REI Co-op 650 Down Review

The REI Co-op 650 Down is a very affordable hoodless down jacket that stands out for its comfort, lightweight portability, and all-around style. This midweight model is filled with affordable RDS (Responsible Down Standard) certified 650-fill down. Its shell is made of recycled nylon taffeta with a DWR finish.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

The REI 650 is insulated with 650-fill goose down, which is some of the lowest fill power of any down in a jacket we tested. Because it's thickly filled, it kept us warmer than we expected, though we wouldn't say this is a warm jacket.

Over time, lower-fill quality down will compress and not be as warm. This can be fixed somewhat by washing your down jacket, but you might find yourself needing to break out the down wash kit sooner with this option. After several months of testing, we haven't noticed any reduction in loft, but it's something to keep in mind over years of wear.

This model doesn't have a hood, so there is no way to keep your head warm, obviously. There is a hooded version of this jacket available as well, though it does cost slightly more than the hoodless version we tested.

One thing we like about the hoodless version is that it makes it easier to layer with. During a cold day spent snowboarding, we wore this jacket over a hooded fleece mid-layer and under a winter hardshell jacket. When you have that many layers, it's better if they don't all have a hood. If you want to wear three hoods over a beanie, you're probably going to want a mountain parka, not this thin down jacket.

The REI 650 has wide baffles that have an average amount of down stuffed into each one. This jacket is above average in baffle thickness, too. The thicker baffles block more wind and allow less heat to escape from your core.

It has a waist cinch shock cord to tighten the jacket at the bottom hem. The back of the bottom hem has a slight drop to it as well, for a little more coverage when you lean forward.

When you zip this jacket all the way to your chin, it covers most of your neck to keep you as warm as possible. It's tight enough to seal in heat without being too tight to be uncomfortable. The elastic cuffs prevent heat loss at the end of your sleeves while also remaining comfortable.

Comfort

The 650 Down is comfortable enough to wear every day. It is one of the more plush-feeling jackets we tested and definitely the least expensive model that was still enjoyable to wear all day. This isn't the most technical layer, but it doesn't try to be. It's a classic puffy jacket with a slightly more soft and silky material than you'd expect.

The lining material feels good against your bare arms. It's soft enough to slide over other layers and doesn't create that swish-swish sound as you walk. It fits better than many of the models we tested. It's just wide enough in the arms and torso to layer under but also not too big to layer on top of. This also has the most inclusive sizing of any jacket we tested, with sizes from small through XXXL as well as L Tall, XL Tall, and XXL Tall.

You can raise your arms above your head with very little restriction in this jacket. While this isn't exactly the jacket to take on an intense climbing trip, you certainly could climb in this jacket.

It has four pockets: two zippered hand pockets and two slip pockets inside the jacket. The outside pockets are a comfortable and warm place to keep your hands while you're out for a walk.

Portability

The men's size small we tested weighs just 10.1 ounces. This is one of the lightest models we tested. However, since it doesn't have a hood, it has a slightly unfair advantage up against a bunch of hooded jackets.

You can pack this jacket into the internal slip pocket or one of the hand pockets, but there is no way to zip it shut because the newest version of this jacket does not have a dual-sided zipper. We're not too disappointed about this since it's still a very lightweight and packable option. But, it could be more packable with the addition of a double-side pocket zipper. We mostly found ourselves wearing this jacket around town and not packing it into a bag for the mountains, anyway.

Weather Resistance

The 650 Down is impressively wind and water-resistant. It performed well in the field in cold winter winds and snow. It did well in our water resistance lab tests, too.

The large, thick baffles block most of the wind as it blows across the jacket. Compared to many of the jackets we tested, this does a good job of blocking strong winds.

The DWR coating on the shell material will effectively keep you dry in light rain and dry snow, too. In our water-resistance spray and rub test, the shell material stays pretty dry after a minute of rubbing water directly onto the fabric. This is better than many of the other down jackets performed.

This jacket would be much more weather-resistant if it had a hood and more adjustment options. It has no way to cinch the neck tighter — or the wrists — and only a single cinch cord around the lower hem.

Breathability

The REI 650 Down is middle-of-the-road in terms of breathability. Really, it's only as breathable as it is due to the fact that it lacks many features that can cause you to overheat — like a hood and ultra-warm down.

The only way you can ventilate this model is by unzipping the front. You can also open the pockets to ventilate your lower core, but the openings on these pockets aren't as big as some other jackets, where this method of mechanical venting works better.

However, since this model doesn't have a hood, you're not going to get hot as fast when wearing it. In that sense, this is one of the better-suited jackets for high-output activities.

Its slightly looser fit also helps facilitate airflow through the jacket. When working hard, we found unzipping most of the zipper allowed us to dump a lot of heat quickly, and the loose fit and lack of hood made the process easier. All this isn't to say this jacket is breathable; it's simply not as bad as it could be. The shell material is less permeable than many fabrics. It starts to feel clammy as you sweat more than the most breathable models.

Should You Buy the REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket?

This jacket hits the sweet spot in terms of affordability. It costs a lot less than many other down models, and that alone is a good enough reason for us. However, it's also one of the more comfortable options and has a classic puffy jacket style that we'd rock every day all winter. If you're in the market for a high-performing technical down jacket to get into some serious adventures with, this probably isn't for you. But if you're looking for a simple puffy you can wear around town or bring on vacation, the REI 650 will hold its own.

What Other Down Jackets Should You Consider?

The REI 650 Down is a great option if you're on a budget. But if you're looking for a higher performing and still lightweight down jacket, we think you should check out the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer. For a warmer, more technical jacket that is still a good deal, check out the Rab Microlight Alpine. For a slightly warmer jacket with the same casual look, albeit at a higher price, check out the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody.