We brave the cold to test the best insulated jackets 2025

Insulation is the hero hidden in our rucksack – we may carry it day after day and sometimes the insulated jackets stay in the pack. But when it’s cold at camp or there’s a blizzard at your winter lunch stop, that stuff sack crammed puffy becomes vital kit. Insulation doesn’t make you warm by itself – it acts as a barrier and slows down the loss of the heat produced by your body.

Main image: Mammut insulated jacket and brew on for sunset | Credit: Peter MacFarlane

On a winter hill you lose heat fast when you’re not moving. As soon as you stop for a break, take your pack off and pull on an insulated jacket to trap the heat that you’ve produced through exercise to that point. There is both a safety and a comfort aspect to this. You might just want to stay cosy for lunch, be cooking outside your tent at a winter camp or, at the extreme, you might have to spend an unexpected night out. Technology has moved on greatly over the years and our puffy layers are now warmer, lighter, pack smaller and weigh less.

There’s a great choice of options out there made from synthetic or down, from cold weather midlayers to the heavier weight jackets for winter use that we’ve looked at for this review. The usual caveats still apply: Down is warmer for its weight and packs smaller but can be vulnerable when wet if it’s not ‘hydrophobic’.

Synthetic insulation has become lighter and more compressible and is more efficient than down when wet, but still lags behind in insulative qualities for a given weight or thickness. Some modern jackets use both types of fill to maximize performance in different areas. Heat reflective coatings and fabrics can also make a big difference for almost no weight penalty.

The best insulated jackets we’ve tested

The following puffy jackets are the options that performed best for our testers, along with our Best in Test options. They are split into insulated jackets for men and insulated jackets for women looking at both synthetic and down insulation and rated for their performance, durability, feature set and value.

Quick List
Best for extreme cold: Helly Hansen Verglas Polar Down (available from Helly Hansen)
Best in wet snow: Mammut Eigerjoch Pro IN Hooded (available from Mammut)
Best value: Rab Glaceon Pro Down (available from Rab)
Greener choice: Rab Cirrus Ultra Insulated Hooded Jacket (available from Rab)
Best active insulation: Berghaus Extrem MTN Seeker Synthetic Hoody
Best for layering: Rab Xenair Light

Helly Hansen Verglas Polar Down

Quick specs

Price: $345 / £400 (available from Helly Hansen) Weight: 820g (size L) Fill: 90% goose down/10% goose feather (Responsible Down standard) Shell: 100% recycled polyester with PFC-free DWR Hood: Lightly stiffened peak, drawcord adjustable Cuffs: Velcro adjustable and elasticated Hem: Drawcord adjustable Pockets: 2 zipped external, 1 internal zipped mesh pocket Sizes: XS-XL Men’s Version: Yes hellyhansen.com

The Helly Hansen Verglas Polar Down is an ultra-warm jacket designed for ultra-cold conditions. With 800 fill power, 90% goose down/10% goose feather insulation and a box-wall construction, it’s a jacket that’s got more in common with a polar sleeping bag than with the sort of thing you’d expect to see at a footie match. The fit is spot on for its stated size, fitting neatly enough to instantly trap heat without being overtight. The sumptuous hood and collar both cinch in quickly around the face and neck with easy-to-use (even with gloves) adjustment cords. A soft brushed fabric area protects the skin from contact with the sturdy YKK zip, again easy to operate even with gloves on.

Helly Hansen have used ethically sourced Responsible Down Standard down in this jacket, and the DWR treatment on the outer recycled polyester shell fabric is PFC-free. Helly Hansen state that it’s the warmest down jacket they have ever created apart from their bespoke Everest expedition jackets. And it shows.

