Trekking shoes play a huge role on a trek. A good pair – be it Quechua trekking shoes or shoes from Woodland – can feel like an extension of your feet. Similarly, an ill-fitting pair with thoughtless design can slow you down and even halt your trek. So, how do you choose the best trekking shoes in India?

Different shoes are suitable for different kinds of treks. Does that mean snow trekking shoes can only be used on snow? Not really. The best trekking shoes are versatile. They work well in all kinds of weather conditions.

This brings us to the next question – which are the best trekking shoes in India? And how do you make this choice?

Many trekkers write to us asking about – what trekking shoes to buy?

And because this is a crucial choice, we have put together a complete guide which covers all topics, right from how to buy trekking shoes, 5 Best Trekking Shoes In India to reviews and how to maintain them.

So, if you’re looking for information on trekking shoes, search no more. This guide is everything you need to know about how to choose the best.

Here are the broad topics we will cover in this blog.

2. What are the types of trekking shoes available 

4. Best budget trekking shoes under INR 4000

5. How To Clean And Maintain Your Trekking Shoes

│How To Choose The Best Trekking Shoes in India

Things to Look at While Choosing your Trekking Shoe

1. Check for good grip in the trekking shoe

The best way to recognize a trekking shoe with good grip is to look at the grooves. They will be deep. A shoe with good grip will have mud, slush, dirt getting stuck in its grooves. That’s a sign of deep grooves that’s gripping on the mud. Make sure your shoes have deep grooves and good grip.

2. Look for softness and flexibility of shoe sole

You will be walking on different kinds of terrain and your shoes need to adapt to it. A soft and flexible sole is great at doing this. But how do you check for that?

Take a hard, metallic object, say a key and just tap on the sole. Listen to the noise it makes. A soft sole makes a dull sound. If you hear a sharp sound, know that it’s too hard and such a sole will not work on a trek.

3. Go for ankle support in the trekking shoe

A lot of running shoes and sports shoes come with a lot of flexibility and good grip. But what they lack is ankle support. In the Himalayas you will be walking on rough terrain. You will be climbing up and down and your ankle is prone to twisting in unusual angles. And that’s when your trek can end. And you don’t really want that to happen. To prevent this, you need good ankle support and make sure your trekking shoes provide good ankle support.

Always test the shoes for the right fit. Ideally, you should buy trekking shoes one size larger than your normal size. Without the extra space, you’d develop shoe bites due to the constant rubbing of the toe against the shoe wall and it gives you extra room for your woolen socks (especially for the winter treks).

A shoe which is a size larger than your normal size will protect you from shoe bites and will give your feet enough space to breathe.

A Himalayan Trek or a Monsoon Trek in the Ghats require water-resistant shoes. This is because trekkers will be trekking through snow, rain, water bodies or other regions where your feet can get wet. If your shoe is not water-resistant, chances are that you will develop shoe bites or some form of calluses owing to wet feet. Additionally, it’s uncomfortable to trek long distances in wet socks and flooded shoes.

Therefore, it’s best to buy shoes which are water-resistant (remember you want water-resistant shoes and not water-proof shoes).

An added layer of leather or resin will really help. It ensures that when you step into a puddle for 3-4 seconds, your shoe does not get wet or water doesn’t seep in. So, water-resistance is important.

| Note: Make sure it’s not water proof because your feet won’t be able to breathe in a water-proof shoes. And it will get sweaty and stinky. There’s a chance your trek mates will not let you inside the tent if your feet are stinking 🙂

Also, wear your shoes for about two weeks or so to break them in.

These are similar to sports shoes, but with stronger grip. They are also more robust.

These are lightweight shoes that have flexible soles. They are ideal for short treks when you don’t have to carry heavy loads on your back. You may use them for the following treks: 

Treks on dry terrain (not suitable for rainy season)

Some of the popular and recommended hiking shoe brands are Forclaz Fresh, Arpenaz Flex series, Salomon, Woodland and Weinbrenner low ankle series.

Trekking shoes are a grade above hiking shoes. They are usually shoes with good ankle support:

These shoes are made for trekking in various seasons and for trekking in different gradients. They are ideal for:

Treks that involve carrying 7kg+ backpacks

Water resistance: The upper part of the trek boots is usually made of leather, suede or a synthetic material like Gore-tex (GTX) or Nova Dry. 

