Which is better: a down or synthetic jacket?
How to choose a puffy jacket for hiking, backpacking, and outdoor activitites
September 14th, 2023
The author in the REI Coop 650 Down Jacket with toddler in Patagonia Down Jacket. Photo courtesy Tiffany Searsdodd
Choosing the right jacket for you is all about assessing your needs. By asking yourself some basic questions you can figure out why you would want a down jacket versus a synthetic fill insulated jacket.
We’ve reviewed dozens of the bestselling down jackets and synthetic insulated jackets. We’ve tested them in down pours, white-out snow storms, warm summer nights, and misty spring days.
Then we compared our experiences with down and synthetic jackets with the opinions of everyday users on REI, Amazon, and Backcountry.com.
In this guide to down vs. synthetic jackets, we show you the work and how we came to our conclusions in our Best Down Jackets story and Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets guide.
Then, we use what we’ve learned to help guide you towards the best jacket for you.
We create reader-supported, objective, independently-selected gear reviews. This story may contain affiliate links, which help fund our website. When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission, without costing you an extra cent. Thank you for supporting our work and mission of outdoor coverage for every body! Learn more.
quiz yourself: should you get a down or synthetic jacket?
Treeline Editor Liz Thomas in the Montbell Plasma Down in the Sierra. Photo by Duncan Cheung
Choosing between down puffy jackets and synthetic insulated jackets is a personal choice. There are many factors that can go into the decision based on how you intend to use the jacket.
I’ve worked in outdoor retail for almost 20 years.
Here are some questions that I use when working at the gear store to steer people in the right direction.
If you choose down, see our Best Down Jackets story to find the best model of down jacket for you.
If you choose synthetic, see our guide to Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets to find the best synthetic fill jacket for you.
For more on down vs. synthetic, see REI’s guide to choosing insulation.
Treeline editor Naomi Hudetz in the synthetic Patagonia Micropuff. Photo by Liz Thomas
Are you vegan?
Many vegans prefer not to use down products because they are a by-product of the food industry. Other folks argue that synthetics are just as bad because they are made from fossil fuels, which can also impact wildlife.
Wherever you land on this topic, we at Treeline believe that buying good quality gear that will last for years reduces the amount of old gear that ends up in a landfill. It also reduces the number of resources needed to keep replacing cheap, low-quality gear.
Treeline writer Amanda Jameson in the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer on the PCT. Photo courtesy Amanda Jameson.
2. Where will you be?
If you are in very wet environments, like Alaska, you might want synthetic.
If most of your activity is taking place in drier environments, down will keep you warmer for the weight.
Traditionally down has been best for dry, cold conditions while synthetic is best for wet, cool conditions. This is because when down gets wet, it clumps up. When down clumps, it loses its ability to trap warm air and work as insulation.
With the advent of hydrophobic, or water-resistant down, the differences between down and synthetic have become less stark. Hydrophobic down can continue to perform even in moist environments. However, synthetic insulation often is still faster at drying once it becomes wet. if you expect to use your jacket in extremely wet environments for long periods of time, synthetic is still the better way to go.
3. Will you get wet?
Even if you’re headed to some place with a dry climate, check the forecast. The time of year you are visiting can influence whether you’ll want a down jacket or whether a synthetic puffy is a better choice.
For example, Treeline Review editor Liz Thomas and writer Kate Hoch backpacked in Joshua Tree National Park in December and January. This area is typically a desert but it poured rain for the entire trip. If your trip is coming up and you have a weather forecast, that can point you towards which jacket to get. If your trip is a ways off, you can look at historic weather patterns to see how conditions usually are the time of year you will be visiting.
3. is Weight and Packability important to you?
Down still provides the best warmth to weight ratio and packability, hands-down. In recent times, synthetic fill has become lighter weight and more packable--but it’s still not as effective as down.
4. How much does the price of a down jacket matter to you?
The premium performance of down comes at a cost. Most down used in jackets is a byproduct of the food industry, specifically ducks and geese eaten in China and Eastern Europe. The amount of ducks and geese getting eaten is decreasing, which means that the cost of down is going up. Higher fill power down comes from older birds, so it’s less readily available than lower fill power down. Premium down jackets can easily run upwards of $400, while most high-end synthetics stay under the $300 mark.
Treeline writer Amanda Jameson at the Grand Canyon in the Ghost Whisperer. Photo by Junaid Dawud
5. do i want a hood, zipper, pockets, or other Features?
Another way to reduce weight is to cut down on extra material, like zippers, pockets, hoods, or drawstrings. If you’re looking at ultralight jackets, make sure they still have the features you want. It can be a bummer when you forget your gloves, it’s 38 degrees and raining out, and you don’t have pockets to stick your hands in.
6. What is your personal microclimate?
If you’re not sure, answer this: at home, are you always piling on more blankets in bed, or kicking them off during the night? A first example is a person who runs cold, the second a person who runs hot. You may also be somewhere in the middle. If you tend to run cold, down will pack more punch when it comes to warmth, and you’ll want a hood. Synthetic will help wick away sweat for folks who run hot.
7. What will your activity level be?
If the jacket will be used to keep you warm between aerobic activities (like while in camp or at snack time), down is better. During aerobic activities? Synthetic will provide more breathability. That’s because you’re more likely to sweat while moving. The breathable insulation has higher moisture vapor transmission, keeping you warm (but hopefully not too warm) as you move. .
Alternatives to a down jacket or synthetic jacket
Investing in a down jacket or synthetic jacket can be a serious decision. Sometimes, the trip you are going on doesn’t require a full insulated jacket. For example, for summer hiking (not three-season hiking) many hikers and backpackers opt for this system.
Here are some recommendations on other layers to stay warm:
Start with a base layer. This will keep your core warm, wick away sweat, and keep you feeling dry.
Layer on top of that a windbreaker or running jacket. See our guides to best men’s windbreakers or best women’s windbreakers.
If you are still not warm, wear a rain jacket on top of your windbreaker—even if it isn’t raining. Note that this isn’t good for the longevity of your rain jacket and means it will require more frequent cleaning. However, it is a lightweight and convenient choice.
Lastly, consider adding a fleece jacket to this system. Most people will put the fleece against their base layer and then layer the windbreaker and rain jacket on top. Our favorite fleece for a variety of activities and layering is the Patagonia R1 Air Hoody.
Why You Should Trust Us & about the author
Tiffany “Miss Information” Searsdodd has almost 20 years working in the Outdoor Industry. She got her start backpacking when she was in her mother’s womb, and at age 9 became a member of the Mazama Mountaineering Club by summiting a glaciated peak. After taking two Outward Bound courses and getting her Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, she spent 4 years (including winter) as a Wilderness Guide guiding with teens in the mountains of Central Oregon.
Tiffany has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and John Muir Trail, biked coast to coast across the United States, worked as a Sea Kayak Guide in Alaska, and conducted field research in the forests of Oregon and Washington.
Throughout, she worked in outdoor retail for almost 20 years—doing gear shakedowns, leading informational clinics and outfitting folks for every adventure under the sun. She volunteers at the American Long Distance Hiking Association West annual Cascade Ruck where she moderates the gear panel at the event.
You can read all Tiffany's Treeline Review guides on her author page.
