Best Down Pants 2024

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This is a gear review about the Best Down Pants for 2024.

I’ve narrowed down the best insulated down pants on the market right now to compliment your ultralight down jacket and keep you warm this winter. There are many situations when a lightweight pair of down pants will be a better option than a pair of winter hiking pants. Situations such as wearing them inside a mountain cabin or wearing them at night to stay warm in your winter sleeping bag. There are many uses for these pants. Let’s take a look at the best ones available this year.

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How We Tested

All the Down Pants in this review have been extensively evaluated and researched by the expert author who has many years of experience in Thru-Hiking, Backpacking, and Hiking. The research, testing, and experience of the author have combined to come up with the Best Down Pants for 2024. Read the Review Policy for further details.

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Best Down Pants for Winter Hiking & Backpacking 2024

The Best Down Pants for 2024 are:

• Feathered Friends Helios Down Pants 13oz / 368g
• Rab Argon Pants 13.2oz / 375g
• Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Pants – 10oz / 270g
• Patagonia Das Light Pants
• Western Mountaineering Flash Pants 6.5oz / 180g
• Patagonia Nano Puff Pant 11.7oz / 332g
• Western Mountaineering Flight Pants 12.5oz / 360g

Going somewhere cold? The Feathered Friends Helios are the best overall down pants in this review. Here is why.

Weighing 13 oz and filled with 900+ fill power, the Feathered Friends Helios Down Pants are the real deal! You know you’re getting good quality down with Feathered Friends, and these pants are filled with 4.4oz / 126g of their top quality down.

These pants are one of the warmest insulated pants in this review and great down pants for backpacking or hiking in very cold temperatures. They are better suited to high-altitude mountaineering or winter ski touring.

The full-length side zippers mean you can put them or take them off over crampons.

Overall, if you want the best down pants for mountaineering, ski touring, or winter backpacking then these should be on your list. These are seriously awesome and highly recommended.

The Rab Argon Down Pants are a very high-specification set of pants. The Pertex outer material is super light, windproof, and water resistant (not quite waterproof).

They are filled with high-quality 800 loft hydrophobic down. So the down will not absorb as much water as normal down in the worst-case scenario of getting wet while wearing them. Wet down does not insulate very well but in these pants, the down will still hold a lot of insulating loft.

Their durable construction means these pants can withstand a few bumps and scrapes while being comfortable enough for more easygoing activities.

While these pants will compress nicely, they are one of the heavier pants on this list at 13.2 oz. They also don’t have any pockets or full-length zips. The lack of full-length side zippers makes them more difficult to put on and take off when outdoors which makes them best for very cold weather when you will wear them all day or for around the camp.

Overall, the Rab Argon Down Pants are one of the highest quality warm down pants in this review. They are best suited for someone needing a pair of insulated pants for very cold winter trips such as snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, or high-altitude mountaineering.

The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Pants weigh just 10oz / 270g, which makes them feel light to wear and easy to compress and stuff into their inbuilt pocket. If you are a fan of the Ghost Whisperer down jacket, you will love these pants.

The lower leg zippers also trap heat while enhancing layering and venting. But these pants also have great adjustable features too, like the front snap closure and there is also room for storage thanks to the two pockets.

They also have a high fill power of 800+ that ensures just the right amount of warmth retention for mountaineering or backpacking in winter.

The fit is not too snug and they don’t bunch up or sag at the mid-waist area like some others like to do.  

Overall, these are a great pair of ultralight-down pants for winter backpacking. The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Pants would make a great pair of pants for sitting around at basecamp. The lack of full-length zip cuts down on weight but means it is not very practical to take on and off with heavy boots in the snow.

The Patagonia Das Light Pants are an interesting pair of lightweight insulation pants.

These are the most environmentally friendly option on this list. While they are not down pants they are one of the best-insulated pants on the market.

They are water-resistant and well-suited to almost any type of winter activity, including skiing, winter hiking, alpine climbing, and mountaineering.

Overall, the Patagonia Das Light Pants are the best insulated puffy pants for 2024.

The Western Mountaineering Flash pants weigh around 6.5oz / 180g and are the best ultralight down pants on the market. They are not only ultralight but compress down to about half the size of an average water bottle, meaning you can easily travel light.

These pants are made with 850 fill power goose down and a super lightweight and durable Ripstop shell material. They also feature an adjustable waist belt, reinforced seat material, and elastic ankle closures to keep you warm and keep out a draft.

