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As those native to the cold will surely inform you — perhaps with certain choice words — when winter’s bite leaves temps in the single digits, demands the hardiest of footwear and induces windchill effects that will literally freeze your pants off, only the burliest, warmest and generally best men’s puffer jackets will do.
Best All-Around: Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer 2 Hooded Down Jacket
Best Lightweight: Ibex Wool Aire Hoodie
Warmest: LifeLabs MegaWarm Jacket
Most Affordable: REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket 2.0
Most Versatile: Patagonia Reversible Silent Down Fleece Jacket
Trendiest: Arc’teryx Cerium Down Hoodie
Most Sustainable: Askov Finlayson Winter Parka
Best Vest: Rocky Mountain Featherbed Heritage Down Insulated Puffer Vest
Editor’s Pick: The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket
Originally conceived in the 1930s as a stop-gap measure for hypothermia (Eddie Bauer was one of the first to market the down-insulated jackets), the style has kept everyone from George Costanza to Frank Ocean insulated and alive in the coldest of conditions for decades. And the best men’s puffer jackets aren’t just a serviceable piece of gear: from the urban appeal of the iconic North Face Nuptse to runway grails a la Craig Green and (cursed) Balenciaga, the style has a clear après appeal beyond its utilitarian insulation.
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Including an Eddie Bauer Skyliner jacket, Ironman Timex and western-themed CrocsThe rise of functional, hiking-inspired trends like Gorpcore and new sustainability-driven developments in down technology has further expanded the realm of puffer, meaning that there are a ton of solid and stylish options, from heritage labels (Filson and its ilk) to newer contenders Ibex and Mountain Hardwear. Clearly, when it comes to the best men’s puffer jackets, the real challenge isn’t a matter of if, but which.
That’s where we come in. After days of meticulous research, weeks of wear-testing in the frigid temps of Brooklyn and Minnesota alike, and some serious deliberation, we’ve identified and highlighted some of our favorite puffer designs currently available for purchase below. Some skew affordable, while others are worth their goose-feathered weight in gold, but all provide a serious level of warmth only the best men’s puffer jackets can provide.
Things to Consider:
Insulation: Puffer jackets are synonymous with down jackets, and for good reason: For years, the treated duck or geese feather insulation, which despite being impossibly lightweight also captures pockets of hot air to keep the wearer (or animal) warm, was the best and only method for creating such a coat. Down’s grade varies, enough so that the material demands its own ranking system to determine the “fill power.” In short, the ranking measures the effectiveness of the insulation’s heat retention.
While a high rating might not necessarily mean warmer, it does ensure that you’ll be getting the best weight for your insulation, versus a heavier and bulkier low-fill style, and it is typically preferred — a fact often reflected in price tags. In recent years, concerns over cruelty-free practices and sustainability have led to new insulation options that mirror down’s warming effects, often using wool or synthetic blends.
Material: Puffer jackets may be filled with down and the like, but their exterior and finish are just as important. Given down’s weakness to moisture, a seamless waterproof shell is paramount in wet conditions, and add-ons like shearling lining and reinforced nylon can greatly improve a puffer’s performance and longevity.
The Best Men’s Puffer Jackets
Shell material: 100% recycled nylon 10D whisperer ripstop | Weight: 8.8 oz | Fill material: q.shield goose down | Fill power: 800
Pros:
- Lightweight, water-resistant and ultra warm
- Shockingly durable
- Tons of colors
Cons:
- N/A
Coming in as our top pick, Mountain Hardwear wins best men’s puffer jacket not for its pros — and there are many, from a snow-resistant “Whisperer” ripstop outer, anti-overheat 800 fill insulation and bundle of shiny colorways — but for its cons…or lack thereof. With a comparatively appropriate price, adequate specs and all the warmth you could ask for in snow conditions, this jacket was a joy to test through the great outdoors and bodega runs alike. We truly can’t recommend it more — grab one for yourself, we promise you won’t regret it.
Shell Material: 100% nylon | Weight: 11.375 oz | Fill material: proprietary 80 gram merino wool | Fill Power: N/A
Pros:
- Lightweight and breathable
- Non-down filling performs well
- More workout-inclined than other styles
Cons:
- Too lightweight for serious warmth
Puffer jackets might not immediately jump to mind when comes to winter workouts, but Ibex’s Aire Hoodie makes cold-weather runs bearable. The style, which is one of the few to feature a proprietary merino wool fill rather than down, checks all the boxes for what we need from an active jacket — warm, breathable, with accouterments (zip pockets, cuffed sleeve and a cinch waist) to perform admirably. While it’s not what we might choose for a multi-hour stint in the brutal cold, it’s perfect for quick runs and outdoor training during winter’s chilliest months.
Review: This Merino Wool Puffer Is the Best Jacket We’ve Ever Run In
Enough with the layering. Ibex’s best-selling jacket is all you need.