Read more: Lara’s full Helly Hansen Verglas Polar Down review

Mammut Eigerjoch Pro IN Hooded

Quick specs

Price: $435 / £600 (available from Mammut) Weight: 828g size large Fill: 200g of 850 fill 90/10 water repellant goose down, Primaloft synthetic insulation Shell: Pertex® Quantum Pro 20D with DWR Hood: helmet compatible, front and rear drawcords, wired and stiffened peak Cuffs: elastic with internal wrist gaiters Hem: drawcord, two side adjusters Pockets: four external zipped, one internal zipped, two internal poachers’ pockets Sizes: S-XXL Women’s version: Yes mammut.com

The brand says the Mammut Eigerjoch Pro IN Hooded is their warmest jacket for extreme conditions and the construction is complex with a mix of goose down and PrimaLoft synthetic insulation in overlapping baffles. External seams are kept to a minimum and are mostly tape sealed for additional weather proofing and heat retention. This, along with an effective DWR makes the Eigerjoch good in wet snow and sleet.

The arm lift is excellent, no hem movement at all, and a hem which completely covers my backside. The main zip is baffled and reaches my nose, the large insulated hood pulls up and down without moving the zip. There are multiple hood adjusters, a large, stiffened peak and a fleece chinguard. There are four zipped chest pockets which are accessible while wearing a pack, one inner zipped and two big poachers’ pockets.

Read more: Peter’s full Mammut Eigerjoch Pro IN Hooded jacket review

Berghaus Extrem MTN Seeker Synthetic Hoody

Quick specs
Price: U.S. shipping charge | £200 Weight: 318g Fill: 60gsm Primaloft Gold Active+ in main body and 40gsm underarms and centre back Shell: lightweight ripstop with PFC free DWR treatment Hood: elasticated with stiff wire peak and adjustable drawcord Cuffs: elasticated stretch material Hem: dual drawcord Pockets: 2 handwarmer, 1 internal chest, all zipped Sizes: UK 8-18 Men’s version: Yes

The Berghaus Extrem MTN Seeker is an insulated jacket that I found versatile and comfortable for various activities. It is warm enough for stationary use but manageable when moving without overheating due to its zoned fill. The jacket is made with over 50% recycled content and features handwarmer pockets, an internal chest pocket, and a hood that can be worn over a helmet. The hood has a gaiter at the front and a drawcord adjustment for cinching in. The wired peak is flexible and was relatively easy for me to pack away.

The jacket also has a double zip for access to a harness loop and stretchy cuffs for a winter glove passage. The shell fabric is lightweight and ripstop, but the cuff fabric may bag over time. Despite this, the Berghaus Extrem MTN Seeker is the most versatile jacket I pack year-round. The features are well-thought-out, and the fit is neat for under a waterproof jacket, but still allows for layers underneath. Overall, the Berghaus Extrem MTN Seeker is a versatile and well-designed jacket that is perfect for any outdoor activity.

Read Kirsty’s full Berghaus Extrem MTN Seeker Synthetic Hoody review

Rab Xenair Light

Quick specs
Price: $195 | £170 Weight: 263g Fill: 40gsm PrimaLoft® Gold Active+, 55% recycled Shell: 20D Pertex® Quantum Air Hood: none Cuffs: none-elasticated, thumb-loops Hem: single drawcord Pockets: 2 handwarmer, 1 chest, all zippered Sizes: S-XL Women’s version: no (nearest is the Xenair alpine hoody, with 60gsm primaloft)

The Rab Xenair Light is a highly effective active insulation layer, providing warmth with 40gsm of Primaloft Gold Active + and a significant percentage of recycled content. The shell is 20D Pertex, balancing breathability with durability. The DWR insulation system is durable even after multiple washes. The jacket maintains an even core temperature on its own over a baselayer in cool weather and can be sandwiched between a hardshell and a fleece in full on winter conditions.

The Xenair Light is rated 5/5 for its fit and features, including a single hem adjuster, one-way front zip, three zippered pockets, and two handwarmers. However, the lack of a hood in static insulation makes it easier to sit under a shell and with less wrestling. The sleeves are finished with thumbloops, keeping the chill off initially and snag-free when big gloves are on top.

Despite slight tailoring in the lower arm, the fabric has enough stretch to allow the sleeves to be pulled up to dump heat. The Rab Xenair Light is a goldilocks, no nonsense midlayer that can be worn all day in cooler months. It is made from premium materials and designed for start/stop activity, making it a top choice for active layering.

Read David’s full Rab Xenair Light review.

