Uploaded January 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
My Patreon is LIVE! Become a Patron and support my channel by clicking here: patreon.com/user?u=86987757
MGO stickers are now for sale! Click here to get yours: mirandagoesoutside.com
Can my cheapest down jacket compete with my most expensive? On the surface the affordable and insanely popular Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket checks every box for a great backpacking insulation layer: it's extremely light weight, packs down very small, and it's full of 100% RDS-certified down packed at 750 fill power into its baffles. At $60 (on sale) it could be the best value down jacket on the market for hiking and backpacking if it is genuinely warm and durable. Now, to be fair, the Uniqlo jacket is definitely not designed for hiking and backpacking, but I had to know what could justify the $340 price difference between this jacket, and the priciest technical backpacking and hiking coat in my closet - the $400 Arc'teryx Cerium Down Hoody. I took both jackets and headed to the mountains to find out just how these two jackets on either end of the price spectrum perform!
Intro: 00:00
$60 down jacket vs $400 down jacket: 1:04
Why I am comparing these two down jackets: 1:52
$60 down jacket vs $400 down jacket (con't): 2:37
Best down jacket options: 10:16
Conclusion: 11:21
Gear in this video -
Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket: uniqlo.com/us/en/products/E450310-000/01?colorDisplayCode=05&sizeDisplayCode=003
Arc'teryx Cerium Down Hoody: arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/cerium-hoody#search=1
REI 650 Down Jacket: rei.com/product/154226/rei-co-op-650-down-jacket-20-womens
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Down Hoody: mountainhardwear.com/p/womens-ghost-whisperer%2F2-hoody-1871631.html?dwvar_1871631_color=650
Shop ALL My Favorite Backpacking Gear: mirandagoesoutside.com/blogs/news/my-full-2023-backpacking-kit
Listen to my recent interview on Kyle Hates Hiking's podcast Trail Tales!
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/130-miranda-goes-outside-explains-the-full-story-on/id1441376382?i=1000596665017
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6zXULeqIJtxtMU1NQoqGIy?si=a64489c72e644999
Miranda Goes Outside is the evolution of REI’s Miranda in the Wild channel and is no longer affiliated with, or sponsored by REI Co-op. All opinions are my own. To learn more, watch my video about my channel transitioning to Miranda Goes Outside here: youtube.com/watch?v=c1D-Q6hjKGA
Find past Miranda in the Wild videos on REI Co-op's YouTube channel here: youtube.com/@rei
The Miranda Goes Outside crew:
Director and Producer: Rainer Golden
Videographer and Editor: Abby Hagan
Videographer and Editor: Chelsea Newton
Videographer and Editor: Kyle Roof
Dog: Tucker
This video was edited by Katie Van Fleet and filmed by Rainer Golden!
Follow Miranda on IG @MirandaGoesOutside: instagram.com/mirandagoesoutside
Like, Subscribe, Comment, and tune in (almost) weekly for more Miranda Goes Outside!
#downjacket #winter #backpacking #hiking #camping #naturelovers #mirandagoesoutside #mirandainthewild
My Patreon is LIVE! Become a Patron and support my channel by clicking here: patreon.com/user?u=86987757
MGO stickers are now for sale! Click here to get yours: mirandagoesoutside.com
Can my cheapest down jacket compete with my most expensive? On the surface the affordable and insanely popular Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket checks every box for a great backpacking insulation layer: it's extremely light weight, packs down very small, and it's full of 100% RDS-certified down packed at 750 fill power into its baffles. At $60 (on sale) it could be the best value down jacket on the market for hiking and backpacking if it is genuinely warm and durable. Now, to be fair, the Uniqlo jacket is definitely not designed for hiking and backpacking, but I had to know what could justify the $340 price difference between this jacket, and the priciest technical backpacking and hiking coat in my closet - the $400 Arc'teryx Cerium Down Hoody. I took both jackets and headed to the mountains to find out just how these two jackets on either end of the price spectrum perform!
Intro: 00:00
$60 down jacket vs $400 down jacket: 1:04
Why I am comparing these two down jackets: 1:52
$60 down jacket vs $400 down jacket (con't): 2:37
Best down jacket options: 10:16
Conclusion: 11:21
Gear in this video -
Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket: uniqlo.com/us/en/products/E450310-000/01?colorDisplayCode=05&sizeDisplayCode=003
Arc'teryx Cerium Down Hoody: arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/cerium-hoody#search=1
REI 650 Down Jacket: rei.com/product/154226/rei-co-op-650-down-jacket-20-womens
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Down Hoody: mountainhardwear.com/p/womens-ghost-whisperer%2F2-hoody-1871631.html?dwvar_1871631_color=650
Shop ALL My Favorite Backpacking Gear: mirandagoesoutside.com/blogs/news/my-full-2023-backpacking-kit
Listen to my recent interview on Kyle Hates Hiking's podcast Trail Tales!
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/130-miranda-goes-outside-explains-the-full-story-on/id1441376382?i=1000596665017
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6zXULeqIJtxtMU1NQoqGIy?si=a64489c72e644999
Miranda Goes Outside is the evolution of REI’s Miranda in the Wild channel and is no longer affiliated with, or sponsored by REI Co-op. All opinions are my own. To learn more, watch my video about my channel transitioning to Miranda Goes Outside here: youtube.com/watch?v=c1D-Q6hjKGA
Find past Miranda in the Wild videos on REI Co-op's YouTube channel here: youtube.com/@rei
The Miranda Goes Outside crew:
Director and Producer: Rainer Golden
Videographer and Editor: Abby Hagan
Videographer and Editor: Chelsea Newton
Videographer and Editor: Kyle Roof
Dog: Tucker
This video was edited by Katie Van Fleet and filmed by Rainer Golden!
Follow Miranda on IG @MirandaGoesOutside: instagram.com/mirandagoesoutside
Like, Subscribe, Comment, and tune in (almost) weekly for more Miranda Goes Outside!
#downjacket #winter #backpacking #hiking #camping #naturelovers #mirandagoesoutside #mirandainthewild
