Jottnar Thorsen Down Jacket

The Thorsen Down Jacket has no hood which makes it more compact and a touch lighter, it also simplifies things when worn as a mid layer. The 850 Fill Power goose down is a 93/7 down/feather mix. This provides an excellent warmth to weight ratio and the DownTek water-repellent treatment means that it will stay drier 10x longer than untreated down. DownTek will also not wash out and uses no harmful fluorocarbons. Your conscience can also stay clear knowing that the down is ethically sourced and complies with the Responsible Down Standard or RDS for short.

In higher wear areas that frequently get wet, such as the cuffs, hem and collar, the Thorsen uses synthetic fill to combat wear and tear and wet out. While a water repellent rip-stop face fabric is also used to repel moisture this extra measure of synthetic fill helps when you are facing the worst weather and conditions. When not in use, the included stuff sack ensure a little more protection from sharp or wet object that it may come in contact with while stored in your pack. This also helps to compress it down to a manageable size. 

The internal zippered pocket provides an ideal location to store the stuff sack (or valuables) and keeps the two hand warmer pockets free for doing just what the name implies.

• 850 Fill Power hydrophobic goose down.
• 93/7 down/feather ratio.
• 120g/m2 synthetic fill in cuffs and neck.
• Windproof, micro rip-stop, nylon with water-repellent finish. 30 denier.

• Synthetic insulated cuff fill.
• Harness and backpack compatible hand warmer pockets. 
• One internal valuables pocket.
• Separate stuff sack included.
• No loop, anti-snag hem draw cords. Glove compatible.

• Two hand warmer pockets.

• Zipper garage.

• Technical stretch cuffs.

Jottnar has long been a favourite brand of ours here at Backcountry Skiing Canada because they consistently design and produce high-quality apparel that looks great and is ideally suited for mountain adventures. The Jottnar Thorsen Down Jacket is no exception. It features Jottnar’s beloved no loop, anti-snag hem draw cords and of course comes with its own stuff sac. These are a few little things which hold true for most of Jottnar’s apparel which differentiate them from other brands out there.

Having the ability to easily layer the Thorsen Jacket under a shell or additional layers is a huge benefit and is made easier by the fact that it doesn’t have a hood. While the aesthetic may not be as appealing as jackets with hoods, the chances of a hood foul are completely eliminated (Hood Foul: The act of not properly nesting one hood inside another, so that the inner hood is protruding in an unsightly manner). I’ve been wearing the Jottnar Thorsen Down Jacket under my ski shell while at the resort and also while ski touring and it’s so efficient to not have to fuss with multiple hoods. When not in use, the included stuff sac is a welcome refuge for the jacket, where it stays protected and dry while stored in my pack.

The simple elegance and refined design of the Jottnar Thorsen Down Jacket is reminiscent of Arc’Teryx’s apparel. Details such as the soft shell cuffs and how they provide flexibility in a simple and beautiful way are just one example of this. A similar jacket that we’ve previously reviewed would be the Marmot Quasar Jacket, but as you’ll learn by reading that review, the Quasar lacks the refined design and those little extras that make the Thorsen such a better buy for the same price.

Do yourself a favour and check out the Jottnar Thorsen Down Jacket when you get a chance and have a look at their other quality apparel as well, you’ll be glad you did.