Yes! Since 2016, all of our down has been independently certified to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS), which describes and certifies animal welfare practices in down and feather production from the farm to the final product. The down that is used in outdoor products is a by-product of raising geese and ducks for meat. For the farmer, the value of the down is only around 5% of their income. Even if all apparel and bedding manufacturers stopped using down today, goose and duck farming would continue, but the down and feathers would likely end up in landfill.Instead, the feather and down are cleaned, sanitized and recycled into down jackets and other apparel and gear. The Responsible Down Standard protects an animal’s 'Five Freedoms'. This means no force-feeding and definitely no live-plucking. RDS follows the down from farm to product, so consumers can be confident that the birds live healthy lives, and don’t suffer from pain, fear nor distress.

One of our all-time bestsellers and just oh so comfy all year round a puffer jacket is definitely a staple piece in every wardrobe. Filled with down or synthetic material puffer jackets are able to keep you toasty while remaining lightweight and breathable.

When choosing your puffer jacket you should consider the weight of your jacket as well as what you mainly anticipate wearing your jacket for. A puffer jacket will be a great pick for almost any occasion as long as you consider a few key things:

• Our puffer jackets are finished with a DWR  (Durable Water Repellent) treatment to make them water-resistant. When you are expecting severe rain or want to hit the powder we advise you wear your puffer as a mid-layer and add a rain coat to your outfit.
• Fill weight VS fill power. Down keeps you warm by trapping body heat and preventing it from diffusing into the cold air around you. The more volume is occupied by the down, the greater the amount of air trapped and the greater the insulation generated to keep you snuggly warm in your puffer jacket. Higher fill power reflects better quality down that’s capable of trapping more air and providing a better warmth to weight ratio.
  
  

At Kathmandu, we label each of our down jackets on a ‘warm’, ‘warmer’ or ‘warmest’ scale along with weight and packability levels – so you can make a well-informed choice on which jacket is best for you.

When well looked after your puffer jacket should be your trusted companion for many great adventures and will fight off the cold breeze without breaking a sweat. However, when your puffer does get smelly or dirty you can give it some TLC to make sure it still performs great. Either treat it to a handwash or gentle machine wash cycle using some of Grangers Down Wash Concentrate.

While you will see the puffer jackets coming out in full force during the winter months, puffer vests can be a great option for colder summer days or evenings when you are busy getting out there. And with a ton of super cool styles and colours to choose from there truly is a perfect match out there for everyone.

With an emphasis on style, functionality and breathability, our puffer jackets and vests aim to push the boundaries so that you can truly enjoy the outdoors – all while staying toasty warm and comfortable. Because it’s like wearing a big, warm hug all the time, and who doesn’t want that?!

All of our Down Jackets are coated with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) - which encourages water to bead off the fabric's surface. While this means the jackets are water resistant, they are not waterproof and should not be worn in heavy rain.

Feather Down loses its ability to insulate when it gets wet (and once wet it can be slow to dry). However, our recycled synthetic fibre jackets (novaLOFT) are just as warm as feather down, but will still keep you warm when damp.

Feather down is nature’s best insulator, and provides exceptional warmth, while also being incredibly lightweight and supremely packable. A downside is that the feathers don't insulate when wet, and they can be time-consuming to wash and dry properly. To combat this, our puffer jackets and vests are treated with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish which helps to bead water in light rain. But if you do expect to get caught out in heavy rain, take a quality rain jacket to add on top of your puffer, so you can stay cosy and dry.

Kathmandu's synthetic insulation (novaLOFT) is made from 100% recycled polyester. The advantages of synthetic are that it still insulates when damp, is quicker drying, is easier to wash, and is typically more affordable. However, it doesn't quite compare with feather down in terms of its weight-to-warmth ratio.

If you wash it properly, regular washing will actually help your down jacket last longer and perform at its best.

When properly cared for, your Kathmandu down jacket can last for decades. Click here to learn how to wash a down jacket.

In one word: yes. However, back in the day, down jackets were used only to describe jackets made using goose and duck feathers, whereas puffer jackets were originally named for jackets that used synthetic insulation.

Over the years as down and puffer jackets have increased in popularity, the two terms have become interchangeable.