This is a review about the best down vest for hiking and backpacking in 2024.
While hiking, backpacking, or traveling, it’s extremely likely that you’ll experience adverse weather conditions. As a result, you should choose your outdoor adventure apparel very carefully.
You want something that will protect you from the elements and keep your core warm. Yet, it shouldn’t be bulky, as you need to be able to carry it around with you if you become warm. Down hiking vests have been growing in popularity recently, even more so than Ultralight Down Jackets.
Not only are vests lightweight, but they also help to keep your torso warm. Due to being sleeveless, a down hiking vest allows you to have much more mobility and freedom.
I have looked into hundreds of different down hiking vests and come out with the best ones for you to own. In this article, I will be discussing my top picks for the best down vests for hiking and backpacking in 2024.
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Best Backpacking Down Vests 2024
The best backpacking down vests for 2024 are:
- Patagonia Down Sweater Vest
- Cotopaxi Fuego Down Vest
- Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2
- Rab Microlight Down Vest
- REI Co-Op 650 Down Vest
- Mountain Hardwear Stretch Down Vest
Best Down Vest – Overall
Patagonia Down Sweater Vest
Weight – 8.9 oz / 252 grams
Down Fill Power – Responsibly sourced, non-hydrophobic 800 loft down
Outer fabric – 20D Recycled Nylon with DWR
Pockets – 2 hand warmer pockets, 1 chest pocket
Pros:
> Uses Eco-Friendly recycled materials
> Warm
> DWR Water-Resistant finish
> Adjustable Cord
Cons:
> Small pockets
Outdoor enthusiasts from all around the world rely on the Patagonia Down Sweater Vest. Patagonia places a strong priority on using sustainable and ethically sourced materials.
The puffer vest works well as an overlay or additional insulation layer on bitterly cold days, and the colors look fantastic. The hem pull string can be used to alter the hem, to provide a closer fit when facing cold or windy conditions.
The Patagonia Down Sweater Vest will remain dry from the elements and perspiration since both the lining and shell have a sturdy water-repellent finish.
Overall, the Patagonia Down Sweater Vest is one of the most popular options when it comes to the best down vests for backpacking in 2024.
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Best Hiking Vest – Runner Up
Cotopaxi Fuego Down Vest
Weight – 8 oz / 227 grams
Down Fill Power – Responsibly sourced, non-hydrophobic 800 loft down
Outer fabric – 20D Ripstop Nylon with DWR finish
Pockets – 2 hand pockets, 2 interior stash pockets
Pros:
> Good interior pocket
> Lightweight
> Rip-stop Nylon
Cons:
> Some people report that the sizing is a bit small
High-quality materials are used to create the Cotopaxi Fuego Down Hiking Vest, yet it is lightweight. The vest’s 800-fill RDS-certified goose down serves as insulation, while the face fabric is constructed of durable 20-denier rip-stop nylon and treated with a DWR finish.
The vest has two interior stash pockets, two zippered hand pockets, a drawstring hem, and elasticated bindings at the armholes.
It can easily be carried as the vest packs into its own pocket for storage. There are six different color options for hikers and backpackers looking for a thin, colorful but incredibly warm vest.
Overall, the Cotopaxi Fuego Down Vest is one of the best down vests for hiking and is at a reasonable price.
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Best Ultralight Down Vest
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 Down Vest
Weight – 5.6 oz / 159 grams
Down Fill Power – Responsibly sourced, non-hydrophobic 800 loft down
Outer fabric – 10D Recycled Nylon with DWR
Pockets – 2 hand pockets
Pros:
> Good adjustability
> Slim Fit
> Uses Environmentally Friendly materials
> Lightweight
Cons:
> Sizes can be a bit small
With an average weight of 5.6 oz / 159 grams, the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 Down Vest claims to be the lightest full-featured body warmer in the world. Of all the down vests in this review, this is my personal favorite due to the best in class warmth to weight ratio. The combination of lightweight and small pack size makes this perfect for ultralight backpackers.
It is cherished by those who love to pack light, as you can easily pack this vest into its own interior pocket. Thus making it simple to carry around. With this down backpacking vest, it has quite a slim fit. Therefore, you can easily layer under and over this vest as you see fit, depending on the weather conditions you are facing.
Even though it is slim, the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 features 800-fill RDS-certified down insulation to ensure you stay warm. There is a drawstring cord hem, which you can easily adjust to ensure the right fit.
To keep your hands warm, there are two hand pockets that can be zipped up to store personal items.
Overall, the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 is the best ultralight down vest for hiking and backpacking in 2024.
