Green Garden Best Lightweight Down Parka For Winter Backpacking 2023 – GWC Mag gwcmagOctober 6, 2023057 views Best Lightweight Down Parka For Winter Backpacking 2023 October 5, 2023 – When evening temperatures drop below freezing, switch out your sweater-weight puffy for a lightweight down parka for backpacking. The average down parka on this list weighs less than 20 ounces, but gives you the freedom to comfortably hang out in the cold, cook, and do camp chores without retreating into your sleeping bag. A lightweight parka is unquestionably one of the single most important pieces of gear for backpacking in fall and winter. This is a data-informed buyer’s guide! Our ultimate truth for assessing the performance of a down parka is the “Uncompressed Down Volume Per Ounce of Total Garment Weight” statistic. This measurement allows us to compare the relative warmth-to-weight ratio of two down parkas, and it is derived by multiplying fill power times fill weight, divided by total garment weight. It quantifies how effectively each lightweight parka is using its mass to insulate. While you’re here, you may also be interested in our guide to the best down jackets and pants. Or layer up with our recommended fleece jackets, or fleece pants. You make Adventure Alan & Co possible. When purchasing through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Here’s why you can trust us.