They lack the full-length zip of their warmer cousin the Flight Pants but that is what you need if you want to trim the excess weight. They will not be suited to the super cold temperatures of mid-winter in some parts of the world but they are lighter and more compact than any fleece pants synthetic pants.

Overall, these are the best ultralight down pants for backpacking on the market right now and best suited for ultralight backpackers or fast and light alpine activities.

OK, the Patagonia Nano Puff Pant is not made with down insulation. These are still on the list as a credible alternative for those seeking one of the best insulated pants. They are made with 100% recycled polyester shell fabric treated with a DWR water repellent treatment.

There is 60g of recycled PrimaLoft Gold insulation to keep you toasty warm. The big benefit of synthetic insulation is the ability to keep you warm if you unfortunately get wet. This is something down is unable to do.

These pants are also protected by a reinforced nylon material on the knees and butt, and they also have great extra features like belt loops and a zippered back pocket for storage.

Overall, the Patagonia Nano Puff Pant is a great environmentally friendly synthetic alternative to all the down pants in this review but they do not quite have the same warmth-to-weight ratio as the down pants. One huge advantage, they are reasonably priced.

If you’re after a pair of down pants that can handle their fair share of bumps and scrapes, look no further than the Western Mountaineering Flight Pants. You can’t beat the materials for their high levels of insulation, warmth-retention, and weather resistance. 

They’re insulated with 850+ fill power goose down and have full-length zippers that make venting and layering simple. They also have an integrated adjustable waist belt and weigh only 12.5 oz / 360g. 

The Gore Windstopper fabric on the knees and butt of the pants protects from moisture and abrasion. The rest of the pants are covered with ultralight microfibre shell fabric coated with a DWR finish. 

Overall, these are one of the best lightweight down pants for winter activities such as mountaineering, ski touring, snowshoeing, or backpacking.

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More Down Pants and Puffy Pants

The Down Pants listed below are ones that almost made the list or are still in the process of being evaluated:

• Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Insulated Pant – A really great pair of stretch-down puffy pants that are being evaluated and may be added to the list soon.
• Snow Peak Recycled Nylon Ripstop Down Pants – No longer available but they were quite good until they were discontinued by the manufacturer.

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Down Pants Comparison Table

Brand	Weight	Down Fill Power	Fill Weight
Feathered Friends Helios Down Pants	13 oz	900	4.4 oz
Rab Argon Pants	13.2 oz	800	5.6 oz
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Pants	10 oz	800	not specified
Patagonia Das Light Pants	11 oz	Synthetic	not specified
Western Mountaineering Flash Pants	6.5 oz	850	2 oz
Patagonia Nano Puff Pant	11.7 oz	Synthetic	2.1 oz
Western Mountaineering Flight Pants	12.5 oz	850	4 oz

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Fill power

Fill power describes the amount of filling in your down pants. The lofty filling provides insulation against the cold, and fill power measurements range from 800 to 900+ in the top-of-the-range pants.

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Fill weight

Most down items will have a ‘fill weight’ measurement that refers to the overall warmth of the item. The higher the number the warmer it will be. Generally, the fill weight should account for 30% of the item’s total weight.

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Overall weight

Down pants provide warmth while still being lightweight, breathable, and packable. How is this achieved?

It’s all down to the way the down clusters together to create loft. This traps air and body heat to keep you warm. The recommended weight for down pants is anything under 14 oz.

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Outer shell properties

Most outer shells of down pants are made from treated nylon fabric. For example, Ripstop Nylon prevents your pants from tearing during extreme outdoor activities. Pertex and Gore tex Windstopper are two of the highest quality outer fabrics.

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Responsible Down Standard (RDS)

RDS is a voluntary, global standard that ensures that the down taken from ducks and geese is ethically sourced and that the animals are not subjected to unnecessary harm.

Companies can independently certify that their products comply with RDS via an on-site audit. Once the audit is complete, the company is officially certified to comply with the RDS.

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Waterproof coating (DWR)

Some form of waterproof coating or DWR is needed to prevent the water from mixing with the down and causing it to clump. Rain, sweat, or moisture from a damp climate are not good for down. It becomes useless when it gets too wet.

This is why down items designed for outdoor use are treated with a DWR agent, which is a water-repellent finish. Some manufacturers have started to use forms of DWR internally on fibers to help them dry out and retain their loft. Two of the most popular DWR brands are downTek and Nikwax.

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Outer material (the importance of denier)

I’ve mentioned Ripstop Nylon a few times, and you’ve probably encountered Ripstop Nylon in sleeping bags, or maybe even in down jackets.

