Trekkers are often confused about what layers they should buy, when they should wear them, how much they should invest in them, and so on. 

In this article, we will be addressing one such concern – should you invest in down jackets or padded jackets. We went down to Decathlon, Anubhava in Bangalore, looked through their large collection and made our verdict as to which is a better investment. Take a look. 

We compare down jackets and padded jackets based on six important factors:

In each of the above sections, we will give you a fair comparison of both the types of jacket. 

Down jackets are known to be warm. Compared to the more versatile padded jacket, warmth is the biggest strength of the down jacket. 

Down jackets are jackets that are filled with plumage of ducks or geese from the underside of their wings. The air pockets in the feathers trap your body’s warmth and keep you from getting cold. These feathers are great insulators and are naturally available material. 

The warmth of these jackets are measured by their Fill Power. Fill power is the number of cubic inches that an ounce of down fills up. In other words, it is a measure of the “fluffiness” of the jacket. The higher the fill power, the warmer the jacket is.   

Padded jackets are filled with a synthetic polyfill material, usually trying to mimic the effect of a down jacket. 

Padded jackets by themselves are fairly warm. These jackets (along with your layers) can withstand temperatures up to -5 degrees.

Having said that, if you compare the warmth to weight ratio, down jackets are the clear winner. If you have to attain the same warmth as a down jacket, the equivalent padded jacket tends to weigh a lot more. 

With this, let’s look at their weights.

One of the biggest USPs of down jackets is that they are light. Given they are made of feathers, they are lighter than any material. On another note, most down jackets are simple, without hoods and inner pockets. Given they have no added frills, they are extremely light. 

When it comes to weight, padded jackets tend to be slightly heavier than down. Aside from the inner filling itself, they tend to have hoods, inner pockets and water resistant coating. 

Having said that, with the advent of technology in the clothing industry, most brands have managed to bring down the weight of padded jackets to match that of down jackets. 

Even companies like Decathlon have padded jackets that can compete with down jacket in both weight and warmth categories. They’re slightly more pricey, but still at half the price of down jackets. 

Since down jackets weigh less, they score high on compactness as well. They can actually be stuffed into a small pouch and that rarely happens with padded jackets. 

Down jackets are compact and take less space.

Of late, most padded jackets mimic down jackets in terms of volume and compactness. You can roll them right into a small ball and keep them in a corner of your backpack. 

When you’re buying a padded jacket, you can make sure you get one that compresses easily. Avoid bulky padded jackets, they are not easy to use on treks.

Everybody knows that waterproofing is the biggest weakness of down jackets. They do not keep you warm if they get wet and they take a long time to dry up once they are wet. Down jackets are most effective as mid-layers and not as outermost layers. 

Water resistance is a plus point for padded jackets when compared to down jackets. Most padded jackets are coated with at least a little bit of waterproofing. This means that they can withstand slight rain and snow for at least half an hour to one hour. It depends on the waterproofing of the particular jacket. Do check that and then choose. 

Padded jackets mostly come with a waterproof layer.

Down jackets have one purpose — to keep you warm. Outside of this purpose, down jackets are not your go-to jackets for anything. They come without water proofing, without hoods and inner pockets. While they can be used while hiking and trekking at high altitudes, they are mid-layers at best. 

They are not your robust, tension-free, low maintenance layers that you ideally need as an outer layer.  

Padded jackets tend to be a lot more versatile. They are suitable as outer layers, given that most of them have hoods and subtle waterproofing. They have additional pockets to store small accessories. 

You can wear them while hiking over a T-shirt. Or you can wear them in the evenings on top of 4 other layers. You can even wear them for travel or bike riding. They are robust and easy to maintain. 

Down jackets are not so easy to maintain when you’re wearing them or after you use them. You have to be careful at both these times. Here are a few dos and don'ts:

Don’t use them roughly while wearing them, because they are made of delicate materials. 

Don’t simply toss them into the washing machine among other clothes, once you’re done wearing them. 

Don’t use your normal detergent on them. 

