Gallery Hooded Soft Shell Puffer Hybrid Coat Review
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Peak 13 Product Ratings
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Best Overall Insulated Jacket
Patagonia DAS Low-cal Hoody - Women'due south
Superior warmth
Cozy and lofty
Large, helmet-compatible hood
The Patagonia DAS Low-cal Hoody continues to exist our favorite insulated jacket during our two-twelvemonth testing bicycle. It features a continuous shell design, with a roomy fit throughout the artillery and torso. The hood is huge, with enough volume to easily adapt a helmet, hat, or pompom-style beanie. The shell offers superior weather resistance, beading, and wicking h2o in sleet, rain, and snowfall. The Plumafill insulation is airy and warm, which allows information technology to pack down to the size of a one-liter bottle. Designed for alpine adventures, with climbers in listen, it's built to become anywhere.
While this jacket is near perfect for our day-to-day uses, breathability and durability are not its strong adjust. The fabric has a continuous blueprint, so ventilation isn't the greatest, even though the thinner material vents better than most continuous fabrics. Likewise, the sparse shell fabric is a fleck delicate and cut easily when we held a sharp snowboard edge close to the fabric. If you're looking for a warm and compressible jacket that'southward versatile for all seasons, this is our top pick.
Read review: Patagonia Das Light Hoody - Women's
The fit is athletic and non likewise boxy with a nice await that isn't also tight.
Credit: Amber King
Best Midweight Structure
Arc'teryx Nuclei FL - Women'south
Lightweight and packable
Very warm and lofty
Exceptional weather protection
Super cozy
No chest pocket
Lacks breathability
High toll
The Arc'teryx Nuclei FL is built as a technical jacket to have on alpine conditions; it's almost weatherproof and is incredibly packable and insanely warm. The FL designation means fast and light, providing functionality on any lightweight mission. For a long time, we've been looking for a warm and packable jacket that is adequate for sitting around on high windy bivvies while taking up next to no room in our pack. We're happy to say nosotros've plant it.
Unfortunately, it is expensive. While the fabrics are somewhat breathable, information technology'due south not our first choice for hotter uphill slots as it holds in heat. We likewise wish it had a breast pocket. Aside from these caveats, this is the best midweight jacket nosotros've tested that is both lighter weight and very packable.
Read review: Arc'teryx Nuclei FL - Women's
We hang out with the Dingo dog while enjoying the warm benefits of this compressible yet super warm loftier performer. The Arc'teryx Nuclei FL proves to offer excellence in the realm of insulated jackets.
Credit: Amber King
Best Bang for the Buck
Amazon Essentials Lightweight H2o-Resistant - Women's
Warm and packable
Cute pattern and color options
Very weather-resistant
Smaller fit, be certain to size up
Not breathable
Poor quality stitching
The Amazon Essentials Lightweight Insulated Jacket stands out every bit a upkeep-friendly, warm pick with decent operation. At get-go, nosotros were a little skeptical of it considering of the lower price, only we were pleasantly surprised. While the baffle design is beautiful, it's also warm and suited for libation to cold days. The fabrics are also surprisingly atmospheric condition-resistant, offer protection for a winter storm or light rain. It's besides insanely packable, getting to the size of a pocket-sized Nalgene bottle and packs away into its own stuff sack. Overall, we think it's beautiful, warm, packable, and offered at a wonderful price.
Unfortunately, stitching construction isn't top tier, using just a single stitch through the seams of the baffles. The seams have noticeably abraded subsequently just a few months of testing. The fit is also smaller through the chest and armpits, so we recommend sizing upwards if y'all're on the fence. If y'all're looking for a well-priced baffled jacket at a good price, this is one we recommend.
Read review: Amazon Essentials Lightweight H2o-Resistant - Women's
This high-value contender may not characteristic the near durable structure, but information technology sure puts upward a good fight against the competition. Its cost is ridiculously low in comparison to other insulated jackets on the market, and it'south ane of our favorites that'll be hanging in our closets and used on our adventures to come.
