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After a new round of testing, we’ve chosen the Patagonia Down Sweater Vest (men’s and women’s) as the best down vest. We’ve also added some other vests we like.
When you want to add a little more warmth but are seeking greater freedom of movement than a jacket allows, a vest is the perfect cozy addition.
To find the best insulated vest to keep you warm on your most active days, we sent 22 adventurers with 25 vests to nine states and two countries.
After all of those adventures, we’ve determined that the Patagonia Down Sweater Vest (men’s and women’s) is the best down vest both for technical performance and for everyday commuter or office use.
This is one of the warmest vests we tested, with strong construction that stands up to tough use.
This is one of the warmest vests we tested, with strong construction that stands up to tough use.
The Patagonia Down Sweater Vest (in men’s and women’s versions) is a warm, stylish choice for people who want to wear a vest while walking the dog, running errands in urban areas, hanging out in cool temps, and engaging in outdoor adventures. The Patagonia vest’s stitching is some of the strongest we found. And the vest has a tough, ripstop nylon shell (in 2022, the company switched to a ripstop nylon made from recycled fishing nets), which minimizes insulation loss. The Patagonia vest comes in a variety of colors, and its front pockets are located right where your hands fall, so they’re well positioned for keeping them warm. Due to the 800-fill-power down, this vest kept us warm, even on the coldest days—in fact, it’s one of the warmest options we tested. In past years, we didn’t like the men’s version: The fit was boxy, and reviewers noted that it wasn’t great for layering. But in 2022, Patagonia updated the Down Sweater Vest (and jacket) line, and the designers fixed this fit problem, allowing for easier layering and a more flattering look. The remodeled vest feels slightly warmer (the company says it added 27% more down), but it’s still lightweight and durable.
Also great Montbell Thermawrap Vest Men’sA synthetic option for men If you prefer synthetic insulation over down, this vest is our choice. It stays warm even when wet, and the slimmer profile works great either for layering under outerwear or as a top layer.Buying Options$159 from Montbell Montbell Thermawrap Vest Women’sA synthetic option for women This is the same great vest as the men’s version but in women’s sizes.Buying Options$159 from Montbell
If you prefer synthetic insulation over down, this vest is our choice. It stays warm even when wet, and the slimmer profile works great either for layering under outerwear or as a top layer.
This is the same great vest as the men’s version but in women’s sizes.
If you plan to hike in cold, wet climates, or you’re looking for an option that isn’t down, the Montbell Thermawrap Vest (in men’s and women’s versions) is our favorite synthetic model. With its Exceloft filling, the Thermawrap vest strikes an ideal temperature balance, keeping active people warm but not making them so hot that they overheat. When it’s raining or snowing, the shell’s fabric repels wind and droplets. But even when the vest gets wet, the synthetic insulation will still keep you warm. Since it isn’t as puffy as our top picks, the Thermawrap can work as both a midlayer and a top layer (it fits under a jacket). And it looks sleek, whether you’re out on the trail or commuting to work. In 2022, Montbell redesigned this vest to be reversible, and it narrowed the fit just slightly. We didn’t notice any huge differences in functionality, and the vest still fits nicely under a jacket or over a base layer.
This budget vest is half the price of our other picks, but it’s nearly as warm and still well constructed.
This is the same model as the men’s version but with a slimmer fit, and it comes in additional colors.
This vest comes in extended sizes, making it an even more appealing option.
The REI Co-op 650 Down Vest 2.0 (which comes in men’s, women’s, and women’s plus versions) is an ideal budget option for people who want a down vest to wear for commuting, urban walks, and the occasional outdoor adventure. The REI Co-op vest, which has 650-fill-power down, is as warm or warmer than all but our top pick (and it’s less than half the price). This vest comes in a range of sizes, for many body types, and due to the slightly boxy fit, adding layers beneath it is quite easy. That said, the price cuts were evident in its wider baffles and the fact that feathers started emerging from the seams after only a day of use (a sign that the vest might become less warm over time, as it loses insulation). And despite having a DWR (durable water repellent) coating, this vest still isn’t great at repelling water, so it’s not ideal for rainy climates—once the vest is wet, it loses its warmth. Still, we think that it’s a decent option for the price; several of our testers even ranked this vest as their favorite option providing “just enough” warmth.
This is one of the warmest vests we tested, with strong construction that stands up to tough use.
This is one of the warmest vests we tested, with strong construction that stands up to tough use.
If you prefer synthetic insulation over down, this vest is our choice. It stays warm even when wet, and the slimmer profile works great either for layering under outerwear or as a top layer.
