A down jacket at 3,199 kroner and one at 9,999 can both be the right choice — for entirely different uses. We have compared ten down jackets we stock, from lightweight mid-layers to long parkas, plus two synthetic alternatives for wet coastal weather.
In brief
- Warmest in the range: Norrøna trollveggen down800 Hood (6,499 kr) is, according to Norrøna, their warmest down jacket, with 800+ fill power and 248 grams of down in women's M. For everyday and stationary use, the long parkas are the warmest: Fjällräven Expedition Long Down Parka (8,999 kr) and Arc'teryx Beta Down Parka (9,999 kr).
- The versatile option: Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody (4,799 kr) has 800-fill traceable down, is lightweight and works both on its own and under a shell jacket.
- Down and shell in one: Arc'teryx Beta Down Parka has 850 fill power goose down beneath a waterproof Gore-Tex outer fabric, and is the only model in the range that handles precipitation without a shell jacket on top.
- Best equipped against moisture: Montane Anti Freeze (4,199 kr) and Anti Freeze XT (4,800 kr) use water-resistant ExpeDRY down. Norrøna falketind down750 (3,999 kr) has synthetic insulation in the sides, collar and forearms, where moisture arrives first.
- Most affordable: Helly Hansen Verglas Hooded Down 2.0 (3,199 kr) with 700 fill power.
- If you spend most of your time outdoors in sleet and rain around zero degrees, synthetic insulation is often the safer choice: Norrøna femund thermo60 (2,999 kr) and Arc'teryx Atom Hoody (3,169 kr).
- This is a comparison of fill, construction, intended use and price — not a laboratory test. We do not name an overall winner.
How we have compared them
We have not measured warmth or weight ourselves, and we do not award scores. All figures in this guide — fill power, down weight and garment weight — are taken from the manufacturers' product data as listed in our online shop. Where a manufacturer does not state a figure, we have omitted it. Weight is given for only a few of the models and is therefore not included in the table. Please note that down weight is stated for one specific size, and that it varies between women's and men's models.
What we contribute is the selection and the perspective. We are a specialist shop in Tromsø that has sold winter clothing since 1988, and all the models below are in stock with us. The recommendations follow from how the jackets are constructed — considered against winter as it actually is in the north: dry cold inland, wet cold and wind on the coast, and a great deal of time spent outdoors in the dark.
If you are unsure what fill power means, or whether you should choose down at all, start with the guide Dunjakke eller syntetisk jakke?. We do not repeat the explanations here.
Which down jackets have we compared?
The table is sorted by price. Where a jacket is available in several colours, we link to the colour we have most of in stock.
| Model | Brand | Fill | Suited for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verglas Hooded Down 2.0 | Helly Hansen | 700 fill power RDS down, water-resistant treatment | Hiking and everyday use, on its own or under a shell | 3,199 kr |
| falketind down750 Hood | Norrøna | 750 fill power RDS down (85 g in women's M), synthetic insulation in sides, collar and forearms | Year-round insulating layer, packs into its own pocket | 3,999 kr |
| Anti Freeze Hoodie | Montane | 800+ fill power ExpeDRY goose down (100 g in women's model), synthetic panels under the arms | Mountain hiking and ski touring, wet cold | 4,199 kr |
| femund down700 Zip Hood | Norrøna | 700 fill power recycled down (175 g in men's L), durable synthetic fabric under the arms | Hiking, everyday use and travel | 4,499 kr |
| Down Sweater Hoody | Patagonia | 800 fill power traceable goose down, outer fabric in 100% recycled polyester | All-round — hiking, everyday use, under a shell | 4,799 kr |
| Anti Freeze XT Hoodie | Montane | 800+ fill power ExpeDRY goose down (170 g in men's model) | Cold winter trips, rest stops and camp | 4,800 kr |
| trollveggen down800 Hood | Norrøna | 800+ fill power RDS duck down (248 g in women's M) | Extreme cold, belaying, rest stops on ski tours | 6,499 kr |
| Fitz Roy Down Hoody | Patagonia | 800 fill power traceable goose down, packs into its own pocket | Ski touring and winter mountains where packed volume matters | 6,599 kr |
| Expedition Down Lite Jacket | Fjällräven | 700 fillpower goose down (90/10) with synthetic fill in exposed zones | Everyday use and winter trips in milder winter climates | 7 799 kr |
| Expedition Long Down Parka | Fjällräven | Insulation in two offset layers: goose down (90/10) and synthetic fibre | Cold days, low-activity use, everyday wear | 8 999 kr |
| Beta Down Parka | Arc'teryx | 850 fillpower RDS-certified goose down, synthetic insulation in moisture-prone zones, waterproof Gore-Tex ePE outer fabric | Cold and wet winter, everyday and low-activity use — long fit | 9 999 kr |
Fjällräven's long parkas, Arc'teryx Beta Down Parka and Helly Hansen Verglas are linked in the women's model only. You'll find the full range under down jackets for women and down jackets for men.
