I have spent most of my life in colder climates, and although I enjoy winter and all the activities it has to offer, I have a confession to make. I do not like being cold. I will go to great lengths to be warm, stay warm or get warm. And I can say I have finally met the jacket for me.

The Cloudveil Down Patrol Jacket feels like it was made with me in mind. I can say I have owned many down jackets in my life, and currently have three in my closet. This is the only one I use regularly throughout the winter. Let me tell you why.

#1 The jacket itself is warm! It is a little longer in length than the “cutesy” down jacket I have, so when I am out shoveling my driveway, the wind isn’t blowing up my backside. I recently stood outside for two hours in this jacket (listening to someone talk unbelievably), in temperatures around 10 degrees. My upper body stayed warm with the gore windstopper material.

#2 It’s roomy, meaning that I have more room inside if I want to layer it with another jacket underneath. If it’s singles digits or below (Fahrenheit) I still have room for a fleece underneath, and due to the semi-fitted styling, I don’t look like the Michelin man either.

#3 The neck collar is so high, and warm, that I don’t even wear a scarf with the Down Patrol! This may very well be my favorite feature. Although I do have some scarves I really like, I’m less likely to wear them or lose them now. And I really like having a warm neck.

# 4 The hood is bomber. It can be tightened behind your head to keep it in place, or loosened to fit over a helmet. If you aren’t a hood fan, it can also be zipped off.

#5 All the other features. Two outside pockets that have a nice lining on the inside, and can zip close. A mesh inside pocket on one side, a zippered stash pocket on the other. The latter includes an ipod pocket inside and a space for headphones to run through. Some folks might like the powder skirt around the waist, I zipped my off. The Down Patrol also has pit zips, which I haven’t needed to use yet.

The insulation for the Cloudveil Down Patrol jacket is 650 fill, compare that to your current jacket! I can only say that if you don’t have a jacket like this, and you live in a place that the snow flies, you need to get one.