This is the same great vest as the men’s version but in women’s sizes.
This budget vest is half the price of our other picks, but it’s nearly as warm and still well constructed.
This is the same model as the men’s version but with a slimmer fit, and it comes in additional colors.
This vest comes in extended sizes, making it an even more appealing option.
To find the best puffy vests, we asked cool-weather climbers, commuters, cross-country cyclists, hikers, a curler, backcountry skiers, and an ICU nurse what they wanted in a vest for both work and play. Our sources included:
Liz Thomas wrote the first iteration of this guide when she was a staff writer on Wirecutter’s outdoors team; she started wearing insulated vests as a rock climber in Yosemite a decade ago and found that they translated well to outdoor activities and everyday life. Since then, she has hiked more than 15,000 miles on long trails and once held the women’s unassisted speed record on the Appalachian Trail (hiking 2,181 miles from Georgia to Maine in 80 days 13 hours). She teaches Backpacker magazine’s online Thru-Hiking 101 class and wrote Long Trails: Mastering the Art of the Thru-Hike.
Freelance journalist and frequent Wirecutter contributor Jenni Gritters updated this guide, testing the newest versions from 2020 and then conducting testing again in 2022. Jenni has a decade of experience writing about health, the outdoors, parenting, and purchasing. She has covered products ranging from headlamps, down jackets, and trekking poles to backpacking tents and baby swings. She grew up in the wet and cold cities of Boston and Seattle, and she currently lives in central Oregon with her son, daughter, husband, and dog. Jenni spends her summers hiking, her falls and springs tromping through the rain, and her winters wearing snowshoes. So she’s a pro at evaluating the best—and worst—winter gear.
In the past, Jenni contributed gear reviews to the REI Co-op Journal, which is an editorially independent publication run by the REI Co-op. Liz was an outdoor ambassador to about a dozen companies, including Montbell, which provided her with gear from November 2015 until she joined the Wirecutter staff, from 2017–18. To keep the findings of this review objective, we based our conclusions on quantitative data (including weight, compression size, length of torso) and on qualitative data from third-party testers (who had no affiliation with any of the gear companies mentioned in this guide). The findings for this guide were also reviewed and affirmed by two additional Wirecutter outdoors editors who’ve never had any type of professional relationship with REI, Montbell, or other companies mentioned here.
A vest has some practical advantages over a jacket: It weighs less, allows for added mobility, and takes up less space (which is nice for travelers who are limited to a carry-on). Also, a vest typically costs less than a jacket.
If you need warmth primarily when you’re not moving (such as back at the campsite after a day of play or while watching a sports game), stick with an insulated jacket. But if you anticipate drastic temperature changes on an outdoor adventure, or you plan to be super-active (which can translate to high volumes of sweat), choose an insulated vest. In cool weather, insulated vests are masters of thermoregulation (or keeping the body from overheating or getting too cold) when either the ambient temperature or the amount of heat you generate through exercise changes.
An arms-free insulating layer offers benefits to athletes, especially when it comes to mobility. Brandon Lampley, a Yosemite big-wall rock climber with several Himalayan first ascents, told us, “Sleeves get in the way. Elbow and forearm fabric wear out quick.” He added that many climbers favor vests because of the maximum range of motion in the shoulder.
He also typically uses a vest while cycling, as a “Goldilocks layer” for interval training or exercising on rolling hills. When the intensity level of your activity drops, sweat can chill the body to dangerous levels. Lampley added, “I’m super-sweaty, and if I want the same clothes for uphills and downhills, the vest is great. On the bike, I don’t want to stop every 5 or 10 minutes [to take off a layer] on the uphills, and I don’t want to be frozen on the downhills, either.” Many athletes, including Lampley, told us the arms made a jacket hard to remove when you’re on the go. With a vest, your core stays warm when you’re going downhill, but you can still let off some heat through your arms.
Those mobility advantages also translate to the workplace. “We physically move people and manipulate equipment all the time,” San Francisco Bay Area intensive care unit nurse Maya Rosenzweig told us. “A vest has more mobility than a jacket, so it’s more functional.”
Vests are designed to be worn over a base layer. The base layer creates a temperature-regulated bubble against your skin, and the vest keeps your core warm. This is important “because your body puts a premium on protecting the vital organs over the appendages,” said Jim McDannald, a podiatrist and an assistant running coach at the Université du Québec à Montréal at the time of our interview.
