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Courtesy Mountain Hardwear
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A handful of years back, while browsing the impossibly huge (and since shuttered, RIP) flagship shop of Japanese outdoor brand Montbell in downtown Portland, Oregon, I came across a rack of down pants. I’d never seen such a thing before. I mean, a down jacket, sure. Sweatpants, sure. But a puffy jacket for your legs? Puffer pants? On a whim I purchased a pair, and in the years since those down pants have become an essential part of my packlist for backpacking, bikepacking, ski touring, car camping, hiking, and other types of trips around the world. I even wear down pants around the house with such frequency I’ve begun to wear through the seat insulation from too much desk chair time.
While I love a good pair of fleece pants, down pants deliver a substantial upgrade in warmth, while often weighing less and packing down smaller. With the added insulation loft, most down pants feature sturdy, windproof, and often water-resistant fabrics to protect you against the elements, whether while around the campfire, in the backcountry, or just running errands around town.
In recent years many North American and European brands have caught on, offering more diversity in the field of puffer pants—and even down shorts and skirts—than ever before. From USA-made and PFC-free to partial length variations for wearing under snow pants to those designed for everyday wear, the following 11 pairs are our top picks for the best down pants and insulated pants for keeping cozy this winter, both at home and in the elements.
Field Mag's Top Puffer Pants Picks
- Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Pant
- Patagonia DAS Light Pants
- Snow Peak Flexible Insulated Pants
- Feathered Friends Helios Down Pants
- Backcountry Down Insulated Pant
- Gramicci Down Pant
- Arc’teryx Nuclei Pant
- Cotopaxi Fuego Down Pant
- Buck Mason Cascade Down Eddie Bauer ‘42 Flight Pant
- Montbell Light Down Pants
- Eddie Bauer Down Camp Suit
- Fjällräven x Specialized Thermo Shorts
11 Best Down Pants for Men & Women
Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Pant
Puffer pants don’t have to be all that puffy to keep you nice and toasty. Here, Mountain Hardwear extends its super popular Stretchdown outerwear into a pair of pants filled with high-quality, responsible down standard-certified down insulation. For a bit more insulation and half the weight, check out the brand’s Ghost Whisperer Pant.
Women’s Option: Yes
Size Range: S-XXL
Insulation: 700-fill RDS-certified down
Shell Material: 20D Durable Stretch Doubleweave: 87% Nylon, 13% Elastane
Weight: 7.8 oz | 222 g
Patagonia DAS Light Pants
Alpinists and eager cold weather climbers (and belay buddies) should look to this ultralight synthetic fill pant made specifically for challenging belay station and overnight bivy conditions. Full-length side zips ease the chore of pulling them over stout mountain boots and base layers while the weatherproof and windproof PU coating shields wearers during high-altitude adventures.
Women’s Option: Unisex
Size Range: XSS-XXL
Insulation: PlumaFill synthetic insulation
Shell Material: 0.8 oz 10-D Pertex Quantum Pro 100% recycled nylon ripstop with PFC-free DWR finish
Weight: 11 oz | 312 g
Snow Peak Flexible Insulated Pants
These slim-fitting insulated pants work well for city wear, but we’ve even worn them around camp during car camping trips. The soft nylon comes in two pleasing shades of navy and olive, plus the crowd-favorite black. No need for a drawstring, the integrated belt adjusts as easily as your favorite climbing pants.
Women’s Option: Yes
Size Range: S-XXL
Insulation: Synthetic polyester
Shell Material: 100% nylon with 100% recycled polyester lining
Weight: NA
Feathered Friends Helios Down Pants
If a sleeping bag wished it were pants, it would be reborn as this handmade-in-Seattle by legendary down outfitter Feathered Friends pants. The adventure-ready puffy pants feature full-length side zippers and 900+ fill power goose down, making them ideal for quick layering—you could put them on and take them off without unlacing your boots if you wanted to, which adds a small but important convenience factor that's crucial during cold weather activities. Complete the ensemble with a pair of their down booties.
Women’s Option: Unisex
Size Range: XS-XXL
Insulation: 900+ fill power goose down
Shell Material: Pertex Endurance LT
Weight: 13 oz | 368 g
Stoic Down Insulated Pant
The mountain goat brand brings big, baggy, puffy energy to their down insulated pant, featuring a Pertex face fabric treated with a water-repellent finish and down from sustainable sourcing experts Allied Feather. Quick and easy adjustment is made by a drawstring at the waist and shockcords at the cuffs.
