The Columbia Heatzone 1000 TurboDown Jacket is touted as the world warmest jacket. That’s quite an ambitious claim considering the myriad of high-end down jackets available from manufacturers like The North Face, Mammut, RAB, Arc’Teryx, Marmot, and more.
Columbia claims that the construction of this jacket is what sets it apart from its competitors. With a 900-fill-power water-resistant goose down outer layer welded to a 100-gram layer of synthetic Omni-Heat insulation on the interior, and further enhanced with an Omni-Heat reflective lining, they may be on to something.
Instead of traditional stitching of the down baffles—a great source of heat loss—Columbia uses “wave technology.” This eliminates the stitching and incorporates welded baffles that are offset between the layers, eliminating the typical cold spots found on more traditional down parkas.
An early observation of the Columbia Heatzone 1000 TurboDown jacket is the fit. It is a longer jacket that extends below the waist, measuring at 32” compared to the Mammut Eigerjoch at 29” in length. It feels more like an Après ski jacket or a stadium jacket than one I would typically consider for activities like climbing or skiing. That said, it does feature an attached helmet-compatible hood and zippered ski-pass pocket.
Last winter in northern Michigan, the month of February reached a record low—averaging 3.2 degrees with lows in the -35°F range. I tested the Mammut Eigerjoch down jacket in these conditions and will do the same to this Columbia jacket this winter. Stay tuned for a full review of the Columbia Heatzone 1000 TurboDown Jacket once the temperatures start to dip and the snow flies.
Construction:
- Omni-Heat™ reflective lining
- Omni-Tech™ waterproof/breathable critically seam sealed
- 1000 TurboDown™ insulation
- Water-resistant fabric
- Zippered hand pockets
- Adjustable cuffs
- Drawcord adjustable hem
- Drop tail
- Center back length: 32″ (Large)
- Imported
Fabric:
- Shell: 87 percent nylon / 13 percent elastane four-way stretch two-layer Cyberstretch MP
- 100 percent nylon ripstop
- Lining: 100 percent nylon Omni Heat™ Reflective 10D ripstop
- Insulation: 900-fill-power water-resistant goose down
- Omni-Heat™ thermal insulation, 100g
MSRP:
Specifications and photos provided by Columbia
