I’m curious as to peoples experiences buying down jackets (and other warmth outerwear) in Uniqlo Japan vs. what you get in Uniqlo Australia or wherever you were from.
I’ve bought down jackets from Uniqlo in Australia and they just don’t seem to cut it, even for our arguably mild Winter.
I’ve bought only pants & knit jumpers from Uniqlo in Japan, and the quality of those are comparable to that which I’ve bought from Uniqlo Aus.
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/11oxhgh/uniqlo_down_warmth_quality_in_japan_vs_uniqlo/
11 comments
It’s the same materials and cuts pretty much everywhere, only difference is selection and price.
It’s the same selection everywhere except Japan is a bit cheaper than Australia.
To be honest when I got here in December my local Uniqlo had hardly any thick down jackets, only the ultra light down vests. Sydney store is stuffed with those thicker coats.
I’m in Tokyo so maybe the company feels it’s too warm here for those coats
Uniqlo really really skimps on materials, no matter where you buy it from. A lot of budget Japanese brands are like this.
Tried and bought Uniqlo products in several stores in Japan, Germany and France (and probably some places I forgot). They’re the same everywhere.
The thin down jacket is really only meant for spring and autumn, the thick one is pretty great in winter. That said, I often prefer going with layers. Fleece jacket + thin down jacket + hardshell jacket (all from Uniqlo) = the ultimate combo for all kinds of temperatures and weather.
Seems to be the same to me
The only difference I noticed between Uniqlo stuff here and back home is that the sizes are different. I need to buy 1 size smaller back home then in Japan because they adjusted it to European sizes. I accidentally bought an L back at home once because I buy that here and it was too big.
Are you expecting a single jacket to keep you warm? That may be your problem, especially with your comment about mild winter. In colder places, you layer and layer. I live in a milder winter part of Japan and for winter, it’s always Uniqlo heattech first layer, t-shirt second layer, sweatshirt third layer even just inside the house. Going out I add a pea coat on top of everything plus scarf and warm hat. On extra cold days they sell stick on heat pads that will help heat your body the whole day. It’s less than 200 yen for a 10 pack and normally use 1 a day.
They don’t look or feel any different, have bought them in Tokyo and New York City.
The typical Uniqlo down jacket, the one they became famous for, is a light duty jacket for slightly cold winter conditions as in a large city kinda like Tokyo. Not meant to protect you from serious sub zero cold at elevation.
But wear one of their cashmere blend sweaters, maybe a layer of their Heat Tech long underwear and you can get into some single digit (F) temps if you’re not in it all day. I have actually doubled them up and they are very warm down to single digit (F).
I got the $200 Packable Mountain Hardwear version but i still need to layer it or else the jacket itself doesnt cut it…
I have a mid thigh waterproof puffer from Uniqlo Japan and it’s so hot that I genuinely can’t wear it unless it’s below freezing. Its really solid quality too. Waterproof zippers. Two zippered outdoor pockets. One zippered inner pocket. I’ve had it for about four or five years and for those first two years it was my go to jacket almost every day in the winter. Sizing wise, it’s alright. I’m American and have broader shoulders and more boob than most Japanese women so it’s a tad tight in that area with a chunky sweater underneath.
You might want to check out Uniqlo’s Ultra Light Down collection. These jackets are made of 100% nylon with a DWR coating for water resistance, and filled with feathers for insulation. They are also lightweight and packable, making them ideal for travel or layering.
From my experience this jackets are comparable to more expensive brands like Patagonia or North Face. However, they can be prone to feather leakage, especially after washing or wearing for a long time. Additionally, some have found them too thin or not warm enough for very cold climates, but this varies between person to person.
As for the difference between Uniqlo Japan and Uniqlo Australia (or other countries), there doesn’t seem to be much information available online. However, some people have speculated that Uniqlo Japan might have better quality control or more variety in sizes and colors than Uniqlo Australia. This could be due to different market demands or production standards. However, this is not confirmed by any official source.
So, if you’re interested in trying it out, you might want to visit their website or a store near you and see for yourself. You might be pleasantly surprised by how warm and cozy they are!