Synthetic alternatives
| Model | Brand | Insulation | Suited for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| femund thermo60 Zip Hood | Norrøna | Synthetic thermo60 (60 g in the body, 40 g in sleeves and hood), windproof outer fabric | Mid-layer in winter, light outer jacket otherwise | 2 999 kr |
| Atom Hoody | Arc'teryx | Coreloft 60, stretch panels at the sides | Active use, under a shell jacket | 3 169 kr |
Which down jacket is warmest?
The warmth of a down jacket is determined by two figures together: fillpower (how much the down lofts) and how many grams of down are filled into the jacket. A jacket with 800 fillpower and 100 grams of down is no warmer than one with 700 fillpower and 175 grams — it is lighter and more packable for the warmth it provides.
Where manufacturers state the amount of down, the range breaks down as follows: falketind down750 has 85 grams (women's M), Montane Anti Freeze 100 grams, Anti Freeze XT 170 grams, femund down700 175 grams (men's L), and trollveggen down800 as much as 248 grams (women's M). The figures apply to different sizes and cannot be compared entirely like for like, but they clearly show that these are three distinct jacket types:
- Light down jackets (around 85–100 g of down): falketind down750, Anti Freeze, Down Sweater and Verglas. They work as a mid-layer in winter and an outer jacket in spring and autumn. For low-activity use at minus ten they are too thin on their own.
- Warm touring jackets (around 170–175 g of down): femund down700 and Anti Freeze XT. Warm enough for most winter use on the move and for short breaks.
- The warmest: trollveggen down800 and Fitz Roy are made for breaks, belaying and camp life in serious cold. Fjällräven's Expedition jackets and Arc'teryx Beta Down Parka are the warmest for everyday use — Long Down Parka has insulation in two offset layers (down and synthetic) and extends well down the body, and Beta Down Parka combines 850 fillpower goose down with a long fit and waterproof outer fabric.
Note that the Expedition Down Lite, as the name suggests, contains less down than the original Expedition jacket and is designed for milder winter climates — which suits the coast well.
Down in northern Norwegian coastal conditions — does it work?
Yes, but it places demands on the jacket. Down that gets wet clumps together and loses its insulating ability. In Tromsø and along the coast, winter is often damp: sleet, wet snow and temperatures that fluctuate around zero. Inland, the cold is drier, and that is where down truly comes into its own.
Three construction features make a down jacket better suited to coastal conditions, and all of them are found in the range:
- Water-resistant down. Montane uses ExpeDRY down, which is treated to resist moisture and dry faster. Helly Hansen Verglas also has water-resistant treated down according to the product data.
- Synthetic where moisture strikes first. Norrøna falketind down750 has synthetic insulation at the sides, collar and lower sleeves. Fjällräven uses synthetic fill in exposed zones, and Arc'teryx Beta Down Parka has synthetic insulation where moisture strikes first.