Put a tennis ball into the washing machine to maintain the fluffiness of the jacket. (Otherwise, the feathers in it tend to bunch up in one corner which reduces the effectiveness of the jacket. 

Padded jackets are a lot easier to maintain than down jackets while you’re wearing them and also after using them. For most of these jackets, you can directly toss them into a washing machine. 

But there’s a range of jackets in the market. So you’ll have to decide and choose the kind of padded jacket, depending on the kind of usage you need. All in all, padded jackets are definitely a lot easier to maintain. 

When it comes to costs, down jackets are more expensive. Sourcing down feathers and manufacturing a jacket is an expensive process. 

Down jackets are usually in the range of around Rs. 5,000 to 6,000. You do get more expensive ones with higher fill power which will keep you extra warm. You also get slightly cheaper ones, which are usually mixed with polyester or non-down feathers. 

Padded jackets are much lower-priced than down jackets. This is simply because the material is easier to source than down jackets, as it’s not natural. These padded jackets are available starting from around Rs. 2000 up till around Rs. 3000 on an average. Even with these, there is plenty of variety. Again, it is important to buy depending on personal requirements.

Another point to keep in mind is that even the maintenance is less expensive for a padded jacket. 

If you’re planning to invest in one of these jackets, definitely pick a padded jacket. 

It will not only suit your Himalayan treks, but will also double up as your travel / riding jacket. It is cost-effective and easy to maintain. Given that we’re in 2022, most of the padded jackets are at par with down jackets in terms of weight, warmth and compactness. You need not worry about any of these factors. 

Down jackets make sense if you’re going to live in a cold place for long periods of time. They are not meant for rough use that you tend to do on a trek. 

Comparision of different parameters between down jacket and padded jacket

Make sure your jacket has a hood and deep pockets. 

Buy a jacket that is larger than your actual size. You will be wearing them on multiple layers.

We hope this article has helped you decide which one to buy. If you have any doubts, just drop a comment and we will help you out. 

Wondering whether to choose a down jacket or a padded jacket for your Himalayan trek? Give our comparison a read.

Down Jacket vs Padded Jacket: What Is Better For Trekkers

A padded jacket is quite an important investment when it comes to trekking. It forms an essential layer to keep you warm on any Himalayan trek, especially on winter or high-altitude treks where temperatures fall to -5° and lower.

Amongst the warm layers you will invest in for a trek – like fleece jackets, woollen sweaters and thermals, padded jackets are usually the most expensive of the lot. Unless of course, you’re buying a down jacket.

Padded jackets cost anywhere between Rs.1,500 – Rs.3,000 based on the brands. It is thus a good practice to maintain it well so that it lasts long.

Here’s what you can do to keep your padded jacket in good shape.

1. Do not wear your padded jacket while trekking

I have seen many trekkers wear their padded jacket while trekking. This is a big mistake.

For one, this increases the chances of your jacket being torn or scratched by sharp objects on the trail, like thorns or branches. Since padded jackets have a delicate exterior, they are susceptible to damage.

I suggest you wear your fleece jacket during the trek. You can wear your padded jacket after reaching your campsite. This way, your jacket will last you a long time.

2. Avoid using your padded jacket in heavy rain

Padded jackets are sold to us as water resistant. But depending on the water resistance measure, they last between a few minutes to a few hours in the rain. The average padded jacket (~3,000 mm) lasts only about an hour or two in mild rain. An 8,000 mm jacket would last a lot longer though.

Having said that, most padded jackets are only splashproof. They are not meant to be used during heavy rains.

So avoid depending on your padded jacket during heavy rain. Use it simply as a buffer time to pull out your rain wear from your backpack. If it is just a harmless mild drizzle, you can wear your padded jacket. But avoid getting it completely wet.

Though most padded jackets come with instructions allowing dry cleaning, I suggest you don’t do it. Most dry cleaners are not equipped to handle your mountaineering gear correctly. They may end up causing more harm than good. It’s a risky choice.

After your trek, you can hand wash or machine wash your padded jacket instead.

It is enough if you wash your jacket once a year. Don’t wash it too often.