Credit: Eddie Kemper
Excellent Way and Value
Columbia Heavenly Hoody - Women's
Protects in poor weather
Warm
Cracking value
Many cozy features
The Columbia Heavenly Hoody is a 100% polyester stylish hooded jacket with lavish cozy features. Not only is it stylish, but information technology's functional as well. The shell cuts the wind and repels rain and snow, with plenty of room for layering. We absolutely love the hi-pile fleece hood that offers immense comfort throughout the flavour. To top it off, information technology's affordable. Information technology has many of the features, with removable attributes, and looks great when wearing effectually boondocks or at the chalet.
Unfortunately, with a thicker and more than protective construction, breathability and compression are an inherent trade-off. We did not experience any immovability problems, but the stitching could be improved upon. This high-value stylish jacket is truly best for those seeking a great deal.
Read review: Columbia Heavenly Hoody - Women's
Savour the simple pleasures, like changing colors in Ontario, in this luxuriously comfy jacket. It'due south a great winter option with uses for colder weather in the shoulder seasons.
Credit: Amber King
Best for Pinch
Rab Xenon Hoodie - Women's
Highly compressible and lightweight
Windproof and h2o-resistant
High warmth to weight ratio
Boxier fit
Breathability could be ameliorate
The Rab Xenon is a jacket nosotros still love afterward seven years of testing. It stands out because of its amazing compressible ability with lofty warmth that'll go along you cozy on any frigid belay or gamble. The continuous shell construction is current of air- and water-resistant and won't scratch or tear when rubbed across rocks and shimmied into tight corners. Wear information technology on its own in cool weather, or add together it to your layered outfit for insulative warmth when the weather deteriorates.
We love this coat merely don't love its boxier fit. The newest update has a more breathable face textile, simply you'll find yourself getting hot if yous're hiking uphill. That said, you can merely unzip it when the going gets warm. This stand-out jacket is excellent for stuffing into a pack and adding equally an additional warm layer or shell.
Read review: Rab Xenon - Women's
Other layers fit hands underneath it. It also works nicely underneath a shell with its super light blueprint.
Credit: Bister Rex
Best for Warmth
Marmot Avant Featherless Hoody - Women's
Very warmth
Cute style
Quite compressible for the size
Very weatherproof
The Marmot Avant Featherless is a popular jacket that stands out for its baffling warmth. When winter weather hits, this is the one we reach for; the baffled design houses 100% synthetic insulation that is similar to downwardly. The shell also offers excellent h2o and wind resistance. It compresses to a surprisingly small size and looks great with its polished, shiny finish.
This is not the jacket to use for all seasons. Sure it can be used equally an actress layer in colder temps in the summer, but when it heats up, yous'll observe yourself sweating. We also notice that information technology is a lilliputian tight beyond the shoulders and dorsum. If you lot are broad-shouldered, yous might want to expect at a different option. If a warm and stylish baffled jacket is what you seek, this is our top recommendation.
Read review: Marmot Avant Featherless Hoody - Women's
Beautiful, warm, and compressible. The Marmot Avant is one of the warmest jackets tested.
Credit: Amber Male monarch
Best for Breathablility
Mountain Hardwear Kor Cirrus Hybrid Hoody - Women's
Weight: 9.40 oz | Insulation: PrimaLoft Gold Active
Light and packable
Mobile and breathable textile
Looser structure and long arms
Good toll
The Mount Hardwear Kor Cirrus Hybrid Hoody is everything you'd want in a mobile, breathable insulated jacket. It boasts a proficient price, layerable fit, and highly breathable construction. It packs into a small package and is piece of cake to accept along on whatever adventure. The fabrics are soft on the skin, while the stretchy construction moves with the torso. There'southward ample room through the arms and trunk, making the fit versatile for all body shapes. The hood is helmet-compatible with a voluminous chest pocket that offers first-class storage when wearing a harness or backpack.
