The overall fit is not particularly streamlined like many of the other options listed here, so these pants are best worn as an outer layer, rather than as a base or mid-layer. Chances are, we missed some good options that are available in the marketplace. If you have a pair of ultralight down pants that you’d recommend, please drop us a note in the conversation below. Likewise, if you have experience with any of these, please let us know how you’re getting along with them. Related Content Mountain Hardwear has built these pants with a low-profile quilt pattern that creates heat-trapping channels while also allowing the pants to layer very nicely underneath your outerwear. It’s a particularly streamlined design that makes these pants especially versatile in the sense that you can wear them under a shell, or on their own. The Flash Down Pant, also by western Mountaineering, is a lighter weight option that’s also treated for maximum water resistance. It comes in at just 6.5 ounces, lighter than any down pant included on this list, so give them a look if you’re seeking an 850+ fill pair that’s more suited for use as a base or mid-layer. Seeking a down garment that won't quit on you if it encounters some wetness in the field? A synthetic or synthetic blend insulation is probably best.

Bathtime -you could start a conversation when you're running your child's bath, or helping them get dressed.Implementing 800-fill RDS-certified, lightweight, breathable down (90% goose down, 10% goose feather), the Ghost Whisperer Pants are supremely toasty as well as impressively lightweight at just 9.6 ounces. The high fill power allows for less insulation overall, resulting in a remarkably high speed/low drag pair of down pants.

Full side zippers furthermore allow for super easy layering over your pants, so you can deploy this insulating layer in a moment’s notice when you need it. A waterproof outer hem furthermore resists moisture, so these won’t wet out as easily as much of the competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Thermal.Q™ Elite insulation employed here works more or less the same way as natural down – it utilizes stiffer fibers to build a 3D grid structure and then finer fibers to fill in the gaps in the structure. The end result is a garment that doesn’t lose all of its insulating ability when wet, while still allowing for impressive compressibility – hence the “Compressor” Pant. The ankle zips are another nice feature as you can—at least in theory—put on and take off the pants without removing your shoes. Note that this works with smaller shoes, but it’s a no-go with the large Five Ten winter boots shown in these photos. For outdoor winter wear, look for a pair of pants with at least a 600 or 700 fill-power and at least 3 ounces of down. That’s a good base range; more than that will be very warm, and less than that will be better for activities where you’re likely to generate your own heat (winter running, snowshoeing, etc.).