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After a new round of testing, the updated models of the Patagonia Down Sweater Vest Women’s and the Outdoor Research Transcendent Down Vest Men’s are our top picks.
When you’re looking to add a little more warmth but also want more freedom of movement than a jacket would allow, a vest is the perfect cozy addition. We sent 22 adventurers with 18 vests to nine states and two countries to find the best insulated vest for keeping you warm during your most active days. After all those adventures, we think the Outdoor Research Transcendent Down Vest Men’s and the Patagonia Down Sweater Vest Women’s are the best down vests both for technical performance and for everyday commuter or office use.
This vest kept us warm with its cozy features, including a soft lining and a long torso, which sealed in heat. This one also had the most pocket space of any of our picks.
May be out of stock
*At the time of publishing, the price was $150.
The Outdoor Research Transcendent Down Vest Men’s is our favorite men’s down vest due to its warmth and thoughtful design features, like a tricot-lined collar and an easy, fold-into-pocket stowaway system. The Transcendent also has the most generous pockets of any of the styles we tested. This vest’s 650-fill-power down wasn’t the highest fill count we found, but its long torso excelled at keeping heat from escaping, so we felt snug on chilly days. We liked the cozy, retro-stylish look, but here’s fair warning: The Transcendent’s puffy design means this vest is hard to layer over, compared with most of the other models we tested, so it is best used as an outer layer.
This is one of the warmest vests we tested, and its strong construction stands up to tough use.
The Patagonia Down Sweater Vest Women’s is a stylish outdoor classic for people who plan to wear their vest on dog walks, running errands in urban areas, or hanging out in cool temps, as well as on the occasional outdoor adventure. The Patagonia vest had some of the strongest stitching we found and a tough ripstop nylon shell that minimized insulation loss. And it comes in a variety of colors. This vest’s front pockets are located right where your hands fall and are well positioned for keeping them warm. The 800-fill-power down means this vest is warm, even on the coldest days—in fact, it’s the warmest option we tested. Like the Transcendent vest, the Patagonia is too puffy to easily fit under another jacket as a midlayer, so plan to wear it over a long-sleeved base layer.
If you prefer synthetic over down insulation, this vest is our choice. It stays warm even when wet, and its slimmer profile works great either for layering under outerwear or as a top layer.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $140.
This is the same great vest as the men’s model, but in women’s sizes.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $140.
If you plan to hike in cold, wet climates, or you’re looking for a non-down option, the Montbell Thermawrap Vest (which comes in men’s and women’s versions) is our favorite synthetic model. The Thermawrap strikes an ideal temperature balance with its Exceloft filling, 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 adapts easily, whether you’re out on the trail or commuting to work.
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 inexpensive model as the men’s version, but with a slimmer fit and additional colors.
Extended sizes make this vest option even more appealing.
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 during commutes, 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 women’s top pick, and it’s nearly half the price. This vest comes in a range of sizes for many body types, and the slightly boxy fit makes it quite easy to layer under. That said, the price cuts were evident in wider baffles and the fact that feathers started emerging from the seams after just a day of use (a sign that the vest might become less warm over time, as it loses insulation). And despite its DWR (durable water repellent) coating, the vest still doesn’t repel water well, which means it’s not ideal for those living in 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 “just enough” warmth option.
This vest kept us warm with its cozy features, including a soft lining and a long torso, which sealed in heat. This one also had the most pocket space of any of our picks.
May be out of stock
*At the time of publishing, the price was $150.
This is one of the warmest vests we tested, and its strong construction stands up to tough use.
If you prefer synthetic over down insulation, this vest is our choice. It stays warm even when wet, and its slimmer profile works great either for layering under outerwear or as a top layer.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $140.
This is the same great vest as the men’s model, but in women’s sizes.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $140.
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 inexpensive model as the men’s version, but with a slimmer fit and additional colors.
Extended sizes make this vest option even more appealing.
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 with the newest models from 2020. Jenni has a decade of experience writing about health, the outdoors, parenting, and purchasing. She has covered products ranging from headlamps and down jackets to hiking poles and backpacking tents to baby swings. She grew up in the wet and cold cities of Boston and Seattle, and currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her son, husband, and dog. She spends her summers hiking, her falls and springs tromping through the rain, and her winters wearing snowshoes, which means 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 in March 2017. To keep the findings of this review objective, we based our conclusions on both quantitative data (such as weight, compression size, length of the torso, and so on) and qualitative data from third-party testers who had no affiliation with any of the gear companies in this guide. The findings for this guide were also reviewed and affirmed by two additional Wirecutter outdoors editors who have never had any professional relationship with REI, Montbell, or other brands mentioned here.