While it's incredibly breathable, it doesn't offer great standalone warmth. In the winter, you can easily use it as a midlayer or shell with a base layer, but it's non one that'll go along you warm during the coldest days of the year. If you seek a breathable jacket for high output activities, like running or backpacking, this lighter, breathable option is one we just love.
Read review: Mountain Hardwear Kor Cirrus Hybrid Hoody - Women'southward
Nosotros employ the Mountain Hardwear Kor Cirrus Hybrid while running up 2000 ft onto the saddle of Horsethief Trail in Ouray, Colorado. This jacket offers simply the right amount of warmth and breathability for this blustery, winter run.
Credit: Bister Male monarch
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Testing side-past-side nosotros do everything from hanging with friends to skiing to climbing upwards alpine cliffs. Each jacket is truly put to the test.
Credit: Bister King
Why You Should Trust Usa
Equally an outdoor educator and adventurer, Amber King has been a gear tester for OutdoorGearLab for over six years. She'southward written over 15 unlike categories, providing expertise in gear through her adventures. She is an gorging trail running, climber, and splitboarder normally plant exploring new trails and ridgelines in the San Juan Mountains merely exterior of Ouray, Colorado, her hometown. When she's non adventuring here, you can observe her sailing the high the North Seas with friends from Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, with jacket in tow. When she'southward not reviewing gear, you'll detect her working as the Executive Manager for Treeline Educational activity, a local outdoor surround pedagogy schoolhouse that she founded in her hometown.
We researched over eighty different products for this review. After carefully reading descriptions, we selected the best on the current market. Paying for each at retail cost, we then tested them comparatively, side-past-side. Nosotros wore each jacket for 60+ hours while hiking, backpacking, skiing, splitboarding, running, and more. Nosotros tested primarily in Southwest Colorado but adventured across the land and the globe to access different climates and environments. In improver to field testing, nosotros put each jacket nether the shower to see how it fared when completely saturated. Yes, our testing is in-depth, unbiased, and honest.
Analysis and Test Results
We tested a myriad of synthetic insulated jackets that stay warm when wet. Our selection ranges from heavier resort-leap options to super packable products designed for calorie-free and fast travel. All are subjected to an array of objective tests to measure performance in half dozen of import metrics, including warmth, weight & compression, comfort, weather resistance, and breathability.
Credit: Bister King
Value
At OutdoorGearLab, we care about high-value products. Not only does our pick include the top-of-the-line options, but those that we think might offer skilful performance for a reasonable price. For case, the Amazon Essentials insulated jacket is far less expensive than other competitors and provides surprisingly good performance. It'southward the to the lowest degree expensive and an splendid performer, significant it's of nifty value. The Columbia Heavenly Hooded Jacket is a high-value stylish jacket that'south less technical and full of super cozy features that we dearest.
Many college-priced contenders are more expensive considering they use more technical fabrics, which costs more. However, at that place are still swell deals out there for the technical insulated jackets that we dear. For instance, the Rab Xenon is a superior option that is highly compressible, warm, and protective. It besides boasts a proficient cost for its high-scoring performance. The ThermoBall Hoody is another groovy deal with a bamboozle pattern that is exceptionally compressible.
Expect for deals on last flavor's colors.
Warmth
When evaluating warmth, we have each jacket out into common cold, blustery weather that dips down into the negative double digits. We walk effectually, hike, run, and stand around wearing similar layers under each coat to determine relative warmth differences. Nosotros also await for warmth features like cinching hoods, weather-resistant shells, and long full coverage fits. In this metric, we think of warmth as its insulative value when standing around in the cold. We as well discuss the relationship between breathability and warmth and the jackets that exercise the best in balancing both.
In our testing, we layered using a single merino wool midweight base of operations layer to determine the differences in relative warmth.
The Marmot Avant offers infrequent warmth in the face of cold atmospheric condition. It offers great space for layering and thicker, warmer construction.
