Down Vs. Synthetic Insulation: Which Is Better & Why

North Face Men’s Gotham III Jacket

The Gotham III is a down-insulated jacket with an exterior made from DryVent 2L. That is a material very similar to Gore-Tex, and actually a great alternative – it is windproof, waterproof, and breathable, which is what you want your winter jacket to be.

The Polyurethane coating is what makes the shell waterproof, while the storm flap and the elastic cuffs and hem help keep the draft out. However, there is a chance you could get too hot in this jacket since it doesn’t have any vents and is completely seam-sealed. But because of the breathability of the materials, at least you won’t be drenched in sweat.

This North Face jacket is insulated with 550 fill power goose down, which is of a higher quality than duck down. But the fill power is still on the lower side, so it’s a good thing there’s a lot of insulation in this jacket. Additionally, the entire jacket is insulated with goose down, including the sleeves and the hood.

It runs true to size, so you won’t have any issues getting the one that fits right. There are also a lot of sizes to choose from – from XS to 3XL. And on top of all that, the Gotham III jacket also sports lots of pockets – including five on the outside, and a single media compatible one on the inside. If you’re looking for a really warm and waterproof down jacket for winter days, this is one of your top options.

The North Face Women’s 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket

The Nuptse jacket is an awesome on-trend alternative. For one thing, this season is all about oversized jackets and boxy silhouettes, and this North Face jacket follows that theme perfectly.

But as I mentioned earlier, my favorite thing about this jacket is that it is truly packable. It stows into a hand pocket, making it your perfect travel companion this winter. The hood is also stowable, you can hide it in the collar when you don’t want to use it, and add a bit of warmth around your neck.

Different colors of the Nuptse are made from different materials – sometimes you’ll be getting a Polyester exterior and other times a Nylon one. But what they all share is DWR coating, meaning that all of these NF jackets are water-resistant. Not fully waterproof though, so keep that in mind when debating whether or not to wear this in light rain.

Especially because the 700 fill power goose down gets wet quite easily, which decreases the power of insulation. But it performs incredibly well in cold and dry weather. And in terms of pockets, you get two on the outside and one on the inside. Sadly, that’s actually more than you see on average in women’s jackets.

Marmot Men's Guides Hoody Winter Jacket

This Marmot jacket is insulated with 700 fill power down, so you can expect it to be really warm. Marmot also uses only ethically sourced down, so no worries there. Plus, this jacket is coated with their Down Defender treatment, which significantly improves the insulation’s resistance to moisture and performance in wet weather.

It is a relaxed fit jacket, so relaxed shoulders, and a straight hem. That hem is also adjustable, which both allows you to get a more customized fit, but also keeps the draft out at the bottom. And in case you get too hot, you can always loosen it a little to let the air in.  That’s also an option with the cuffs and the hood since they are all adjustable as well.

This men’s jacket features four pockets – three external and one internal. All of them are zippered, including the handwarmer pockets. And since this is a short jacket, you will have a great range of motion in it. But it still covers your hips, for that additional warmth.

One downside is that the size variety isn’t as big as with the North Face jacket – they range from S to 2XL. But since it does fit true to size, you should be able to order what you usually wear and have it fit just right. Overall, this is a great lightweight option, that not only has the quality and warmth of natural down, but also a water resistance of synthetic insulation.

Columbia Women's Flash Forward Long Down Jacket

Ladies, what about a longer option? Parkas are generally the warmer choice, because of their length – they cover much more of your body, so they trap more body heat. That’s how this Columbia parka manages to stay so warm, despite it being so thin and lightweight.

This Flash Forward Long Down Jacket is insulated with 650 fill power goose down, so it is really warm. It is treated with a water-resistant finish, but it is not completely waterproof. Definitely avoid wearing this in really wet weather, because it won’t perform as well as it does in dry weather.

Additionally, it is not a windproof jacket. There’s no storm flap, and the hood and the hem are not adjustable, so there are no features that keep the draft out. But that can also be a good thing – it’s pretty much guaranteed you won’t be too warm in this jacket! Plus, the cuffs might not be adjustable but they are stretchy, so they will cling to your wrists comfortably.

There are two external pockets on this parka, and they are both zippered. I would have loved to see at least one more, but I’ll take what I can get – especially for the price. The Columbia Flash Forward parka maybe isn’t a jacket packed full of features, but it is a great affordable option that can keep you warm even on cold January nights.

Triple F.A.T. Goose Men’s Eldridge Parka

The Eldridge parka is a great men’s option. It is on the pricier side, but its quality is outstanding. The jacket is insulated with 15.5 ounces of 675 fill power down, which is a lot of insulation in a jacket. You can expect it to be really warm – maybe even too warm on occasions.

But if that is the case, you can always use the underarm vents to let some air in and regulate the temperature. The shell of this parka is also covered with DWR with Hydrophobic Nanotechnology, so it should perform really well even in wet weather. The elastic cuffs, adjustable hem, and storm flap keep the draft out and make this jacket windproof.

Triple F.A.T. Goose only uses ethically-sourced down and furs, but that’s the thing – there is coyote fur on this jacket. If you’re not a fan of natural fur, you might want to skip the Eldridge parka. But the fur trim is removable, so you can always get rid of it.