4. When hand washing, do not wring your padded jacket

While hand washing your padded jacket don’t wring it. This will damage the acrylic or synthetic fibre inside.

Instead, dip your padded jacket in detergent water, brush off the dirt gently with your hand, and then rinse it in a bucket of water. Hang it under sunlight and let it dry.

5. Follow this procedure for machine washing

I advise you to machine wash only if you have a front-loading washing machine. The centre agitator present in top-loading washing machines can damage the acrylic fibre filling and make it accumulate in small corners of the jacket.

First, close all the zippers and buttons, and turn your jacket inside out. Add in two or three tennis balls in the machine along with the jacket. These balls prevent the acrylic fibre filling from bunching up. This will maintain the loft of your filling.

Use a gentle cycle with water set to a temperature not higher than 30 degree Celsius. I recommend you set it for two rinse cycles to remove all detergent residue. Skip the spin cycle.

Drying your padded jacket thoroughly is very important to prevent lumps and odours. Wash the jacket in the first half of the day and dry it in direct sunlight for the whole day. Use a hanger to hang the jacket form the clothes line. Do not use clips.

After drying, pat your jacket well to re-loft the filling.

6. Do not use hard detergent while washing

You shouldn’t use any regular hard detergent to wash your padded jacket. It not only damages the texture of the jacket, but also removes the splash-proof layer.

I recommend you use ‘Nikwax’. It’s a detergent specifically designed for cleaning mountaineering gear. You can get it online for Rs.1,800-2,500. It’s a worthy investment for washing all your trekking gear.

7.  Don’t fold your jacket when storing

While storing your padded jacket, avoid folding it and dumping it in a corner of your wardrobe. Hang it using a good quality smooth hanger instead. This avoids any unnecessary creases and ensures the acrylic fibre lasts longer.

If you follow these simple steps, you can rest assured that your padded jacket will last you several long treks.

If you know of any more tips, do drop in the comments!

(This article is part of a series by Trek Leader Tanmay Bain on how to maintain your trekking gear. You can read his previous article on maintaining your backpack here, and trekking poles here.)

Padded jackets are a good investment when you go for a high-altitude Himalayn trek. Here are some tips on how to maintain them during and after a trek.

7 Tips To Maintain Your Padded Jacket

A down jacket is a worthy investment if you plan to go on a high-altitude winter trek. It can manage to keep you warm even at -30°, with other adequate layering of course.

They are filled with under-feathers, or down, from birds like ducks or geese. Down is known to be a really good insulator. It creates several small air pockets which trap warm air and retain heat, thus keeping you really warm.

Down jackets are very comfortable in extreme cold temperatures. But they are also very expensive. They start at Rs.9,000 for the basic ones, and go until Rs.25,000 for the ones with high fill-power.

Maintaining a down jacket is a little cumbersome and requires thorough care. I have listed down some tips for you to help you keep it for a long time.

1. Don’t buy a down jacket with less than 550 fill-power rating

When you’re buying a down jacket, there are two things you need to look out for — the fill-power, and the weight of the jacket.

If you’re going for a Himalayan trek, you should not buy one that has a fill-power rating less than 550. You also need to check the weight of the product. If the weight is more, it will retain more heat.

Just to give you an example: Let’s say there are two down jackets — one weighs 150 gm with 850 fill-power and another one weighs 300 gm with 600 fill-power. In this case, the second one that weighs more, will be warmer.

You should not wear your down jacket while walking on a trek. It is very warming and will make you sweat while trekking. This could cause you to dehydrate you quickly. Instead, you can layer up with sweaters and fleece jackets.

Plus, if you wear it while trekking, yow will need to be extremely cautious of sharp objects on the trail, like branches or thorns. These may quickly damage your expensive down jacket’s fragile outer layer.

3. Don’t wear a down jacket during rains

Remember, down jackets are not waterproof. They are only splashproof.

If they are exposed to water for a long time, they will lose their fluffiness. They are made of feathers, after all.

If you need to wear your it while it’s raining, make sure to wear a raincoat over it.