Rab Mythic Ultra Down Jacket

Quick specs

Price: £420 Weight: 497g (men’s medium) Pros: very warm for the weight, good hood, recycled fabrics Cons: potentially fragile face fabric Fill: 240g of 900fp European goose down, RDS-certified, with Nikwax PFC-free hydrophobic finish Shell: 100% recycled Pertex Quantum 10D nylon ripstop with PFC-free DWR; 100% recycled nylon lining Hood: stiffened peak, adjustment at sides Cuffs: elasticated Hem: drawcord with 2x adjusters Pockets: 2x handwarmer, 1x outer Sizes: S–XXL Womens/Mens version: both

The Mythic Ultra is a lightweight, warm jacket that provides 240g of 900fp down for maximum insulation. It feels like a luxurious sleeping bag, even without a mid-layer. The jacket’s baffles are a mix of stitch-through and box-wall, and I found it windproof and durable during testing. However, the face fabric is only 10D, making it less windproof and durable than thicker fabrics tested.

The down is hydrophobic and the face fabric’s DWR works when new, making it weather-resistant. To protect the jacket, a hardshell should be layered over the top. The hood is good but it has no volume reducer and can only be adjusted at the sides, which made it vulnerable to high winds. The jacket has an average fit and good backside coverage.

The Mythic Ultra was ideal for multi-day backpacking in Scottish winter conditions, but should be treated with care due to its thin face fabric.

Read Alex Roddie’s full Rab Mythic Ultra Down Jacket Review

Rab Glaceon Pro Down

Quick specs
Price: $340 / £250 (available from Rab) Weight: 604g size large Fill: 700FP Recycled Down with Nikwax Fluorocarbon-Free Hydrophobic Finish, 265g Shell: 20D Recycled Pertex® Quantum Pro outer 40gsm with fluorocarbon free DWR Hood: helmet compatible, adjustable, wired brim Cuffs: velcro Hem: drawcord, two side adjusters Pockets: 3 external zipped Sizes: XS-XXL Women’s version: Yes rab.equipment/uk/

The fit is excellent on my average build, size large frame and I can wear the Glaceon over a base layer or midlayer, plus get a shell jacket over it without over compressing the down baffles and therefore compromising performance by inhibiting loft. The body length is excellent with my backside well covered. The arms are long with good shoulder articulation, and the cuffs are wide enough that they easily slip over a winter glove, so the extra length doesn’t mean fabric bunches up. The cuffs also have easily managed, big Velcro adjustment tabs.

The hood is excellent with internal face adjusters and a Velcro tab at the crown for volume adjustment. This adjusts without feeling restrictive even with just my bare head. The peak is wired and doesn’t budge in the wind. The outer fabric has an excellent DWR which sheds sleet and snow very well, and has a very high recycled content as do most of the materials on the jacket. The stitch-through construction saves weight and bulk but will allow a little more heat out, but the Glaceon is a warm, packable and light jacket well built for the winter hills.

Read more: Peter’s full Rab Glaceon Pro Down jacket review

Rab Cirrus Ultra Insulated Hooded

Quick specs
Price: $265 / £230 (available from Rab) Weight: 566g (size 14) Fill: PrimaLoft ThermoPlume + loose fill insulation Shell: 100% recycled polyamide – 20D recycled Pertex Quantum with Flurocarbon-free DWR Hood: Drawstring adjustable, stiffened peak Cuffs: Elasticated Hem: Drawstring adjustable Pockets: 2 side zipped pockets (1 doubles as a stuff sack) Sizes: UK8-16 Men’s version: Yes rab.equipment

It’s not the warmest, lightest or most compact of Rab’s insulated jackets but it provides an excellent compromise in a robust and breathable jacket. The fit is quite roomy, but not loose, while the sleeves are a little on the long side. The drawstring adjustment of the deep insulated hood is easy to operate with gloves on and effective at providing a cosy fit around the head. Thanks to its stiffened peak, visibility is not too badly impaired.

