7 Finest Down Pants for Winter Backpacking [2022] BikeHikeSafari

Sharing is caring!

This can be a gear evaluate concerning the Finest Down Pants available on the market in 2022.

I’ve narrowed down one of the best insulated down pants available on the market proper now to go with your ultralight down jacket and hold you heat this winter. These pants vary from ultralight down pants for backpacking to down pants for winter expeditions.

Finest Down Pants for Winter Mountaineering & Backpacking 2022

The Finest Down Pants for 2022 are:

Finest Down Pants – General

Feathered Buddies Helios Down Pants

Weight: 13 oz / 368 g
Fill Weight: 4.4 oz / 126 g
Professionals:
> 900+ loft down.
> Appropriate for prime mountain actions.
> Full-length zips
> Prime High quality all the things
Cons:
> Some folks report the size is a bit too brief

Going someplace chilly? The Feathered Buddies Helios are one of the best general down pants on this evaluate. Right here is why.

Weighing 13 ouncesand full of 900+ fill energy, the Feathered Buddies Helios Down Pants are the actual deal! You understand you’re getting good high quality down with Feathered Buddies, and these pants are full of 4.4oz / 126g of their fine quality down

These pants are one of many warmest down pants on this evaluate and nice down pants for backpacking or climbing in very chilly temperatures. They’re higher suited to high-altitude mountaineering or winter ski touring.

The complete-length zips additionally imply you possibly can put them or take them off over crampons.

General, if you need one of the best down pants for mountaineering, ski touring, or winter backpacking then these needs to be in your checklist. These are critically superior and extremely beneficial.

Finest Ultralight Down Pants

West Mountaineering Flash Pants

Weight: 6.5oz / 180g
Down Fill: 2oz / 57g
Professionals:
> 850+ fill energy goose down.
> Strengthened seat materials.
> Elastic ankle cuff closures.
> Adjustable waist belt.
> Water repellant.
Cons:
> Restricted coloration choices

The Western Mountaineering Flash pants weigh round 6.5oz / 180g and are one of the best ultralight down pants available on the market. They aren’t solely ultralight however compress right down to about half the scale of a mean water bottle, which means you possibly can simply journey gentle.

These pants are made with 850 fill energy goose down and a brilliant light-weight and sturdy Ripstop shell materials. In addition they characteristic an adjustable waist belt, strengthened seat materials, and elastic ankle closures to maintain you heat and hold out a draft.

They lack the full-length zip of their hotter cousin the Flight Pants however that’s what you want if you wish to trim the surplus weight. They won’t be suited to the tremendous chilly temperatures of mid-winter in some components of the world however they’re lighter and extra compact than any fleece pants artificial pants.

General, these are one of the best ultralight down pants for backpacking available on the market proper now and greatest fitted to ultralight backpackers or quick and light-weight alpine actions.

Extra Light-weight Down Pants

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Pants

Weight: 10oz / 270g
Fill Weight: unknown
Professionals:
> 800-fill RDS-certified down
> Two hand pockets.
> Zippered fly with snap button closure.
> Low-profile quilt sample helps to entice warmth
> Product of ultra-lightweight ripstop material
Cons:
> Costly
> Ankle Zips solely

The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Pants weigh simply 10oz / 270g, which makes them really feel gentle to put on and straightforward to compress and stuff into their inbuilt pocket. If you’re a fan of the Ghost Whisperer down jacket, you’ll love these pants.

The decrease leg zippers additionally entice warmth whereas enhancing layering and venting. However these pants even have nice adjustable options too, just like the entrance snap closure and there may be additionally room for storage due to the 2 pockets.

In addition they have a excessive fill energy of 800+ that ensures simply the correct amount of heat retention for mountaineering or backpacking in winter.

The match isn’t too cosy and so they don’t bunch up or sag on the mid-waist space like some others love to do.  

General, these are an ideal pair of ultralight-down pants for winter backpacking. The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Pants would make an ideal pair of pants for sitting round at basecamp. The dearth of full-length zip cuts down on weight however means it isn’t very sensible to tackle and off with heavy boots within the snow.

