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.
[Ed Note: Check out our down fill power guide to learn all you need to know about down]*
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