Although insulated vests lack arms, they still keep your arms warm by limiting shunting (the process of blood leaving the appendages or the skin to keep your organs functioning in the cold). When the body doesn’t need to work as hard to keep you warm, it can dedicate resources to other activities, including performance.
Although breathability is less important in a vest than in a base layer, an insulated vest should not trap your sweat. You can also layer your insulated vest with a wind jacket. To stretch the temperature range of the vest-plus-base-layer combo without having to add a jacket, put on a hat, gloves, and warm socks.
A vest also works well under rain gear. When you spend enough time in the rain, water creeps under your sleeves to the layer beneath. If you wear a down jacket, those sleeves become useless for insulation and warmth. But with a vest, your core will stay warm, without the worry of wet wrists or sleeves.
To determine which brands and models to test, we talked with experts, considered the most popular vests at outdoor stores, scoured outdoor and fashion media, and looked through customer reviews. We identified over 50 different vests that looked promising. From there, we narrowed the field to 25 contenders during several seasons. Then we chose which vests to test based on the following criteria:
An age-old debate among those who love the outdoors is the question of down versus synthetic. Wirecutter writers have researched this debate for years (you can read more on the topic in our other guides, including those for sleeping bags, puffy blankets, comforters, and bed pillows).
Down has the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any insulation, and down vests can be more compact, durable, and soft. Plus, they typically look more stylish than their synthetic counterparts. Our testers generally thought down felt cozier and more luxurious.
Synthetics, on the other hand, stay warm even when wet, making them ideal for outdoor adventurers. They’re functional in light weather or under a soaked-through rain jacket. And we liked that after a hot climb with a backpack, back sweat dried more quickly with a synthetic vest than a down one. Synthetic models also tend to be more durable than down. And, of course, synthetic vests don’t involve killing birds.
Ultimately, which type of insulation you choose depends on your budget, how you use your vest, where you take it, how long you expect it to last, and whether or not you choose to wear down. We’ve included both down and synthetic vest options in this guide.
Over the course of five years, our 22 testers took 25 vests to nine states and two countries to put them to the test, over several seasons. From visiting waterfalls in Iceland to playing cornhole in Michigan, our testers evaluated these vests across many different climates and scenarios, including:
We used the following criteria to decide which vests were the best:
The right temperature: We expected the vests to keep us warm but not too warm, regardless of whether we were moving. A good vest should keep your core warm but not make you so hot that you want to take it off when you’re exercising. We looked for breathable vests that were quick-drying enough that when we stopped moving, we weren’t chilled by back sweat (gross). To supplement our testers’ subjective opinions on which vest was the warmest, we used a thermal-imaging infrared camera to detect the amount of heat testers generated while wearing different vests.
Fit and comfort: An insulated vest is designed for layering over a base layer. It should fit close to the body, with room for a base layer or (if you go up a size) a sweater or sweatshirt. A comfortable vest won’t restrict your range of motion in the back or shoulders. It shouldn’t pinch under your arms or anywhere else. If a vest isn’t fitted at the waist, it will bunch and ride up, exposing your lower back to cold air; for that reason, we also preferred vests with a long torso.
From visiting waterfalls in Iceland to playing cornhole in Michigan, our testers evaluated these vests across different climates and scenarios.
Versatility between performance and everyday use: If you can buy only one insulated vest, you’ll want it to excel as a technical performance layer but translate to daily use, too. An insulated vest should work well in the outdoors but not have so many performance features that it feels fussy when you wear it at the bar. A versatile vest can switch between outdoor use and commuting, layering under both ski jackets and suit coats.
Pockets: Good pockets turn a vest into a wearable purse or lumbar pack. We tested whether the vests’ pockets were deep enough to hold an iPhone, a wallet, keys, sunglasses, a point-and-shoot camera, and two Probars. After hearing sob stories from folks who’d lost their phones out of pockets, we decided that a good vest pocket should be able to hold its contents even when you forget to zip. To verify this, we played countless games of cornhole with our phones and wallets stashed in unzipped pockets. The best pockets are angled, so even if you forget to zip, you won’t find yourself phone-less. Hand-warming pockets are positioned where your hands are—not on your sides or too close to your stomach. We liked vests that had internal pockets, which helped us to keep phone batteries warm and to store essentials when we didn’t want bulkiness (such as while wearing a climbing harness).
Durability: Each vest went through standardized rough treatment. We shook each one 10 times and then crammed it into its pocket or stuff sack, after which we shook the compacted vest 10 times to mimic jostling in a briefcase or backpack. We took each vest out of the stuff sack and repeated those steps 10 times. By the end of the experiment, feathers were flying. We also noted any threads that loosened or any synthetic insulation that came through the seams.