Deep grooves: This ensures a strong grip.

Ankle support: This saves you from painful ankle twists on uneven trails. But this also makes it heavier. And you need to get used to wearing it – breaking in – a couple of weeks before your trek starts.

Some of the popular and recommended brands are Forclaz, Quechua, Salomon. They are generally priced between Rs 3000 to 8000.

Expedition boots or Mountaineering boots aren’t required on usual treks. Or for any of the treks that Indiahikes is presently running

Mountaineering boots are needed on ice, rocks, crevasses, glaciers. They are crafted to grip these lofty surfaces.

These boots are more expensive, with prices starting upwards of Rs.10,000. Some of the popular and recommended expedition boots are Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX.  Other brands can be considered as well, but are not easily available in India.

Trekking shoe manufacturing companies are coming up with special trekking shoes that are designed for women’s feet.

The heel-to-ball length, as well as the width of in-step and heel is larger for men. So, shoe companies began designing a slimmer shoe that cater specifically to women’s feet.

Special material at the in-sole and mid-sole for Q-angle

• Recommended Brands: Some great shoes under this category are Trek 100 and MH100 for women by Decathlon. Apart from that, you may opt for Merrell Women’s Moab 2 Mid Ventilator and Salomon X ULTRA 3 GTX W

| Here’s a video that talks about the difference between Trekking Shoes and Sports Shoes, and which one is right for your trek:

Trekker’s Choice: Top 3 Trekking Shoes Recommended By Trekkers

Talking about the top choice, a representative of Decathlon confirmed that Forclaz Trek 100 is their highest selling product and now they are aiming to come out with a new variant.

Forclaz 500 High/Trek 100: Excellent Hiking Shoes For Rough Himalayan Terrain

“We are introducing Trek 100 Textile boots in India. It is a beginner trekker boots focused mostly on the comfort of the trekker and is eco-friendly, which is made up of 100% natural rubber outsole. It also has 100% recycled outer and black lining is dope dyed, reducing water consumption and CO2 emission during the process.

And coming to a variety close to the fifth option – Salomon Quest 4 Gore Tex – we think it is great for seasoned trekkers. The model has been upgraded over the years. We have reviewed the old one here:

Salomon Quest 4D 2 GTX: All-Terrain Hiking Shoes for Seasoned Trekkers

│Top 5 Budget Friendly Affordable Trekking Shoes In India Under INR 4,000

Here’s a list of trekking shoes that our trekkers swear by! We know because we conducted a survey and listed the top trekking shoes that showed up in the responses. But before we get to the list, here are two things you must keep in mind:

These are shoes that have been recommended by trekkers who have used them.

Most of these shoes are perfectly suited for local treks and easy-moderate Himalayan treks like Kedarkantha and Dayara Bugyal. But for a very long, difficult Himalayan trek, I would choose wisely out of these.

Shoes that are affordable and budget friendly.

Top 5 Budget Friendly Affordable Trekking Shoes In India Under INR 4,000

They’re perfectly fine for trekking in the Western Ghats though. They have ankle support and are pretty sturdy. But they don’t have any water resistance. So you cannot use them for trekking in snow or rain. They are good shoes for light and mostly dry hikes.

Trekking Shoes Review: “Pros: (1) High quality build. (2) Abuse friendly, can take rough usage with a lot of ease. (2) Good traction/grip. (3) Pocket friendly price. (4) Comfortable wear. Cons: (1) Not water resistant. (2) Not suitable slippery ice-trek trails.” – Zulfi

This is a grade higher than the NH100 because it is water-resistant. It can last up to 2 hours in water as it has a water-resistant coating and a water-proof membrane.

It has a good Cross Contact sole with mid-ankle support. This one is suitable even for Himalayan treks, but not for very difficult terrain like Pin Bhaba Pass or Kanamo Peak.

Trekking Shoes Review: “The shoes are comfortable, dry off easily and provide great grip even on wet, slippery stones. Great shoes for the given price point” – Vashisht

This is another shoe that is branded as a hiking shoe. It falls within a good budget and ticks all the right boxes — the sole has good grip, it has ankle support, a flexible sole and water resistance.