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Best Winter Down Vest
Rab Microlight Down Vest
Weight – 11.2 oz / 317 grams
Down Fill Power – Responsibly sourced, non-hydrophobic 700 loft down
Outer fabric – 30D Pertex Quantum Ripstop Nylon with DWR
Pockets – 2 hand pockets + 1 chest pocket
Pros:
> Lightweight
> Warm
> Great quality out fabric
Cons:
> A bit heavy and bulky
> Not cheap
The Rab Microlight Down Vest is stuffed with 4.16 oz / 118 grams of 700 loft hydrophobic down. That is more fill weight of down than any of the other vests in this review, so this is the warmest down vest and will keep you warm. While it may be one of the warmest vests, a lightweight down jacket that has sleeves would still keep you warmer.
The outer shell fabric is one of the better fabrics in this review, 30 Denier Pertex Quantum Ripstop Nylon with good quality DWR which will even withstand light rain for a very short period of time. The fabric is thicker and more durable than most of the other fabrics in this review making it a good option as a cold weather vest.
It also comes with generous-sized hand warmer pockets and a large chest pocket.
Despite all the positive things about this hiking vest, it is slightly heavier and bulkier than most of the other backpacking vests in this review.
Overall, the Rab Microlight Down Vest is one of the best winter vests for hiking that has a good level of core warmth and keeps the weight down and the warmth high.
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Best Budget Down vest
REI Co-Op 650 Down Vest
Weight – Unknown
Down Fill Power – Responsibly sourced, non-hydrophobic 650 loft down
Outer fabric – Recycled Nylon with DWR
Pockets – 2 hand pockets
Pros:
> Good Full Length Zipper
> Good pockets
> 650-fill down is reasonably priced
> Reasonably priced
Cons:
> Casual fit, which isn’t always as form-fitting to the body.
The REI 650 Down Vest is a versatile, warm, and lightweight down vest. Squares of 650-fill down, help maintain the heat trapped and evenly distributed throughout your body.
The down vest includes a full-length zipper that extends to the chin and an elastic hem to help retain heat. The REI 650 Down Vest has two sizable zippered hand pockets.
This is a no-frills budget vest that still manages to use recycled and sustainable materials to create this vest as well.
Overall, the REI Co-Op 650 Down Vest is the best budget down vest.
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Mountain Hardwear Stretch Down Vest
Weight – 10.6 oz / 201 grams
Down Fill Power – Responsibly sourced, non-hydrophobic 700 loft down
Outer fabric – 20D stretch nylon and elastane with DWR
Pockets – 2 hand pockets
Pros:
> Durable
> Zipper Pockets
> Good choice of colors
Cons:
> Not as adjustable as some others in this review
The Mountain Hardwear Stretch Down Vest is created with a warm 700-fill, RDS-certified down. This provides necessary warmth during those cold mornings while hiking or backpacking.
An exclusive stretchy and woven fabric is used on this vest to help enhance its durability but also aids in providing extra insulation. When you first wear the stretch-down vest you will notice that it can be a tighter fit than other vests in this review. It is the snug fit that keeps you warmer. But that doesn’t mean it will feel tight on you. Stretch vests just work very well outdoors.
A full-length zipper can be seen on the Mountain Hardwear Stretch Down Vest. There is also a close hook and loop fastener at the neck.
This fastening helps to close the opening around the neck, to ensure no heat escapes from that area. Additionally, there are two pockets that can also be zipped up. This is great for storing any small items while you are on the go.
Overall, the Mountain Hardwear Stretch Down Vest is the best stretch-down vest for hiking and backpacking.
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Down Vest Buyers Guide
When you are looking for a down vest for hiking or backpacking, there are a few factors you need to consider. This is to ensure that you are purchasing a high-quality item that will keep you warm and dry when you are out facing the elements.
- Types of Down
- Down Fill Power
- Baffle Design
- Weight
- Fit
- Pockets
- Compression
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Types Of Down
There are lots of different types of down fillings out there. Most companies use responsibly sourced down, if they are not then maybe you should consider giving them a miss. Many companies even trace the farm where your down has come from.
Additionally, down fillings come in two varieties: normal down and hydrophobic (treated) down. When wet, hydrophobic down outperforms ordinary down in terms of warmth retention.
This means you lose a lot less warmth with treated down, compared to ordinary down. However, as a lot of manufacturers are creating water-resistant shells, this helps you to reduce the amount of warmth your down loses as well. But the highest quality hydrophobic down is yet to make its way into down vests. I suspect it will be too much longer before they are seen in all top-tier down vests.
A waterproof or water-resistant shell would be ideal, as it means you can wear the vest in any kind of weather with confidence and lose very little warmth. Most down vests have some form of water-resistant fabric, which is aided by a quality DWR finish that assists in preventing water from entering inside the vest.
