REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket 2.0 Review
Cons: Minimal features, boxy fit
Manufacturer: REI Co-op
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket 2.0 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  |  | | |
| Price | $100 List Check Price at REI | $324.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $350 List Check Price at Backcountry | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $209 List |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Inexpensive, lightweight | Incredibly light, compact, warm for its size and weight, effective hydrophobic down | Warm, hydrophobic down, comfortable, large pockets accommodate use while wearing a harness | Water resistant hydrophobic down, great DWR coating, well thought-out features | Inexpensive, fully featured adjustability |
| Cons | Minimal features, boxy fit | No hood cinch, no chest pocket | Expensive, non-adjustable waist hem, poor compressibility | 750 fill-power down is good but not as light or lofty as others | Moderate warmth, noisy material, no internal zip pockets |
| Bottom Line | This is an inexpensive jacket that is ideal for casual hiking and wearing around town | A surprisingly warm jacket that is super-light, thin, and provides excellent versatility for technical adventures | This is a top-tier jacket with practical features and incredibly refined details | Excellent for wet weather because it has all the features to ensure the down stays dry | This down offers the warmth and quality of more premium choices at an approachable price point |
| Rating Categories | REI Co-op 650 Down... | Ghost Whisperer/2 | The North Face Summ... | Rab Microlight Alpine | MontBell Superior Down |
| Warmth (30%) | |||||
| Weight (20%) | |||||
| Water Resistance (15%) | |||||
| Fit (15%) | |||||
| Compressibility (10%) | |||||
| Features (10%) | |||||
| Specs | REI Co-op 650 Down... | Ghost Whisperer/2 | The North Face Summ... | Rab Microlight Alpine | MontBell Superior Down |
| Down Fill | 650 fill power down | 800 fill RDS certified, down insulation | 800 fill goose down | 700 fill recycled hydrophobic down | 800 fill goose down |
| Total Weight | 10.44 oz | 8.5 oz | 14.43 oz | 15.7 oz | 8.7 oz |
| Baffle Construction | Sewn-through baffles | Sewn-through baffles | Sewn-through baffles | Sewn-through baffles | Sewn-through baffles |
| Main Fabric | Recycled nylon taffeta | Recycled polyester ripstop, DWR finish | Nylon pertex | Pertex Quantum | 10 denier ballistic airlight nylon |
| Compression Method | Stuffs into pocket | Zips into pocket | Stuffs into pocket | Stuff sack | Stuff sack |
| Pockets | 2 hand | 2 zippered hand | 2 hand, 2 internal, 1 chest | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest | 2 zippered hand |
| Hoodless Option? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Stuffed with 650-fill down and featuring a DWR (durable water repellent) treated nylon ripstop shell, the Rei Down 2.0 provides a lot of warmth, especially for its price point. With minimal features to add bulk, this simple coat compresses into a reasonably small package, making it an ideal carry-on piece while traveling or on your daily commute to work.
Performance Comparison
Warmth
Built with cool to moderate temperatures in mind, this lightweight down isn't the jacket we'd be grabbing for a winter trip to Colorado.
With that in mind, it does offer enough warmth to take the chill out of cool mornings and cold evenings, especially if you're on the move. The 650-fill down used in this coat just doesn't offer up the same weight to warmth ratio as jackets made with higher loft down.
Weight
With a size medium weighing in at 10.44 ounces, this is a fairly lightweight jacket. Its low weight makes it a no-brainer to throw it in your backpack anytime you leave the house, ensuring you're prepared for any unexpected dips in temperature. As noted above, while it is lightweight, the actual weight to warmth ratio is, when compared to other jackets in this review, quite poor.
However, you'll want to consider what your intended purpose is for this jacket and which adventures you'll be planning to head out on while wearing it. If you're after a budget-friendly option, have layering capabilities, and will not be heading into the extreme cold, this may be just the ticket.
Water Resistance
The water-resistance of this coat comes entirely from the DWR coating on the nylon shell.
While it can resist light precipitation, more serious rainfall will render this coat a soggy un-insulating nylon mess. This problem isn't unique to this down jacket and is just par for the course with the most insulating layers. If you think there might be any chance of rain, be sure to pack a waterproof shell.
Fit
Our review team found the fit to be boxy. The torso is built like a rectangle, which accommodates those with wider shoulders and barrel chests quite well. If you prefer a tapered fit or are on the slender side, consider sizing down. The 2.0's fit is a bonus if you're hoping to find an option that will allow for layering.
Compressibility
The 2.0 has decent compressibility. It packs into its own pocket but doesn't have a built-in clip-in loop. As with warmth to weight ratios, compressibility is largely a function of the quality of down used.
The 650-fill down used in this model won't compress as well as a down jacket of similar size and weight that is filled with higher loft down.
Features
This jacket is more or less devoid of any notable features. The 2.0 features two internal pockets and two hand pockets with zips. It has no way to tighten or adjust the waist hemline. Especially given the boxy torso, the lack of a cinchable waist lets warm air escape and makes it a less capable insulator.
Value
When compared to the other jackets in our testing lineup, this one falls short. However, keep in mind that the models in our fleet are top-notch and often boast a high price; the 2.0 is almost half the price of many in our review. This option from REI will be more than adequate for most people who want some lightweight insulation while out for day hikes or on chilly mornings. All things considered, we would say that this coat is a heck of a deal.
Conclusion
The REI Co-op 650 Down 2.0 is a budget-priced down that's ideal for casual hiking and around town use. While its performance didn't wow our testers, when you consider the price point and what it's up against, it's a very capable coat. Providing decent warmth and acceptable compressibility, this simply constructed down jacket isn't our top choice for serious backcountry and mountain-oriented missions, but is more than adequate for casual everyday wear.
— Buck Yedor