Forclaz MT500 Hooded Down Jacket Review

Overview

The Forclaz MT500 is Decathlon’s cold-weather down hoody: 800-fill RDS-certified duck down, a water-repellent polyamide shell, and a hood, all at a price that undercuts most name-brand puffies by a wide margin. It’s built for trekkers who want real warmth for camp and cold mornings without a premium bill. The trade-off is weight. At 400–440 g, it is a warm, sturdy layer rather than a gram-counter’s piece.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	400–440 g depending on version
Fill	90% grey duck down, 10% grey duck feather
Fill power	800 CUIN
Down certification	Responsible Down Standard (RDS)
Comfort range	0°C to -10°C (32°F to 14°F)
Shell and lining	100% polyamide
Water resistance	PFC-free DWR on the outer fabric
Hood	Adjustable, toggle cord
Pockets	2 hand pockets, 1 zipped chest pocket, 2 inner pockets
Packing	Stows into a pouch
Fit	Straight cut; runs small

Performance

Warmth. Decathlon’s comfort range runs from freezing down to -10°C for active use, and owner reports line up with it. One trekker on a Himalayan winter route described being comfortable at around -8°C, and a buyer in Sapporo in December 2025 reported staying warm to about -10°C. The jacket is aimed at trekking rather than standing around, so the lower end of that range assumes movement or an extra layer underneath. Decathlon validated it through a three-day trek near Chamonix, with testers climbing to about 3,000 m in November 2021. Reviewers who use it in deep cold commonly wear it under a hard shell, where it works as a mid-layer.

Weight and packability. The jacket weighs about 440 g in men’s size L, and a women’s medium comes in around 400 g. For context, GearChase puts Forclaz’s lighter MT100 at roughly 10.5 oz and the MT500 at around 15 oz. That puts the MT500 in the heavier tier of down hoodies. It does compress into its own pouch, and owners consistently say it takes up little room in a pack. The MT100 is the model that ultralight forums praise for warmth per dollar. The MT500 is the warmer step up for people who know they’ll be cold.

Weather protection. The shell carries a PFC-free water-repellent finish, which Decathlon says will shed light rain and snow. The company itself recommends a waterproof jacket over the top in actual rain, and notes the treatment fades with use and should be refreshed after each wash. Owners also flag that the jacket isn’t windproof, so a shell goes with it in exposed terrain. That’s standard for down, but worth planning around.

Fit and features. The cut is straight and, by most accounts, snug. Buyers on Decathlon’s site and elsewhere repeatedly advise sizing up, particularly for anyone planning to wear a fleece underneath. Hood and hem toggles allow adjustment. The pocket count is generous: two zipped hand pockets, a zipped chest pocket and two inner pockets. Owners report that it holds up through multiple washes without losing loft.

Choosing a Version

The two versions are essentially the same jacket, cut differently. The Women’s (tested in Medium, 400 g) uses a women’s pattern, and reviewers say it runs smaller than expected, so those between sizes should try it on or size up. The Men’s (440 g, quoted in size L) has the same fill and features in a straight men’s cut. The weight difference comes mainly from the cut and size, not from a different construction. Buy whichever pattern fits your frame, and size up if the plan is to layer fleece under it.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 800-fill RDS-certified down at a budget price
• Comfort rating to -10°C holds up in owner reports
• Compresses into its own pouch
• Adjustable hood and hem
• Five pockets, including a zipped chest pocket
• PFC-free water-repellent finish
• Reported to hold up through repeated washing

Cons

• 400–440 g is heavy next to true ultralight down jackets
• Runs small; sizing up is common advice
• Not windproof, and not suited to sustained rain without a shell
• DWR wears off and needs reproofing
• 10% feather content slightly dilutes the down

Who Should Buy This

The MT500 suits shoulder-season and winter hikers, trekkers heading to high-altitude routes, and anyone building a cold-weather kit on a budget who wants more warmth than a light puffy provides. It also works as a camp and travel jacket that doubles as a layer under a shell. Thru-hikers in warm-to-cool conditions, or anyone shaving every ounce from a base weight, should look at the lighter MT100 or a premium ultralight hoody. Those who regularly face sustained wet weather without a shell should consider a synthetic jacket instead.

Verdict

The MT500 delivers genuine sub-freezing warmth, a sensible feature set, and RDS-certified 800-fill down for much less than comparable name-brand jackets. It isn’t light enough to excite ultralight purists, and it needs a shell in wind or rain. For cold-weather trekking on a budget, it’s a strong buy.