The higher the denier of the down pants, the more durable the fabric is going to be. However, if you prefer ultralight outdoor clothing, the denier does affect the weight of the pants and the higher the denier, the heavier it will be. Therefore, to keep the pants light a lot of manufacturers lower the denier.

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The standard of sewing (sewn through)

Most down items are sewn-through, meaning that both the internal and external layers of the fabric are sewn together with the down situated in-between. This stitch creates small, individually sealed-off pockets of down. This keeps the down in place and makes it less likely to shift. It is easier and cheaper than sewing on boxed seams which provide better insulation but are more commonly used on all the best down sleeping bags.

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Fit

The most important rule when it comes to fit is that your down pants should give you enough room to layer up and your movement shouldn’t be restricted. It’s best to leave some breathing room in a pair of down pants as you’ll most likely wear them over a base layer or another pair of bottoms.

You should also be able to comfortably bend your knees and squat without damaging the pants. An athletic fit is recommended as these give you a good range of motion and enough room to add a thin layer or two underneath your pants if needed.

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Down Vs Synthetic

While down is recommended over synthetic insulation, both have their advantages and disadvantages. While down is the real stuff that comes from a goose or a duck, synthetic insulation is designed to act like real down. Synthetic insulation is made by weaving together polyester fibers that mimic the pattern found in down. 

Down is lighter in its warmth-to-weight ratio than synthetic insulation. This means that while the two products could have the same temperature rating, the down will still be a few ounces or even a pound lighter. Down pants also compress better than a synthetic pair of pants.

Down items can be compressed to the size of a water bottle or smaller, but synthetic items actually become a bit bigger once compressed, and have difficulty retaining their shape. But the compactness of an item varies greatly depending on its fill. The higher the fill, the smaller the item packs.

Down is also more durable. As long as you take care of it, your down items will last for decades. Down can also be compressed a lot of times without losing its insulating properties.. However, synthetic insulation isn’t as durable and over time will lose its ability to trap heat.

However, down items are more expensive and synthetic items are the better option if you’re on a budget. In fact, synthetic items can sometimes cost half of what down items cost, and this is because they are mass produced and more readily available.

Down is pretty durable, but it does have one weakness – water. Synthetic insulation can hold up in water better than down, and it retains its insulating properties and loftiness even when damp.

Synthetic materials are also easier to wash than down, and they dry easier too. You can treat synthetic materials like regular clothing, while down requires special detergents, following detailed, step-by-step washing instructions, and sometimes tips to an expensive, specialized dry cleaner.

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How to wash down pants

It’s recommended to wash your down pants (or any item of down clothing) at least once a season. As I’ve mentioned above, washing down items isn’t easy and can seem quite daunting. Follow the steps below, or even better, take a look at the Guide on How to Wash A Down Jacket which is exactly the same process for Down Pants.

First, make sure all zippers are closed and all snaps are fastened before washing, and read the manufacturer’s instructions for information relating to your down pants.

Then ‘spot clean’ any stains with plain water by dabbing the area with a sponge or washcloth. You can also add a small amount of mild soap. Make sure to use a detergent like Nikwax Down Wash which is made for washing down items. Take a look at the guide How to Wash a Down Jacket which will work exactly the same for washing down pants.

Put them in a dryer as long as needed on a low heat setting. Make sure you check your pants every 20-30 minutes so it doesn’t overheat, and toss in a few tennis balls to speed up the process of breaking up the clumps of down.

As for storing your down pants, store them in a roomy place where the material can breathe. Hanging them up in a garment bag in a closet is a good way to store them. This prevents the loft from clumping together causing unwanted cold spots.

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Repair Down Pants

If you wear down pants during extreme outdoor activities they will inevitably get torn, punctured, or even burned. As long as the damage is minimal you can fix it with Tenacious Tape. You could even use Duct Tape if needed.

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Conclusion

All the down pants in this review are the best of the best. But which ones are best suited to what you are looking for. Below is the guide you will need:

The Best Insulated Down Pants for winter are the Feathered Friends Helios Down Pants.

They are that good and the highest quality on the market right now.

The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Pants and Rab Argon Pants are also incredible and will certainly serve you well.

The Best Down Pants for damp conditions are:

• Rab Argon Pants due to the quality outer material and use of hydrophobic down and seriously good quality.

The Best Synthetic Insulated pants:

• Patagonia Das Light Pants are a great pair of lightweight synthetic puffy pants.
• Patagonia Nano Puff Pant is not quite as warm as the rest but they perform well if they accidentally get wet. But there seem to be supply chain issues with them at the moment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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