Credit: Amber Male monarch
The warmest jackets tested are those with a thicker pattern and more than insulation packed into every square inch. These jackets tend to exist less breathable and are best if you detect yourself standing or walking around in cold weather. The Marmot Avant Featherless is the warmest jacket past far.
The Patagonia Das Light Hoody is 1 with superior warmth with airy insulation. Unlike the Marmot Avant, which features a baffled design, it uses a continuous face fabric. The fit is a little looser, which allows more to be trapped, heating it up with motility. Both are like in warmth, with the Marmot offering just a bear on more warmth. We find the Patagonia Das Light Hoody to be a little easier to layer, arguably making it a touch warmer.
Testing the Columbia Pinnacle to Park on a really cold twenty-four hours in Tahoe. It offers exceptional warmth, fifty-fifty when temps are dipping incredibly low.
Credit: Amber King
The Columbia Heavenly is our go-to for skiing at the resort because its super costly and cozy features protect well against cut wind and cold weather. It uses an Omni-Heat lining that keeps heat well retained in the fabrics. Both the Marmot Avant and Columbia Heavenly are great jackets for wintertime merely aren't ones we typically article of clothing during any other season. The Patagonia Das Light Hoody can exist worn throughout the year, making it more versatile than most.
Midweight jackets with a less breathable structure are typically warmer than mobile or breathable jackets. For example, the Arc'teryx Nuclei FL, and The North Face up ThermoBall provide a similar amount of warmth. The Arc'teryx Nuclei FL is a continuous fabric jacket with plenty of coverage and cinching hems that lock in heat. The 65 grams of Coreloft insulation is insanely lofty, belongings air, similarly to the N Confront ThermoBalls' baffled construction. The Amazon Essentials is likewise quite warm but doesn't provide the same level of insulation equally The North Face up Thermoball. All are groovy options for libation weather.
Chilling out on a shady ledge in Red Rocks is a perfect place for this packable, yet, surprisingly warm jacket.
Credit: Nolan A
The Rab Xenon is another jacket with this continuous construction with 60 grams of Stratus insulation. It'southward not equally warm as either the Nuclei FL or Thermoball merely provides a similar amount of warmth as the Ortovox Insulated Jacket. The Rab Xenon is much high and packable than the Ortovox, which uses Merino Wool in its construction. Of the two, the Xenon is the ane we'd cull for missions that require a light, packable and warm jacket. But, when caught in a rainstorm, the Ortovox Insulated is what we'd want as it provides the best insulating properties of whatever jacket tested when wet.
More than breathable jackets are typically not as warm because they are porous and breathe pretty well. However, they offer better moving warmth, allowing moisture to ventilate into the world, keeping you dry out, and thus, warmer when you stop. The North Face up Ventrix Superlative Hoody (threescore grams) offers the best warmth of all mobile-faced jackets.
This dank day is fabricated warmer with the Ortovox Piz Bial that maintains warmth and breathability while on the go.
Credit: Eddie Kemper
The Patagonia Nano-Air, Mountain Hardwear Kor Cirrus Hybrid, and Arc'teryx Atom LT are three jackets with a surprising amount of warmth for their lightweight designs. Insufficiently, they accept less insulation when standing around than The N Face up Ventrix.
All the mobile-faced jackets tested with a focus on breathability tin can be worn as the concluding layer with a fleece and base layer built underneath it. On super cold days, all these jackets function well every bit mid-layers underneath a shell or thicker jacket. Think of using them equally a part of your layered organization instead of the final layering level. More warmth tin can be gained by using a shell and a not bad base layer in your system.
Weight & Compression
We love jackets that compress into the bottom of a backpack, clip to something, and stuff into their own pocket or stuff sack. As such, we regard compression and weight as one of the most important metrics. When temperatures ascension or while you're hiking in warm weather, it's important that your jacket tin stow away with ease. To test each comparatively, we noted stowaway systems, weighed each jacket, and compressed each until they couldn't shrink anymore. Nosotros too took them running, rock climbing on long routes, and backpacking. The highest scores are compressible, packable, and light.
