Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket Review (2021 Edition)
The Uniqlo Ultra Light Down jacket is one of the most popular down jackets in the market today because of its affordability, packability, and warmth. It’s a great entry into the world of puffy down jackets!
Details
Price (as of 1/12/23):
$39.90 USD (2021 Edition)
$79.90 USD (latest model)
100% nylon
Filled with 90% down
Water repellant DWR coating
Weight: ~8 ounces
Two zippered side pockets
Two internal pockets
Elastic wrist cuffs
One center zipper
Comes with a small packing pouch
Loving the sleek look of the jacket. I’m 5’10” and wearing a size Medium
Pros
Packability: packs down really small
Warmth: kept me warm in 35F degree temps (with layers) and easily up to 60F temps as well
Fit/looks: sleek, somewhat form fitting. Not too loose or boxy. Love the grey color; it’s not too flashy and matches anything
Wearability between washes: Washed it only once during a 2-week trip around Switzerland. Hung it up on a chair every night, and it never smelled the next day!
Cons
Zippers snag: Not sure if it’s just me, but the zippers snag on their tracks every now and then. It actually happened twice while filming the video review
Leaks A LOT of feathers (faulty jacket?): I’m pretty sure I got a bad version, because it was leaking a lot of feathers right from the beginning. Feathers were on the back of my backpack at the end of the day, feathers were flying through the air while taking it on/off or sitting down on a train, etc. I couldn’t return it, because it was the only jacket that I brought on my trip, and I didn’t notice the leakage until I was already in Europe
Staying warm in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Other Notes
From the video review
The jacket was wrinkled and not too puffy because I’d just taken it out after being in its pouch for at least one month
Test your jacket right away! If it leaks excessive feathers, exchange it. If it only leaks a few feathers here and there, you should be good to go. Hopefully, you won’t have to retire your jacket like I did
Conclusion
The Uniqlo Ultra Light Down jacket was my very first piece of down wear. Aside from the leaky feathers (probably because I got a bad version), I think it’s a great entry into the world of puffy down jackets. It has a low price point (other down jackets are well over $100), and it does a great job of keeping you warm, while looking pretty stylish as well. Finally, because it’s ultra light and packs down really small, this is the perfect jacket to bring on any of your travels and hikes.
I hope you found this review helpful!
Happy journeying,
Jeremy
