffeta-like. It's slightly quieter as well. See our in-depth gear review of the Patagonia Down Sweater for more information.
WATER RESISTANCE
The Tarn's shell is treated with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish to repel light rain and snow. While not waterproof, the DWR finish does an excellent job—you can see the water bead up and roll off rather than absorb into the fabric.
DURABILITY
Don't let Quantum's light weight fool you! It's incredibly durable for its weight. While I couldn't find any specific data about durability, my experience with my jacket and quilt convinced me of Quantum's durability. My quilt only has one patch after nine years of heavy use—which was my own fault.
A good collar to keep your neck warm, even when the hood is down, also helps tremendously to keep you warm by keeping your exposed skin to a minimum.
Insulation
Fill Power
The Tarn is made with 850+ fill power down, both Bluesign-approved and Responsible Down Standard certified. Fill power generally ranges from 300 to 1,000. Higher fill power means the down can trap more air and provides more insulating capability. So, a jacket with the same fill weight as the Tarn but a lower fill power will not be as warm as the Tarn. Fill power over 800 is considered "excellent." Higher fill power is generally more expensive as well.
Hydrophobic Down
The Achilles heel of down has always been the well-established problem that once down wets out, it loses its insulating capabilities. However, in my thousands of miles backpacking and hiking with down sleeping bags and jackets, I've never had a down product wet out completely. Even on my thru-hike of the Great Divide Trail, where it rained 27 out of 30 days on the trail, my Katabatic Gear quilt was never even close to wetting out.
Nevertheless, Katabatic uses HyperDry-treated down in the Tarn jacket to make the best product possible. HyperDry is similar in concept to a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish in that the surface of the feathers is coated such that the water beads up and rolls off. HyperDry claims that their down is 30-40x more hydrophobic than untreated down. It's also PFC-free, which is extremely important to us here at Treeline. We really don't like that PFCs are found in polar bears.
Warmth-to-weight ratio
With 850 fill power and the lightweight Pertex Quantum fabric, the Tarn has one of the highest warmth-to-weight ratios of any down jacket we've tested. However, keep in mind that the warmth-to-weight ratio does not take into account fill power. All things being equal, two identical jackets with the same fill weight will have different warmth based on the fill power. [As an aside, I looked for a formula that would consider this but couldn't find anything reliable.]
Also, remember that the jacket's construction also contributes to overall warmth. Keeping the down in the right places to keep you warm is extremely important. A poorly constructed jacket usually ends up with the down feathers shifting to places you don't need or want them (such as underneath your arms). A good collar to keep your neck warm, even when the hood is down, also helps tremendously to keep you warm by keeping your exposed skin to a minimum.
Inner lining
Material composition
The Tarn's inner lining is made with Pertex Quantum taffeta 20 denier. Denier refers to the thickness of the fiber. When comparing deniers, note that a higher denier doesn't necessarily mean stronger if you're comparing two different fabrics. Strength depends on both denier and material.
Liner Comfort
The interior lining of the Tarn is by far the most comfortable of any down jacket I've tested. I'm pretty sensitive to the feel of fabrics—I don't like cold, clammy, or sticky. The Tarn is none of those things; it's soft, silky, and feels great next to my skin. And as a bonus, it's not as loud or crinkly as many other down jackets I own.
Seams and stitching
As with their down quilts, construction is where Katabatic Gear products shine. With the Tarn, Katabatic Gear used a combination of stitch-through and box wall construction.
Box Wall Construction
Jackets with box-wall construction have box-like sections that run horizontally. As the edges of these box-shaped baffles aren't compressed, the down can achieve its full loft within each chamber, ensuring an even spread of insulation and significantly minimizing cold spots. Although the additional material required for constructing each box typically results in a heavier and less compressible jacket, box-wall garments are often the better choice and most effective for extremely low temperatures.