Here we scope out Crestone Peak, a Fourteener located in Colorado. We strap the Patagonia Micro Puff to our running pack.
Credit: Jonnah D
If you lot're looking for the lightest and nearly compressible jacket, the Patagonia Micro Puff is information technology. Weighing only 8.7 ounces, it'due south ane of our favorites for fastpacking missions because of its ample warmth (65 grams of polyester), relatively good level of breathability, and packability. The Rab Xenon weighs just a tad more than, at viii.75 ounces and packs to an even smaller size than the MicroPuff. The MicroPuff offers more than breathability only not every bit much warmth as the Xenon. Both earn splendid scores in this category are a favorite amongst our testers for different reasons.
The Arcteryx Nuclei FL and Patagonia Das Light Hoody are 2 other options that we have to recognize. Both feature a continuous beat blueprint with a similar amount of insulation, and both packing to a similar size. The Das Light is a little easier to stuff into its sack than the Arc'teryx Nuclei FL. Both are a little heavier than the Rab Xenon and Patagonia MicroPuff, but not by much. Both are warmer than these options, with the Patagonia Das Light offering better warmth to compression ratios.
The Arc'teryx LT packs into a very small parcel.
Credit: Amber King
Baffled jackets like the The Northward Face ThermoBall Jacket and Amazon Essentials Insulated also have excellent warmth to compression ratios. The Thermoball and Essentials pack down to relatively the same size. The Amazon Essentials comes with a stuff sack while the Thermoball packs into its own pocket. Both counterbalance about the same, with the ThermoBall offering meliorate warmth for its pocket-sized, compressible package. The Amazon Essentials is a much higher value, though, given its super low price tag. The Marmot Avant Featherless is a much heavier jacket (14.75 ounces) with superior warmth that still packs down to a relatively small package, making it an excellent super warm layer that y'all can pack while wintertime camping.
We have our tiny rock packet blimp with two sets of gear and the ultra-compressive Rab Xenon. This jacket is perfect for long multi-pitch climbs as information technology is packable and warm. A great insulative layer.
Credit: Nolan A
Breathable, mobile-faced jackets typically don't come with their ain stash system and aren't as packable. Withal, the Mountain Hardwear Kor Cirrus Hybrid breaks the mold weighing only 9.40 ounces and packing into its own pocket! The Arc'teryx Atom LT is another technical, breathable jacket that packs into a super tiny bundle (ten.85 ounces) only doesn't have a compression sack or pocket. Instead, we whorl it up into its hood.
Condolement & Coziness
Looking to burrow down while the comforts of your coat surround you? In this metric, nosotros wait at the comfort and coziness of each jacket. Recollect fur-lined collars, fleece-lined interiors, those uniform with helmets, and pulls that are easy enough to use with a fix of gloves. Some jackets offering the ability to remove unlike parts, while others don't. We also consider how easy it is to layer underneath the jacket, based on its fit, liner construction, and more.
Easily downward, the most comfortable and featured jackets are those constructed by Columbia. The Heavenly Jacket is fully loaded with a hi-pile fleece hood and chin wrap that makes burrowing into it during cold conditions super comfy and cozy.
The fleece-lined hood of the Columbia Heavenly makes it one of the almost comfy pieces that we've tested so far.
Credit: Bister Male monarch
Other jackets with a continuous shell and baffled design are quite easy to layer but come up with far fewer features. Offer sleeping pocketbook-like condolement includes the Patagonia Das Light, Arc'teryx Nuclei FL, and Rab Xenon. All score high because they feature airy fabrics that wrap the torso like a large cozy sleeping pocketbook. Of them, our favorite is the Patagonia Das Light for its looser fit, larger pockets, and hood. It besides features a chest pocket, a feature that's hard to come up by on women's insulated jackets these days. This functional feature makes stashing a phone or snack easy when wearing a harness or backpack. Both the Rab Xenon and Arc'teryx Nuclei lack this feature merely are still cozy and comfortable.
