Which lightweight down jacket will keep me warm?

The women’s CHULU and men’s PIAJU use 800 cuin natural down, weigh 300 g or less and pack down into the bottom of your rucksack. They provide a warm layer for breaks and a backup layer for mountaineering or ski touring, but offer less warmth than expedition models. In damp conditions, choose a sleeveless gilet with Cimaloft insulation: the women’s ARVES or men’s VELAN, both under 300 g.

Which down jacket should I choose for extreme cold in the mountains?

The women’s KHUMBU and men’s BALTORO provide the most warmth in their respective ranges. Filled with 800 cuin natural down, they block strong winds of 60 to 90 km/h, while their two-way zip lets you belay your partner without opening the jacket. Team Cimalp athletes developed and tested them. For men, the HIMALAYAN uses synthetic insulation, weighs over a kilo and retains its warmth when conditions turn damp at the bivvy.

What size down jacket should I choose?

The KHUMBU and BALTORO run large: choose a size down to keep warm air close to your body. If you’re between sizes, size down in the HIMALAYAN, LORY and MERU, which run slightly large, and size up in the MORZINE, MEIJE and MALLET, which run slightly small. For other models, check the recommended size before ordering.

Hiking and mountaineering down jackets

Brave the cold in absolute comfort with our hiking and mountaineering down jackets. Ideal for high-altitude adventures or extreme cold, our down jackets combine warmth and lightness while offering optimised packability.

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The best Hiking and mountaineering down jackets for enjoying the mountains

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Women's down jackets

Men's Down Jackets

Which hiking down jacket should you choose for the cold?

At the col, the wind chills your sweat-soaked back as soon as you stop. Choose your down jacket for the cold you expect during breaks. For rest stops in milder months, a lightweight down jacket weighing under 300 g is enough : the CHULU and PIAJU natural down jackets, or the ARVES and VELAN synthetic insulated gilets, pack down into the bottom of your rucksack.

For winter hiking and snowshoeing, step up to a down jacket weighing around 400 to 500 g: the CLUSAZ and MALLET, or the hooded MORZINE and MEIJE. On a windy ridge, the LORY and MERU block strong winds of 60 to 90 km/h. For extreme cold in the high mountains, choose an expedition down jacket, KHUMBU or BALTORO. Wear it over a thermal base layer.

Down or synthetic insulation: which should you choose?

The natural down in the alpine and expedition models uses Cimacuin technology and has 800 cuin fill power. At the same weight, it provides more insulation: at around 400 g in size S, the down-filled LORY scores 80 out of 100 for warmth, compared with 60 out of 100 for the synthetically insulated CLUSAZ. When wet, down loses its loft and warmth.

Cimaloft insulation blends recycled polyester with corn fibre. It retains its thermal properties in damp conditions and is easy to care for. Choose it when damp conditions persist, on a bivvy or in fog. Our guide to choosing a men’s or women’s down jacket also covers baffle construction and fabric.

Breathable insulated jacket for active use: ski touring and Nordic walking

On a sustained climb, a zipped-up down jacket makes you sweat, and that sweat cools when you stop. Save a conventional down jacket for rest stops. To stay insulated while active, choose breathable insulation. The women’s TOURNETTE and men’s TAILLEFER combine breathable synthetic insulation with stretch fabric. They keep you warm when you stop without trapping sweat on the climb, whether ski touring or mountaineering.

For Nordic walking and snowshoeing, the CHANI and DIKLO Cimatherm Stretch insulated jackets keep your chest warm while allowing your back to breathe. On a trail run, keep your insulated jacket in your pack for stops; for running in cold weather, see our winter running jackets.

Is a down jacket waterproof?

No: the insulated jackets in this selection have a water-repellent treatment that sheds droplets from a light shower and light snow. In prolonged rain, put on a waterproof jacket over your down jacket. This treatment wears off over time: the down proofer in this selection restores it in the washing machine at 30 °C.

Wash the jacket with a specialist detergent, without fabric softener; the one in this selection is suitable for both down and synthetic insulation. Our guide explains caring for an insulated jacket. Like all Cimalp clothing, these insulated jackets come with free repairs for life.

Women’s and men’s down jackets: matching styles

Most styles come in both fits, under two different names. The women’s LORY corresponds to the men’s MERU, the KHUMBU with the BALTORO, the CHULU with the PIAJU, the MORZINE with the MEIJE, and the CLUSAZ with the MALLET. The HIMALAYAN synthetic expedition jacket is available for men. Each fit has its own collection: women’s hiking down jackets and men’s hiking down jackets.

To compare two fits, check the reference size: weights are given for a women's size S and a men's size M. The weight varies by 50 to 100 g between fits.

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