Gone are the days of the giant down-filled coat. Well, I mean, some people still wear them; but in the last few years, technical advancements in garments have made jackets smaller and lighter while keeping you just as warm as, if not warmer than, their puffy brethren. I recently had the pleasure of testing one such jacket, Columbia’s Diamond 890 Turbodown Hooded Down Jacket.

Since this jacket weighs about as much as a large apple, I was skeptical about its ability to keep me warm. However, after putting it on and going outside, I realized I should only wear it on the coldest of days. Its 850-rated down combines with 40 grams of Columbia’s proprietary Omni-Heat synthetic insulation to keep you extra toasty.

Columbia outfits much of their cold weather gear with Omni-Heat reflective lining (like small reflective mirrors inside), which works like an electric  blanket to keep you warm with your own body heat.

When I work out in the jacket—e.g., bike commute to work, run or hike—it takes about a minute to start feeling the heat recycling inside. Although it’s filled with down, the jacket can fold up into one of its pockets, creating a bundle the size of a small football, perfect for traveling or for use as a pillow. Most days, I just wear the jacket over a t-shirt and I’m good to go, even in below-freezing temperatures.

This is my go-to jacket for the rest of the winter. It’s a great light-weight alternative to hoodies and multiple layers for training outdoors. Find yours at http://www.columbia.com.