Illustrations by Chandler Bondurant
Down jacket, puffer–whatever your preferred term, it’s undeniable that the feather-stuffed staple is a key ally in the winter months. (And if the Groundhog Day prediction is anything to go by, we’re going to have another six weeks of it to contend with.)
The garment’s history dates back to a harrowing fishing trip in 1936, during which one Eddie Bauer nearly died of hypothermia. Determined to create a lightweight piece of outerwear with maximum insulation capabilities, Bauer devised the Skyliner: a quilted jacket filled with down feathers that could trap warm air without adding bulk.
The earliest wave of down jackets was often made from cotton or a cotton-nylon blend—a factor that earned the style the nickname “60-40 jacket.” And while the duck or goose feathers that traditionally warm a puffer are sometimes swapped out for synthetic fill today, the principle remains the same.
Jackets are given a “fill-power” rating that ranges from 450 on the lowest end to a maximum of 1,000, graded on the number of cubic inches a single ounce of fill would occupy. Watch out for the numbers below as you browse the best stuffed offerings from Polo Ralph Lauren, Sid Mashburn, Moncler, and more.
Polo Ralph Lauren The Decker Matte Down Jacket
Image Credit: Polo Ralph Lauren 
Polo’s flagship down jacket has a clean design and a matte finish recalling the vintage puffers of an earlier era. With a down fill power level of 750—out of a maximum of a 1,000—it can be counted on to see you through the coldest of cold snaps.
Buck Mason Thundercloud Carry-On Blazer
Image Credit: Buck Mason Buck Mason’s blurred the lines between down and sport jacket with its Thundercloud blazer, which is made from down-filled cotton/nylon but sports tailored details like three open patch pockets and gently rolling lapels.
Filson Down Bomber Jacket
Image Credit: Filson Filson’s Shelter Cloth—a proprietary waxed cotton fabric that repels wind and water—is the secret sauce behind this down bomber. Its torso is made from an 8 oz Shelter Cloth to reduce weight, while its sleeves and shoulders are constructed from a beefier, 11 oz version of the same fabric to ensure longevity.
Moncler Maya Logo-Appliquéd Quilted Nylon Hooded Down Jacket
Image Credit: Moncler Instantly recognizable on ski slopes around the globe, Moncler’s Maya model serves as the label’s signature down jacket. With its high-gloss shell and powerfully insulating fill, it’s a perfect encapsulation of the brand’s commitment to technical performance and fashion.
Visvim Winslow Padded Wool and Linen-Blend Down Coat
Image Credit: Visvim A blending of tropical wool and linen serves as the unlikely fabric composition of this Visvm down coat, which sports more traditional details such as horn buttons and adjustable sleeve straps.
Laminar Shell Hooded Down Parka
Image Credit: Laminar A marriage of high performance and fashion-forward design that fits the Italian label to a tee, Laminar’s down parka is made from a crinkly poly-blend fabric and sports a clean design with a high collar and two front bellows pockets.
Loro Piana Flavio Quilted Suede Jacket
Image Credit: Loro Piana Making a piece of functional outerwear far more luxurious than it has to be is Loro Piana’s M.O. And it’s a trick the brand has repeated again in the making of its Flavio down jacket, which is constructed from rich suede stuffed with pure cashmere fill.
Herno Quilted Shell Down Jacket
Image Credit: Herno Another entry in the outerwear-as-tailoring category, this hybrid Herno jacket is made from a lightweight quilted fabric but cut like a sport coat. Its three-button front cleverly hides a full zipper closure to better trap heat.
Rocky Mountain Featherbed Down Jacket
Image Credit: Rocky Mountain Featherbed First founded in Wyoming in 1967, Rocky Mountain Featherbed has since been revived as a Japanese brand and has ridden the Western wear zeitgeist to a new level of relevance. Its most iconic offering continues to be the Christy jacket, which is easily recognized by its Western-style leather yoke and sheepskin collar.
View the original article here