A vest has some practical advantages over a jacket: It weighs less, allows 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 in camp after a day of play or while watching a sports game), stick with an insulated jacket. But if you think you’ll experience drastic temperature changes during 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 arm-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 favored 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 don’t want to be frozen on the downhills, either.” Many athletes, including Lampley, told us a jacket’s arms made it hard to remove while you’re on the go. With a vest, your core stays warm on downhills, 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, which is important “because your body puts a premium on protecting the vital organs over the appendages,” said former running coach and physician Jim McDannald.
Although insulated vests lack arms, they still keep your arms warm by limiting shunting, the process of blood leaving the appendages or the skin, which keeps 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 such as 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 underneath. 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 44 different vests that looked promising. From there, we narrowed the field to 18 contenders during several seasons; we chose which vests to test based on the following criteria:
Down versus synthetic is an age-old debate among outdoorspeople. 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 vest. Synthetic models also tend to be more durable than down. And, of course, they 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 you choose to wear down or not. We’ve included both down and synthetic vest options in this guide.
Our 22 testers took 18 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, whether we were moving or not. A good vest should keep your core warm but not make you so hot that you want to take it off when you are exercising. We looked for breathable vests that were quick-drying enough that even after we stopped moving, we weren’t chilled by back sweat (gross). To supplement the subjective opinions of our testers as to which vest was the warmest, we used a thermal-imaging infrared camera to detect the amount of heat they 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 your armholes 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 that had 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 had lost their phones from 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 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 keep phone batteries warm and store essentials at times we didn’t want bulkiness, such as when we were 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 be able to 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 your 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.
Ability to pack 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 vest kept us warm with its cozy features, including a soft lining and a long torso, which sealed in heat. This one also had the most pocket space of any of our picks.
May be out of stock
*At the time of publishing, the price was $150.
The Outdoor Research Transcendent Down Vest Men’s was a favorite among our male testers because of its puffy warmth, easy transition from town to trail, and stylish, true-to-size fit. But it’s the small details that made this vest feel truly luxurious to us, including a tricot-lined collar (the only vest we tried with this cozy detail), the most pocket space of any vest we tried, and the best fold-into-pocket stowaway system.
The superior fit and sizing sold us on the Transcendent: Its relaxed fit worked for more body types than other vests we tried. Instead of being boxy, it had a Marty McFly retro look that our testers loved. (We heard an excessive number of Back to the Future quotes during testing.) It also ran true to size, without extra bulk or bunching in the back or chest. The torso was just under 28 inches, among the longest we tried, so it didn’t ride up, either; it was especially well loved by our tallest testers. We preferred the Transcendent’s looser and longer cut to the slimmer fit of the men’s Patagonia Down Sweater Vest, which bunched on some testers and made it more difficult to retrieve items from the pockets.
We also found that we didn’t often overheat during exercise in the Transcendent, relative to the other down vests we tried. Although it’s insulated with 650-fill-power down—which is not as high-quality as the down in some competitors, like the Patagonia—the Transcendent still felt warm, soft, and lofted. Outdoor Research uses Responsible Down Standard–certified goose down.
The Transcendent’s design showed an attention to detail that made this model one of the most comfortable vests we tried. It was the only vest with a soft, tricot-lined collar and pockets. Testers were excited to find that when they turned their heads, their chins rubbed against soft fabric instead of the rougher material typically used for shells or inner linings.
The tricot-lined hand-warmer pockets on the Transcendent are straight out of Mary Poppins—after zipping in our keys, phone, camera, sunglasses, checkbook wallet, and two Probars, we still had room. No other vest had as much pocket space: In addition to the spacious hand-warmer pockets, it also had a generous Napoleon chest pocket and two even bigger, zip-less internal pockets. Aside from the one on the Napoleon pocket, the zippers and their sliders were big enough to be easy to handle, even when our hands were cold or mittened.
The Outdoor Research Transcendent has one of the best stowaway systems of the vests we tried, too. Even though some other vests also fit into their own pockets, as this model does, their zippers often don’t face the right direction to close. That is not a problem with the Transcendent since the left stowaway pocket has dual zippers. And when this vest is packed away, it’s the size of two Nalgene bottles. It comfortably doubled as our camp pillow on a backpacking trip in Sequoia National Park.