Women’s Option: No
Size Range: S-XXL
Insulation: RDS-certified Allied Goose Down fill
Shell Material: 100% recycled nylon Pertex Quantum, DWR treatment
Weight: NA
Gramicci Down Pant
The climbing pant extraordinaires struck up a collab with Korean down brand Taion to bring superior warmth to a pair of do-it-all winter pants. We're especially digging the tree-stand-inspired camo print that appears on several other pieces this season.
Women’s Option: Unisex
Size Range: XXS-XL
Insulation: Functional Down Material, 95% down, 5% feather
Shell Material: 100% nylon
Weight: NA
Arc’teryx Nuclei Pant
The dead bird brand went full alpine spec on one of the lightest and warmest packable belay pants around. Full zip separation makes for easier on-and-off when tied in at a belay station and a windproof face fabric tames even high elevation winds.
Women’s Option: No
Size Range: XXS-XXL
Insulation: Synthetic
Shell Material: Arato 15
Weight: 12.9 oz | 365 g
Cotopaxi Fuego Down Pant
If the other monochromatic down pants you see here bore you, then look no further than these leg heaters that receive contrast coloring at ankle-level baffles. Look for side zips at each ankle to aid with taking heavy winter footwear on and off.
Women’s Option: Yes
Size Range: S-XXL
Insulation: 800-fill responsibly sourced down
Shell Material: 20D giant-ripstop nylon with DWR finish
Weight: NA
Buck Mason Cascade Down Eddie Bauer ‘42 Flight Pant
The original down outerwear brand Eddie Bauer first made these pants to keep WWII airmen comfortable at high altitudes. Then, this month menswear brand Buck Mason collaborated with Eddie Bauer to bring these vintage styled down pants back for the everyday bomber pilot in us. Style it with the matching Flight Parka, or just your favorite wool sweater and be the coziest person in the room all winter.
Women’s Option: No
Size Range: XS-XXL
Insulation: 650-fill RDS-sourced down
Shell Material: DWR-treated nylon/cotton
Weight: NA
Montbell Light Down Pants
Originally introduced to Japan in 2004, then discontinued, and now back again with lighter, more compressible shell fabric, the Montbell Light Down Pants are the most packable on this list and feature an elastic waist and that’s about it, not to mention 85 grams of water-resistant, 800-fill weight down. They're barebones and better for it.
Women’s Option: Yes
Size Range: S-XXL
Insulation: 800-fill power down
Shell Material: Ballistic Airlight nylon ripstop
Weight: 7.1 oz | 201 g
Eddie Bauer Down Camp Suit
It's hard to imagine a more comfy winter outfit for down days around camp, the cabin, or home, than this full on down suit from the inventors of down clothing Eddie Bauer. The unisex down one-piece features hand pockets, a rib-knit collar and cuffs, and a StormRepel DWR water repellent coating to ensure you stay warm and dry whether running to the wood shed or bodega.
Women’s Option: Gender Neutral Sizing
Size Range: S-XL
Insulation: 650 fill down Responsible Down Standard (RDS)
Shell Material: 100% Nylon with DWR treatment
Weight: NA
Fjällräven x Specialized Thermo Shorts
We get that a pair of quilted, insulated shorts may seem paradoxical at first glance, but seeing as these two brands came together for a collection of bikepacking gear and apparel gives it a bit more context for their use case. The ultralight shorts benefit two-wheel adventurers by taking up less space when packed away in stuff sacks or bike bags then providing just enough extra warmth when temps begin to drop at camp. Traveling by foot? They’ll definitely do the trick layered over hiking pants, too.
Women’s Option: Unisex sizing
Size Range: S-XL
Insulation: Recycled Polyester
Shell Material: 100% recycled polyamide
Weight: NA
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes the best down pants?
The answer to that question really relies on your intended use. The Fjällräven shorts suit bikepacking adventurers, while Arc’teryx could be overdoing it for anyone but high-alpine climbers. If we were to suggest a best all-around down pant, we’d recommend Snow Peak’s Flexible Insulated Pants for their easy-wearing style and synthetic insulation.
What are the advantages of down pants?
Wearing tights, long underwear, and base layers only go so far to provide additional warmth, but the loft of insulation in a pair of down pants traps your body’s heat around your legs on even the most bitter cold days. Exterior fabrics are also wind resistant, and synthetic options will still keep you warm even when wet, making puffer pants ideal as an outer layer.
What are the disadvantages of down pants?
For some, any one of these insulated pants may be too warm of an option. If you plan on wearing them during high-exertion activities, then we’d recommend a pair of more breathable fleece pants.Some down pants also lack a fly, so accessibility is limited.
Published 11-07-2019
Updated 11-01-2023
