Men's Down & Insulated Jackets

Men's down jackets and insulated jackets

When the wind has a bite to it and the light is gone by five, a good insulated jacket is the one you reach for every day. This collection brings together men's down jackets, synthetic insulated jackets and waterproof insulated jackets, so you can find the right warmth for a cold walk, a winter commute or a long stop at the top of a hill. You will find Rab, Patagonia, The North Face, Arc'teryx, Columbia, Helly Hansen, Didriksons and Fjällräven side by side.

Down or synthetic: start with the weather

The first choice is the type of insulation, and in Ireland that comes down to how damp your cold days are.

Down jackets give the most warmth for their weight and pack down small. The fill power tells you the quality of the down: the higher the number, the more air each gram traps and the warmer the jacket for its weight. The Rab Electron Pro Down Jacket uses 800-fill goose down under a tough Pertex Quantum Pro outer, the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody uses 800-fill RDS-certified down, and the Rab Microlight uses 700-fill recycled down. Rab treats the down in both of its jackets with a hydrophobic finish to help it cope with moisture.

Synthetic insulated jackets keep more of their warmth when they get damp, dry faster and are easy to wash. That makes them a natural fit for Irish winters and for active days when you sweat. The Patagonia Nano Puff uses 60g PrimaLoft Gold Eco insulation, and the Arc'teryx Atom Hooded Jacket uses Coreloft Compact, which keeps insulating when damp. The Columbia Pike Lake II Hooded Jacket adds Columbia's Omni-Heat reflective lining to synthetic fill for extra warmth on cold days.

When you need warmth and rain protection

Most insulated jackets are water resistant rather than waterproof, so they shed light rain but are not made for a downpour. If you want one jacket for cold, wet days, choose a waterproof insulated jacket. The North Face Quest Insulated Jacket pairs seam-sealed DryVent fabric with synthetic insulation that keeps you warm in damp conditions. The Didriksons Stefan is a lightly padded, fully taped waterproof jacket for the city, the countryside and the dog walk. The Helly Hansen Crew Midlayer Jacket 2 brings Helly Tech protection with a warm fleece lining.

Warmth for the way you move

Think about what you do when you wear it. For stop-start days, cold belays and trail breaks, a lofty down jacket you can pull on over everything gives you instant warmth. For walking briskly or climbing, a lighter synthetic jacket breathes better and you can keep it on as you move. For town and travel, a longer, warmer jacket with a hood and deep hand pockets will see more wear than anything else you own. For a sleeveless option that keeps your core warm without adding bulk at the arms, see our men's vests and gilets.

Layering an insulated jacket

An insulated jacket works best as part of a layering system. Start with a base layer that moves sweat away from your skin, add a fleece if the day calls for it, and put the insulated jacket on top when you stop or the temperature drops. On a wet day, you can wear a lighter insulated jacket under a waterproof shell. Size up if you plan to layer heavily underneath, and check the shell will fit over it. Our guide on how to layer clothing explains how the layers work together, and you will find base layers in our men's baselayers collection.

Caring for your jacket

Down jackets and synthetic insulated jackets can both be washed, and doing it properly keeps them warm for years. Use a cleaner made for the job, rinse thoroughly and dry a down jacket fully, ideally on a low heat, so the down lofts back up. You will find dedicated cleaners in our clothing care range. For cold days with real rain, our men's waterproof jackets collection has shells that fit over a lighter insulated layer.