You should not wash your down jacket after every trek. They don’t get dirty or smelly during the trek. The more often you wash, the faster it will lose its fluffiness and splash proof layer.

I have an 850-fill power down jacket which I bought 3 years ago. I have washed it only once so far, though I trek regularly as a Trek leader.

It is more than sufficient if you wash it once every 10-15 treks.

It is good practice to take out your down jacket when not in use, and keep it in direct sunlight once or twice a month. This ensures that it does not get moistened. This also makes the feathers drier and more fluffy.

If you do wash your down jacket, always make sure the day is sunny.  Wash your jacket in the first half of the day so that you can keep it in direct sunlight for the whole day. This also ensures that the feathers don’t get bunched up in one place.

6. Don’t give your down jacket for dry cleaning

Never give your down jacket for dry cleaning. Most dry cleaners don’t know how to wash mountaineering gear. I would suggest you don’t take the risk, especially when it comes to your expensive down jacket.

I advise you to machine wash only if you have a front-loading washing machine. Top-loading washing machines have a central agitator which can damage the down-filling and make it accumulate in small corners of the jacket.

First, close all the zippers and buttons, and turn your jacket inside out. Add in two or three tennis balls in the machine along with the jacket. These balls prevent the filling from bunching up. This will maintain the loft of the filling.

Drying your down jacket thoroughly is very important to prevent lumps and odours. Wash it in the first half of the day and dry it in direct sunlight for the whole day, sometimes even two. Use a hanger to hang the jacket from the clothes line. Do not use clips.

7.  Don’t use hard detergent for washing

You should not use regular hard detergent to wash your down jacket. It will damage the jacket’s splashproof layer.

I recommend you use ‘Nikwax’. It’s a detergent specifically designed for cleaning mountaineering gear. You can get it online for Rs.1,800 – Rs.2,500. It’s a worthy investment to wash all your mountaineering gear.

Don’t fold your jacket when you keep it in your wardrobe. Use a good quality hanger with smooth edges. And hang it in the corner where no sharp zippers from other clothes can damage it.

Hanging the jacket also retains its feather distribution and loft quality.

If you follow these easy tips, your down jacket will last you for several treks. If you have any more suggestions or questions, drop in a comment to let me know!

(This article is part of a series by Trek Leader Tanmay Bain on how to maintain your trekking gear. You can read his previous article on maintaining your backpack, , padded jacket and trekking poles.)

A Down jacket is a very expensive investment when it comes to trekking gear. Here are 8 things you should not do that might quickly damage it.

8 Things You Should Not Do With Your Down Jacket

It has been a while since I have worn something as soft and light as the Techwool 190 Zip T-shirt from Decathlon.

Even though Decathlon calls it a long sleeve T-shirt, I don’t see it as one.

It goes much beyond a T-shirt. For me this is an essential inner wear for any trekker. For one very simple reason. It is 100% merino wool.

When we think of wool, we think of our usual sweaters. We think these are garments that keep us warm.

Merino wool is different. It is a very breathable fabric which not only keeps you dry,  but cool and comfortable as well.

Unlike cotton or any natural fibre, merino wool is able to wick moisture from your body and push it to the surface, leaving your body dry. It can hold almost 30% of its own weight in moisture. Which means even if you are sweating a lot, the merino wool t-shirt wicks the moisture away leaving you dry.

While I was aware of the technology, I wanted to see first-hand how the t-shirt would behave on a trek.

Early summer this year, I took the Techwool 190 T-shirt on a high altitude trek in the Himalayas. I wanted to make it my base layer to see how it performed. On the trek I was going to go through rough weather. In the lower hills I would be faced with heat and grime and on the upper cold and snow.

When I got on the trek in the first week of May, I wore the T-shirt over my skin. It was my first base layer. On the first day, I had a hard day’s trekking ahead of me. I planned to cover two camps at one go. I was going to be trekking roughly 20 km, almost uphill. I also wanted to reach camp by 4 pm, so that I could spend time catching up with our colleagues. I had roughly 6 hours to do this. So I moved quickly.