The main zip is smooth and glove friendly and features a soft pad at the top to protect the chin. The two size zipped pockets are huge but could do with a bit of a cosy lining in an ideal world. One of them doubles as a stuff sack for the jacket. There’s a sizeable chest pocket too, but no internal insulated pocket for gadgets. In use, it’s very warm and cosy for reasonably long periods in the cold, but better suited to rest stops and summits than it is to prolonged cold camps or wildlife watching forays. The DWR on the outer shell fabric isn’t quite as effective as I’d like, but thanks to the synthetic insulation it stays warm even if damp.

Read more: Lara’s full Rab Cirrus Ultra Insulated Hooded jacket review

Montane Resolve XT Hooded Down Jacket

Quick specs
Price: $450 | £350 Weight: 568g (men’s medium) Fill: 220g of 750fp RDS-certified duck down with HyperDRY PFC-free hydrophobic finish Shell: Gore-Tex Windstopper 30D nylon ripstop with PFC-free DWR; 100% recycled nylon lining Hood: stiffened peak, adjustment at sides and rear Cuffs: elasticated Hem: drawcord with 2x adjusters Pockets: 2x handwarmer, 1x inner Sizes: S–XXL Womens/Mens version: both

The Montane Resolve XT is a versatile jacket with 220g of 750fp down, suitable for most winter conditions in British hills. It is ideal for a blowy December summit camp. I wore the jacket layered over a microfleece while erecting a tent in a blizzard. However, jackets with higher fill power down are warmer for the weight, and in cold conditions, a good mid-layer is needed.

The baffle design is stitch-through, this meant that I did find some cold spots. The burly 30D Windstopper face fabric shields the down from the elements and is hydrophobic, making it the most windproof and water-resistant of all tested jackets. The hood is excellent, with a good peak and three handy points of adjustment, making it suitable for both camp use and layering in filthy winter conditions.

The jacket has good coverage of the backside and doesn’t ride up under a pack. Sizing is average, but it is a great choice for British winter use.

Read Alex Roddie’s full Montane Resolve XT Hooded Down Jacket Review

Black Diamond Approach Down Hoody

Quick specs
Price: £320 Weight: 303g Fill: 130g 800fp goose down, RDS-certified, with PFC-free hydrophobic finish Shell: 10D nylon ripstop with PFC-free DWR Hood: not wired, adjustment at rear Cuffs: elasticated Hem: drawcord with 1x adjuster Pockets: 1x outer chest (zipped), 2x handwarmer (zipped) Sizes: men & women: XS–XL Womens/Mens version: both blackdiamondequipment.com

The Black Diamond Approach Down Hoody is a lightweight, top-quality Alpine-style jacket designed for fast-and-light mountaineering. It features RDS-certified 800fp down and hydrophobic treatment, with a thin 10D nylon face fabric bonded with EMPEL DWR technology. The jacket is rain-resistant and I found it to be a snug fit only allowing for a thin fleece underneath.

The hood is adjustable and provides adequate face coverage for an ultralight jacket. The jacket was very warm for its weight and is best used as a mid-layer in cold winter conditions or as an outer layer in less extreme weather. It’s ideal for wild camping in freezing or below temperatures.

Although not suitable for extensive use under a rucksack due to the thin 10D face fabric, it’s perfect for its intended use.

Read Alex Roddie’s full Black Diamond Approach Down Hoody Review

Fjällräven Expedition Pack Down Hoodie

Quick specs
Price: £315 Weight: 508g Fill: 110g 700fp traceable goose down, Fjällräven Down Promise Shell: 100% recycled polyamide Hood: not wired, adjustment at rear and sides Cuffs: elasticated Hem: drawcord with 2x adjusters Pockets: 1x inner chest (zipped), 2x handwarmer (zipped) Sizes: men: XS–XXL; women: XXS–XL Womens/Mens version: both fjallraven.com

The Expedition Pack Down insulated jacket is a modern take on a classic Fjällräven design, When first putting on the jacket I found it was roomy and had broad stitch-through baffles. Inside the baffles are 110g of 700fp traceable goose down, backed by Fjällräven’s Down Promise. Although not RDS-certified, the down exceeds ethical certification in many respects.

The jacket has synthetic insulation in the shoulders for durability. The outer fabric is 100% recycled polyamide, which repels light precipitation for a short time. While not the most weather-resistant down jacket, I found it performed well in dry cold and provides excellent face coverage. The hood adjusts well and has excellent face coverage. A higher-fill-power down would make the jacket warmer but would also be more expensive.