Weatherproofing: A vest works as part of a layering system but can perform as an outer layer in mild weather. Even though a vest isn’t a windbreaker, when you’re wearing it as an outer layer, you shouldn’t feel a breeze on your back. We also preferred vests that could work in both dry and moist climates. A versatile vest can repel a drizzle and snow flurries, giving you the option to avoid wearing hot and clammy shells or a rain jacket in anything but the most torrential weather. We tested the vests’ waterproofing using a protocol similar to what we used for our rain pants guide; this was based on advice from Susan Sokolowski, director of the Sport Product Design Program and a professor at the University of Oregon.
Can be packed away: For those times when you aren’t wearing your vest, you’ll need to carry it. We preferred vests that were lightweight and could compress to a compact size. Some vests zipped into their own pockets. Others came with stuff sacks (which, because they can be lost, aren’t as good). The poorest-rated vests in this regard were a flopping mess that either didn’t zip or didn’t fit into their pockets. The best stowaway systems were easy to figure out and lined with fleece, for conversion into a pillow.
Good zippers: A vest’s zippers should be big enough that they are easy to open and close, even with cold, numb, or mittened hands. Whether the company calls it a chin guard, a zipper guard, or a zipper garage, the design needs to include some fabric over the top of the zipper to prevent your chin and neck from chafing.
This is one of the warmest vests we tested, with strong construction that stands up to tough use.
This is one of the warmest vests we tested, with strong construction that stands up to tough use.
The Patagonia Down Sweater Vest (men’s and women’s) is one of the warmest and puffiest vests we tried. It’s a cozy, stylish vest to wear either around town or on outdoor adventures. Our testers were impressed with the quality of materials and tightly sewn baffling, which stopped it from shedding down. It kept us warm even on blustery days of hiking, car camping, and skiing, and it could be layered over or under fleeces and jackets.
None of the vests we tested had poor stitching, but on the Down Sweater Vest, the stitches were tighter and straighter. This vest also scored among the best in our durability tests, with only the tip of a feather sticking out from a seam. After we compressed the vest, its puffiness bounced back quicker than on most of the other down vests we tried. Patagonia uses a responsible-down-sourcing program, certified to the Responsible Down Standard. This vest’s 800-fill-count down was among the highest fill count of any vest we tested, and it kept us warm throughout the day. According to the company, the 2022 redesign added 27% more down to the mix, too, though in terms of warmth, the new women’s model felt just like the one from 2020. And the recycled-polyester shell (which is made from old fishing nets, as of 2022) performed well in our tests of wind and water resistance.
Patagonia’s baffles (the tubular-looking “ribs” that separate and hold the down in place) are thinner and more numerous than those on many of the other down vests we considered. Down-vest manufacturers often cut corners by constructing fewer baffles (this is not as important on synthetics). But because Patagonia has added so many baffles to its Down Sweater Vest, this vest manages to minimize cold spots and keeps a uniform warmth. All of those baffles help with mobility, too.
The pockets on this vest are among the best of those on any vest we tried, due to their large size and placement. They were “placed and angled right where [my] hands fall,” one tester said. During past rounds of testing, we disliked the men’s model of this vest because it felt too narrow and bunchy, which led to oddly placed pockets and a constrictive fit. But the 2022 remodel fixes those problems. We liked the generous internal Napoleon-chest-pocket zips, too. Maneuvering the big (but not too big) YKK zippers with mittened or numb hands is easy, and a zipper garage keeps your chin protected. As for weight, the Down Sweater Vest is middle-of-the-pack compared with the other vests we tried: A men’s vest weighs 8.9 ounces.
Previously, testers complained that the Down Sweater Vest had a shorter torso than some of the other vests we tested, so it would ride up and expose the small of their back when they wore a backpack. But the 2022 remodel has added an inch or two of length, and the drawcord hem at the hips also creates a more secure fit.
The Down Sweater Vest doesn’t come in as expansive a range as we’d like. If you’re looking for a longer and wider option, the budget REI Co-op 650 vest offers more coverage. This Patagonia vest also doesn’t fit in its own pocket, like some of the other vests we tested, but it does pack down small enough.
If you prefer synthetic insulation over down, this vest is our choice. It stays warm even when wet, and the slimmer profile works great either for layering under outerwear or as a top layer.
This is the same great vest as the men’s version but in women’s sizes.