Katabatic Gear uses internal box wall construction on the top of the hood and shoulders of the Tarn with no external stitch lines. You can see this in the photos below:
Katabatic Gear uses internal box wall construction on the top of the hood and shoulders of the Tarn with no external stitch line
Eliminating the external stitching in the hood top and shoulders increases water resistance and durability. Hood and shoulders are critical areas for box baffling for 3 reasons:
Water generally finds its way in through seams first (which is why we seam-seal our tents and shelter);
Head and shoulders have the most horizontal surface area to be exposed to rain; and
Shoulders take additional abrasion from backpack straps.
The thoughtfulness that went into the construction of the Tarn is evident!
Stitch Through Construction
In jackets with stitch-through (or sewn-through) construction, baffles are formed by sewing the exterior fabric directly onto the interior fabric. Most manufacturers use this technique, as it reduces the amount of fabric and stitching necessary, resulting in significant weight savings.
Although stitch-through is the optimal construction approach for lightweight apparel, it does have a potential disadvantage. Due to the down being compressed at the seams, which limits its lofting space, stitch-through garments have less uniform insulation than those made with box-wall baffles.
Other than the top of the hood and shoulders, Katabatic uses stitch-through construction for the Tarn. They did an excellent job of using box wall construction where needed and stitch-through everywhere else. The difference in warmth of using box wall throughout in a jacket with this fill weight is negligible (box wall construction is typically used for expedition-level down garments where warmth is critical).
Features
Hood
Adjustable fit
The Tarn has a single pull hood adjustment at the back. See the photo below:
It works exceptionally well if the wind is blowing in my face and I need to cinch the hood down to keep the hood on.
Compatibility with helmets
The hood is not helmet-compatible. It also may not be sufficient for folks with larger hairstyles. However, hats and beanies fit fine under the hood.
Handwarmer Pockets
The Tarn has two zippered handwarmer pockets. They're huge—plenty big for the largest iPhone and then some! Zipper pulls make using the zippers easier when wearing gloves or mittens.
The Tarn has no internal drop pockets, which I'm okay with. I never use them anyway because they don't work with a backpack.
Cuffs and hem
Wrist cuffs
The Tarn has elastic wrist cuffs, but they're internal. Most other down jackets I've tested have external elastic cuffs, so it took me a while to get used to the internal cuffs. I've found two advantages with the internal cuffs:
It's easier to get gloves or mittens on and off with internal cuffs; and
They're slightly better at keeping the heat in (heat retention) and cold drafts out.
Hem adjustability
The hem is adjustable with a single pull. It's a clever pull system that I've never seen before, but it's very small and light, so it won't interfere with your backpack hip belt and is extremely effective. It also doesn't compress the down when cinched.
Comfort and sealing against drafts
The hem adjustment does an excellent job of sealing against drafts. I think the hem adjuster is one of the most underutilized features of insulating jackets. Don't underestimate how much warmth you can capture by cinching the hem! I recommend doing this at night while you're in camp to maximize heat retention before you get in your sleeping bag.
Drop Tail Hem
One of my favorite features: the drop-tail hem! Why don't all manufacturers do this? Even the men's Tarn has this feature. The extra coverage in the back means less chance of drafts when you bend over or, even worse, snow getting down the back of your pants. I have a long torso (21"), and the extra length is perfect for me.
Zipper garage
The Tarn has a zipper garage (also called a chin guard) to keep the cold zipper off your chin when fully zipped up.
The Katabatic Tarn is stylish enough to wear on chilly days in town, as the author did here at the arts town of Bisbee, Arizona (5,538 feet) in January.
Fit and Comfort
Sizing options
The men's and women's Tarn come in sizes small to extra-large. For women, this translates to chest sizes between 33" and 44"; hips from 33.5" to 46.5". For men, these sizes will fit chests between 36" and 46" and waists from 30" to 40".
Trim fit
Katabatic calls the fit of the Tarn a "trim fit"—designed for "use over a light baselayer or mid-layer."
