Sierra Designs DriDown Baffled Parka

Warmth Stuffed to the gills with Sierra Designs’s water-resistant, 800-fill goose down, this toaster kept one tester happy down to -10°F through a raging blizzard on Mt. Whitney.

Hood The thickly insulated hood has zero adjustments or toggles—and doesn’t need them. “When the front is fully zipped, the hood hugs my head like a beanie, so I didn’t miss the adjustability,” says a tester who wore it camping in Virginia’s Great Falls Park. But it’s not helmet-compatible, so it’s not a great choice for cold-weather climbing.”

Protection The DWR-treated 10-denier nylon has reinforcement patches on the forearms and the longer-than-average butt area. The entire jacket has a light PU coating on the inner surface of the shell, which provides permanent water- and wind-resistance (DWR alone will wear off over time). Our Whitney tester reported excellent precip protection for a puffy jacket.
$299; 1 lb. 1 oz. (w’s M); sierradesigns.com