In the lower hills, with a rapid pace, I was soon sweating. I took off all my layers until I was only walking with the Techwool190 on my skin. It felt good. I didn’t feel wet. The patches of sweat around my chest and underarms quickly evaporated whenever I took a break. I felt dry and comfortable. I was beginning to like the fabric already.

Later that evening, after I reached camp, I took off the T-shirt to wear a fresh one. I was surprised the fabric didn’t smell. I didn’t even find it wet. I was very impressed. Wet fabrics are the hotbeds of bacteria — and the merino wool t-shirt was having none of that business. There was simply no odour.

Unlike the synthetic dry fits that I wear, I didn’t have the usual itches or even the static that comes with artificial fibres.

There’s something else that I liked. The wool had an amazing tensility. I could stretch the fabric quite a bit, and yet it sprung back to its shape without any discomfort.

Don’t look at the Techwool190 for warmth. It is not meant for that. Look at it as your base layer, the first layer that touches your skin. It is also full sleeve which makes it terrific against sunburn. Again, merino wool is superb as a sunblock. It works better than any cream or any other clothing that you can put on. At the end of the trek the back of my hand had turned a deep dark brown, but the rest of my arms stayed as they were.

Frankly, the Techwool190 is really not a T-shirt, even though Decathlon calls it that. It feels warm, dry, extremely soft and luxurious. It is lightweight, in fact so light that three of these would weigh as much as a regular t-shirt. They have come up with a great product — which I am not sure they are aware of. It is so less talked about and even lesser marketed.

Grab a few of these before they stop producing it. I don’t imagine these to be in shelves for long.

If you’d like to grab your own t-shirt, head over to this link.

Have you used this product and have any additional thoughts? Do comment below and let us know!

Our founder Arjun Majumdar wore the Techwool190 zip long-sleeved t-shirt by Decathlon on a trek to Har Ki Dun and Ruinsara Tal. Here's his expert opinion.

Techwool190 Decathlon T-Shirt Review: An All-Round Base Layer

I was unsure about reviewing the new Blue Mountain Trekking trousers from Decathlon. I wondered what new thoughts I could offer on another pair of trekking trousers.

Yet, I noticed a couple of innovations that the designers had brought into these pants. 

I took the trousers with me on a recent trek to the Himalayas. I was exploring a new trail. It was early summer; there would be snow on the trail.

I wanted to trek light so I didn’t pack too many backup trousers either. I was planning to wear this trousers for most parts of the trek.

I was keen to see how the trousers fared in these conditions.

What conditions did the pants go through on the trek?

On the trek the trousers went through its paces. I did get snow, rough terrain, landslides, screes, brooks to cross, slushy and dusty trails. Except rain, the trousers went through everything.  

Up front, I loved the thoughtful patches of water repellent fabric at the backside and on the front of the legs. I also loved how they made these patches darker blue in colour. It made the trousers look more rugged, more outdoorsy.

But considering the rest of the material was Nylon (polyamide), it worried me. Nylon is not really known for being too water resistant.

On the trek, where I had to hop over streams, water would invariably splash on the trousers. I noticed how the water would splash in droplets and quickly run off. I liked this. Usually in most trousers, even if they are quick dry material, splashes of water would form a patch.

Here, I have to stick my neck out a bit. Most new trousers have a factory coating which is usually water repellent. I am yet to test the trousers after multiple washes. I’ll have an update this review after a few months of use.

The designers must have been listening to a lot of trekkers because I noticed some lovely new touches on the pockets. Both side pockets were zippered. So no GPS trackers or mobile phones falling off. Below the right side pocket was another large pocket with a flap — very handy to keep maps, charts, pocket notebooks or even phones. On the left there was another zippered pocket below the side pocket.

After a point though, I thought it was an overdose of pockets. On a trek we really want our pants to be light. 

Having said that, I thought the pockets were extremely streamlined. They blended in with the trousers so well that none of them looked extrusive. In most trekking pants I see pockets bulging out and that’s never a pleasant sight.