For most of our easy, moderate and even moderate-difficult Himalayan treks like Rupin Pass, these shoes will work. They are slightly on the higher end of budget trekking shoes though, costing around Rs 3,500.

Trekking Shoes Review: “I have used the shoes on several Sahyadri treks in winters and rainy as well and also used them at Buran Ghati in snow as well. It’s been almost a year since I bought it, and these shoes are in great condition. They are helpful in all kind of terrain, also they are zero maintenance, and easily washable.” – Raj Shah

Surprisingly, Wildcraft also has a list of “budget” trekking shoes. They are never known to be “budget” anything. And there is a loophole too. 

These shoes cost Rs 2,500 on portals like Flipkart, but they are well over that (~ Rs 4,000) on the official site. So getting this at a budget price depends on your luck.

The shoes, on the other hand, are pretty decent for Himalayan treks. They score high in the traction department. But certain reviews suggest the water-resistance is very basic. So we wouldn’t recommend it for a monsoon trek. If you’re an occasional trekker, these shoes would suit you.

Trekking Shoes Review: “It worked pretty well during my Sandakphu trek!! But I cant say whether it will last long or not as I used that only for one trek and also haven’t used it in snow.” – Utpal Gogoi

These shoes are sturdy and durable as any trekking shoe, but have the same issue as most Woodland shoes — they are heavier than other brands’ trekking shoes, and also don’t work well in rain. And at around Rs 3,500, they aren’t too budget-friendly.

But this review brought it under the spotlight.

Trekking Shoes Review: “Contrary to popular opinion about woodland shoes, I found these shoes to be an excellent fit, utility and buy and they are affordable too. These shoes give an excellent grip on snow, gravel and boulders..they are lightweight, have good ankle support and are pretty durable as well..I have been using them for the last three years, though I have done only about 6 treks, I have used them extensively for my workouts including running.” – Abhishek Vaddadi

Forclaz 500 Warm: Pocket-friendly Hiking Shoes for all Weather Conditions

| Note: If you have used any of these budget trekking shoes or other than the ones recommended above, share your experience here:

│How To Clean And Maintain Your Trekking Shoes

Buying trekking shoes is expensive. So if you buy a pair, make sure to maintain it well. And here are 5 things you must do to keep your trekking sure in good shape after a grueling trek:

Thumb Rule is to clean your trekking shoes every time you return from a trek. 

Don’t leave them dirty. The accumulation of mud and grime on the upper fabric of the trekking shoes adversely affects the waterproofing. This reduces the breathable nature of your boot. So, always clean your shoes after a trek to remove dirt residues.

You need – A soft brush (an old toothbrush works well) or sponge and lukewarm water.

Before cleaning the uppers, bang the soles of your shoes against each other in order to get rid of any remaining dust and mud. 

Then, lightly soak the brush in water and clean the exteriors to remove all dirt stains.

Use lukewarm water, a soft toothbrush to scrub out the outer dirt from trekking shoes.


It’s evident that you need to dry your shoes after cleaning them. But even if you skip cleaning, you still should not skip drying your shoes.

Trekking shoes get exposed to a lot of moisture, like sweat, rain. So, it’s necessary to dry your shoes before storing them. Storing damp or wet shoes causes mould growth and it can affect the quality of its breathability. So, let your trekking shoes air dry for at least 24 hours.

Remove the insole and undo the laces so that the shoes can breathe and dry faster. 

Leave the shoes to dry at room temperature. 

Don’t expose the shoes to a direct source of heat like fire, dryers, blow dryers or direct sun because this could crack them up and damage the waterproofing. It may lead to discolouration and weakening of adhesives as well, or premature aging in leather shoes. 

Instead, leave your shoes under a fan to dry.

With usage, a lot of shoes lose their waterproofing ability. This feature is restored using sprays that aid water in slipping off easily without entering the shoe. After cleaning and drying, you may treat your shoes with re-waterproofing sprays to maintain their water-resistance. You will find re-waterproofing sprays and greases in all major online stores or market sports stores.

| Note: None of the treatments promise fool-proof water-resistance.