Patagonia Nano Puff Pants

Weight: 11.7oz / 332g
Fill Weight: 60g artificial insulation
Professionals:
> Crammed with 60 gram PrimaLoft Gold down.
> Product of recycled supplies.
> Water repellent. 
> Strengthened nylon seat
Cons:
> Not as heat as all of the down pants on this evaluate

OK, the Patagonia Nano Puff Pant isn’t made with down insulation. They’re nonetheless on the checklist as a reputable various for these looking for high quality light-weight insulated pants. They’re made with 100% recycled polyester shell material handled with a DWR water repellent remedy.

There’s 60g of recycled PrimaLoft Gold insulation to maintain you toasty heat. The massive good thing about artificial insulation is the power to maintain you heat in case you sadly get moist. That is one thing down is unable to do.

These pants are additionally protected by a strengthened nylon materials on the knees and butt, and so they even have nice additional options like belt loops and a zippered again pocket for storage.

General, the Patagonia Nano Puff Pant is a superb environmentally pleasant artificial various to all of the down pants on this evaluate however they don’t fairly have the identical heat to weight ratio of the down pants. One large benefit, they’re fairly priced.

Rab Argon Pants

Weight: 13.2oz / 375g
Fill Weight: 5.6oz / 160g
Professionals:
> Product of breathable Pertex materials.
> Hydrophobic 800 loft RDS Down
> Snug and heat
Cons:
> No pockets
> Heavy 

The Rab Argon Down Pants are a really excessive specification set of pants. The Pertex outer materials is tremendous gentle, windproof, and waterproof (not fairly waterproof).

They’re full of high-quality 800 loft hydrophobic down. So the down won’t soak up as a lot water as regular down within the worst-case state of affairs of getting moist whereas sporting them. Moist down doesn’t insulate very effectively however in these pants, the down will nonetheless maintain numerous insulating loft.

Their sturdy development means these pants can stand up to a number of bumps and scrapes whereas being snug sufficient for extra easygoing actions.

Whereas these pants will compress properly, they’re one of many heavier pants on this checklist at 13.2 oz. In addition they don’t have any pockets or full-length zips. The dearth of full-length zips makes them tougher to placed on and take off when open air which makes them greatest for very chilly climate when you’ll put on all of them day or for across the camp.

General, the Rab Argon Down Pants are one of many highest high quality heat down pants on this evaluate. They’re greatest fitted to somebody needing a pair of down pants for very chilly winter journeys comparable to snowshoeing, backcountry snowboarding, or excessive altitude mountaineering.

Western Mountaineering Flight Pants

Weight: 12.5oz / 360g
Fill Weight: 4oz / 115g
Professionals:
> Elastic ankle cuffs with Velcro closure.
> Full-length facet zips.
> Adjustable waist belt
> Microfiber shell material with DWR end.
> Gore Windstopper material protects you from the wind.
Cons:
> Costly
> Restricted coloration choice.
> No pockets.

For those who’re after a pair of down pants that may deal with their justifiable share of bumps and scrapes, look no additional than the Western Mountaineering Flight Pants. You may’t beat the supplies for his or her excessive ranges of insulation, warmth-retention, and climate resistance. 

They’re insulated with 850+ fill energy goose down and have full-length zippers that make venting and layering easy. In addition they have an built-in adjustable waist belt and weigh solely 12.5 oz / 360g. 

The Gore Windstopper material on the knees and butt of the pants protects from moisture and abrasion. The remainder of the pants are coated with ultralight microfibre shell material coated with a DWR end. 

General, these are among the finest light-weight down pants for winter actions comparable to mountaineering, ski touring, snowshoeing, or backpacking.

The North Face Summit L3 Down Pants

Weight: 14.1oz / 400g
Fill Weight: Unknown
Professionals:
> Environmentally acutely aware.
> Include a stuff sack.
> Made with waterproof and breathable
> FutureLight expertise. Hyperdry Down
> Made with sturdy Ripstop materials.
> Simply adjustable.
Cons:
> Costly and Heavy
> Provide Points for this winter

The North Face Summit L3 Down Pants have strengthened materials on the knees and bottom which is waterproof. Match this with high-quality ultralight Pertex on the remainder of the pants, 800 loft Hyperdry down and a full-length zip and you’ve got one of many highest specs down pants on this evaluate.

Moreover, these pants have an elastic waistband that makes them simply adjustable, and so they even have a stretchy, slim match. In addition they have a thigh and a cinch wire on the hem and compress completely into the sunshine stuff sack they arrive with.