Our biggest concern about the Transcendent is its durability. After six iterations of our shake test, several down barbs and half a feather popped out of a seam, which tells us that this vest might lose warmth over time. Among the down vests we tried, only the budget Uniqlo, REI Co-op, and Orvis vests lost more plumes and parts of plumes. The Transcendent also seemed to lose comparatively more loft after being compressed, and it didn’t bounce back as fast as the 800-fill-power vests we tested. Still, when it comes to durability issues with Outdoor Research, we aren’t worried: The company’s lifetime Infinite Guarantee warranty will replace any item you are dissatisfied with free of charge. We’re also continuing to wear this vest and will update with our results.
The Transcendent also ranked among the heaviest vests we tried, but we think features such as the zip pockets and tricot lining make it worth the trade-off. And it also has thicker shell fabric than most vests, which made us less nervous about its ripping when a pet Labradoodle “helped” during testing. But we can’t understand why Outdoor Research uses thicker material for its liner rather than its shell. The shell would usually take the brunt of the damage (say, when you’re walking through bushes) and would be a better candidate for thicker material (though the shell fabric still seems plenty strong).
This is one of the warmest vests we tested, and its strong construction stands up to tough use.
The Patagonia Down Sweater Vest Women’s is a cozy, stylish vest to wear either around town or on outdoor adventures. It’s the warmest and puffiest of any vest we tried. Our testers were impressed with the quality of materials and tightly sewn baffling, which stopped it from shedding. It kept us warm even on blustery days of hiking, car camping, and skiing.
Although the Down Sweater Vest isn’t Patagonia’s most expensive model, it feels as if the company took the same care in its design and construction as for a pricier model. 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, the puffiness bounced back quicker than on most of the other down vests. Patagonia uses a responsible down-sourcing program, certified to the Global Traceable Down standard. This vest’s 800-fill-count down was among the highest fill count of any vest we tested and kept us warm throughout the day. And the recycled-polyester shell performed well in our tests of wind and water resistance.
Patagonia’s baffles, the tubular-looking “ribs” of the vest that separate and hold the down in place, are thinner and more numerous than those on most 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 model manages to minimize cold spots and keeps a uniform warmth. All those baffles help with mobility, too. Our testers liked the aesthetic benefit of the baffles the most: Angled baffles work like a tailor’s trick to slim your profile.
The pockets on this vest are among the best of any vest we tried. They were “placed and angled right where [my] hands fall,” one tester said. (The men’s version of the vest was narrow, which meant that the pockets were tight and placed too high for most of our testers’ arms.) We liked the generous internal Napoleon chest-pocket zips, too. Maneuvering the big (but not too big) YKK zippers in mittened or numb hands was easy.
Some testers found the sizing and fit of the Down Sweater Vest to be too short. The torso was shorter than most vests we tried, and we noticed it would ride up and expose the small of the back to the cold when we wore a backpack. Tightening the cinches at the waist, which are tucked inside the pockets, didn’t help much. If you’re looking for a longer option, the budget REI Co-op 650 vest offers significantly more coverage. This Patagonia vest also doesn’t fit in its own pocket, like the Outdoor Research vest, but it does pack down small.
If you prefer synthetic over down insulation, this vest is our choice. It stays warm even when wet, and its slimmer profile works great either for layering under outerwear or as a top layer.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $140.
This is the same great vest as the men’s model, but in women’s sizes.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $140.
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) 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 equally comfy to wear as a top layer or tucked underneath 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 model the second lightest of the synthetics we tried (at 218 grams, the Arc’teryx vest was just barely lighter than the men’s Thermawrap but not as warm). Compressed, the Thermawrap is the size of a Nalgene bottle, so it is also easy to carry when you’re not wearing it.
On mountain backpacking trips and on 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 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 LT or the Patagonia Nano Puff.
During our water-repellency tests, the Thermawrap’s shell fabric was among the most effective at making droplets bead and roll off, instead of allowing them to penetrate the material. Our tests confirmed this: During a windy, rainy hike on Mount Baker in Washington, without our rain gear, water was slow to penetrate. When it did, the Thermawrap 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, such as when we soaked it in the wash, the vest dried quicker 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 the vests we tried, when we wore them under a rain jacket, condensation or soak-through made them moist (that’s the rain jacket’s fault, not the vest’s). But even in that situation, we found that the Thermawrap dried faster than the down competitors and most of the synthetic-insulation models we tested.
Our testers also found that the Thermawrap fit true to size. Most testers liked the cut and said the Thermawrap stayed put and didn’t bunch in the back or chest, even when they were moving 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). We 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 LT, 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. Only the Outdoor Research Transcendent vest had bigger pockets. 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 pocket.
After our rough durability tests, the Thermawrap and the Arc’teryx Atom LT 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.