How To Use Re-Waterproofing Sprays On Trekking Shoes:

The treatment is required only once or twice a year.

Follow the standard application rules written on such sprays. 

Spray the product evenly all over your shoe. Pay more attention to the seam and joints areas, since most of the water enters from here. 

Leave them for a full day to dry and absorb the spray. Caution: Don’t try to increase the speed of drying by using an external heat source (hairdryers, sun, etc)

How To Use Re-Waterproofing Grease On Trekking Shoes:

This product is specifically applied to leather boots to prevent premature aging, cracking of the leather by making it water repellant.

Contrary to popular belief it does not diminish the shoe’s breathability. It can also be used on membrane-type shoes. You may follow the above steps. But instead of spraying, apply the grease using a cloth.

Inspect your trekking shoes after you get back from the trek. Check for any loose stitch or a torn inner sole. And get it repaired before your next trek.

A damaged trekking shoe can lead to blisters and loss of balance on a trek. So, do not take this risk and keep your trekking shoes in good shape.

| Tip: Here’s a video on how to fix your trekking shoe if the sole comes off.

Always make sure that your shoes are perfectly dry before storing them. 

Store them in a dry and well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight. 

If you do not plan to use them for a long period of time, stuff them with newspaper so that they keep their shape. You can also put dehumidifiers like tea-bags and silica gels to keep the shoe odour-free.

| Bonus Tip: Here’s a video on the topic that is often overlooked by most trekkers, How to tie your shoelaces so that they don’t come off?

Trekking shoes can indeed make or break your trek. This is why we put together this extensive guide of information collected over the years.

Now, you need not repeat the cliched mistakes while selecting a trekking shoe.

If you have any questions, thoughts or recommendations on budget trekking shoes, which trekking shoe to purchase or how to take care of your trekking shoes, please drop them in the comments below and someone from the Indiahikes team will address them.

Your search for the best trekking shoes in India ends here. A comprehensive guide on what trekking shoes to buy and how to care for them!

How To Choose The Best Trekking Shoes In India - The Ultimate Trekking Shoe Guide 2023

Shoes Trek Shoes Choose Best Shoes Guide 2023 Best Trekking Shoes

You can get the best of the gear for your trek. But if you don’t have a good and sturdy backpack, will any of it be of value?

A good backpack is one of the most essential items on a trek. Therefore, having a backpack that is spacious, has good back support, and good material is important.

Picking your backpack is an important decision. It stays with you for a long time. It’s your best friend on a trek. That is why, I’m impressed with the new explore 55 backpack from Adventure Worx. I would consider it to be at a similar level with some of the best backpacks I’ve used. 

It’s made in Bangalore, India. I’m proud that such a product is made in our country. That too, of such high quality. I’m glad to see that there are companies in India creating equipment for trekkers with such fine detail.

It really impressed me and I’m glad I got to try it out on a Himalayan trek. 

Why I Liked Using the Adventure Worx Xplore 55 Backpack

One of the major reasons I liked using this backpack is because of the structure. It has incredible balance and stability. In addition, it maintains an excellent shape when it’s full.

The structure of the backpack is very logical. There are two frames running along the bag. And, there’s a lovely hourglass shape to them. 

It ideally takes the weight from the top. Then, it concentrates on the middle and spreads out at the bottom. It’s an important shape for a stable trek. It keeps the weight balanced and doesn’t strain your back either.

I tested it out on an 8-day Himalayan trek and the results were brilliant! The structure and shape retained throughout the trek. It gave me adequate back support and offered great space. I would really recommend this backpack for a Himalayan trek. 

➤ Ventilation & Compartments: Rating: 5/5 

This backpack has a really good ventilator mesh. It prevented me from having a sweaty back throughout the trek. Even during long walks, my back stayed dry. 

Adventure Worx has nailed the compartments perfectly. The backpack has standard compartments as expected in any modern backpack. But this one is really spacious. The top hood has an ample amount of room. There is generous space in the inner flap too. 

I thought that the water bottle holder was perfect. It allowed my water bottle to sit tight without slipping out even once. Not like usual backpacks, which have the flap lower. It felt sturdy and easily reachable too.