Down Fill Power
We can determine how much warmth down offers for its weight by looking at its fill power. The more warmth it offers, the higher the number. Normally, a 600-fill power-down garment may still be warmer than a 900-fill power-down garment, depending on the design of the garment. To be warmer it will need to have more down stuffed into the vest to allow it to loft to the same level as a higher-quality down.
Fill power for down vests designed for hiking typically range from 600 to 900. Thus, you need to look for down vests with a down fill power between this range.
Down vests generally have a better warmth-to-weight ration than synthetic insulation vests. While synthetic insulation is improving it is still not as good as down.
Baffle Design
The baffle design, which describes the compartments where the down is housed, can significantly affect how well a down vest performs. All the down feathers could cluster together and fall to the bottom of the vest without these chambers.
The two most common designs available are the sewn-through, which sews the two walls together. All the vests in this review use sewn-through baffles.
Box baffle design is significantly better quality, but quality comes at a higher cost. They insert an additional strip of fabric between both layers to create a box that permits the most loft.
Usually, Box Baffles retain more heat. A down vest that uses a box baffle design is much more expensive and better suited to very cold temperatures or mountaineering.
Weight
Gear that is lightweight is easier on your body than gear that is hefty. As a result, clothing for hiking, trekking, and backpacking is typically quite light. One of the main benefits of down vests is that they are often quite light and will compress and pack into a very small pack size. Perfect for backpacking and lighter than a down jacket.
As a result, you should ensure your down vest is as light as possible. This will make wearing and carrying this vest much easier.
Fit
Fit is quite a personal choice, but generally, you want a down vest to have quite a close fit. This is to ensure that you retain as much heat as possible. The length of the vest and the type of neck the vest has is important.
You want to feel comfortable, but you also need to ensure that the vest is fulfilling its purpose and keeping you as warm as possible. A stretch vest gives the best fit which will ensure you retain as much heat as possible
Pockets
Pockets are another personal feature. Most down vests will feature two pockets, on the outside. Yet, some manufacturers will offer you more pockets in terms of exterior and interior pockets.
The amount of pockets you desire on your vest depends on how many items and the size of the items you like to carry on your person.
Some exterior pockets also come with zips, which is useful if you are known for losing things. However, you should double-check the kind of pockets your chosen down vest has.
Most of the best down vests have a reversible pocket that is used to stuff the vest when not in use as few use a stuff sack for storage.
Compression
Due to the great loft that down-filling has, all down-filled clothing compresses down quite small. However, undoubtedly certain vests will do it more efficiently than others.
You can see why they are so well-liked among hikers and backpackers, considering that the smallest a down vest could compress to is approximately the size of a large orange. The fabric selected for the shell and liner, not the down itself, makes the most difference in packability.
You will find certain down vests have an interior pocket which you can pack the vest into. This makes transporting or storing your down vest much easier, however, it is not a necessity.
Conclusion
The best down vests for hiking and backpacking in 2024 are:
- Patagonia Down Sweater Vest
- Cotopaxi Fuego Down Vest
- Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2
- Rab Microlight Down Vest
- REI Co-Op 650 Down Vest
- Mountain Hardwear Stretch Down Vest
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are Down Vests Worth It?
Even though down vests are pricey, they are well worth the investment for the comfort, warmth, weight reduction, and pack size that they offer.
They provide warmth, and ensure you don’t overheat at the same time. Furthermore, down vests, free up your arms, making them ideal for hiking and backpacking.
What Should You Be Wearing Under Your Down Vest?
What you decide to wear under your down vest is completely up to you and the weather conditions you are facing. You can wear a simple short sleeve or long sleeve t-shirt and sweaters or down jacket under your down vest.
If you are facing really cold weather, then we would advise adding multiple layers under your down vest to create plenty of worth for your down vest to hold onto.
Should A Down Vest Be Loose Or Tight?
To really benefit from a down vest, it should have quite a snug and close fit. Although, there still ought to be enough room for you to layer up underneath as well.
However, the fit is a really personal choice and will depend on what you find comfortable. Not everyone enjoys a close fit, so they go for a looser fit.
BikeHikeSafari Gear Review Process
The author, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small independent adventurer and outdoor gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.
BikeHikeSafari is not part of a large blog network and is proudly independent. All reviews on this site are independent and honest gear reviews of outdoor products by the author.
The author, Brad McCartney is a very experienced triple crown thru-hiker, adventurer, and bike tourer having spent 1000s of nights sleeping in a tent and sleeping bag (Read more). He was a manager of an outdoor retail store and is very experienced in what is important when using and testing gear for reviews like this.
BikeHikeSafari will never receive any money for reviews and they do not accept sponsored reviews on this website. All the comments about the gear reviews are from the author based on his years of experience. Hope this independent review was helpful for you.