With temperatures dropping across the country, it’s about time to bust out your favorite down jacket. But shopping for the ideal winter coat can often feel challenging, especially if you’re seeking a technical, insulated puffy for high-octane pursuits.
First, there’s that big, initial decision between down and synthetic insulation. Down is lighter, warmer and more packable, but synthetics have come a long way in recent years, are more animal-friendly and are often cheaper. Lucky for you, we’ve done the research to suss out the best puffer jacket for your cold weather needs, with winners in both down and down-alternative categories.
Our team of editors trimmed a list of hundreds of insulated, outdoor-focused jackets down to the top 13, then sent our expert tester into the wild to put them through the wringer on overnight camping trips in Colorado, day hikes in Glacier National Park and even a frigid wildlife photo expedition with Natural Habitat Adventures in far-flung East Greenland.
The result? A comprehensive, no-frills look at the toastiest insulated jackets. Whether you’re scaling a high alpine peak or just enjoying the crisp weather in your own backyard, there’s something on this list for everyone, even the down-averse. Traveling somewhere really cold? Be sure to check out our list of top winter gloves, too.
Stio’s Hometown Down excelled in nearly every category we threw at it. It provided superior warmth for the price, decent water resistance and excellent sustainability marks. Plus, it came with loads of fun extras like an included stuff sack and fleece-lined pockets.
Both men’s and women’s versions come in six colors. The men’s jacket comes in sizes XS to XXXL, while the women’s is available in XXS to XXL.
Sporting the brand’s proprietary Pakafill insulation, which uses sustainable, traceable alpaca fibers instead of duck down, the Apu Lightweight Puffer truly impressed us with its warmth-to-weight ratio. It’s a fantastic, earth-friendly choice if you aren’t a fan of down jackets.
The men’s Apu puffer is available in four sizes and sizes S to XXL, while the women’s jacket is in three sizes and XS to XXL.
After two months of rigorous testing, Stio’s Hometown Down Hooded Jacket triumphed over its competitors, scoring excellent marks in sustainability, warmth, durability and weather resistance.
One of the first categories where the Hometown Down began to truly stand out was warmth. Though it isn’t billed as a heavyweight down parka (a women’s small weighs in at just 16 ounces), I noticed that it delivered ultra-cozy vibes when I wore it in a 39-degree Fahrenheit walk-in cooler and again on an overnight backpacking trip to Conundrum Hot Springs, when temperatures dipped below freezing overnight. Weighing a mere 4 ounces more than Patagonia’s Down Sweater Hoody (which we also loved), the Hometown Down provided significantly more insulation than the Down Sweater as well as fun extras like a fleece-lined neck and handwarmer pockets. It was similarly warm to Rab’s uber-cushy Neutrino Pro ($400), with a bit less weight and significantly less cost.
This Stio jacket also boasted plenty of fun X-factors that helped it stand out above other down jackets. Not only did it come equipped with two zippered, fleece-lined pockets, but it also sported an inner security pocket and a large inner pouch for storing valuables close to your core. Easy-to-adjust cinch cords at the waist and hood made it easy to lock in heat when temperatures plummeted at night on my backpacking trip. Though this design doesn’t stuff into its pocket, it did come equipped with a stuff sack, perfect for easy, dirt-free storage in a larger pack. The Hometown Down also comes in a longer, slightly pricier Parka length ($379) for those anticipating frigid weather.
Though we certainly wouldn’t call this jacket waterproof, it performed well in our weather resistance tests, shielding wind well at sunset above 11,000 feet in the Maroon Bells and shedding water in our 30-second sink test like a champ. This is achieved with Stio’s PFAS-free durable water-repellent finish and Bluesign-approved Down HyperDry, both of which repel moisture. This means that the coat should hold its loft and warmth, even if you get caught in a rain shower for a few moments before being able to don your rain jacket.
This super-toasty jacket uses a PFAS-free DWR, its insulation is Bluesign-approved, and it uses Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certified down feathers. The face fabric of the women’s jacket is the brand’s proprietary, 100% recycled Illume Cire, which adds just a hint of shine to the jacket’s outer layer, while the men’s version features an ultralight, recycled nylon outer.