Shell material: warmlife twill 2L | Weight: N/A | Fill material: ethically-sourced goose down | Fill power: 800
Pros:
- The warmest jacket we tested
- Sleek finish despite warmth
Cons:
- Perhaps too warm
- Mega price tag
We’ll freely admit that we were skeptical of LifeLabs’ “warmest jacket in the world” claim — after all, in a world of grabby monikers and seemingly endless options, who knows what to believe? But after some serious testing on a frigid night last year, we’re convinced — and the CLO (a national-recognized scale for warmth) rating of 9.25, the highest reported in the world, doesn’t hurt their assertion, either. Though a bit cumbersome, the MegaWarm Jacket exceeds heat retention and comfort expectations and remains perfect for any enthusiast striving to find the best gear out there.
Lifelabs Megawarm Jacket: Is This The World’s Warmest Jacket?
LifeLabs says the MegaWarm delivers nearly 40% more warmth than the competition. But how does it really feel in the cold?
Shell Material: recycled nylon taffeta | Weight: 11 oz | Fill material: power down | Fill power: 650
Pros:
- Unmatched value
- Respectably warm
Cons:
- Slightly lower fill power
- No hood
No one, we repeat, no one can offer a better value-to-cost ratio than REI Co-op. Period. The in-house line of America’s favorite outdoor retailer is simply too reliable and too cost-effective to ignore, with an ultra-lightweight, highly compressible, fully waterproof down shell for a measly $100 ($60 for some on-sale colors). If you’re looking to make your dollar go further, you’ve found your choice.
Shell Material: 2-oz 100% polyester taffeta | Weight: 35 oz | Fill material: 100% recycled down | Fill power: 750
Pros:
- Versatile, two-way fit
- Cozy shearling lining
- Industry-standard-setting sustainability practices
Cons:
- Heavy and bulky
- Lifestyle oriented
Even without considering its two-in-one form, Patagonia’s Silent Down Jacket is an achievement in sustainability, made with recycled materials and Fair Trade Certified labor. But the real charm of this fleecy zip-up is its versatility: with a cozy fleece side that looks akin to the classic Retro-X bomber and a waterproof, nylon-shelled outer for rainy days and easy hikes, the jacket should take you virtually anywhere you need to go.
Shell material: 15-denier arato nylon outer | Weight: 11.8 oz | Fill material: European white goose down | Fill power: 850
Pros:
- Incredible warmth-to-weight ratio
- Flexible fit
- Ultra trendy
Cons:
- Hefty price tag
- Slightly long
Canadian label Arc’teryx may have made a name for themselves as the face of the Gorpcore movement in past years (helmed by the aforementioned musician behind Blonde), but their expansive history as one of the leading outdoor retailers far precedes a 2010s fad. With an updated fit and incredibly lightweight protection, the Cerium Down Hoodie isn’t just an ultra-hot layering piece, but a serious investment….and unfortunately, it has the price tag to prove it.
Shell material: 100% recycled polyester | Weight: N/A | Fill material: 3M thinsulate recycled featherless insulation | Fill power: 800
Pros:
- The most sustainable jacket we could find
- Comfort-tested to -20F
- Lots of pockets
Cons:
- Hefty price tag
- Online-only purchase for most
- Currently sold out
As we noted in our review, Askov Finlayson’s Winter Parka is something of a miracle — not only as the first climate-positive parka (or jacket, for that matter) to blip on our radar, but for its genuine functionality and warmth in brutal Minnesota temps. Yes, we acknowledge the hefty price, and full recognize it’s not an option for everyone, but if you have the change and even remotely care about your carbon footprint, this is an under-the-radar option you need to consider. One small snafu — it’s currently sold out (but watch this space).
Review: Testing Askov Finlayson’s Climate-Positive Winter Parka
An outerwear brand you may have missed makes one of the most intriguing winter coats on the market
Shell material: 70D nylon | Weight: N/A | Fill material: premium-fill down | Fill power: 700
Pros:
- Japanese-made with premium materials
- Lightweight and ultrawarm
- Leans into westernwear trend
Cons:
- Quite expensive
- Vests gonna vest, but still…no sleeves
If a vest is more your speed, there are few better than Rock Mountain Featherbed’s Heritage down joint — featuring many of the same specs as its sleeved competitors (700 down fill, nylon taffeta outer) and designed to replicate classic western wear designs, it’s a powerhouse of a puffer, and a perfect option for those in-betweener days.
Shell material: 100% DWR recycled nylon ripstop | Weight: 27 oz | Fill material: premium-fill down | Fill power: 700
Pros:
- An iconic style
- Improved relaxed fit
- A serious winter jacket
Cons:
- Ubiquity
The North Face Nupste isn’t the warmest, or the lightest or the most performance-focused puffer on this list…but it is by far the most iconic, and the one we find ourselves constantly reaching for as the temps dip into the teens here in NYC. We’re all about the relaxed (and slightly cropped) fit, and the 700-fill down doesn’t hurt, either.
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