Best Insulated Coats for Winter

Insulated jackets reduce the amount of body heat lost to the air, helping keep you warm and comfortable in frigid conditions.performance-driven insulated coats They can be made of natural down or synthetic insulation, or a combination of both, depending on the jacket maker. Some are designed for casual everyday use, while others are built for high-intensity outdoor pursuits like mountain biking or backcountry skiing. Some are water-resistant, while others offer breathable vents that open and close as you exert yourself.

Most insulated winter jackets feature down or synthetic insulation, but some, such as the Patagonia Micro Puff, push the boundaries of what’s possible with both, using recycled materials to create a puffy that’s both warm and environmentally conscious.performance-driven insulated coats The Micro Puff’s PlumaFill insulation has the loftiness and warmth of down but packs smaller, and its lightweight 75-denier plainweave recycled polyester shell uses a PFAS free DWR to repel moisture. It’s also one of the most durable jackets we’ve tested, able to handle multiple trips into a backpack without showing signs of wear or tear.

While the insulation used in a jacket and its fill power are important considerations, so too is the jacket’s weight and compressibility.performance-driven insulated coats Jackets with a higher fill power will be warmer than those with lower ratings, but higher fill-weights also add up to more weight and less packability. Some high-performance jackets, such as the REI Stormhenge and the The North Face McMurdo, have proprietary waterproof shell fabrics that aren’t as well-documented as Gore-TEX.

A few of our top picks, such as the Rab Cubit Stretch Down Hooded Jacket and the Outdoor Research Coldfront Down Hoodie, are surprisingly warm for how light they are.performance-driven insulated coats They use simple designs and feature a mix of 700-fill-power down and thermally efficient VerticalX ECO synthetic insulation that’s less prone to moisture buildup than some other types of synthetic insulation. The North Face McMurdo, on the other hand, is among the heaviest insulated jackets we’ve tested, with a massive amount of down and tough, thick outer shell fabric (70-x 160-denier).

For the active outdoorsman who wants to move quickly in cold conditions, we recommend a few hybrid insulated jackets, such as the Black Diamond Casaval Hybrid and Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid.performance-driven insulated coats These designs combine a breathable outer shell with a removable inner insulated jacket, and can be worn independently or together as needed depending on the weather. The Casaval Hybrid and Nano-Air Light Hybrid feature a mix of 40- and 75-denier recycled polyesters, while the Black Diamond First Light Hybrid and Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka use Gore’s tried-and-true GORE-TEX fabric for maximum breathability and waterproof protection.

Finally, some insulated jackets, such as the REI Stormshadow and the Patagonia Jackson Glacier, include a full-length detachable insulated jacket that can be zipped into the outer shell for extra warmth and protection in heavy conditions. These models, which tend to be more expensive than their counterparts, are ideal for those who regularly engage in high-intensity activities like mountain biking or backcountry skiing, and will benefit from the added layer of warmth that a full-length insulated jacket provides. They’ll likely have features like drop-in pockets, which allow you to easily stash hats and gloves, and fitted hoods that are compatible with climbing helmets.