At $329, this jacket is in the middle of the pack for pricing. It costs the same as the less-warm Patagonia Down Sweater and is cheaper than the popular Arc’teryx Cerium ($400). However, if budget is an important factor when selecting a down jacket this season, we highly recommend the REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket ($129), which is decently warm, sheds moisture well and is manufactured by an earth-friendly company.
In short, Stio has created an incredibly warm and comfortable hooded jacket with its Hometown Down design. It was significantly toastier than similarly-priced jackets, performed well in our packability and water resistance tests and boasted solid sustainability scores. Though it wasn’t the cheapest down jacket on our list, it was far from the most expensive, and with the company’s product lifespan warranty, which extends to the original owner, we feel that it’s a fantastic choice for most outdoor enthusiasts, whether they plan on relaxing aprés ski or going on serious hikes in the snow.
Paka’s Apu Lightweight Puffer was the warmest non-down jacket we tested, boasting a superb sustainability score with its traceable Pakafill insulation, which is created using alpaca hairs from Peru rather than synthetic or plastic fibers. We also loved its slim profile, which paired well with streetwear for post-hike hangouts.
When it comes to down alternative puffy jackets, warmth and packability are key. Paka delivered in both categories, with its 14-ounce Apu Puffer, outfit with fleece-lined pockets and plenty of toasty insulation. On a recent sub-freezing van camping trip in the Rocky Mountains, I fell asleep wearing Patagonia’s Micro Puff ($279), then woke up chilly and swapped it out for this warmer Apu. I slept like a baby the rest of the night, and my love of this alpaca jacket was cemented. Though it wasn’t quite as packable as most of the down jackets we tested, it was every bit as warm. This was surprising because normally you sacrifice a bit of warmth with down-alternative and synthetic jackets, but the Apu beat out all its synthetic competitors and nearly all of the down jackets too. If you need something more insulated for colder days, check out the company’s Apu Parka, which we tested and loved last year.
With fleece-lined pockets, four-way stretch fabric made from nylon and spandex, a PFAs-free outer and pocket that doubles as a stuff sack, there were tons of noteworthy, premium features to be found, and I especially liked being able to cinch the hood over my trucker cap on blustery autumn days. The brand’s sustainability story is also amazing, with QR codes coming along with every jacket in the mail so that you can trace your alpaca’s origins. Even better, because the jacket is filled with alpaca fibers and not duck feathers, it will keep insulating, even if it gets damp in the wilderness.
The only places where its closest competitor, the Patagonia Micro Puff, excels over the Apu Lightweight Puffer are in weather resistance and packability. The Apu says it’s only water-resistant but in our sink tests, it wasn’t great at shedding water. It’s also stuffed with warmer, loftier insulation, so it didn’t squish down as small as the Micro Puff, but it can still pack into one of its own pockets to about the size of a football.
Another thing I loved about the Apu Puffer was that, much like the industry-famous Arc’teryx Atom, it boasts a streamlined fit, compared to many other down parkas that can make you feel a bit like a marshmallow. In short, the Paka jacket, which comes in three colors, was easy to toss on over jeans for a seamless trail-to-town transition in my mountain hub of Boulder.
Still, at a reasonable price of $279, we feel that the incredible warmth, sustainability and aesthetics of the Apu Lightweight Puffer are enough to recommend it as the best down-alternative jacket on the market. Featuring ultra-lofty, traceable alpaca insulation, it provides a sustainable alternative to duck down that’s every bit as warm and cozy to wear.
Our outdoor editors scoured the web before making extensive testing parameters for the best down jackets online and in stores today. They selected 13 of the best down jackets, then put together a no-nonsense testing rubric of in-the-field and at-home tests to see how they performed.
The puffy jackets that made it into our top tier were put through a series of day hikes in the Rocky Mountains, neighborhood dog walks, overnight backpacking treks, international trips and controlled, in-home tests to determine which ones were the absolute best for your money. The five jackets that scored the best were then taken out on additional testing excursions, like overnight backpacking in Aspen, day hiking in Glacier National Park and boat trips in Greenland.
Warmth: After booking a walk-in cooler with a static temperature of 39 degrees Fahrenheit, we did jumping jacks, stretched, marched in place and stood still for a total of 15 minutes for each jacket. We then took the top-performing jackets from the cooler test into the real world to see how they fared on overnight treks in Colorado, Montana and Greenland.
