When I think of winter luxury, I think of cashmere scarves, wool sweaters, and down jackets. And aside from the rare thrift store find, these items seemed out of reach for an average person like me due to the sky-high price tags that often accompany them. Considering a down jacket can easily run you hundreds of dollars, I was shocked when I came across Quince’s Responsible Down Puffer Jacket being offered for just $150, while promising responsibly sourced goose down, unbeatable warmth, and a host of smart features.
Like many products that promise high quality at low prices, I was skeptical at first. But after owning and regularly wearing this jacket for over a year, I can promise that Quince hit the mark with this one. I’ve worn it running errands around the city, walking my dog through neighborhoods, and to work events in chilly weather. It’s ridiculously plush, impressively warm, and filled with thoughtful touches that constantly make me think, “I’m so glad they added this.” Safe to say, I’m obsessed with this jacket, and I think you will be too.
How to Buy
Key Features
Warmth Fit for a Washington Native
This coat needed to be impressively warm to exceed my standards. My family is from Spokane, Washington, which is a city located on the east side of the state (practically in Idaho), where temperatures regularly dip below freezing in the winter. Every holiday season, we take a few afternoons and evenings to walk around downtown and look at Christmas lights in Riverfront Park, view vintage (and slightly creepy) window displays, and pop into the lobby of the Davenport Hotel—a gorgeous historic hotel featuring preserved architecture from the early 1900s and memorabilia from Bing Crosby, who performed there regularly before he became famous. While I’ve always loved these outings, for years I spent every one shivering (and admittedly, a bit grouchy) because I was so darn cold.
Enter: this puffer jacket. I wore this for the first time around Spokane on a frigid day last December and couldn’t believe how pleasant the outing was. It reminds me of the Scandinavian saying, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” I’ve also been impressed with the coat’s breathability, meaning I can keep it on while popping into shops and hotel lobbies without sweating underneath once I’m in a warmer area.
Travel + Leisure
Your Head and Hands Will Be Comfortable, Too
A few other features I love about this jacket include soft storm cuffs with thumbholes that help keep my hands warm without gloves, fleece-lined hand pockets, and an adjustable bungee cord in the hem to block out wind. The only thing I’ve ever disliked about this jacket is that the hood is a bit large and bulky. That being said, it gets the job done when it comes to keeping my head warm, and I can always remove it if I want, thanks to an easy-to-use zipper. If this puffer sounds like the total package, that’s because it is.
Sustainability Matters
A Coat That Makes You Feel Good Inside…
Alongside the puffer’s material benefits, I also recognize that purchasing real down comes with a responsibility to protect animals and the environment involved in the process. Another reason I can feel good about this Quince puffer: It’s RDS (Responsible Down Standard) certified, which is a third-party certification that ensures the down and feathers used in products come from animals that have been treated humanely.
According to the Quince website, this coat is also certified by Standard 100 OEKO-TEX, which means that no hazardous substances are present. Furthermore, it’s made in a production plant that uses solar and wastewater treatment systems designed to reduce environmental impact, and in BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) certified factories that try to improve working conditions in the industry. And the factory they use is certified through WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production), which is an organization that helps production facilities operate in a safe and ethical way.
It’s getting harder and harder to find clothing that is sourced and made in an ethical way, so I truly appreciate Quince’s efforts to highlight things like sustainability, animal rights, and workers’ rights. All of that makes this coat 100 times cozier.
Travel + Leisure
…and Stylish on the Outside
While everything above is important and notable, I want to emphasize that this is an excellent winter jacket in terms of its design, construction, and style. I’ve tested dozens of coats and jackets for Travel + Leisure, and I’m not exaggerating when I say this is the most comfortable one I’ve ever put on. Thanks to thick, plush down tucked within a silky recycled polyester shell, it feels more like wrapping yourself in a high-end blanket than putting on a coat. You sort of sink into the jacket in a way that can’t be replicated by synthetic materials—and I promise, I’m not a hater of synthetic materials.
Final Thoughts
If you’re rolling your eyes a bit at my (perhaps) overly enthusiastic review of this jacket, I just want to say I’m writing this because I genuinely love it. It’s soft, cozy, warm, and cute, which is really all you can ask for in a puffer. The quality has also held up well for the past year, and it still looks almost brand new after countless wears. I haven’t needed to wash it yet (amazing considering the amount of hot cocoa I’ve consumed while wearing it), but when the time comes, I love that it’s machine-washable and dryer-safe—not always the case with real down!
I own this in Feather Gray, but it comes in 14 additional colors, ranging from deep black to bright red. And if the mid-length design isn’t your thing, you can also get it in cropped and long versions, each with a long list of its own colorways.
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
Anne Taylor is an updates writer at T+L who specializes in outdoor gear and fashion. She has tested dozens of coats and jackets over the past two years and, as someone who is always complaining about being cold, only recommends the ones that actually keep her warm.
Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.