If you’re headed to a damp place, or you need warmth during highly active adventures, the Montbell Thermawrap (in men’s and women’s versions) is an ideal choice. It features a still-warm-when-wet synthetic insulation and a thin shell fabric that repels raindrops. The Thermawrap is less puffy than our down picks, and we found it was equally comfy as a top layer or tucked beneath a jacket for extra warmth. Even after some rough handling, this vest showed no signs of wear.
The Thermawrap was one of the lightest and most compact vests in our lineup. On our scales, the men’s medium weighed 221 grams, and the women’s medium weighed 197 grams, making this vest the second lightest of the synthetics we tried (at 218 grams, the Arc’teryx Atom vest was just barely lighter than the men’s Thermawrap, but it wasn’t as warm). Compressed, the Thermawrap is the size of a Nalgene bottle, so it’s also easy to carry when you’re not wearing it.
On mountain backpacking trips and cool beach walks, the Thermawrap did the best job of helping us balance between overheating on the uphills and overcooling on the downhills. Unlike The North Face’s Nuptse, which tended to overheat, Montbell’s Thermawrap kept our testers the right amount of toasty. The Thermawrap vest also blocked the wind and kept us warm enough during snack breaks, something that couldn’t be said for competing synthetics such as the Arc’teryx Atom or the Patagonia Nano Puff.
During our water-repellency tests, the Thermawrap vest’s shell fabric was among the most effective at making droplets bead and roll off, instead of letting them penetrate the material. Our tests confirmed this: During a windy, rainy hike without our rain gear on Washington’s Mount Baker, water was slow to penetrate. When it did, the Thermawrap vest was still warm when wet, compared with the soggy and deflated-looking Montbell down vest we tried at the same time.
When water did penetrate the Thermawrap vest (like when we soaked it in the wash), it dried more quickly than most others (it was almost dry after two spin cycles and totally dry after another 20 minutes in the dryer on extra-low heat). With all of the vests we tried, when we wore them under a rain jacket, condensation or a soak-through rain made them moist (that’s the rain jacket’s fault, not the vest’s). But even in that situation, we found that the Thermawrap vest dried faster than the down competitors and most of the synthetic-insulation models we tested.
Our testers also found that the Thermawrap vest fit true to size. Most testers liked the cut and said the Thermawrap vest stayed put and didn’t bunch in the back or chest, even when they were moving about vigorously. And most testers liked the long length of the torso (which measured 28 inches for a medium, the longest among the vests we tested). In 2022, Montbell redesigned this vest to be reversible and narrowed the fit just slightly. However, we didn’t notice any huge differences in functionality, and the vest still fit nicely under a jacket or over a base layer. We also found that compared with the material of the other vests, the Thermawrap’s stretchy shell fabric provided some mobility (though not as much as the Arc’teryx Atom, which had stretch side paneling). Montbell produces men’s and women’s versions of the Thermawrap with that same kind of uninsulated stretch paneling, but we didn’t test them.
We also appreciated the two generous hand-warmer pockets, with YKK zippers big enough to work even with numb or mittened hands. Each hand-warmer pocket fit an iPhone 6s, a camera, sunglasses, a checkbook-sized wallet, keys, and two Probars. To confirm that the pockets were angled well enough to keep their contents safe, we played a 21-point game of cornhole with our pockets full and unzipped. At the end of the game, the winner still had a phone in her Thermawrap vest pocket.
After our rough durability tests, the Thermawrap and the Arc’teryx Atom alone showed no signs of wear. Both designs had fewer seams than the other vests, reducing the number of needle holes where insulation could exit or water could seep in.
The Thermawrap has a boxier fit than some other vests we tested, though the 2022 update has a slimmer fit, making it easier to layer over. Still, the side panels aren’t as contoured, so most testers found this vest to be less flattering than our top pick. Though they said this vest fit well, one tester of the men’s version found the upper back constricting when he made kettlebell motions. As with all of the vests, if the sizing isn’t right, you’ll see bunching even if you cinch the waist cord. But with the Thermawrap, this bunching is more pronounced than on our Patagonia down pick.
Synthetic insulation won’t last as long as down. Each time you compress and compact your synthetic layer, the microfibers lose their resilience. Still, if you find something wrong with your vest, know that Montbell offers a lifetime warranty program for the original owner that covers manufacturing defects, and it has a repair program that covers other fixes for a reasonable rate.
This budget vest is half the price of our other picks, but it’s nearly as warm and still well constructed.
This is the same model as the men’s version but with a slimmer fit, and it comes in additional colors.
This vest comes in extended sizes, making it an even more appealing option.
