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We all love spending time outdoors, but it's important to stay warm and comfortable while we do. That's where our puffer jackets and vests come in! We've designed them to keep you cosy and snug while you explore, without compromising on breathability or packability. So whether you're camping in the wilderness, exploring a new city, or just taking the dog for a walk, our puffers have got you covered. 

 

Best sellers

WHY THE EPIQ IS EPIC

Discover why this is our bestselling puffer jacket

Immerse yourself in the outdoors with our Epiq Hooded Down Jacket. A true staple in all wardrobes and beloved by everyone. It'll keep you toasty as temperatures plummet and make you look super stylish no matter the occasion. Stuffed full of great features this jacket is a true Kathmandu icon.

SHOP EPIQ DOWN RANGE
Featured product
Kathmandu Frisco X Women’s Down Vest
Kathmandu Heli R Men's 600 Fill Hooded Down Jacket
Kathmandu Women's Winterburn Longline Coat

New Season Colours

Kathmandu Seeker Womens Active Insulation Vest
Heli R Women’s NovaLoft Jacket
Kathmandu Epiq Boys' Down Jacket

Responsible Down

100% of the down in our puffer jackets is RDS Certified

Woman wearing a Kathmandu Puffer Jacket

Puffer Jacket FAQs

Yes! Since 2016, all of our down has been independently certified to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS), which describes and certifies animal welfare practices in down and feather production from the farm to the final product. 

The down that is used in outdoor products is a by-product of raising geese and ducks for meat. For the farmer, the value of the down is only around 5% of their income. Even if all apparel and bedding manufacturers stopped using down today, goose and duck farming would continue, but the down and feathers would likely end up in landfill.

Instead, the feather and down are cleaned, sanitized and recycled into down jackets and other apparel and gear. 

The Responsible Down Standard protects an animal’s 'Five Freedoms'. This means no force-feeding and definitely no live-plucking. RDS follows the down from farm to product, so consumers can be confident that the birds live healthy lives, and don’t suffer from pain, fear nor distress.

One of our all-time bestsellers and just oh so comfy all year round a puffer jacket is definitely a staple piece in every wardrobe. Filled with down or synthetic material puffer jackets are able to keep you toasty while remaining lightweight and breathable.


When choosing your puffer jacket you should consider the weight of your jacket as well as what you mainly anticipate wearing your jacket for. A puffer jacket will be a great pick for almost any occasion as long as you consider a few key things:

  • Our puffer jackets are finished with a DWR  (Durable Water Repellent) treatment to make them water-resistant. When you are expecting severe rain or want to hit the powder we advise you wear your puffer as a mid-layer and add a rain coat to your outfit.
  • Fill weight VS fill power. Down keeps you warm by trapping body heat and preventing it from diffusing into the cold air around you. The more volume is occupied by the down, the greater the amount of air trapped and the greater the insulation generated to keep you snuggly warm in your puffer jacket. Higher fill power reflects better quality down that’s capable of trapping more air and providing a better warmth to weight ratio.

At Kathmandu, we label each of our down jackets on a ‘warm’, ‘warmer’ or ‘warmest’ scale along with weight and packability levels – so you can make a well-informed choice on which jacket is best for you.

When well looked after your puffer jacket should be your trusted companion for many great adventures and will fight off the cold breeze without breaking a sweat. However, when your puffer does get smelly or dirty you can give it some TLC to make sure it still performs great. Either treat it to a handwash or gentle machine wash cycle using some of Grangers Down Wash Concentrate.

While you will see the puffer jackets coming out in full force during the winter months, puffer vests can be a great option for colder summer days or evenings when you are busy getting out there. And with a ton of super cool styles and colours to choose from there truly is a perfect match out there for everyone.

With an emphasis on style, functionality and breathability, our puffer jackets and vests aim to push the boundaries so that you can truly enjoy the outdoors – all while staying toasty warm and comfortable. Because it’s like wearing a big, warm hug all the time, and who doesn’t want that?!

All of our Down Jackets are coated with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) - which encourages water to bead off the fabric's surface. While this means the jackets are water resistant, they are not waterproof and should not be worn in heavy rain. 

Feather Down loses its ability to insulate when it gets wet (and once wet it can be slow to dry).  However, our recycled synthetic fibre jackets  (novaLOFT) are just as warm as feather down, but will still keep you warm when damp.

Feather down is nature’s best insulator, and provides exceptional warmth, while also being incredibly lightweight and supremely packable. A downside is that the feathers don't insulate when wet, and they can be time-consuming to wash and dry properly. To combat this, our puffer jackets and vests are treated with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish which helps to bead water in light rain. But if you do expect to get caught out in heavy rain, take a quality rain jacket to add on top of your puffer, so you can stay cosy and dry.

Kathmandu's synthetic insulation (novaLOFT) is made from 100% recycled polyester. The advantages of synthetic are that it still insulates when damp, is quicker drying, is easier to wash, and is typically more affordable. However, it doesn't quite compare with feather down in terms of its weight-to-warmth ratio.

If you wash it properly, regular washing will actually help your down jacket last longer and perform at its best.

When properly cared for, your Kathmandu down jacket can last for decades. Click here to learn how to wash a down jacket.

Our award-winning NXT-Level Jacket is warm, durable, lightweight and of course, super squishable from Responsible Down that’s traceable. It’s built to last, but when it reaches the end of its long life, it begins to biodegrade once exposed to the right conditions in a landfill. 

A special additive is introduced during the manufacturing process which helps accelerate biodegradation in an anaerobic environment. Once in a landfill, the additive gets activated. Therefore, getting the jacket wet or washing it will not start the biodegradation process. 

The NXT-Level jacket is made to last a lifetime. It’s made from the best materials and of the highest quality in the industry. Our hope is that you’ll never have to get rid of it (or throw it in the bin). But in the event that day does come, what we’ve done is set this jacket up for the lowest possible environmental impact.

Click here to learn more.

 

*Testing under ASTM D5511 indicates biodegradation of 86.6% after 3 years could occur in optimal conditions in some biologically active landfills without oxygen. Please ask your local council if this type of collection or waste disposal facilities exist for the product.

In one word: yes. However, back in the day, down jackets were used only to describe jackets made using goose and duck feathers, whereas puffer jackets were originally named for jackets that used synthetic insulation.

Over the years as down and puffer jackets have increased in popularity, the two terms have become interchangeable.

Synthetic Insulation

Down alternatives for packable warmth, even when damp.