I also liked the pockets breathable inner liners. On a trek it is common to have sweaty palms. They get worse if you tuck your hands in them for a longer stay. I usually carry chickpeas as a snack in my pockets. These are somethings that I munch on all the time. Chickpeas come with skins that can make a mess out of most pockets. I was happy to see that most of the debris passed through the mesh of the pockets. Cleaning was a breeze.

If I had a grouse, I would have liked the pockets to be deeper.

I liked the belt that came with this trousers. With adjusters, I could tighten it to suit my waist size. In most trekking trousers one of my biggest issues are the belts. Most often they become loose after few hours of trekking. On this trek over 4 days I had to readjust it only once. That spoke well of the buckles that came with the belt.

For me, the designers deserve an Oscar for the velcro behind the belly button. It is the most underrated blessing any fabric can have. When it gets cold, your fingers numb, it’s dark in the night, and you want to take a bathroom break, the velcro is a life saver.

It is uncanny the number of times I have found the trousers staying in place just on the strength of the velcro. I have no recollection of how I missed fastening the buttons. But what a blessing!

At the end of the day, if you leave the bells and whistles aside, trekking trousers must be most comfortable on your skin. I found the Trek500 breathable, cool and easy on the skin. They stretched well. The polyamide fabric was chosen well.

I remember the first few days of the trek was warm. I was trekking quickly — I had to cover two camps in one day. Yet, I didn’t feel sweaty when I wore the trousers.

On a snowy day, I wore a light track pant under these trousers and that took care of the warmth.

For me it also matters how much dust and grime stick to the trousers at the end of the trek. Here are some actual photographs that I took from the end of the 6 day trek — I wore the trousers on all six days. The last day was dusty. Despite the ups and downs of the trek, the trousers shook off most of the dust.

Later, when I dipped the trousers into a bucket of water, most of the grime came out. It really did not require a washing machine wash. I was beginning to like the trouser very much.

There’s an internal smartphone pouch. Particularly useful on a cold pass crossing day when you want to keep your smartphone battery warm for those high altitude photographs.

I liked the elastic tightening system at the bottom of the legs. On snow sections I tightened them up so that the trousers fitted well over the shoes. Frankly, I wasn’t walking over too much snow, but these worked almost like gaiters.

At around Rs 2,000 the trousers is not really in the budget segment, but not over-priced either. I would have liked the trousers to come in other colours like beige, khaki, green or grey. I would also like to see a women’s version of this trouser as well.

I didn’t think I would be appreciative of another trek trousers. But I am. The designers have shown a lot of care and concern for some of the nitty gritties of mountain trekking. The little touches that they have added are great.

For trekkers who are on a 6-7 day Himalayan trek, the Trek500 is a good choice. 

If you’d like to pick it up, you’ll find it here at the Decathlon store.

We reviewed the Trek500 Trekking Trousers by Decathlon on our recent trek to Har Ki Dun and Ruinsara Tal. Here's how the pants fared.

Trek500 Trekking Trousers Review: Thoughtful Design For Himalayan Treks

C hoosing a good outer jacket is very important on a high-altitude trek. In the past, I’ve tried various down and windproof jackets, but this time around I went for something different.

The team at Adventureworx sent us their WindBlock Lumi Jacket to test it out. It was around the same time that I was planning multiple exploratory treks and decided to give it a go. I went in the middle of April, when the snow was melting, but there was still a chill in the Himalayan air.

At first glance, this seems like a jacket one can only wear during winter months in a city. It’s a rather good-looking jacket – grey-Black on the outside and a vibrant blue on the inside; this jacket can surely make heads turn.

The texture is smooth and comfortable on the inside. It’s rugged and tough on the outside. Exactly what you need with you for five long days!

Adjustable sleeves and sturdy zips are major highlights of this jacket.

Warmth – The biggest plus point of the Windblock Lumi Jacket

For any trek, the most crucial feature in a jacket is the warmth. And I was very happy with the way this jacket performed.

One of my campsites at 13,540 ft was set up in the open meadows of a valley, surrounded by a cauldron of high mountains. Soon after sunset, the temperature started to drop. The freezing cold air flowing from the glaciers nearby dipped the temperatures to 2-3 degrees. I usually wear four layers in such conditions.

