The temptation with down jackets is to get the warmest one you can. If you’re spending the winter in northern Wisconsin, as I did while testing these, that’s not a bad idea. But if you’re just looking for a little extra warm during shoulder season trips, or even high-altitude summer backpacking, you don’t need an 800-fill-power, massively overstuffed winter parka.
We do suggest sticking with jackets that have a down fill power rating of at least 500 for light use, but there’s no reason to spend on a jacket with 900 fill-power down unless you’re going to be out in below-freezing temps (or you’re a perpetually cold person). If you mainly spend your time in less extreme climates, get a lighter jacket.
Also remember that in the case of backpacking, you’ll want to keep in mind how packable a jacket is and how much weight it adds to your pack. Unfortunately, the lightest jackets do tend to be higher fill power, since you can trap more warmth with less down, but again, be realistic about the temperatures you’re going to be in and you can get away with a cheaper jacket.
