Men's Downwool 180 Hooded Jacket 26/27

DownWool is Ortovox's hybrid fill: 70% duck down blended with 30% alpine wool by Grüezi bag. The wool takes on moisture and helps the down keep loft, up to 30% more, so the jacket holds its warmth when the air is damp. The 180 Hooded Jacket weighs 395 g with a windproof, water-resistant shell of 100% recycled polyamide.

Blended fill is the middle path. Straight down packs smaller and weighs less for the same warmth, straight synthetic shrugs off wet better, and this sits between them, which is why it works across seasons instead of one. It is warm enough to stand around in and light enough to climb in.

It is for skiers and alpinists who want one insulated layer for the whole year, worn over a fleece or under a shell. If you only ever need warmth for standing still in deep cold, a heavier jacket makes more sense.

The fit is regular with an extended back, the hood adjusts two ways, and elastic cuffs and an adjustable waistband seal out drafts. It stuffs into its own bag with a loop, so it clips inside a pack.

German mountain guides tested and recommended it, and it is the jacket we end up pulling out of the pack on almost every cold day.