There are a couple of added compression straps for the water bottle too. It holds the bottle in place and prevents it from falling. 

The waistband has lovely pockets. I could easily fit in my GPS tracker and mobile phone. It was easy to pull it out whenever I wanted to click pictures. 

On the front side, there is an added compartment for emergency items. I found that very accessible too. 

The Adventure Worx backpack has loads of space inside. I could fit my sleeping bag at the top and clothes at the bottom and it still didn’t feel overpacked. I think the backpack scored really well on inner space. 

➤ Straps, buckles, and belts: Rating: 4.5/5

The straps have the right amount of padding–not too thick or too thin. It didn’t cut through the shoulders or feel painful during the trek.

The waistband, too, has the right amount of padding. It fit quite well and didn’t make me feel uncomfortable. 

The strap to lift the backpack has good material and feels decently sturdy. The buckles all over the backpack are of superior quality and not easily breakable. 

However, there are some downsides in this aspect. I thought that the strap to lift the backpack isn’t as strong. It could have another layer of stitching.

I also didn’t like the width of the strap on the compression straps. It didn’t feel wide enough. 

I think the straps could be marginally wider everywhere. 

The basic design of the backpack is excellent. It has a bright orange/yellow colour and looks good. The backpack is really attractive and draws a lot of attention on a trek. 

I thought there could be some improvements here as well. While everything else is high quality, the graphics on the backpack aren’t as good. 

There could be more detailing on the main graphic in the front. 

The black colour on the sides doesn’t really go well with the yellow/orange. Grey panelling on the sides would blend better with the yellow/orange. 

➤ Pricing of the Adventure Worx Xplore 55 Backpack: Rating: 5/5

The price of the Adventure Worx Xplore 55 Backpack is comparable to any other backpack. I wouldn’t say it is much higher or lower.

There are very few backpacks that offer good space, good support, and balance. But, at the same time, having an attractive backpack is really rare. 

You can check off all these things in the Adventure Worx Xplore 55 Backpack. Plus, you get a premium design and material here. 

So at around Rs 5,600, I thought it was normally priced. In fact, I thought it was cheaper than some standard ones. 

The Adventure Worx Xplore 55 backpack is a very well designed backpack. It’s crafted with thoughtful attention and detail. There are some minor issues, but they won’t bother you much. 

All in all, it’s a perfect buy for a trekker. I would really endorse this backpack. The comfort, space, design, and compartments are great and made my trek experience really efficient. 

Because it’s made in our own country, I feel good and proud to carry it along.

It’s an excellent backpack to carry on higher altitude treks. Treks like Rupin Pass, Buran Ghati, Bali Pass or Kedartal will put this backpack to good use. It will allow you to have a seamless experience even if your backpack is loaded.  

If you have any questions or thoughts for us, let us know in the comments below!

Adventure Worx Xplore 55 Backpack Review

Are you wondering if you can make do with your sports shoes for your trek? If so, you have found the right article. Here, we will be comparing trekking shoes with sports shoes. And by the end of the article, you’ll know which shoes you need for your trek. 

I will be looking at the Trek 100 series by Quechua (trekking shoes) and running shoes by Kalenji, both from Decathlon. I’m going to be comparing these two shoes to give you an idea of which shoes are fit for which kind of trek. 

If you take a quick glance at these shoes, you can see that the trekking shoes look a lot sturdier. They look heavier and seem able to protect your feet. They’re more durable too. These running shoes look as if they are specifically meant for running and not for very rough usage. But we’ll get into more details about these shoes to understand them better.  

Here’s a quick gist before we dive deeper –

When it comes to grip, the Trek 100 series has deep grooves on the outside of the sole. These are meant to give you a good grip on different surfaces. When you’re on a trek, you’re likely to be walking on loose mud, loose soil, boulders and even snow or ice. So that is when the grooves come in handy. There is a lot of detailing on the sole as well. This, too, is specifically meant for that grip you need in rough terrains.

On the running shoes, on the other hand, the sole exterior does not have very deep grooves – it’s a lot flatter. These are actually meant for flatter terrain where you’re running on tar roads, cement or maybe mud roads. Rough usage is not their cup of tea. So look at the grip of the shoes before buying them – it is very important for your trek.

