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Down Jacket Guide
Going on a hike, planning an expedition or commuting during winter? Wherever and whatever the activity, the First Ascent Down range is your ideal companion. Down is nature's lightest and best form of insulation - warmer, lighter and more compact than any other insulation on the market. For years we have performance tested and improved our Down designs, continuing to mine Down’s unique properties, to deliver a range which suits every activity in any environment.
All First Ascent Down jackets are hypoallergenic, made of Responsibly Sourced Down (RDS), and DWR coated which makes them water repellent.
Let’s get some technical talk out of the way:
Look
Baffles are the individual chambers which hold the down in place to ensure even distribution across the garment. Baffles are what give every jacket its unique appearance.
Feel
Loft is a fancier way of describing the ‘fluffiness’ of the jacket.
Warmth
Fill power is the international rating system used to measure the loft and the relative quality of the Down used in the garment. It can range from 550 to 900 fill. This number highlights the cluster size, which refers to the amount of body heat that the down is able to trap relative to its loft. The higher the number, the warmer it is.
Weight
The fill weight of a garment represents the amount of Down the garment holds, measured in grams -i.e. The weight of the garment. The more Down the garment holds, the warmer the garment will be.
Quality
The fill ratio is an indicator representing the makeup between soft down and harder feathers. A garment which features a higher percentage of soft Down, for example, 90/10, is a warmer, lighter and more easily compressible garment, as it features a high percentage of down (90%) to feathers (10%).
Down is natures lightest and best form of insulation. Being a natural product, it is the best performing high loft insulation on the market. It is warmer, lighter and more compact than any other insulation and effectively traps body heat to keep you warm.
Microtex fabrics offer lightweight, water and wind resistant protection. Garments which feature Microtex fabric have a very high thread count for its lightweight durability, but also a soft touch finish, while the DWR coating provides protection against mist or light rain conditions.
Responsible Down Standards (RDS) ensures that all down used in our products is sourced from animals which have not been subjected to harm. RDS provides a traceability platform, ensuring that we are able to track our down from farm to garment, validating the authenticity of all down used. Learn more about RDS at ResponsibleDown.org
Down is natures lightest and best form of insulation. Being a natural product, it is the best performing high loft insulation on the market. It is warmer, lighter and more compact than any other insulation and effectively traps body heat to keep you warm.
Microtex fabrics offer lightweight, water and wind resistant protection. Garments which feature Microtex fabric have a very high thread count for its lightweight durability, but also a soft touch finish, while the DWR coating provides protection against mist or light rain conditions.
Responsible Down Standards (RDS) ensures that all down used in our products is sourced from animals which have not been subjected to harm. RDS provides a traceability platform, ensuring that we are able to track our down from farm to garment, validating the authenticity of all down used. Learn more about RDS at ResponsibleDown.org
Lightweight Jackets
Lightweight Down jackets are ideal layering pieces, as they provide a great warmth-to-weight ratio and are easy to transport around when the weather is unpredictable and where layers may be required.
TOUCH DOWN
Insulated Jacket
1
Exposed front zip with inner wind-stop zip flap
2
85/15 Duck Down Ratio with 650 Fill Power
3
Microtex shell fabric
4
Invisible hand zip pockets for storage
5
Highly compressible and packable into its own separate stuff bag
6
Lip elastic cuff and hem seals in warmth
TOUCH DOWN
Insulated Jacket
Designed for hiking, travelling and outdoor adventures where every gram matters, the Touch Down Jacket is the lightest down jacket in our range. Don’t let its weight fool you, its expert panel stitching ensures that warmth is evenly dispersed throughout the body to keep you insulated when you need it most. This jacket is highly compressible and stuffs into its own separate stuff bag for lightweight travelling. An indispensable winter staple for any occasion.
TRANSIT DOWN
Insulated Jacket
The Transit Down Jacket offers you the ideal mixture of light warmth without the bulk. Featuring a 650 Fill Power and a 90/10 down ratio, this down jacket is packable into its pocket, making it the perfect stuff-and-go travel companion. Lightweight down jackets are ideal layering pieces, as they provide a great warmth-to-weight ratio and are easy to transport around when the weather is unpredictable.
TRANSIT DOWN
Insulated Jacket
1
650 fill-power and 90/10 down ratio
2
Wind stop zip baffle to keep cold air out
3
Interconnect zip-compatible system for layering
4
Packable into pocket
5
Adjustable hem cord to ensure the perfect fit
Expedition Down
When looking for expedition outerwear these are the jackets you’ll need. Expedition-weight Down jackets are the warmest jackets on the spectrum and feature the greatest fill weight. These jackets feature heavier-duty and water-repellent outers to provide increased durability.
MEN'S GLACIER | LADIES ARCTIC
Insulated Jackets
1
650 fill-power and 90/10 down ratio
2
Microtex shell fabric, with stitch-through baffles
3
Chest pocket for additional storage
4
Anti-scuff elbow pad
5
Wind-stop zip baffle
6
DWR coating aids water repellency
7
Adjustable hem drawcord
MEN'S GLACIER | LADIES ARCTIC
Insulated Jackets
The Glacier Down Snow Jacket is the ultimate cold-weather companion. Boasting 650 Down Fill power, this jacket will keep you insulated during the coldest of conditions - with the perfect warmth-to-weight ratio. The Glacier Down is DWR coated, ensuring you stay dry during unexpected showers.Ideal for skiing or exploring extremely cold conditions where durability and comfort are what matter most, this jacket will work as hard as you do during your extreme outdoor pursuits.
MALAMUTE SNOW DOWN
Insulated Jacket
Expedition tested from the South African Antarctic Research Base on the South Pole through to many of the world's highest mountains, the Malamute Down Jacket has built a reputation for keeping all of Mother Nature's fury at bay.This extremely warm and durable jacket features a lofty 650 Fill Power and a water-repellant finish, made with 92/8 high-quality duck down. There are multiple pockets to keep your belongings safe and your hands toasty; as well as an adjustable hood. The jacket is highly compressible, despite its thickness, making it an ideal travel companion on your great expedition adventures into the unknown.
MALAMUTE SNOW DOWN
Insulated Jacket
1
92/8 Goose Down Filled with 650 Fill Power
2
Zip removable hood with volume adjustment
3
Waterproof zippers for increased protection
4
Two chest pockets and two hand-warmer pockets
5
Shelled in Vapourtex breathable waterproof fabric
6
Optimally filled with premium quality goose down for ultimate insulation
7
Accessory D-loops for attaching gloves