Deep shivers and bone-chilling cold can derail any winter adventure. We field-tested his-and-hers cold-weather clothing and sleeping systems from Fjällräven, Cotopaxi, Decathlon, and Sea to Summit to find what actually keeps you warm, comfortable, and prepared when Mother Nature unleashes her harshest conditions.
One of the worst things while traveling is getting cold. Deep shivers creep into your core and can you miserable if not properly prepared for Mother Nature’s cold weather fury. We tested his-n-hers cold-weather clothing to keep you comfortable, warm, and stylish when in harsh climates.
Not only will you need warm snow pants, solid socks like Smartwool Hike Crew Socks, durable footwear, as well as thick hats and good-quality gloves, you’ll need warm upper layers, too.
From Fjällräven, Cotopaxi, and Decathlon to Smartwool, Sea to Summit, and others, these products have stood the test of time in varying degrees of cold weather. And we’ve tested each of them.
Serious in the Snow: Fjällräven Expedition Down Lite Jacket
Sweden-based Fjällräven has you covered when it comes to severe-duty cold-weather clothing. Some of their down jackets are rated for sub-zero temps, especially helpful if you’re traveling to the Arctic in the winter or even Antarctica and beyond.
We tested the Fjällräven Expedition Down Lite Jacket for men and Fjällräven Expedition Down Lite Jacket for women to see if they’d stand below freezing temps, with Midwestern wind chills in the double-digits below zero.
The Fjällräven Expedition Down Lite Jacket is a lighter version of the company’s iconic classic 1974 Expedition Down Jacket, made for the coldest of winter conditions. Think Sweden, dark skies, and conditions above the Arctic Circle.
Fjällräven Expedition Down Lite Jackets pair well with the Men’s Smartloft Hybrid Jacket and Women’s Smartloft Hybrid Jacket, thin-but-warm merino wool hoodless coverings that can be used as a midlayer under the Fjällräven jackets (shown in photos). Or if the climate is temperate, the Smartwool Smartloft Hybrid Jacket can be used as a stand-alone zip up.
Both Fjällräven Expedition Down Lite Jackets have serious down-fill power, 700 CUIN to be exact. This means one ounce of down lofts to 700 cubic inches offering an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio for intense cold-weather activities.
The men’s Fjällräven Expedition Down Lite Jacket has just over 0.9 oz. (415 grams) of ethically produced and traceable down fill weight. This is for a medium size.
This jacket has an overall weight of nearly 2 lbs. 8 oz and compacts down to a larger size than other down puffy coats when the stuff sack is employed. Did we mention this is meant to be used in severe-duty conditions, however? High-quality down is king in cold-weather conditions.
The women’s version has less down fill weight at nearly 0.8 oz. (353 grams) for a small size but is still ethically produced and traceable down. This jacket has an overall weight of just over 2 lbs. 3 oz.
Both down jackets feature a regular fit. The men’s and women’s Down Lite jackets have an oversized hood with Fjällräven’s signature bright yellow drawcord and leather tab for tightening or loosening them.
Both Expedition Down Lite puffy jackets have 90% goose down and 10% feathers. This insulation is packed into both jackets via an offset down channel construction that eliminates heat loss. Shoulders on both coats are reinforced with Supreme Microloft (100% polyester) to lessen moisture infringement and withstand wear-and-tear of wearing a backpack better.
Fjällräven Expedition Down Lite Jackets have large exterior pockets with a flap and two snaps per opening as well as an open side-slit pocket. They also use the same snaps to secure an oversized vertical storm flap that covers the jacket’s main zipper.
Additionally, they also come with a large stuff sack. Serious quality for serious winter-related outdoor activities, even if temps plummet to below zero with a negative -13°F windchill like we experienced in Wisconsin. Price: $640.00
Roomy, Comfortable, and With a Cause: Cotopaxi Fuego Max Down Jacket
Cotopaxi is based in Salt Lake City. It’s not your average clothing company. Cotopaxi supports communities through empowerment, education, and health. So much so, the company’s motto is: Guaranteed For Good.
They try to make an impact to those less fortunate. Cotopaxi supports the impoverished around the world, with a primary focus being Latin America. Cotopaxi gives 1% of their annual revenue to the Cotopaxi Foundation. This is a clothing and gear company that focuses on quality products and doing good at the same time.
The Cotopaxi Fuego Max Down Hooded Jacket - Men’s and Cotopaxi Fuego Max Down Hooded Jacket - Women’s are the company’s warmest offering. They’re a fresh take-off of their Fuego jacket. They are wind- and water-resistant and have large chest and hand pockets. They’re offered in fun, unique color combos or more subtle hues, depending on your style.