We also like the baffled design of the The North Face ThermoBall, Amazon Essential Insulated, and Marmot Avant. These jackets take hi-loft insulated construction, which translates to superior coziness. All are easy to layer as the interior fabrics are almost frictionless. The Thermoball has the loosest fit, while the Marmot and Amazon Essentials have narrower fits through the chest and back. We wish the Amazon Essentials had a chest pocket like these other two baffled contenders, which would make it more functional while wearing a harness or hip belt.
The North Face Thermoball is quite cozy and layers nicely with other bulkier layers.
Credit: Nolan A
Those with a softshell construction have softer fabrics that are nice and stretchy. Both The N Face Ventrix Superlative Hoody and Patagonia Nano Puff are soft to the touch and feel expert correct confronting the skin. The Ventrix has more than and larger pockets with elasticized cuffs, while the Nano Puff has fewer, with tapered cuffs and a shorter fit. The Arc'teryx Atom LT offers like performance and is a footling more comfortable than both, but with three pockets instead of 4 like the Ventrix. The Mountain Hardwear Kor Cirrus Hybrid Hoody is also quite comfortable with three pockets and mobile face fabrics. These fabrics aren't equally stretchy or tight equally the Nano Puff or Ventrix Summit but are a lilliputian looser, making it easier to layer thicker layers underneath. This adds to its comfort. All accept hoods that are helmet compatible with excellent pockets for sufficient storage on the trail.
Some jackets only don't piece of work with backpack straps every bit the pockets become covered up. That said, the Ortovox (pictured here) is reversible. The other side has a chest pocket, offering storage for when you wear a harness or backpack.
Credit: Eddie Kemper
Conditions Resistance
To assess weather condition resistance, we went exterior when mother nature offered soul-crushing weather, and went hiking, skiing, or simply stood out in it. This includes weather condition like howling winds, snow, sleet, rain, and more. When bad conditions didn't present itself, we sprayed each downwards in the shower for two minutes to determine how each piece performed during a simulated heavy rainfall and light sprinkle. After each test, we assess the textile to see how each comparatively performs.
Water Resistance
An insulated jacket does not serve every bit a substitute for a rain jacket or hardshell, simply many of the products that we review are treated with a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish. With differences in material and stitching, each repels water a fiddling differently. Be sure to bear a shell with you lot if you intend on using any jacket in especially moisture conditions.
The Patagonia MicroPuff is a mid-weight jacket option that stacks beautifully under a layer. A perfect combination when encountering potentially rainy weather while climbing at the end of summertime.
Credit: Amber Rex
The most weatherproof jackets are those with a thicker structure to cutting the wind and a face fabric that beads h2o and doesn't absorb. Those with more than h2o-resistant shells do the best. Of the jackets tested, the Marmot Avant, Patagonia Das Light Hoody, Arc'teryx Nuclei FL, and Amazon Essentials Baffled Insulated practise best in this category. Each completely repelled current of air and water in our tests without arresting into the fabric or pooling. Each left our cores completely dry and pockets holding our essentials untouched.
We actually become out in snowy atmospheric condition! The Patagonia Nano Air Hoody offers breathable protection on this super snowy twenty-four hour period in the mountains of Colorado.
Credit: Amber Rex
Thicker jackets similar the Columbia Heavenly also did amazingly well in these tests. Their thicker materials are impervious to cutting winds. While the shells on these jackets aren't equally technical and absorb more water than our top contenders, the cloth didn't hold the water in our shower tests, once again offering splendid weather protection.
