Men's Down jackets and Winter Jackets: Lightweight and Cold-Weather

Men's Clothing · Down jackets

“Down jacket” is a term that covers two very different garments: the 100-gram jacket that compresses into a bag and the one that keeps you warm outdoors in January. Confusing the two is the most common mistake, and you pay for it all winter.

Grammage: the real measurement

With synthetic down jackets, the number that matters is not a percentage but the grammage of the filling. A 100-gram jacket - like the lightweight styles from {L('colmar','Colmar Originals')} - is a mid-season garment: excellent in October, excellent under another layer in January, but insufficient on its own when it gets truly cold.

For a real winter, you need more substantial filling, or down: Emporio Armani states 80% down for the Blouson Travel Essential, while MC2 Saint Barth uses 80% down and 20% feathers. The first figure is the ratio between the soft, insulating part and the part with the quill: the higher it is, the warmer the garment at the same weight.

The down jacket, the technical jacket and the hybrid jacket

The classic down jacket is quilted across its entire surface. The hybrid jacket - Colmar makes one with a hood - places the filling only where it is needed, on the chest and back, with stretch fabric at the sides and under the arms: it moves much better and does not add bulk.

The technical jacket is another category: People of Shibuya focuses on a waterproof, breathable membrane, and with the Arka brings Vitale Barberis Canonico virgin wool to the outside of a technical garment - the bridge between formal outerwear and rainwear. The rest is in men's jackets.

The hood, and why we want it detachable

A fixed hood determines the garment's character: it makes it purely sporty. Detachable, the same down jacket can be worn over a sweater at the weekend and over a jacket at the office. It is the detail that doubles its styling possibilities, which is why we always check it before the colour.

The brands we carry

Peuterey is our reference for urban down jackets, with the Honova as the benchmark model. Colmar covers the full range - from lightweight 100-gram jackets to glossy styles with detachable hoods - with 100% recycled filling. People of Shibuya brings the waterproof expertise, Emporio Armani the blouson and reversible quilted styles, while Fila and Kappa bring the sporty attitude.

If you are looking for formal citywear instead, men's wool coats are the answer. The type-by-type comparison is in the men's outerwear guide.

Frequently asked questions

How many grams should a down jacket have for winter?

Lightweight 100-gram jackets are mid-season garments or are designed to be used as an intermediate layer. For winter outdoors, you need more substantial filling or natural down. The figure to look for on the label is the filling's grammage per square metre: below 100 grams means ultralight, while 200 grams and above means winter garments.

What is the difference between a down jacket and a hybrid jacket?

A down jacket is quilted and filled across its entire surface. A hybrid jacket places the filling only where the body loses heat - on the chest and back - and uses stretch fabric at the sides and under the arms. The result: much better freedom of movement and less bulk, at the expense of a few degrees of insulation.

What does 80% down mean on the label?

It means that the natural filling is made up of 80% down, the soft part that traps air, and 20% feathers, which have a quill and weigh more. The higher the first figure, the warmer and lighter the garment at the same volume. This indication does not appear on synthetic fillings: there, you look at the grammage.

Can down jackets be washed at home?

Yes: machine wash at 30 degrees, mild liquid detergent, no fabric softener. The delicate part is drying, which should be done in a tumble dryer at low temperature with two or three tennis balls to break up the clumps. If it is dried flat, the filling compacts and the garment loses insulating power.

Is a down jacket or a wool coat better?

They are two garments for two situations. A wool coat is formal citywear for temperatures above freezing and without heavy rain. A down jacket protects against wind and moisture, compresses easily, can be washed at home and stands up to true cold. Anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors has both and would not give either up.