Trekking Shoes – Avoids Ankle Twists in Rough Terrains

Trek 100 shoes have very good ankle support. It covers almost the entire ankle, which restrains the ankle’s movement. It does not allow your ankle to twist, even when you’re ascending or descending on uneven terrain. This is extremely important, because a twisted ankle can put an end to your trek!

Running Shoes – Flexible, No Ankle Support

Running shoes, on the other hand, do not have any ankle support. The top-most part of the shoe ends just below your ankles. This is because these shoes are meant to give you more flexibility while running or walking. With this, you have the free ankle movement needed to perform that action.

However, this means that the running shoes are not going to protect your ankles from twists or sprains. 

If you look at the Trek 100 shoes, you’ll see that the sole is pretty thick. We require this kind of thickness for a long Himalayan trek as it has padding for insulation.

But, also take into consideration how hard the sole is. For your trek, you don’t want shoes which are so hard that, as a result, they are too rigid to move with your feet. You also don’t want the sole to be so soft that it actually collapses with the body and backpack weight it is carrying everyday. 

To check this, you can just take something like a key, tap the sole and listen for the noise. The sound should not be too shallow. As an estimate, if you tap the sole of football studs, a very shallow sound emerges. That is not what we are looking for in trekking shoes. 

Running Shoes – Flexible and Cushioned 

On the other hand, you’ll see that the sole of the running shoes is not as sturdy or thick. However, it is very flexible and cushioned. 

If you listen to the sound by tapping the running shoe soles, you will see that the sound is a lot more diminished. This is because of the extra cushioning.

Since it’s not that hard, it’s not meant to take your body weight, especially if you’re carrying a backpack among other things, for multiple days in a row. In fact, if you trek with running shoes you’ll find the soles becoming a lot flatter in just a period of  two to three days. 

Water resistance is extremely important on a Himalayan trek because you could be trekking in rain, snow or even crossing boulders over streams. These Trek 100 shoes have a water resistant coating on top and a waterproof membrane inside.

These will last you many hours while you’re trekking in snow, or in rain, and won’t let your feet get wet or cold. 

The running shoes, on the other hand, do not have water resistant coating or any kind of water resistant membrane at all. So in case you step in a puddle or a pothole, they are going to get wet – and that’s not helpful on a trek.

So look out for these four points. They are very important for your trek, especially a long Himalayan trek. 

However, there are certain issues with the trekking shoes we can’t forget. 

➤ Few Things to Keep in Mind about Trekking Shoes.

The trekking shoes are a lot heavier than the running shoes. A shoe from the Trek 100 series, for example, weighs around 500 grams – and that is just one of the pair. Together, they weigh around 1 kg.. Nonetheless, you get used to them after a couple of days’ usage. This weight is needed on a long Himalayan trek, to carry body weight and the weight of the backpack. 

Trekking shoes have a longer break-in period. It’s not as easy to just slip them on and use them, like it is for running shoes. You can start using running shoes immediately after their purchase. But it is not possible to do a trek with trekking shoes the same day you buy them. You need at least two weeks to break into these shoes. 

Since trekking shoes are a lot sturdier, they take time to conform to the shape of your feet and their movements. So make sure you buy your trekking shoes at least about 2 week before your trek begins.  

➤ When Are Running Shoes a Good Choice?

Other than the above mentioned points, think about what your trek consists of. Is it a one or two day hike with neatly laid out trails without difficult terrain? In that case, your running shoes are good enough. This is especially true for non-Himalayan treks, such as in the Sahyadris or the Eastern ghats.

However, on a long Himalayan trek, you’re likely to be trekking for six, seven days on different kinds of terrains and in different gradients. There, you definitely need a pair of trekking shoes to take care of your feet.

So, make sure you invest accordingly and make the right decision. 

If you need help with anything, just drop in a comment and we will help you out.

Finding suitable shoes for a trek can be tricky. Read about what's best for a Himalayan trek and why.

Trekking Shoes vs Sports Shoes -- Which To Choose For Your Trek

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. 

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

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