If you need a vest for everyday errands and the occasional outdoor adventure, the REI Co-op 650 Down Vest 2.0 (in men’s, women’s, and women’s plus) will do the job for less than half the price of any of our other picks. It is warm enough to get you through cold days, and it’s made with responsible down standard (RDS) down. It also fits a range of body types.
We didn’t expect much from this basic vest, especially since it was half the price of most of the other vests in our testing pool. But we were pleasantly surprised by the fit, warmth, and extra features. Although many budget vests don’t contain information about their down count or provenance, REI uses ethically sourced down in these vests (as do the makers of our other down picks). This is a 650-fill-power down vest, and it’s slightly cooler than our top pick from Patagonia. But we found the 650 fill to be just right on cool shoulder-season days, on long ferry rides, and even on chilly camping trips. We didn’t overheat, but we were grateful for the added core warmth.
The 650 Vest 2.0 is nearly as lightweight as our synthetic pick, and it easily packs down small into its own pocket, to about the size of a one-liter water bottle. We like that it comes in plus-size options for women and that the plus-size women’s vest is well made: Rather than simply adding another panel to make the vest wider, REI has constructed the vest with continuous baffles, which help seal in warmth and keep the insulation from bunching. The fit is a bit boxy compared with that of our other picks. So the REI vest is easy to layer under, but you likely won’t be able to fit another jacket on top of it. There are two simple yet large outer zip pockets and two inner pockets.
There are some features we missed in this lower-priced vest, compared with our other picks. After our camping trip, the down started leaking out along the jacket’s seams, with a feather here and a feather there every 10 minutes or so. This isn’t a huge problem at the outset, but it means that, over time, the 650 Vest 2.0 may become less reliable and could leave you colder, and the insulation may be patchy. Also, the zippers aren’t as sturdy as those on our top picks, and the REI zippers occasionally got stuck on the surrounding fabric. Unlike synthetic insulation (which continues to warm even when wet), on a snowy day down insulation may become clumpy (which will make it non-insulating).
You get what you pay for with the REI Co-op 650 Down Vest 2.0. It’s not fancy, but it’s definitely good enough for errands, cold-weather BBQs, football games, and the occasional hike. We think it’s the best among its budget-vest peers.
If you’re planning to go climbing or trail running: Consider the Arc’teryx Atom Vest (men’s and women’s lightweight). We already liked this vest, but in 2023, Arc’teryx updated the women’s version, streamlining the fit even more and slightly cutting the price. And now we like it even better. Along the sides, this vest has non-insulated stretch paneling, which adds mobility and makes the vest more breathable. Like our pick from Montbell, this vest is durable and highly water-repellent, and it contains synthetic insulation, which stays warm even when wet. But the Atom vest isn’t as warm as the Montbell vest, and it doesn’t keep the wind out quite as well. Also, during slower adventures, those side panels absorb water and dry more slowly than the rest of the vest—which may translate to a colder day out on the trails. Testers also didn’t like that they couldn’t stuff this vest into its own pocket and zip it. That said, many of our testers preferred the sleeker style of the Atom over the boxier Montbell. We’ll also be keeping an eye out for an updated men’s model.
If you’re a gram-counting ultralight backpacker: Consider the Montbell Superior Down Vest (men’s and women’s), a performance vest that packs down small and has a good warmth-to-weight ratio. But at 5½ ounces, it is probably too minimalist for most people. We didn’t notice any durability issues during our shake, wash, or use tests. But the vest’s 10-denier fabric won’t hold up to serious abuse as well as our picks’ higher-denier fabrics do. (Denier numbers show the fabric’s thread thickness, and this one is relatively low compared with those of some of the other vests we tested.) Montbell’s website says the company uses responsible down that does not come from live-plucking sources, but it is not third-party-certified like Patagonia’s down.
If you want something easy to pack: Check out the Arc’teryx Cerium Vest (men’s and women’s). Currently $275, it’s more expensive (double) than our top pick, the Patagonia Down Sweater Vest. But it’s 2 ounces lighter—just 7 ounces total for the men’s vest—and it packs down smaller than any of the other vests we tested. It feels as warm as the Patagonia; it has an 850 down fill count—higher than most of the other vests we looked at. However, we prefer some features of the Patagonia vest that the Cerium doesn't offer, such as the larger zippers, which are easier to grasp. The Patagonia also has a slightly wider fit, making it easier to layer under; the Cerium’s fit is more tailored, as is typical for Arc’teryx. The Cerium’s sizing is also less inclusive than some other vests, including the REI Co-op 650 Down Vest 2.0. But we think the Cerium is a solid, well-made option for folks who prioritize packing ultra-light.
