Fleece vs Down jacket

[glowfrog]

Hi all - am considering buying one of those light down jackets:

www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/ultra-light-down-parka-460915.html

Though not necessarily from Uniqlo. How does it compare in terms of warmth to a fleece? Or does it depend on the brand, eg an £80 down jacket from Uniqlo will be very warm but one from M&S less so

A down coat is much warmer than a fleece imo. You can get different levels of warmth in down coats so look to find one that suits your needs

Is waterproof important for you? It is for me.

it depends on how much down content there is. The first thing to look for is the percentage of down vs feather content. Ideally 90% down or above is the best. The lower the percentage, the heavier and cheapper, also less warm. The next the thing is how much down there is, 80g? 120g? the more the warmer, although this information may not always be available.

I wouldn't buy down as I understand it's quite a cruel process . I have a couple of padded jackets which are recycled polyester . A different type of jacket to fleece which is more of a base layer under a waterproof.

And yes, you can not compare down jacket with fleece jacket, even though they look simiar. Down jackets are so much warmer and better. It is definitelt needed for British winter.

A fleece isn’t waterproof? So not a coat at all, more a mid layer and better compared to a jumper. Or am I missing something?

Regardless though with down its the weight of the insulation that matters. You can get lightweight massively expensive Monclear jackets for example so it’s not always true that more expensive = warmer.

My kids have the uniqlo coats. They’re decent quality and had no complaints of being cold last winter. If you live in London it’ll serve you well. If you live in Colorado I’d maybe rethink in favour of an outdoorsy brand.

They are two different things. A fleece is a warm jumper, a jacket is windproof and semi waterproof.
On a cold day I would wear both the fleece and down jacket together

Down is always better, and natural, and sustainable. RipStop is also a good material for the outer. Most down is now cruelty free and farmed, not wild, nor live plucked. Uniqlo seems to follow this standard.

Yes, neither are waterproof but I agree, the Uniqlo is a great city coat. A parka would be better for waterproof.

Uniqlo is ethical down, if such a thing exists.

I imagine OP means fleece lines as opposed to a fleece with is indeed really a jumper with a zip. I'd still probably have both with a fleece lined jacket a size up so the down jacket or big jumper can go underneath.

*lined not lines

The uniqlo one is billed as water repellent and it’s absolutely fine and everyone stays warm and dry if you’re caught in a shower without an umbrella. I wouldn’t wear it hiking or skiing though! Agree it’s definitely a city coat.

Thank you all - very useful information! I've worn very warm fleeces in the past and I guess I can't believe that anything as light as some of the down jackets I've seen out there are all that warm 😂

Irrational, I know.

Waterproof is quite important given how wet it can be in London. In the past I've often worn a fleece with a waterproof jacket on top of it.

Am now considering something like a down jacket with some waterproof capacity that I can easily take to work on my bike (ie isn't too heavy or won't take up too much space). Or even to wear under a waterproof jacket but that would be warm enough in winter.

I live somewhere the temperature is regularly -15 in the winter. There is literally no way you could endure that in a fleece jacket.
I buy my down jackets from Patagonia.

https://outdoorsmagic.com/article/best-down-jackets-women/#ySO1gqK2Lu6lK1gp.97

@glowfrog Some of the lightweight down jackets fold up into a tiny bag for travel. Or fit under a raincoat. They are completely different to a down filled puffa which is much warmer. Just looking at the size of the filling channels tells you what’s warmer. I’ve got fleece tops and wear layers when it’s cold. So fleece and long line puffa! M&S do thermowarm or down filled. Both are warm. Cos ones are exceptional too. Arket not bad either.

I have this jacket and I love it. I love that it packs down into a little bag..

Thank you - does that mean the larger the filling channel, the warmer it is?

Thanks @MangshorJhol - those are sadly out of my price range and also probably higher specs than I need. It would be for city living rather than actual hiking 🙈

Have a look at outdoor /mountaineering brands, the majority of who use ethical down. Alpikit can be cost effective.

You can get waterproof down jackets. They are very expensive!

Trespass DM got one of these a couple of years ago and it's been brilliant. She's 80 and a cancer patient and really feels the Yorkshire winter!

They are brilliant actually. I have a proper mountaineering one (but a bit tight now) and a £50 M&S one. Its the first jacket I reach for from now to Spring. They are light warm and comfortable. Agree consider getting a shower proof one as they take a while to dry if soaked.

I think even a light down jacket would be too warm for cycling in unless you have an e bike.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/feather-and-down-packaway-puffer-jacket/p/clp60527303?color=BLACK&prevPage=srp#intid=pid_pg1pip48g2r1c1
This kind of thing is great for day to day, can put a jumper under it or a waterproof on top.

Thank you @NotMeNoNo - yes, am thinking a lighter down to act as base layer might be the way to go.

@glowfrog the red one from M&S is the one I have. Mine is black. If you notice it’s got slim channels. It sounds fine for what you want but it’s not waterproof. You can pop a windproof/waterproof over it. I’ve attached a selection from M&S so you can see which are designed for very cold weather (the duvet coat) and which are more intermediate. For cycling the light weight ones with a waterproof over would work well. Adding layers gives flexibility but if you are standing around in cold weather, you cannot beat a duvet coat!

Thank you so much @TizerorFizz !!