True to size or sizing up/down
Katabatic says to size up if you're between sizes. I'm generally either a medium or a large with most tops and jackets from most manufacturers. According to the Katabatic sizing chart, I was a size large based on the chest measurement, which is what I ordered. And it was the right size for me. The arms are a little long on me, but that's usually the case. I have short arms for my height.
Room for layering
I'm right in the middle of the sizing chart for size large, and I have enough room to layer a decent mid-layer and baselayer underneath. If I were at the upper end of the sizing chart, there probably wouldn't be enough room to layer. So look at the chart and think about what kind of layering system you'll use the Tarn with before deciding which size will work for you.
Mobility and range of motion
Overall, I give the Tarn a 5 out of 5 for mobility and range of motion. I don't like to feel constricted with outdoor apparel, and the Tarn passes my tests with flying colors. I can easily cross my extended arms in front of my chest, even with a mid-layer underneath. The Tarn is warm but not bulky.
Overall comfort and wearability
Again, I give the Tarn a 5 out of 5 for comfort and wearability. The soft fabric, excellent mobility, and adjustability make the Tarn the most comfortable down jacket I've tested.
Performance in the Field
Warmth and insulation performance
I've used the Tarn with temperatures as low as 15°F and was perfectly comfortable with only a heavy baselayer underneath and the hood on and waist band cinched. I've also used it in the Pacific Northwest rain (underneath a rain shell) with temperatures in the high 30s.
Pro tip: I generally don't use down jackets during vigorous activities, such as snowshoeing or Nordic skiing, where my sweat would wet out the down and reduce its insulating properties.
Weather resistance
Water resistance
The DWR finish does an excellent job of repelling light snow. In light rain, the DWR finish repels water well. You can actually see the water bead up and roll off. However, this isn't a waterproof jacket. If you will be in extended periods of rain or snow, use a rain shell.
Wind resistance
The Pertex Quantum fabric is wind resistant—a must for any down jacket. I've found the wind resistance of the Tarn to be excellent, especially with the hood on and waistband cinched.
Durability over time
I've only used the Tarn for one season so far (it's only been available since November!), but I have no complaints about its durability. Unlike every other down jacket I've owned and tested, I don't have a hole in the shell—and I didn't baby it. The fabric is lightweight but durable.
Price and Value
Retail price
The Tarn retails for $279, which is an incredible value. The quality, warmth, durability, sustainability, and materials make this price seem like a bargain.
Comparison to other jackets in the market
At $279, the Tarn is among the least expensive down jackets we tested. We tested several at the same price, but they didn't offer the same quality or warmth-to-weight ratio. Not even close.
Cost-to-performance ratio
The Tarn has the best cost-to-performance ratio of all the down jackets we've tested. Katabatic has hit that sweet spot of price, performance, and quality.
Environmental Impact
Katabatic Gear's commitment to sustainability is evident in every product they make, and the Tarn is no exception:
RDS certified down
Recycled shell fabric
Bluesign approved fabric
Fluorocarbon-free DWR
In addition, when we talked to Katabatic, they told us they are switching to ExpeDRY, a permanent hydrophobic treatment that won't wash off. ExpeDRY is made with materials from recycled electronics, so it doesn't require raw materials.
What Could Be Better
Extended sizes aren't available
Some people have expressed fit issues, which Katabatic says they will address in the next version of this jacket
Long-term testing and durability
The Katabatic Tarn became available in late Fall 2022. We’ve been testing it nearly non-stop since then, wearing it on everything from casual day hikes to backpacking trips to travel in Europe. It’s remained warm and the fabric hasn’t shown signs of abrasion, holes, or wear.
We’ll keep testing and will report back if we find any issues.
updates for 2023
We talked to Katabatic Gear and learned that in spring 2023, there will be an update with some changes to the fit. We’re looking forward to comparing the two jackets and will review that when it becomes available.
Other Versions Available
Tincup Down Jacket
Katabatic also makes a warmer, heavier ultralight puffy—the Tincup Down Jacket (perhaps named for Tincup Pass on the Continental Divide). The Tincup has 5.0 ounces of 850+ fill weight versus 3.6 ounces for the Tarn (women's size medium). The Tincup is made with the same great materials and construction as the Tarn. So if you're looking for a jacket that can go a little further in the cold or are naturally colder, check out the Tincup.