If you simply need an additional layer on a budget: Consider the Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Vest (men’s and women’s), which offers back-up warmth with virtually no weight at a price that sometimes drops as low as $30. The company offers no information about the down count, and the construction is simple—no liners around the armholes, and wide baffling with feathers already emerging—but the basics are there.
If you want something for nights on the town: We like the women’s Outdoor Research Coldfront Vest. This 700-fill-count down vest was one of the puffier options we tried. It doesn’t pack down as small as its competitors, but it comes with a cozy, adjustable hood and has a drop-waist design (with a drawcord hem) to cover your tush. The top of the vest contains diamond-shaped baffles, while the bottom half is made with horizontal baffles. Our testers appreciated this contoured construction, and they got many compliments when they wore it out in the world. Despite the differing baffle structure, the down seemed to stay in place as well. This vest is too bulky to be ideal for active outdoor adventures, and it’s certainly not even close to being the most waterproof or windproof option out there. But for a workday or casual dinner plans, we think this is an option you won’t regret adding to your closet.
If you like the style of our top pick but want brighter colors: Cotopaxi’s Fuego Down Vest (men’s and women’s) is a solid choice for nearly the same price. The baffles vary in width from top to bottom, which can mean the down migrates a bit (and causes cold spots over time). And we found the stitching wasn’t quite as solid as on the Patagonia Down Sweater Vest; every so often, a feather escaped. Otherwise, the Cotopaxi Fuego Down Vest is quite similar to our top pick in fit and design, with the benefit of a more expressive, bright color palette. The Fuego is made with 800-fill, RDS-certified down and has ripstop nylon lining, which proved to be both durable and waterproof. It weighs 8 ounces and packs down small. The pockets were a bit less cozy and the zippers got stuck slightly more often than on the Patagonia vest. But the pockets on the Cotopaxi were still better placed than those on many of the other vests we tested. Cotopaxi also donates 1% of proceeds toward climate change efforts each year.
L.L.Bean Men’s PrimaLoft Packaway Vest: Testers didn’t like this affordable synthetic-fill vest’s boxy fit—sizes ran large, and the armholes were too big. Although this model was among the most wind-resistant synthetic vests, the fabric wasn’t as soft as on other picks. This L.L.Bean vest does have the best stowaway system of any of the ones we tried: It fits into its own fleecy, labeled stowaway pocket, after which it can be used as a pillow.
Patagonia Men’s Nano Puff Vest: This popular, stylish vest was among the least puffy and least warm models we tested. It didn’t keep out the wind, either. Despite its synthetic design, it wasn’t durable: After six shakes, an insulating fiber popped out of this vest’s seam. Although the Nano Puff fit our testers true to size, some found the torso to be too short and thought the pockets could have been bigger (this vest doesn’t zip into its own pocket). For the price, you have better options.
Stio Men’s Pinion Down Vest: This vest simply didn’t feel as robust as our top picks. The baffles are quite thin, giving the vest less puff. That’s ideal for active adventures when you need flexibility and plan to layer, but it also means you won’t feel as warm when the wind kicks up, since there’s less down in each of the baffle segments. The 800-fill down is RDS-certified. And at a lightweight 8 ounces, this vest packs down small. It also stayed fairly waterproof on drizzly days.
Marmot Men’s Highlander Vest: This 700-fill down vest is not as warm as our top picks, and the hardware—especially the zippers—felt a bit cheap. We found ourselves fighting to get the zipper up and down, and the pockets weren’t as well placed as those on the other vests we tested. Also, the down is not certified as sustainable. The company says the down is specially treated to be “extra water-resistant.” We did find that it performed just fine on water tests, but not any better than the other vests on our list. The fit was also just fine; the Highlander vest ran true to size, and it was possible to layer over and under it. But compared with our picks, this option just isn’t quite as well made, durable, sustainable, or stylish.
Feathered Friends Men’s Eos Down Vest: We’d been waiting a while to try this vest, one of the more expensive options on our list. Feathered Friends has a good reputation when it comes to down products, especially sleeping bags, but we didn’t love the Eos vest. It was incredibly warm—made with 900-fill-power goose down. But the shell fabric was so thin that we could see the down under the surface, and the down tended to move around in clumps because of the wide baffles. The fit of the vest we tried was also huge and boxy, so we found layering to be difficult. However, some online reviewers mentioned that their vests were too small, so we think there may be some irregularity in the sizing. Water also soaked into the nylon shell quickly, so this vest is not a great option for wet days.