Packability: We tried to pack each jacket into its own internal pocket or stuff sack (when applicable), then compared how small each one could pack down. If a jacket did not pack into its pocket, we stuffed it down as small as we could into its hood, to mimic packing for an overnight trip.
Durability: We made note of the types of fabrics and deniers (thicknesses) of each used in every jacket we tried, then every jacket was washed once in a standard-issue coin-operated washing machine, dried in a commercial dryer, then examined for signs of wear, shed feathers and fading. The jackets were also each scuffed hard, ten successive times, against a rock wall. They were then inspected for visible damage and possible holes.
Water resistance: We held each jacket under a running sink while a timer ran for 30 seconds, then assessed the fabric to see if it wet through and, if so, how much water got in. Afterward, we paid attention to how quickly they each dried and made notes accordingly.
Wind resistance: When completing our outdoor testing for the top-performing jackets, we took special note of wind resistance while hiking through the mountains.
Comfort: When first removing each jacket from its packaging, we compared the fabric’s relative softness to its competitors.
Fit: We tried on every jacket on our list and noted how it fit, relative to standard women’s sizing and relative to its competitors. We made extra notes as to whether or not a jacket was available in additional or more inclusive sizes. We also performed a series of five arm stretches in each jacket to assess the mobility a wearer has in each design.
Pockets: We counted the number of pockets on the interior and exterior of every jacket, noting which ones were zippered or fleece-lined for comfort.
Extra features: We also made note of the extra “X-factor” features some jackets provided, like a cinchable hood, waist adjustments, wrist cuffs, fleece-lined pockets and included stuff sacks. Jackets were then ranked by the number of extras provided.
Price: We took down the standard MSRP price for every jacket we tested, and then ranked these prices against one another.
Warranty: We researched and wrote down the warranty information for every puffy jacket on the list, then scored them according to length and terms.
The primary things we assessed that you should consider when selecting a great insulated jacket for cold weather are warmth, weight and extra features like pockets. Many websites will list the jacket’s fill power, which refers to the loft, or fluffiness, of the down feathers inside. For example, 800-fill-power down will fluff up more than 600-fill-power down, and since down’s warmth comes from the air it can trap, the higher the loft, the warmer the feathers are. While it’s generally true that a jacket with higher fill-power down will be warmer, you also have to pay attention to how much down is inside the jacket, also known as the fill weight. If a jacket has only a little bit of high-quality, 850-fill-power down, it may not be as warm as a jacket with loads of 600-fill-power down.
If you know you’re going to be backpacking or traveling light, be sure to check out the jacket’s total weight, too, as thicker shell fabrics can add unnecessary bulk to the jacket’s overall design. Lastly, tally up the pockets and extra features of the insulated jacket you’re considering. In sub-freezing temperatures, it can be nice to have interior pockets to stash snacks or water bottles. Similarly, fleece-lined pockets and included stuff sacks are nice extras that will keep you cozy.
At just $129, REI’s 650 Down Jacket is a solid budget option for most day hikers, cold campers and novice skiers.
Weighing in at just 10.2 ounces, REI Co-op’s 650 Down Jacket is a lightweight wonder that doesn’t skimp on the warmth. Our tester was also impressed with how well the coat shed moisture before wetting through and the fact that the brand offers it in plus sizes. Responsible Down Standard feathers combine with Bluesign-approved materials to make this an eco-friendly choice, too.
The Down Sweater Hoody scored extremely well in every category, with special praise for excellent sustainability and weather resistance.
Patagonia’s Down Sweater Hoody is a fantastic, midweight down jacket pick for most outdoor lovers. It’s warm (but not too warm), lightweight and comes in eight different colorways, so you can match it to any outfit. It’s also backed by the brand’s second-to-none product warranty. Want something without a hood? Check out the cheaper Down Sweater ($279) instead.
For the gram-counting ultralight climber or backpacker, the Ghost Whisperer provides epic warmth at a super light weight of just 7 ounces.
Our tester loved the featherlight (pun intended) weight of Mountain Hardwear’s Ghost Whisperer, which is made with recycled nylon and 800 fill-power, responsibly sourced down. While it wasn’t as warm as the overall winner, it’s a great choice when weight matters.
The warmest jacket in our rubric, Rab’s Neutrino Pro was uber comfy and shed moisture like a champ.