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Comparison to similar jackets
Feathered Friends Eos Down Jacket
Weight: 10.8 oz (men’s) and 10.0 oz (women’s)
Fill Power: 900 fill power
Pockets: 2 handwarmer pockets
Ethically Sourced Down? Yes, RDS certified
Hydrophobic Down? No
Hooded jacket available? Yes, hooded only
The Feathered Friends Eos has similar specs to the Tarn – Pertex Quantum shell, 900+ fill power, fill weight of 3.7 ounces (women's medium). However, it weighs 1.4 ounces more and costs $140 more than the Tarn. Overall, we think the cost-to-performance ratio is much better with the Tarn.
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Rab Microlight Alpine Down Jacket
Weight: 17.0 (men’s) and 14.6 oz (women’s)
Fill Power: 700
Pockets: 3, 2 zippered hand pockets and 1 chest pocket
Ethically Sourced Down? Yes, RDS and bluesign recycled/repurposed shell
Hydrophobic Down? No
Hooded version available? Yes
The Microlight Alpine has a versatile cut that works well for movement, making it a favorite among fast and light alpinists and mountaineers. It is the same price as the Tarn, but at 14.6 ounces, it's significantly heavier with a lower warmth-to-weight ratio.
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2
Weight: 8.8 oz (men’s) and 6.9 oz (women’s)
Fill Power: 800
Pockets: 2 zippered hand pockets
Ethically Sourced Down? Yes, Responsible Down Standard
Hydrophobic Down? Yes
Hooded version available? Yes
At 7.8 ounces, the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 is slightly lighter than the Tarn but not nearly as warm. And the Ghost Whisperer 2 is $350, so we think the Tarn is a much better value.
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody
Price: $279
Jacket Weight: 10.3 oz (women's) and 13 oz (men's) for size med, no hood;
Down Sweater Hoody Weight: 12.1 oz (women's) and 14.8 oz (men's)
Shell fabric: NetPlus 100% post-consumer recycled nylon ripstop made from recycled fishing nets, PFC-free DWR
Insulation: 800 Fill RDS certified down
Hand warmer pockets: Two zippered
Internal pockets: 1 zippered chest pocket, 2 drop-in pockets
Hood: optional as the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody (men's and women's)
Available sizes: Women's XXS-XXL Men’s XXS-XXXL
Best for: backcountry and frontcountry
The (men's and women's) Patagonia Down Sweater is also the same price as the Tarn, but it's also heavier than the Tarn, with a lower warmth-to-weight ratio. It can pack into its own pocket if that's important to you. Read our in-depth review on the Patagonia Down Sweater. It's also featured in our Best Down Jackets guide.
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
How We Tested
I used the Katabatic Tarn over several hundred miles and in diverse ecosystems from cold and wet Mt. Hood, Oregon, to cold and dry Bisbee, Arizona. I used it on a section hike of the Chinook Trail. I've also used it extensively for winter activities in Mazama, Washington—from watching outdoor hockey games to winter hiking.
About the Author / Why You Should Trust Us
Naomi Hudetz is a thru-hiker and co-founder of Treeline Review. She brings decades of private sector experience in project management, budget and pricing projection, and long-term business vision, strategy, and goals.
Naomi left her corporate career to pursue her passion for the outdoors. She received the Triple Crown award for hiking for completing the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trail and has hiked numerous other distance routes, including the Great Divide Trail across the Canadian Rockies (twice), Grand Enchantment Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, the Arizona Trail, (most of) the Idaho Centennial Trail, the first known thru-hike of the Blue Mountains Trail, and the Oregon Desert Trail.
She is the former Treasurer of the American Long Distance Hiking Association-West and is based in White Salmon, Washington.
You can read Naomi’s Treeline Review stories on her author page.