General, the North Face Summit L3 Down Pants are one of the best down pants for moist climate with one of the best rain resistance matched with sturdiness and a lifetime guarantee. If solely it was a bit cheaper.

NOTE: On the time of this evaluate there have been provide points with this merchandise. Test under to see if they’re again in inventory.

Better of the Relaxation

The Down Pants listed under are ones that nearly made the checklist or are nonetheless within the technique of being evaluated:

• Snow Peak Recycled Nylon Ripstop Down Pants – Not obtainable however they have been fairly good till they have been discontinued by the producer.

Purchaser’s Information

For these of you who’ve by no means purchased a pair of down pants, you is likely to be questioning what they’re.

Effectively, down pants are primarily worn in chilly or moist climate, defending you from snow and rain, and protecting you heat. They are often worn in quite a lot of other ways although.

They are often worn as a midlayer throughout out of doors actions like climbing, mountaineering, mountaineering, and even whereas snowboarding or snowboarding. 

However down pants are additionally snug sufficient to be worn across the camp at night time, particularly on chilly nights! You may even put on them to mattress, as a sort of pajama bottom-sleeping bag hybrid. They’ll definitely present an additional layer of toastiness underneath a sleeping bag. Add a pair of Down Booties and Down Socks and you’ll definitely be heat at night time.

However as you possibly can see, with regards to discovering an ideal pair of down pants you’re spoiled for alternative! However as a result of these pants might be defending you within the harshest of parts, there are some things to contemplate earlier than buying a pair. 

Fill energy

Fill energy describes the quantity of filling in your down pants. The lofty filling offers insulation in opposition to the chilly, and fill energy measurements vary from 800 to 900+ within the top-of-the-range pants.

Fill weight

Most down gadgets can have a ‘fill weight’ measurement that refers back to the general heat of the merchandise. The upper the quantity the hotter will probably be. Usually, the fill weight ought to account for 30% of the merchandise’s complete weight. This brings us to the following matter…

General weight

Down pants are really an ideal feat of engineering as they’ve to offer heat whereas nonetheless being light-weight, breathable, and packable. How is that this achieved?

It’s all right down to the way in which the down clusters collectively to create loft. This traps air and physique warmth to maintain you heat. The beneficial weight for down pants is something underneath than 14 oz.

Outer shell properties

Most outer shells of down pants are constructed from handled nylon material. For instance, Ripstop Nylon prevents your pants from tearing throughout excessive out of doors actions. Pertex and Gore tex Windstopper are two of the best high quality outer materials.

Accountable Down Normal (RDS)

RDS is a voluntary, international customary that ensures that the down taken from geese and geese is ethically sourced, and that the animals usually are not subjected to pointless hurt.

Firms can independently certify that their merchandise adjust to RDS by way of an on-site audit. As soon as the audit is full, the corporate is formally licensed to adjust to the RDS.

Waterproof coating (DWR)

Irrespective of if it’s rain, sweat, or moisture from a moist local weather, moisture and down don’t combine. Down turns into ineffective when it will get too moist.

Because of this down gadgets designed for out of doors use are handled with a DWR agent, which is a water repellent end. Some producers have began to make use of types of DWR internally on fibers to assist them dry out and retain their loft. Two of the most well-liked DWR manufacturers are downTek and Nikwax.

Outer materials (the significance of denier)

I’ve talked about Ripstop Nylon a number of occasions, and also you’ve in all probability encountered Ripstop Nylon in sleeping luggage, or perhaps even in down jackets.

The upper the denier of the down pants, the extra sturdy the material goes to be. Nonetheless, in case you favor ultralight out of doors clothes, the denier does have an effect on the burden of the pants and the upper the denier, the heavier will probably be. Subsequently, to maintain the pants gentle numerous producers decrease the denier.

The usual of stitching (sewn by means of)

Most down gadgets are sewn-through, which means that each the interior and exterior layers of the material are sewn along with the down located in-between. This sew creates small, individually sealed-off pockets of down. This retains the down in place and makes it much less more likely to shift. It’s simpler and cheaper than stitching on boxed seams which give higher insulation however are extra generally used on all of the greatest down sleeping luggage.

Match

An important rule with regards to match is that your down pants ought to provide you with sufficient room to layer up and your motion shouldn’t be restricted. It’s greatest to depart some respiration room in a pair of down pants as you’ll most probably put on them over a base layer or one other pair of bottoms.