With its superior fill power of 800 and overstuffed baffles, Rab’s Neutrino Pro was, hands-down, the toastiest jacket we tested. Its 100% recycled Pertex outer shell was also great at shedding water when we threw it under the steady stream of a sink. However, at $400, it’s a bit pricier than our top prize winner.
Though it’s one of the more expensive jackets on our list, the Cerium excelled in weather resistance, outperforming nearly every other jacket.
Moisture management is the name of the game for this British Columbia-based company’s apparel, and the Cerium is no exception. Produced in a Fair Trade Certified factory, the jacket’s durability and water resistance stood out, though its face fabric was not as soft as Stio’s Hometown Down.
Montbell’s Alpine Light jacket, though well-priced, lacked many of the sustainability initiatives of other brands.
Montbell’s Alpine Light Jacket was extra soft, right out of the box, which made it fun to wear around town when autumn temperatures dipped. Unfortunately, it didn’t provide enough warmth or sustainability stats to stand out from the herd in our rigorous tests.
The price is right on this ultralight, no-nonsense down jacket that’s incredibly warm and packable.
We love the fair pricing of Outdoor Vitals’ direct-to-consumer approach. This jacket was slightly outperformed by the Hometown Down in the categories of warmth and aesthetics, but it is backed by a similarly excellent warranty for anything beyond normal wear and tear. We also liked the jacket’s pit zips, which are ideal for high-intensity winter activities like snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.
Boasting fun colorways, solid weather protection and great sustainability practices, the Ortovox Zinal Jacket is a great jacket for alpine activities.
With excellent pocket design (there’s even a small sleeve pouch for a ski pass), great colorways and fantastic wrist cuffs, we were thoroughly impressed with Ortovox’s foray into the world of sustainable wool insulation. Though it sports a 2-year warranty, it was a little pricey to take home our best overall title.
Though it wasn’t the warmest jacket on our list, the Atom delivered impressive rain protection with its awesome softshell fabric.
With industry-leading softshell fabric, high-visibility colors and 100% recycled synthetic insulation, Arc’teryx’s Atom Hoody was an excellent performer in many of our testing categories. However, because of its slim, lightweight profile, it wasn’t as warm as most on our list, though the tester noted that it would make for a great mid-layer in extremely cold situations or a casual hoody for shoulder season.
Sporting the company’s highest warmth-to-weight ratio, the Micro Puff is a supremely packable and lightweight synthetic puffy.
There’s a lot to love about Patagonia’s Micro Puff. It’s ultralight at just 9 ounces, packs into its pocket and sheds errant moisture well. It’s also stuffed with 100% recycled polyester insulation, which will continue insulating (unlike down), even if it gets wet. However, this jacket was noticeably less warm than the brand’s Down Sweater and Paka’s Apu Lightweight Puffer, which knocked it down a few pegs.
Though the price is right for this synthetic puffy jacket, it lacks the sustainability and packability of its competitors.
While our tester appreciated a deviation from the Michelin Man-style baffles typically found in down jackets, she also found The North Face’s ThermoBall Hoodie less warm than many of its counterparts. It also lacked many nice-to-have features of other jackets we tried, like interior pouches, a hood adjustment point and a rock-solid warranty.
What is better a down or a feather jacket?
Down jackets use duck or goose feathers as insulation. Ounce for ounce, down is the lightest, most packable insulation currently available.
Is 650 down-fill warm enough for winter?
Most 650 down-fill jackets are warm enough for mild winters but if you live in a colder climate, you might want to get a jacket with better insulation, like an 850-fill-power or even 1,000-fill-power-down jacket.
What is a good down fill weight?
The more fill weight or insulation in your jacket, the warmer it will be. Some jackets prioritize weight so it’s more portable, while others stuff as much insulation as possible to be ultra-warm. On top of the fill weight, be sure to pay attention to the fill power. 600 fill-power down is considered to be on the lower end, while 1,000 fill-power is the highest available rating for most outdoor goods.
How do you wash a down jacket?
Most down jackets can be carefully washed and laundered in an at-home washer and dryer. Most manufacturers recommend washing your down jackets with a delicate, down-specific soap, like Nikwax’s Down Wash.Direct, which enhances water repellency while maintaining the insulation’s loft.