Read Alex Roddie’s full Fjällräven Expedition Pack Down Hoodie Review

How we test

Lara Dunn tested the jackets on walks in the Malvern Hills, Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains during a mixed autumn 2024 and a spectacularly cold, snowy early winter 2025. Long, static wildlife-spotting evenings proved a good test of insulation properties. She usually takes a size 14, sometimes 16.

Peter Macfarlane rotated these jackets on every outdoor trip this 2024/5 winter so far, from Munros in all conditions to lunch breaks on ranger activities in the Kilpatrick Hills and static photography activities in sub-zero conditions. He wears a size large.

Kirsty Pallas is a size 8 with a short back and arms. These jackets have been tested across Scotland from winter 2023/4 , through spring and summer in all conditions. They were used as extra layers for summer stops and camping, and active layers for winter skills and winter climbing. Weights are taken from her own scales.

David Lintern takes a size medium in tops and has arms on the longish side, relative to a short back. Most of these jackets have been in regular use since winter 2023/4, right across Scotland in all weathers, both on the move and at camp. He tends to run warm and values garments that can be left on all day.

Alex Roddie tested his down jackets on a series of short backpacking trips in the Cairngorms and West Highlands during a spell of cold and snowy weather in November and December 2023. The jackets were used both in camp and while hiking. All weights are as measured on Alex’s digital scale.

What makes a good synthetic insulated jacket

Fill

Should you choose a synthetic fill or a natural insulation like down? We cover the properties in the introduction, but there’s also ethical and practical considerations. Down potentially comes with animal welfare concerns, and requires specialist cleaning products. Synthetic insulations are potentially both petrochemical derived and landfill destined. The impacts of both are reduced with measures like the Responsible Down Standard and the increased use of recycled materials, but given these hidden costs, be sure to choose something fit for purpose – less warmth for ‘on the move’, more warmth for static use.

Hood

A hood that shares the same level of insulation as the rest of the jacket is useful, but only if it has sufficient adjustment to cinch it in around the face. A shaped or slightly stiffened peak is useful. Some hoods are also designed to accommodate a helmet if required.

Zip

A front zip with a chunky, glove friendly pull and a decent gauge of zip that is quick to fasten is a must for blowy, snowy conditions. A baffle behind the zip to prevent warmth escaping is also crucial.

Hem

A drawcord adjustment at the bottom of the jacket helps to retain warmth around the torso.

Cuffs

These should be neat-fitting and ideally elasticated to ensure that warmth stays in the sleeves while snow and weather are kept out. Velcro adjustment at the cuffs is a nice extra.

Fabric

Light but tough is the ideal, but down feathers can poke through fabric that is over-light. Water repellency is highly desirable regardless of fill type.

Pockets

Side pockets that are large enough to stick hands in are useful, ideally with glove-friendly zips that won’t catch on gloves or skin. An internal pocket is useful for electronics prone to cold drain. Many jackets use a pocket as its own stuff sack.

A guide to synthetic insulation

Synthetic insulation is usually made up of sheets of fibres and the thickness or density of these, and hence the warmth, is measured in grams per square metre (gsm).  Alternatively, it may be ‘blown clusters’ that mimic the structure and ‘loft’ (fluffiness) of down, requiring baffles to hold them in place; for this the overall fill weight is quantified. Synthetic fill has good ethical credentials, being vegan and cruelty-free by default, but it may contribute to microfibre pollution if the fibres escape. You can reduce the environmental footprint by choosing products with recycled content.

Whilst insulated garments are great for throwing on for a breezy snack stop, a cold summit or a camp, many are light and breathable enough to form part of layering system, including underneath a waterproof jacket, and could conceivably be worn on the go in cold temperatures. The bigger, chunkier jackets are typically too warm to wear on the go, but are heaven on cold belay stances or winter camps – i.e. when you’re stationary for a long time.

Synthetic puffy jackets are simple to clean, and dry quickly, making them easy to maintain. There’s an argument for carrying one in your hiking backpack all year round.