How come? Well, let's take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of fleece vs. goose down jackets.

Advantages of Fleece

• Much fleece is inexpensive, but not always. Some fleece jackets are very expensive.
  
   
• If wet, fleece offers some warmth.
  
   
• Standard fleece breathes very well.

Disadvantages of Fleece

• Although you can get heavy weight (300) fleece, a comparable down jacket offers more warmth.
  
   
• Standard fleece is not windproof, although windproof fleece (for more money) is available.
  
   
• Fleece is heavier than goose down.
  
   
• Fleece is not as compressible as goose down.

Advantages of Goose Down

• Very warm.
  
   
• While goose down itself is not windproof, the typical shell used for down jackets is.
  
   
• Very compressible.
  
   
• Goose down is very light, lighter than fleece.

Disadvantages of Goose Down

• Goose down is worthless when it gets wet, but you can get water resistant and waterproof down jackets.
  
   
• Goose down is generally more costly than some fleece, but similar in price to high quality fleece jackets.

Depending on the nature of your outdoor adventure, fleece, goose down, or either one, may be the perfect solution. But I would like to suggest that goose down is superior to fleece under these conditions:

• When you are facing temperatures below 40 degrees on a regular basis.
  
   
• When snow is a larger potential issue than rain, although rain should not exclude the use of goose down. More on this later.
  
   
• When weight is a critical factor and you want to minimize it.
  
   
• When space is a critical factor and you want to maximize it.
  
   
• When you prefer to be warm rather than being too cold.

If you have read this far, I imagine that you see some of the benefits of a goose down jacket, so let's now take a look at the world class Helios goose down jacket from Feathered Friends.

Feathered Friends in a Seattle-based company that specializes in goose down-related garments, sleeping bags, and other products. It has a reputation for offering top quality products.

When many people think of goose down jackets, they think of heavy-duty parkas designed to keep you warm at severe temperatures. While Feathered Friends does make such heavy-duty garments, the Helios goose down jacket is different. It is not designed as a heavy-duty winter jacket, but as a replacement for a fleece jacket.

The Helios is a very lightweight, trim-fitting jacket that is designed to fit over a base- or mid-layers. And if the weather is wet, it is trim enough to fit under a waterproof shell. So the Helios jacket can be warn as an insulation layer and as a shell (in dry weather). In other words, it can be worn just like a fleece jacket, providing the extra warmth, low weight, and compressibility that goose down offers.

Here are some of the key features of the Helios:

• Very lightweight, about 15 ounces, depending on the size.
  
   
• It can compress to about the size of a softball.
  
   
• The jacket has a very trim fit, but still allows a full range of movement of your arms.
  
   
• It is made of 750+ goose down, and includes about 7.8 ounces of actual down.
  
   
• Lycra is used at the cuffs and the waist to keep cold air out.
  
   
• There are two pockets in the front of the jacket too keep hands warm or to hold your stuff. Inside the jacket there is one additional pocket.
  
   
• The zipper has a draft flap to keep out cold air.
  
   
• The jacket can be ordered with one of three different types of material: nylon, Epic by Nextec, or Event PTFE-Lite fabric. The last two choices are waterproof, breathable fabrics that work fine if you intend to use the jacket in potentially wet weather. Also, the jacket can be optionally upgraded to 800 goose down, and even custom tailored upon request.

If you are currently using a fleece jacket, and you find that it doesn't keep you warm enough, or you are a fast packer and want the lightweight and compressibility of down, then you should consider the Helios jacket as a replacement for your current fleece jacket.

Using the Helios Jacket in the Real World

More often than not, I use the Helios jacket instead of one of the fleece jackets that I own. I feel it is more versatile than fleece, and much easier to pack and carry with me.

The jacket is really great for keeping warm after getting up in the morning and stepping out of your warm sleeping bag and into a frosty morning. It is also great when stopping for a break, when you begin to cool down and need more that your current "active" gear to keep warm. And when you make camp, it keeps you warm when you have stopped being active and need extra clothing to keep warm. And even at night, if your sleeping bag just isn't keeping you warm enough, you can slip on the Helios and wear it in your bag to keep warm.

When I am active, and the temperatures falls below 20 degrees or so, the jacket, along with a base layer will keep me toasty with no extra insulating layer. And when the thermometer falls below zero, then adding an additional insulating layer, or perhaps a shell jacket, will keep you very warm.

I want to make a few comments about the fit of the jacket. As I have mentioned before, it has a trim fit. And if you use the jacket like I do, then this trim fit should not present any problems with layering as it will fit under a shell. But some people might want to wear the jacket over a shell. If this is the case, then if you order your regular size, let's say you are a large and you order the large size, the jacket will be too small to fit over your shell. If you intend to wear the Helios over a shell, or if you just like loose fitting jackets, then you may want to order one that is one size larger than what you normally wear. This way, you will get the extra room you might need.

Recommendation

If you are looking for a replacement for a fleece jacket, then you should consider the Helios. But if you are really looking for a tough parka-type goose down jacket, then you don't want the Helios, but you may want to consider one of Feathered Friends heavier-duty goose down jackets.

Product Notes

The Helios is is available in many colors, and in three different fabrics. While it is also available in a wide variety of sizes, there is no men's or women's version of the jacket. Depending on the size and fabric selected, the suggested retail price of the jacket ranges from $195.00 to $252.00. Feathered Friends products can only be purchased from their store, website, or via mail order.