Columbia Endevour Mountain Down Hooded

The Columbia Endeavor Mountain Down Hooded belongs to the category of lightweight insulated jackets, offering a noticeable but limited level of thermal insulation for outdoor activities. It can be worn on its own or under a shell jacket. Its low-profile insulation allows for good freedom of movement while helping to limit overheating during physical exertion.

The down fill is carefully distributed throughout the jacket. This is a genuine down jacket, filled with 800-fill-power goose down. Less insulation is used across the back, where perspiration tends to build up quickly. By contrast, the hood is generously filled with down, providing welcome warmth and comfort.

It is worth highlighting the quality of the insulation: 800 fill power. We did not notice any small feathers poking through the baffles or escaping through the seams, as can happen with some jackets. The quality of the down used in the Columbia Endeavor Mountain Down Hooded is therefore clearly evident.

Thermal insulation delivers as expected, combining the familiar comfort of down with excellent lightness. We weighed the Columbia Endeavor Mountain Down Hooded at just 310 grams, making it a lightweight, if not ultralight, jacket. At €300 for a jacket weighing 310 grams, that works out at roughly one euro per gram!

The jacket’s warmth may also be partly due to Columbia’s Omni-Heat Arctic lining. To confirm this, we would need to test a comparable jacket without this technology. Without getting too caught up in the details, the Columbia Endeavor Mountain Down Hooded performs its insulation role very well, offering an excellent balance between weight and thermal protection.

The outer fabric is lightly water-repellent. The cuffs are well designed, allowing enough room for your hands and a large GPS watch. Climbers might prefer a less bulky finish in this area to improve visibility when handling ropes. However, it is worth remembering that this jacket is not designed for climbing, but for hiking.

The pockets are fitted with zips featuring thin cord pulls, making them easier to operate. On our test jacket, the main front zip did not always run smoothly around the neck, occasionally catching depending on how the collar was positioned. The neck itself is very well protected. The hood is warm and roomy enough to accommodate a beanie underneath. However, it has no adjustment system to keep it securely in place in strong winds.

The hem features a dual adjustment system, using thin but effective elastic cords.

A very lightweight goose-down jacket that packs into its own pocket and delivers impressive thermal insulation for its weight. A practical and effective choice for hiking, offering an excellent balance of warmth, comfort and packability.