We all look forward to colder days so we can rock our best jacket, only to find out two layers aren’t enough to keep you warm. Then comes the dreaded bulky outfit, including layer upon layer just to warm up on a snowy day.
Luckily, lightweight down jackets are the perfect alternative to layering. This puffer jacket consists of a quilted coat insulated with goose or duck feathers. These feathers create air pockets, which retain warm air in the jacket.
With an ultra-light down jacket like the Gamma Jacket, you can stay warm with just one layer, but that’s not where its benefits end. Here are five reasons you should invest in a breathable down jacket this winter.
Why You Need an Ultra-Light Down Jacket for Winters
Down jackets don’t have to be insulated with duck feathers to keep you warm. With the newest graphene-infused technology, the Gamma Jacket offers all the benefits of a down jacket while still being lightweight and airy. Here’s why you need one this winter.
Breathability
Snowy days don’t mean you have to feel suffocated under endless layers just to stay warm. Down jackets have lightweight but rain-resistant, wind-resistant, and moisture-wicking shells, eliminating the need for multiple layers.
Their moisture management capabilities allow moisture originating from the body to evaporate through the shell, making it breathable. As a result, the jacket ensures your inner clothing doesn’t get wet and prevents conductive heat loss.
With the help of the shell’s breathability, the moisture seeks to escape the jacket as it’s attracted to the winter air outside. You can measure a down jacket’s breathability with its moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) in grams of vapors escaping the jacket per square meter.
Most high-performance down jackets have a breathability rating of 20000 MTVR, with the Gamma Jacket being the perfect example of such a jacket.
Temperature Regulation
When it comes to insulated shells, down jackets are the best at offering temperature regulation, which helps you stay warm during the winter while cooling you down on hot days. Different down jacket shells use various technologies to channel these thermoregulating properties.
For example, the Gamma Jacket utilizes its superconducting characteristics to make this apparel suitable for any weather. In addition, since it’s infused with graphene, the lattice structure allows for even heat distribution throughout your body in the winter.
In the summer, it keeps you cool by expelling heat and wicking moisture. On the other hand, traditional down jackets use natural materials, known as “down,” to regulate the temperature for the wearer.
These electric jackets are insulated with goose or duck feathers, which trap air between them and retain warmth.
Water Resistance
A down jacket’s shell plays a significant role in its water-resistant capabilities. So while it’s hard to find a jacket that’s perfectly waterproof and breathable at the same time, it’s not impossible. In fact, most down jackets include waterproofing as a standard.
Standard down jacket shells have a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating, preventing the jacket from soaking up moisture. However, this coating typically cannot withstand heavy downpours and extreme weather conditions in the winter.
Such cases call for advanced waterproofing technologies like the Gamma Jacket’s graphene layering proprietary weave. Modern down jackets also include synthetic insulation in areas most vulnerable to moisture, such as the hood and shoulders.
Durability
Their longevity is another reason you need an ultra-light down jacket this winter. Standard wool coats or leather jackets may be more affordable, but a down jacket is an investment that’ll serve you for years to come.
Winter jackets are typically made from fabrics that are only meant to last a few years, while down jacket shells are lightweight yet hard-wearing.
The durability of their shells is measured in denier (D), which most low-end down jackets being 7D. On the other hand, high-performance down jackets such as the Gamma Jacket can go higher than 20D.
Packability
Lastly, the best part about ultra-light down jackets is their packability. Of course, the jacket’s weight directly influences this factor, so it is crucial to note its specifications before purchase. You can even find premium down jackets with their own stuff sack.
The Gamma Jacket only weighs 21 oz, making it one of the lightest modern down jackets on the market. As a result, it’s easy to zip the jacket up and put it away in your bag. Besides packability, the Gamma Jacket frees up closet space by combining your summer and winter outerwear. 
How to Pick the Best Lightweight Down Jacket for the Winter
Picking the best-heated women’s jacket isn’t as simple as buying the most lightweight one. You must also consider factors such as fit, waterproofing ability, and warmth to ensure it serves you well in the winter.
Fit
Finding the perfect fit for a down jacket can be challenging, but it’s an unskippable step if you hope to keep this jacket for years. You’ll find that down jackets are generally baggier and unflattering than most jackets, but that’s not the case with the Gamma Jacket.
The jacket is available in eight different sizes for men and women, making it simpler to find the ideal fit for your body type. It also includes various customization features, such as adjustable velcro cuffs and an adjustable rain hem.
Besides that, you’ll find boxy fits for most down jackets, influencing how you layer clothes underneath. To ensure the perfect fit for your down jacket, we recommend shopping in person or thoroughly studying the sizing chart online.
Features
Once you find the perfect fit, it’s time to look for features that increase the down jacket’s practicality. A plain down jacket may work well enough, but features like a three-way customizable hood will change the game.
The Gamma Jacket is packed with features like adjustable waist drawstrings which help you customize the jacket’s fit. You can also benefit from the jacket’s 10-pocket system, which includes the buttonable inner pocket, arm pocket, power bank pocket, and many more.
Such features make your down jacket more functional than just staying warm on colder days. Instead, they reduce the need for bigger bags for extra storage and make your jacket adaptable to battery operated jacket heating technologies.
Price
Of course, one of the main ways to find the best down jacket for you is to keep it under budget. You may find down jackets in the $100 range, but they typically only last a few months due to their flimsy shells.
Hard-shell, durable down jackets are available for no less than $900. While these jackets last long and are packed with practical features, these prices aren’t justified. Luckily, the Gamma Jacket is on the affordable side of modern jackets while offering the same level of durability.
Fill Power
When it comes to traditional down jackets, the down fill power and weight are the two most influential factors for the jacket’s functionality. The fill power determines the down material’s quality, with 800 fill power being the standard for most high-end down jackets.
On the other hand, fill weight measures the total amount of down material insulating the jacket. It may seem obvious to pick the jacket with the highest fill weight, but that’s not the case with ultra-light down jackets.
We’d always recommend prioritizing fill power over fill weight. Even the most lightweight premium down jackets can provide more warmth than heavyweight low-end options.
Warmth
Considering how much warmth you need is the main way to find the best-fitting down jacket for you. You’ll find down jackets with varying warmth levels, with the thinnest shells providing the least warmth.
The shell isn’t the only thing that influences the warmth of a down jacket; you must consider the amount of down fill too. Lightweight down jackets typically have 3-4 oz of down fill, while heavyweight ones may even hold up to 8 oz.
However, if the down fill power is high enough, you can still opt for a high-performance lightweight down jacket. Since the Gamma Jacket isn’t insulated with traditional down fill, you won’t have to compromise on the weight or warmth at all.
Instead of down fill, the Gamma Jacket is infused with graphene technology, which distributes heat evenly throughout the body. The jacket also includes battery-heating capabilities, allowing you to use a power bank and stay warm on the snowiest of days.
Conclusion
Down jackets are the perfect way to cut your winter outfit to just one or two layers. You can enjoy its thermoregulating capabilities while enjoying the breathable yet waterproof shell.
If you’re not a fan of duck feather insulation, the Gamma Jacket is the perfect modern alternative to unethical down jackets. You can avail of all the benefits of a traditional down jacket alongside the battery-heating, antibacterial, and moisture-wicking capabilities of this ultra-light winter jacket.
Head over to Wear Graphene to get the latest deals on the best winter jacket for women.