That said, the Thermawrap’s fit isn’t as stylish as that of some other vests we tested. The side panels aren’t as contoured, for example, so it isn’t as slimming or flattering. Though most testers found that this vest fit well, one tester of the men’s version found the upper back constricting when he made kettlebell motions. As with all 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 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, Montbell has a lifetime warranty program for the original owner that covers manufacturing defects, and 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 inexpensive model as the men’s version, but with a slimmer fit and additional colors.
Extended sizes make this vest option even more appealing.
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 vest, especially because 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 in this basic vest. Although many budget vests don’t contain information about their down count or provenance, REI is specific about using ethically sourced down in these vests (like all of our other down picks). REI’s vest is 650-fill-power down, just like our men’s top pick from Outdoor Research. The REI vest is slightly cooler than our women’s top pick from Patagonia, but we found the 650 fill to be just right on cool shoulder-season days, during 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 packs down small into its own pocket with ease, 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 our other picks, which makes the REI vest easy to layer under, but you likely won’t be able to fit another jacket over the top. There are two simple-but-big outer zip pockets, and two inner pockets.
There are some obvious cost savings in this vest: After our camping trip, the down from the jacket started leaking out along the 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; it’ll be 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, a down vest worn on a snowy day may become clumpy down, which will quickly become 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 LT Vest (men’s and women’s), which has non-insulated stretch paneling along the sides of the vest that add mobility and make the vest more breathable. This durable and highly water-repellent synthetic vest is similar to our synthetic pick from Montbell in design, but it isn’t as warm and doesn’t keep the wind out quite as well. And during slower adventures, those side panels absorb water and dry slower than the rest of the vest, which may make for 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. But despite that downside, we still think the most active will find this vest to be a good fit.
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 hs a good warmth-to-weight ratio, but 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 (a number that shows the fabric’s thread thickness, and is a relatively low count compared with those of some of the other vests we tested) won’t hold up to serious abuse as well as our picks’ higher-denier fabrics. Montbell’s website says it uses responsible down that does not come from live-plucking sources, but it is not third-party-certified like Patagonia’s down.
If you simply need an additional layer, or you’re looking for a style-focused option: 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.
Patagonia Men’s Down Sweater Vest: We made the women’s version of this stylish, durable vest one of our down-vest picks, but our testers found the sizing for the men’s version to be off. Owner reviews online complain about the inconsistent sizing, and our testers found that this vest bunched unflatteringly. It also doesn’t pack away into its pocket like our down pick from Outdoor Research does. If you want a recycled shell or a higher down fill count, and you don’t mind the closer fit, this model is a good choice. But the Transcendent Down Vest has more features we like at a better price.
L.L.Bean Men’s PrimaLoft Packaway Vest: Testers didn’t like the boxy fit on this affordable synthetic-fill vest—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 has the best stowaway system of any of the vests we tried, fitting into its own fleecy labeled stowaway pocket, which can then convert into a pillow.
Patagonia Men’s Nano Puff Vest: This popular, stylish vest was among the least puffy and warm models we tested. It didn’t keep out the wind, either. For a synthetic design, it wasn’t durable: After six shakes, an insulating fiber popped out of its 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.
Lands’ End Men’s 800 Down Packable Vest: Even though we like that Lands’ End offers extended sizing, we think you can do better for the price: Our testers found the Lands’ End vest to be boxy and short, which meant that it rode up on cold days and allowed frigid air to slip through. The zippers were sticky, and the slightly odd fit translated to a lot of bunching and pinching.
The North Face Women’s Nuptse Vest: For our testers, 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. Like reviewers online, our testers found this vest to be too warm for outdoor exercise. When conditions were cold enough to justify this vest’s 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 sizing on the other vests we tried, this vest’s sizing was boxy, tended to bunch, and ran much larger. 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 is a nice idea for keeping you 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 other vests of similar prices. We do like that this one comes in extended sizing.
With the proper care, a down vest can last decades. You can’t expect your synthetic vest to last as long, but you can extend its life with good maintenance. Whether you opt for down or synthetic, washing your vest can help restore its loft and performance.
The steps for washing a down or synthetic vest are similar, with a few exceptions:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies have seen reduced or halted production pipelines. Sadly, both Feathered Friends and Icebreaker told us that their vests wouldn’t be on the shelves this year; we’ll aim to test the Feathered Friends Helios Vest and Icebreaker MerinoLoft Helix Vest next winter.
This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.
Brandon Lampley, rock climber, mountaineer, bike tourer, and former senior editor at OutdoorGearLab, 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 MacDannald, 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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