The high collar is also where WindBlock Lumi Jacket scores a big tick. However, this jacket doesn’t have a hood.

Surprisingly with the WindBlock Lumi Jacket on, I had to just wear one full sleeve T-shirt inside. I didn’t need any more layers. The fleece lining and the polyester fabric retained my body heat and I was very comfortable.

I’ve always preferred carrying a balaclava, so not having a hood was not a big issue for me.

The inner layer of fleece complements the outer layer of polyester to give extra warmth.

One of the main things I liked about this jacket is the fit. I find that most jackets are bulky and make trekkers look like boxes, especially if they have a small body type. This jacket was not bulky. It fit me just right. Don’t get me wrong – it’s not totally body hugging. You can use it as an outer layer easily. I wore 2 layers of T-shirts underneath and it was still a proper fit for my size ‘S’ jacket.

The flexibility it offers is wonderful. I didn’t feel the jacket hindering any of my physical movements during the trek.

The jacket fit is quite good. This one is an ‘S’ size.

Pockets – Secure enough to keep valuables

On another note, I always prefer jackets which have deep pockets. Deep enough for me to keep my hands warm. And secure enough to keep a few ready-to-fetch valuables. The WindBlock Lumi Jacket comes with 2 A-line pockets, one on each side. These are big enough to keep your 6-inch smartphone. You can easily fit a point and shoot camera with its cover as well.

The sturdy big zips on the pockets are smooth and easy to use. I always kept my phone and an ID-Card safely secured and zipped inside them.

You can zip the jacket all the way to your chin and keep your neck and chest warm. I did not have to use my neck warmer on the trek at all.

One of the biggest advantages is the adjustable sleeves. You can tighten the sleeves as and when you feel cold. A small velcro at the end can check the air supply that goes inside your jacket. This added feature is not present in most of the jackets that I have used.

I wore the jacket in Bangalore during the winter months before taking it to the mountains. The jacket was warm and useful there as well. The adjustable sleeves give you extra flexibility to use it in cities as well.

The Jacket comes with adjustable sleeves. This helps in controlling the air inflow.

The inner layering has fleece with polyester fabric on the outside. It feels smooth on the inside and reliably tough on the outside — just what you need on a trek.

With these two padding materials, the jacket surprisingly weighs just about 570 g.

Packing the jacket can be a bit of a tussle. The double layers make it bulkier and hard to squeeze inside a packed backpack. Keep it at the very bottom of your backpack if you’re planning to take it on a trek to give extra stability to your backpack.

Maintenance wise this sturdy jacket hardly needs any attention.

Wash and Maintenance – Easily done, no hassles

The jacket is machine washable. After 10 days of using the jacket, I washed it with good results. It dried quickly and the wash didn’t seem to affect the material.

The jacket zips to the chin and protects your neck and chest against the cold, even at sub-zero temperatures.

Due to the outer polyester layer, the jacket repels water but is not waterproof. You can wear it in a light drizzle, but not in a heavy rainfall. You will have to wear a poncho/ rain jacket above it.

The jacket is priced at Rs. 4,999 and comes with a one year warranty. Although the price is on the higher end when compared to other jackets, it scores at par when compared to the combined price of a fleece and windproof jacket.

After using the Adventure Worx WindBlock Lumi jacket for 12 days on my high altitude trek, I really liked how it kept me warm. I would go with the final rating of 8 out of 10. If the jacket was lighter, it would have scored full points for sure.

If you think this jacket would suit you, click here to buy this jacket from their official website. 

For all Indiahikes readers, there is a special 40% discount. Use coupon code ‘ADVENTURE25’ to avail this offer.

1. If you want to read more product reviews: Head to our Product Review page.

2. If you want to rent out gear for your next trek: Go to this page, now. We have limited stocks – the sooner you book, the better.

I used the Adventure Worx - WindBlock Lumi Jacket, recently on 2 of my treks. Here's a review of this jacket based on parameters of warmth, fit, Material, Cost and much more. Read it to find whether this jacket is good enough for you.

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