Outdoor Research Men’s Coldfront Down Vest: In previous iterations of this guide, we chose the men’s Outdoor Research Transcendent Down as our top pick because it was cozy, stylish, and it fit well and was well designed. The Coldfront replaces the Transcendent Down, and we still think the Coldfront is a decent option. But with its 700-fill count, it’s not as warm as our top pick. And compared with our top-pick, the Patagonia, or the Cotopaxi vest, the Coldfront has wider baffles; that means the down moves around more within the baffles, resulting in spotty warmth. The pockets are less comfortable because of their placement, and the zippers feel cheaper. Also, the men’s Coldfront has neither the stylish look of the women’s model nor the fun colors of the Transcendent Down version. Overall, this is a just-fine option. So since this vest and the Patagonia are fairly comparable in cost, we recommend considering our top pick instead.
The North Face Women’s Nuptse Vest: Our testers found the sizing ran large, and the fit was loose on this heavy vest. It was so puffy that it couldn’t fit into its own pockets. Similar to reviewers online, our testers found this vest to be too warm for outdoor exercise. When conditions were cold enough to justify its poofiness, we wanted a jacket instead of a vest.
Andrew Marc Women’s Quilted Vest: This budget synthetic vest felt heavy and plasticky. We also ran into some fit issues: Compared with the sizing of other vests we tried, this vest’s sizing ran much larger, it was boxy, and it tended to bunch. Our medium-size testers felt as if they were “drowning in the collar” of the size S version of this vest. The pockets were too small, with low-quality zippers, and the vest didn’t compress down well, either. It’s also a Costco exclusive, limiting who can buy it.
Lands’ End Ultralight Packable Down Vest: In theory, a vest that reaches to mid-thigh should keep you very warm. But in practice, the fit was off, with bunching and pinching in strange places and an overall boxy construction. The zipper was sticky, and the quality wasn’t up to snuff compared with that of other, similarly priced vests. We do like that this one comes in extended sizing.
Stio Women’s Pinion Down Vest: The biggest difference we found with the Pinion vest was in its baffles. The thin baffles were flexible for active adventures, but that meant we felt a little chillier than we did when wearing our top picks. The Pinion’s outer fabric felt a bit thinner than that of the other vests we tested, too. But it stayed dry enough on windy, wet days. And we appreciated that the vest is made with 800-fill-power, RDS-certified down.
Marmot Women’s Highlander Vest: Like the men’s option, this 700-fill-power down vest simply felt less well made than our top picks. The zippers were tough to move and plasticky, and the pockets weren’t as well placed. The waist flared out in a way that some of our testers found unflattering, and the less-warm down was not certified as sustainable. It performed just fine when sprinkled with water, and it did a decent job of keeping out wind, but we preferred the warmth of our top picks.
Feathered Friends Women’s Eos Down Vest: Despite being highly priced and made with 900-fill-power goose down (the highest fill count of any vest we tested), the Eos vest fell short on fit and consistency. Like the men’s version, the women’s had shell fabric that was so thin, we could see the down under the surface. The fit was also unflattering and wide, which reviewers and testers complained about. “I almost thought they were sending me men’s sizing,” one online reviewer said. Even with many layers underneath, this vest was simply far too large.
With the proper care, a down vest can last decades. You shouldn’t expect a synthetic vest to last as long, but with good maintenance its life can be extended. Regardless of whether you opt for down or synthetic, washing a vest can help restore its loft and performance.
The steps for washing a down or synthetic vest are similar, with a few exceptions:
In 2023, Arc’teryx updated and improved the women’s version of its Atom vest, which we list in our Other good vests section. The men’s version has not yet been updated, but once it has been, we will retest it too.
The latest version of this article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan. This article was originally published in 2017.
Brandon Lampley, rock climber, mountaineer, bike tourer, and review editor at GearLab, phone interview, October 15, 2017
Maya Rosenzweig, ICU nurse and distance hiker, phone interview, October 16, 2017
Manasseh Franklin, backcountry skier and mountain biker and a former certified technical rock-climbing guide, phone interview, October 16, 2017
Jim McDannald, runner, residency-trained physician, Wirecutter health and technology writer, and assistant coach of track and cross-country at the Université du Québec à Montréal, Slack interview, October 13, 2017
Jayme Moye, recreational curler and award-winning travel and outdoor writer, phone interview, November 13, 2017
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Softshell Pants Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).