Another thing I really like about this parka is the size variety – it comes in sizes ranging from S to 5XL. And, considering this parka tends to run small, it’s good to have options. Definitely go a size up if you want to wear some thicker clothing underneath. Additionally, this parka features lots of different pockets, about 6 external and one internal.

The Best Synthetic Jackets

Columbia Men's Frost Fighter Insulated Puffer Jacket

The Frost Fighter jacket features 150 grams of faux-down insulation. The Polyester clusters in the jacket are very similar to natural down clusters, but they perform a lot better in wet weather since Polyester doesn’t clump when wet.

The Omni-Shield shell also helps with that – Columbia’s proprietary technology that makes the shell of their jackets shed water instantly, thus making them waterproof. It is also a really durable material, considering that it is made from nylon ripstop.

This is a very versatile jacket – it’s a great choice both for every day, but it is also warm enough that you can comfortably wear it in the mountains. Just wear something thicker underneath it. And the adjustable cuffs and hem allow you to adjust the temperature inside the jacket, should you get too hot.

There are some downsides to this Columbia jacket though – for one thing, it doesn’t have a hood. It does have a pretty high collar, so your neck should stay warm. Also, it only has two pockets, and both are external and zippered. The lack of internal pockets is the biggest issue with this jacket for me since it limits the number of things you can carry around with you on a daily basis.

Patagonia Women's Nano Puff Jacket

The Nano Puff is one of Patagonia’s most popular jackets ever. It is remarkably thin and lightweight, and you definitely don’t expect it to be as warm as it is when you try it on. But, thanks to 60 grams of PrimaLoft Gold Insulation, one of the best synthetic insulations on the market, it is also really warm.

However, I wouldn’t say it’s the best choice for the dead of winter – after all, it is a short and thin jacket. It’s great for late fall, or even for winter hikes – basically any activities where you’ll be walking around a lot, and so you will be warm enough on your own. But I definitely don’t recommend it for wearing around the town in temperatures below zero.

Patagonia’s Nano Puff is also a great choice for travel – the jacket is stowable, and it packs into its internal pocket. It takes up very little space when stowed; you could easily carry this around in a pocket of a larger parka.

Its exterior is coated with DWR, so it has good water resistance. Also, it features three pockets – two external and one internal. Maybe it could use another pocket or two, but considering how thin and small the jacket is, I think that three is completely fine. I would also have preferred to jacket to be wind-resistant and to have a hood.

Arc'teryx Men's Atom LT Hoody

This is not really a proper winter jacket. But it is without a doubt one of the best pieces of outerwear made with synthetic insulation. It is actually a great mid-layer – you can wear this over some thicker fleece hoodies or sweaters, or under some thinner jackets. In any case, it will keep you really warm.

Since it’s not a really thick jacket, it’s great for any outdoor sports. And because it has a water-resistant shell, you can easily wear this as an outer layer in any light rain. But when it gets colder, it also performs really well as an inner, insulating layer, due to warm Coreloft insulation.

The Atom LT Hoody also has great breathability, because of the fleece side panels. Those also help regulate your body temperature and ensure you don’t get too hot or sweaty if you’re moving around a lot. This can be really helpful if you’re skiing or hiking in a jacket.

There are three pockets total on this jacket – two external and one internal. And there is also a really high hood, that follows the contours of your head. I actually really like its design, since it does a great job at protecting your head from the cold. Plus it is helmet-compatible.

The North Face Men's ThermoBall Triclimate Jacket

If you want a versatile winter jacket, then I highly recommend this one. The Thermoball Triclimate jacket is actually made up of two different layers – an inner, insulated jacket, and a waterproof shell. You can wear each of the layers on their own, or you can zip them up together to get a really warm winter jacket.

It’s actually designed for skiing, so you can imagine just how warm it is. That’s because of the PrimaLoft ThermoBall insulation, which is able to retain warmth even when it gets wet. And in case you get too warm in the jacket, there are underarm vents that allow you to regulate the temperature.

Since this was designed for skiing, it has all the features necessary for a good ski-jacket – powder skirt, helmet-compatible hood, an internal goggle pocket, and even a goggle wipe attached to the inner pocket. There are also two zip pockets on the outer shell, and two on the inner shell, so you can carry a lot in this jacket.

I love the versatility of the ThermoBall Triclimate since you are basically getting three jackets for the price of one. So, you’re actually getting really good value for your money, even though this jacket is on the pricier side.

Columbia Women’s Snow Eclipse Mid Jacket

The Snow Eclipse is a good affordable option. It is longer than most other jackets I showed you, so it also the warmer option, due to better coverage. Plus, it is insulated with 150 grams of synthetic down, which performs really well in cold and even wet weather.

The shell features Columbia’s Omni-Sheld technology, meaning that it is water-resistant. But what’s even better is that the material of the shell basically repels anything that touches it, so it’s also stain resistant! Plus, the shell is really stretchy, and you will have great maneuverability in this jacket despite its length.

The cuffs are elastic and they keep the draft out, and so does the front storm flap. But the hem is not adjustable, so it’s not 100% windproof. But it is definitely wind-resistant enough to get you through the day.

It features a removable hood with a faux fur trim, which is not adjustable. And it’s pretty wide, so it won’t keep your head too warm. But it will protect you from the rain. Additionally, there are three pockets on the jacket – two hand-warming ones on the outside, and an internal one for your personal items.