FALSE DESCRIPTION. This is NOT down. This is "down ALTERNATIVE" jacket.
The info on the product page suggests it's real down. I see no mention of "alternative."
frontpagehawkblu09 | Staff posted Jan 18, 2026 04:08 PM
Item 1 of 4
Item 1 of 4
frontpagehawkblu09 | Staff posted Jan 18, 2026 04:08 PM
Eddie Bauer Men's 550-Fill Down Puffer Hooded Jacket (Gray or Black)
+ Free Store Pickup$25
$50
50% offEddie Bauer
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The issue is usually that people have no idea what Fill Power actually means. Fill Power is a measure of the quality of the down insulation. It's literally just the number of a cubic inches that one ounce of down takes up... it's a measure of 'fluffiness'... which translates into insulating power... which translates into quality.
However, it's not a measure of how warm a jacket is. To know that (in addition to how it's distributed, etc), you need to know both the quality (Fill Power) and the quantity (Fill Weight) of the garment.
So... an 850 Fill Power jacket can have less down in it than a 550 Fill Power jacket and still provide the same warmth... will less bulk.
In addition, jackets like this are made to be mid-layers and not outer layers. The thin nylon fabric is designed to reduce bulk when worn under a shell layer. They're not terribly rip or abrasion resistant... and aren't designed to be. This would be a nice mid-layer... or an 'around town' mid-weight jacket, but it's not the right call for a wet day in the woods or tramping thru brush.
LLBean Ultrilight 850 [llbean.com] - If you can find this one on sale (I got it for under $60 before CB), it's great value for the money. 850FP and good fill weight (probably twice the fill weight of the Eddie Bauer). Very warm (and might be too warm, in certain circumstances).
Other solid options out there for more technical gear (I own Mountain Hardwear and Patagonia down as well)... can be a bargain if you find them on-sale. Particularly like MH StretchDown.
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Submitted 1 month agoBy RobFrom NE, PennsylvaniaTerrible jacket. Terrible fit. Terrible quality. The sides are spandex so there's zero insulation there. And there's No way this jacket is a 550 down fill. Whoever designed this jacket should be fired.
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It is very light but real down and the sides are fabric. Nice for cool weather, not good for cold.
I can understand how someone buying this mail order expecting a normal thicker down jacket would be disappointed.
I knew exactly what I was getting, and I like mine for lighter temps.
The color is more like Periwinkle than gray. The spandex on the sides actually makes it more comfortable even if it does sacrifice warmth a little bit.
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Seriously though, if the low fill power rating wasn't enough to clue you in, the complete omission of fill weight should be. These are fall jackets at best.
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