You must also be capable to comfortably bend your knees and squat with out damaging the pants. An athletic match is beneficial as these provide you with a great vary of movement and sufficient room so as to add a skinny layer or two beneath your pants if wanted.

Down Vs Artificial

Whereas down is beneficial over artificial insulation, each have their benefits and drawbacks. Whereas down is the actual stuff that comes from a goose or a duck, artificial insulation is designed to behave like actual down. Artificial insulation is made by weaving collectively polyester fibers that mimic the sample present in down. 

Down is lighter in its warmth-to-weight ratio than artificial insulation. Because of this whereas the 2 merchandise might have the identical temperature ranking, the down will nonetheless be a number of ounces or perhaps a pound lighter. Down pants additionally compress higher than an artificial pair of pants.

Down gadgets could be compressed to the scale of a water bottle or smaller, however artificial gadgets really turn into a bit larger as soon as compressed, and have issue retaining their form. However the compactness of an merchandise varies enormously relying on its fill. The upper the fill, the smaller the merchandise packs.

Down can also be extra sturdy. So long as you maintain it, your down gadgets will final for many years. Down will also be compressed numerous occasions with out shedding its insulating properties.. Nonetheless, artificial insulation isn’t as sturdy and over time will lose its skill to entice warmth.

Nonetheless, down gadgets are dearer and artificial gadgets are the higher choice in case you’re on a finances. Actually, artificial gadgets can generally value half of what down gadgets value, and it is because they’re mass produced and extra available.

Down is fairly sturdy, nevertheless it does have one weak spot – water. Artificial insulation can maintain up in water higher than down, and it retains its insulating properties and loftiness even when damp.

Artificial supplies are additionally simpler to clean than down, and so they dry simpler too. You may deal with artificial supplies like common clothes, whereas down requires particular detergents, following detailed, step-by-step washing directions, and generally tricks to an costly, specialised dry cleaner.

Methods to wash down pants

It’s beneficial to clean your down pants (or any merchandise of down clothes) at the least as soon as a season. As I’ve talked about above, washing down gadgets isn’t simple and may appear fairly daunting. Comply with the steps under, and even higher, check out the Information on Methods to Wash A Down Jacket which is precisely the identical course of for Down Pants.

First, be certain that all zippers are closed and all snaps are fixed earlier than washing, and browse the producer’s directions for data regarding your down pants.

Then ‘spot clear’ any stains with plain water by dabbing the world with a sponge or washcloth. It’s also possible to add a small quantity of delicate cleaning soap. Be certain that to make use of a detergent like Nikwax Down Wash which is made for laundry down gadgets. Check out the information Methods to Wash a Down Jacket which can work precisely the identical for laundry down pants.

Put them in a dryer so long as wanted on a low warmth setting. Be sure you verify your pants each 20-Half-hour so it doesn’t overheat, and toss in a number of tennis balls to hurry up the method of breaking apart the clumps of down.

As for storing your down pants, retailer them in a roomy place the place the fabric can breathe. Hanging them up in a garment bag in a closet is an efficient approach to retailer them. This prevents the loft from clumping collectively inflicting undesirable chilly spots.

restore down pants

For those who put on down pants throughout excessive out of doors actions they are going to inevitably get torn, punctured, and even singed. So long as the injury is minimal you possibly can repair it with Tenacious Tape. You may even use Duct Tape if wanted.

Conclusion

All of the down pants on this evaluate are one of the best of one of the best. However which of them are greatest suited to what you’re in search of. Under is the information you have to:

The Finest Insulated Down Pants for winter are the Feathered Buddies Helios Down Pants.

They’re that good and the best high quality available on the market proper now.

The Western Mountaineering Flight Pants and Rab Argon Pants are additionally unimaginable and will definitely serve you effectively.

The Finest Ultralight Down Pants available on the market proper now are:

The desire is for the Western Mountaineering Flash Pants (simply) as a result of they’re barely lighter in weight however the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Pants are additionally superior and barely hotter.

The Finest Down Pants for damp circumstances are:

• Rab Argon Pants as a result of high quality outer materials and use of hydrophobic down and critically good high quality.

The Finest Artificial Insulated pants:

General, my decide for one of the best down pants is the Feathered Buddies Helios Down Pants with one of the best ultralight down pants being the Western Mountaineering Flash Pants.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

Sharing is caring!