15 Packable Down Jackets That'll Keep You Warm Just About Anywhere

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The very worst part of winter is the puffiness of it all. Not the puffers themselves, but the bulky, oversized, heavyweight, non-sleekness of everything. I think we're all just about one tote bag slipping off a puffer jacket shoulder away from absolutely losing it. And don't even get me started on accidentally grazing things with the oversized shell of your water-repellent coat.

So when I say that packable down jackets are the best thing since sliced bread, I mean it. Finally—a jacket that's warm, but not too bulky. A jacket that, when you inevitably take it off indoors (lest you fall victim to heatstroke), can fold in on itself into a neat and tidy little package, instead of having you fold it over your forearm and awkwardly carry it around. Finally! A jacket you can travel with, without booking it its own airplane seat.

Packable down jackets bring the very best of fashion and function together. They're wintery without being a hindrance, convenient without sacrificing coziness. All of this is to say: They're an essential, and if you haven't yet got your own, well...one of us is the fool with the too-puffy, too-bulky jacket, and it isn't me. Don't fret, though; 15 of my favorite packable down jackets are just below.

Packable Down Jacket

Windproof and water-repellent, this zippered option comes with its own drawstring bag for rolling up and taking with you just about anywhere.

Ultra-Light Down Packable Jacket

Despite its breathability, this down jacket will keep you warm even when the temperatures drop. Roll it and fold it, and if you want, get the accompanying carrying bag, too.

AlpLight Down Jacket

Patagonia gets cold-weather gear. Apparently, it gets consolidation, too, because this super light (but warm!) jacket comes with a zippered bag it can be tucked right into.

HyBridge Knit Packable Jacket

This jacket was made for the travelers, and is perfect for layering when you need it—and stowing when you don't.

Nuptse 1996 Packable Quilted Down Jacket

The wide puffs and double-layered taffeta in this jacket make the packable design all the more impressive. Stow it in its own pocket for carrying on the go.

Logo-Appliquéd Quilted Shell Hooded Down Jacket

Stone Island is a master of style. With a detachable logo and packable design, it's a master of functionality, too.

The Packable Jacket

This option uses insulating tech to keep you warm—and a nifty little pocket-packing situation to keep you moving.

Lightweight Water-Resistant Packable Down Puffer

It's easy to look bulky and clumsy in a puffer, but it's impossible to do it in Calvin Klein. This water-resistant style is perfect for rolling up, stashing, and taking out when you need it.

Black Mountain Lodge Down Jacket

Packable down jackets rarely bring function together with fashion, but this one has just the right amount of both.

CirrusLite Down Jacket

With a high neck and zip pockets for extra warmth, Eddie Bauer really thought of everything with this style, perfect for layering over business or casual clothes.

Ultra Light Down Jacket

A simple, no-nonsense, packable puffer sans any branding or frills.

Cerium Hoody Jacket

This is one of our favorite packable puffers on the market, thanks to its super-high neck, elasticized hood, zip pockets, and, of course, durablity, as is typical for Arc'teryx.

Packable Water-Resistant Puffer Jacket

For under 30 bucks, Amazon's water-resistant puffer that's thin yet warm is a steal if we've ever seen one.

Wanderweight Down Jacket

Despite it's hood, this lightweight jacket still stays nice and light, easy for storing and compacting into a nifty, navy blue ball.

PrimaLoft Packaway Jacket

Thanks to NASA-developed Aerogel (the lightest material in the world), this packable puffer is astonishingly weightless—and exceptionally warm.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I choose the best packable down jacket?

Keep an eye on the fill and waterproof power of your down jacket, because there's nothing worse than getting caught in the cold or rain with a jacket that can pack down but not do much else. If you want a hood, pay attention to the features of your jacket; also consider how you're going to be packing it. Some are more compact than others!

How do you fold and pack these jackets?

Many of the options listed above have the ability to fold into their own pockets. To do this, you roll your jacket up nice and tight, then tuck it neatly in. Otherwise, the best way to compactly pack down a jacket is by rolling it up, or, if that's too bulky, lying it as flat as possible.

Why You Can Trust Esquire

We’re not about writing how great things are if they aren’t actually great. Every product in Esquire’s round-ups are carefully curated by our fashion and e-commerce teams.

When it comes to something like a packable puffer, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting jackets that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved, along with packable puffers that the rest of our stylish colleagues here at Esquire endorse. And, hey—we've written about jackets plenty of times before, from our favorite puffers to all the best types of jackets and coats to some chic bombers, so we've really seen all the options on the market.

Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of wearing different things, seeing what we love and what we don’t, and going from there. No two tastes are the same, both on your end and ours, so we gather an encompassing list of options that suit every taste, but all tick off one category: being great. If you’re looking for the right place to start your search, with advice from folks who and care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.

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