- A shell on top. In precipitation, a down jacket belongs under a shell jacket. The exception in the range is Arc'teryx Beta Down Parka, which has a waterproof Gore-Tex outer fabric and is therefore a down jacket and shell in one. See How to choose the right shell jacket.
Wind is the other factor. All the down jackets here have a tightly woven outer fabric that blocks most of the wind, but apart from Beta Down Parka none of them are shell jackets. On an exposed quayside or mountain summit in strong winds, you need a windproof layer on top.
When should you choose synthetic instead?
Choose synthetic if the jacket will be used mainly in activity, in damp weather, or if it needs to withstand frequent washing. Norrøna femund thermo60 retains its warmth even when damp according to the product data, and the outer fabric is windproof. Arc'teryx Atom Hoody has stretch panels at the sides that release heat when you are working hard, and insulation that keeps you warm even in damp conditions.
Both are thinner than the down jackets in the table. Think of them as a mid-layer in winter and an outer jacket the rest of the year — not as a replacement for a warm down jacket when you are standing still in the cold. Many people end up with one of each: synthetic for activity, down for breaks and everyday use. You can read more in Down jacket or synthetic jacket?.
What sets the price ranges apart?
Around 3 000–4 500 kr gets you light down jackets with 700–800 fillpower. The differences lie in the details: Norrøna falketind has reinforced shoulders and sleeves in 45D nylon and synthetic fill in the moisture zones; Montane Anti Freeze has the highest fillpower down and water-resistant treatment; Helly Hansen Verglas is the most affordable; femund down700 uses recycled down.
Around 4 500–5 500 kr the amount of down increases and the jackets become genuine winter jackets. Patagonia Down Sweater is the exception — it is light, but uses 800-fill traceable down and an outer fabric made from 100% recycled polyester.
Above 6 000 kr you are paying for a large amount of high-quality down (trollveggen, Fitz Roy) or for length, coverage and an outer fabric built for daily use over many years (Fjällräven Expedition). Arc'teryx Beta Down Parka sits at the top because in practice you get two garments in one: a long down parka and a Gore-Tex shell.
Our recommendation for …
- … one down jacket for most situations: Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody. Light enough to wear under a shell, warm enough as an outer jacket for much of the year.
- … coastal winter with a lot of moisture: Montane Anti Freeze (light) or Anti Freeze XT (warm), both with water-resistant down.
- … summit breaks and cold days in the mountains: Norrøna trollveggen down800 Hood. The most down in the range where the amount is stated.
- … everyday use, bus stops and northern lights trips where you spend a lot of time standing still: Fjällräven Expedition Long Down Parka (women's) or Expedition Down Lite.
- … sleet and wet snow without a shell jacket over: Arc'teryx Beta Down Parka (women's), with waterproof Gore-Tex outer fabric.
- … tightest budget: Helly Hansen Verglas Hooded Down 2.0, or Norrøna femund thermo60 if synthetic suits your use better.
- … a shorter down jacket from Arc'teryx: Thorium Hoody (men's, 5 499 kr) has 750-fill goose down with synthetic Coreloft on weather-exposed areas. Limited stock.
A down jacket should have room for a layer underneath without the down being compressed flat — that is when it loses warmth. Feel free to try it on with the jumper you actually wear in our shops at Jekta or Veita in Tromsø. Online you have 30 days' open return and free delivery on orders over 899 kr.
Sources
- Norrøna – trollveggen down800 Hood — 800+ fillpower RDS down and down quantity
- Norrøna – falketind down750 Hood — down quantity and synthetic in the moisture zones
- Montane – Anti Freeze XT Hooded Down Jacket — ExpeDRY down and down quantity
- Fjällräven – Expedition Long Down Parka — down and synthetic in two offset layers
- Arc'teryx – Atom Hoody — Coreloft 60 and stretch panels
- IDFL – Responsible Down Standard (RDS) — what RDS-certified down means
Last checked 19.10.2026.