Other jackets synthetic of a continuous shell like the Patagonia DAS Light Hoody and Ortovox Swisswool Piz Bial do quite well when cutting the current of air and repelling h2o. The Rab Xenon uses a lightweight Atmos shell fabric, which is very like to the Pertex Quantum used in the Piz Bial. With sufficient layers underneath, both jackets adequately cutting the wind and repelled water when standing on mountain tops. Neither is waterproof, but the thicker nature of the Piz Bial offers more warmth when wet, which we appreciate. In our shower tests, both repelled h2o for a whooping 30 seconds (which is good) before absorbing completely. Both absorbed the water within the layers of the jacket, with no water going through the material.
Here we comport h2o tests on this ultra-weatherproof jacket, the Marmot Avant Featherless Hoody. Ii minutes in the shower nether full water and it's completely dry. Similar to other high scoring contenders!
Credit: Amber King
The The Northward Face ThermoBall offers some of the best weather resistance of the lightweight quilted competitors. Its baffled blueprint allows some airflow, simply it does not make it impervious to a sharp wind. It does a better job than the thinner Patagonia Micro Puff because of its tighter stitching patterns. And, the textile, when put into the shower test, captivated little to no h2o and repelled water finer, making it much more than weather resistant than near.
Finally, it'southward important to note that more breathable, soft-shelled competitors scored lower than other jacket designs. Thicker jackets like The North Face Ventrix 2 offer a piddling improve current of air resistance than thinner designs like the Arc'teryx Atom LT and Patagonia Nano-Air. The Ventrix Elevation and Nano-Air offer a similar amount of water resistance, keeping the jacket pretty dry after 2 minutes in the shower. The Atom LT did the worst of the breathable contenders but still left the interior prissy and dry.
Breathability
Breathability is an important metric to consider, as it's important to discuss if each model has the affinity to be used for do throughout the seasons. The more breathable options we tested take soft, thin face fabrics or "breathable panels" that let ample airflow in loftier sweat areas like under the artillery or the dorsum. A more breathable jacket is all-time for aerobic activities similar hiking or running in common cold weather. Sadly, they typically sacrifice warmth and weather resistance equally a trade-off. A more breathable jacket offers the chance for moisture to escape from a layered system, effectively keeping the body drier and warmer while on the move. If you are going to be exercising in an insulated jacket this winter, be certain to prioritize breathability.
The nearly breathable insulated jackets are those with mobile face fabrics that resemble softshell materials. The Mountain Hardwear Kor Cirrus Hybrid Hoody is the thinnest and most breathable contender we've tested thus far. The entire jacket is quite sparse, with panels of ventilation through the arms and sides of the jacket. Information technology offers cracking wicking ability, is comfortable to clothing confronting the peel, and is an first-class choice for activities like winter running or cantankerous-country skiing. It also works well equally a minimal insulative layer that you can vesture on the move in super warm temperatures.
The Arc'teryx Atom LT and Patagonia Nano-Air are two other breathable, mobile-faced jackets that you can wear while climbing, backpacking, and hiking. They're designed to stay on the body, peculiarly in colder weather. They aren't every bit warm as The Northward Confront Ventrix two merely provide better breathability. Between the two of them, the Patagonia Cantlet LT is a little more breathable, with fleecy panels downwardly the side of the jacket that wicks away moisture. It'southward likewise thinner than the Nano-Air, which allows for better passive breathability through the fabrics.
The Patagonia MicroPuff women'due south jacket offers splendid breathability that performs while we descend the Crestone Peaks. We also used this layer while fastpacking in Iceland for its excellent warmth, packability, and breathable fabrics.
Credit: Amber Rex
We also honey the Patagonia Micro Puff — a quilted contender with good breathability. While the jacket is loaded with insulation and is surprisingly breathable, given its thinner and lighter design. We took information technology fast packing and running in rainy climates like Iceland, and it kept the states warm by keeping u.s.a. dry. Nosotros typically kept information technology on while backpacking and hiking, without it heating upward besides much in these colder climates. Of the baffled (aka quilted jackets) options out in that location, information technology's by far the well-nigh breathable selection.
We find that the Rab Xenon is an okay pick for this wintery hike. Information technology offers warmth and enough breathability for the states to keep it on, even when tackling super steep slopes.