Both men’s and women’s Cotopaxi Fuego Max Down Hooded Jackets are made from responsibly sourced 800-fill down and have a 100% recycled shell and lining. They also boast adjustable hems with sewn-in bungees to tighten around you if temps drop.
Plus, they have elastic hidden cuffs and can pack into an interior pocket, creating a solid go-to pillow in case you forgot yours at home when camping. No stuff sack found here.
The Fuego Max Down Hooded Jackets are roomy and boxy in size. In fact, we were advised to size down one size for a proper fit. They also feature a larger hood and loftier baffles. A great fit for adventurers who seek style and comfort from a company that does good. Price: $350.00
Milder Wearables: Simond MT500 Hooded Down Puffer Jacket
The Decathlon brand isn’t as well known in North America as the other brands we mentioned. But they have great products at affordable prices and are popular in many countries. They have an umbrella of brands, with Simond and Quechua being two of them.
If you’re looking for good affordable fleece midlayer pieces, check out the Quechua Men’s MH120 Hiking Fleece or Quechua Women’s MH100 Lightweight Hiking Fleece. They’re well-made and keep you warm in a variety of cold-weather conditions without emptying your wallet.
The Simond Forclaz Men’s MT500 Hooded Down Puffer Jacket and Simond Women’s MT500 Hooded Down Puffer Jacket have many features we need, packed into well-crafted jackets that have a down fill power of 800 CUIN (cubic inches) and has 90% grey duck down and 10% grey duck feathers.
The men’s and women’s Simond MT500 Hooded Down Puffer Jacket have many similarities, but differences are notable, too. The men’s is boxy whereas the women’s is fitted and accentuates their figure.
The men’s MT500 has an exterior-facing zippered breast pocket, the women’s zippered pocket is on the inside. The down distribution varies. The women’s quilting has a V shape while the men’s is straight across horizontally.
Both Simond MT500 Hooded Down Puffer Jackets have two zippered hand pockets and two open non-zippered inside pockets at the base of the hem. The men’s and women’s MT500 also have soft-lined collars, generous well-fitting hoods, and inner pocket details. They also come with their own storage bag.
The Simond MT500s have proven their worth for a lightweight and affordable alternative for when Old Man Winter isn’t below zero. The Simond MT500 is a solid contender, even though the company is popular in Europe but is little-known in North America as of now.
We’ve extensively tested the Decathlon Forclaz MT900 hiking backpack and just used their Simond 500 Extend 40-60 L Duffel Bag for a cross-country trip with great results. It’s no wonder their clothing is holding up just as well, too. Price: $179.00
Sleeping Soundly: Sea to Summit Ascent Down Sleeping Bag
We’ve covered several clothing items to help keep you warm with outdoor winter activities, but what if you’re at camp and you need an extra layer of comfort? If you’re looking to sleep soundly when temps drop, the men’s/unisex Ascent Down Sleeping Bag and Ascent Women’s Down Sleeping Bag give you just that.
We’ve reviewed Sea to Summit products for years. From their Hydraulic Packing Cubes and Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Dinnerware Set and Frontier Ultralight Cutlery Set to their Ether Light XR Pro Sleeping Pads and more, these products traveled the world with us and have had little wear.
Both bag models feature a relaxed mummy fit and are offered in Regular 6’-1” and Long 6’-6” lengths. This gives sleepers extra room without feeling too confined. The Women’s specific fit is narrower at the shoulders to reduce weight but is wider at the hips and knees to allow for better side-sleeping positions.
You can buy either 30°F or 15°F temp ratings. We tested the Unisex Regular 15°F bag and the Women’s specific Regular 15°F bag on top of an EXPED MegaMat Duo Sleeping Mat. These Ascent sleepers have several features.
These include high lofting 750+ RDS-certified (Responsible Down Standard) Ultra-Dry Goose Down, a technical hood that keeps heat in, and an internal pocket for keys or a smartphone. The Sea to Summit Ascent Down Sleeping Bags also can be zipped together to create one large, double-wide sleeping setup.
These bags also feature Quilt Lock Snaps to keep the sleeping bag in place around your shoulders, even if the side zippers are opened and your arms are outside of the bag. Additionally, they feature a nifty footbox zipper that acts as a vent, or an opening should you want to walk around camp with the Ascent bag around you.
The Women’s is bigger in visual thickness and in size when it’s stowed in its rectangular bag vs. the Unisex model. However, both models are rated respectively at 15 degrees (or 30 for the warmer models). Both come with a compression sack.
Sea to Summit continues to impress us with high-quality, innovative gear. We slept soundly while testing their Ascent Down Sleeping Bags and stayed cozy and comfortable in cold temperatures. Their features and high-quality construction made these our new go-to sleepers when venturing outdoors. Price: $449.00
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