Credit: Bister King
Continuous shell insulated jackets similar the Rab Xenon and Ortovoz Piz Bial aren't well-nigh as breathable as mobile or quilted contenders. However, if they're thin in structure, they're better than thicker options. For example, the Rab Xenon is super thin and offers more breathability than other continuous beat options. We find ourselves taking information technology off in warm weather, and the fabrics get sticky against the pare. The Piz Bial is more breathable than the Xenon because information technology uses breathable wool insulation in its core, with more ventilation throughout its structure.
Fashion & Fit
As in many of the women's clothing reviews that we do hither at OutdoorGearLab, way is an important consideration. We recognize that many women are looking for an insulated jacket with a flattering and feminine fit that volition adjust the length of their torso and artillery. More chiefly, the fit is probably the nigh important part of a jacket and one of the hardest to test and report on. That said, we don't actually score fit, but we do score style in this department, but not with much weight. Nosotros analyze the fit of each jacket using a large grouping of ladies and report on any bug, relative length, cloth strength, and roominess.
The Arc'teryx Atom LT is a favorite amid alpinists and mountain women for its super cute look, crawly colors, and long arms. Information technology's both fashionable and functional.
Credit: Amber King
When considering mode, we look at the cut, baffle shapes, fun features (like fur!), stitching patterns, and fabric type. We also note the length of the arms and trunk to help our longer-limbed ladies find an insulated jacket that will actually fit you lot. We and so compare and contrast each model to give yous a tangible style and fit rating. Those with more than stylish features and fit both brusque and long-limbed testers than those that did not have these features.
Fit
Many of the insulated jackets provide dissimilar fits based on the body types testing them. In this metric, nosotros used some different women to gain an opinion on each piece. Some of these jackets fit tighter than others, while others lend a more versatile fit. Boxier plumbing equipment jackets like Patagonia DAS Light Hoody, The North Face up ThermoBall, and Rab Xenon will offer more room throughout the torso than a slim-plumbing fixtures slice like the Patagonia Nano-Air.
Style
Some women love the outdoorsy look of shiny baffled jackets, while others merely aren't into information technology. Of the insulated jackets tested, the ones that offer the near versatile style include those fabricated by Columbia. The Heavenly Hooded jacket has a super cute design and diverse colors that many of our testers dearest.
If y'all don't heed the outdoorsy expect, the Arc'teryx Atom LT is one of our favorites. Its got many color options and continuous confront fabrics with flattering lines that aren't besides technical looking. The Ortovox Swisswool Piz Bial is another that stands out equally information technology is reversible! You actually get two different color options in i jacket. The colors are vivid and stand up out, and the jacket has a slim fit that is a little short in the trunk.
We love this reversible merino wool jacket that is basically two jackets in one! Check out its absurd colour options.
Credit: Eddie Kemper
More technical pieces similar the Patagonia Nano-Air and The N Face Meridian Ventrix oft receive reactions like, "Oooooooh! It's so cute". Many of our testers also like the experience of the soft face fabric on the skin. At that place are a multifariousness of styles, then take a wait at the pictures to see which yous like the best. Other jackets have a technical baffled look, like the Marmot Avant, which has go quite popular. This puffy look is made to transcend the barrier between town and trail.
Layered accordingly, fifty-fifty jackets like the Patagonia Micro Puff can provide enough warmth for common cold days. Pictured here is our main tester at Glacier Beach in Iceland.
Credit: Amber King
Decision
A jacket congenital with synthetic insulation offers many bang-up advantages, like the ability to stay warm, even when wet. With many options out there, the selection process can exist tough. The first step is to determine what you're looking for to help slim downwardly the options. This jacket is an integral part of any adult female'due south outdoor wardrobe, and a large conclusion like this should be made with intendance. Enjoy the process, using this guide every bit a means for finding the best choice out there for yous.
Source: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/clothing-womens/best-insulated-jacket-womens
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