Whereas the insulation in arms, especially in lower arms, are seemingly slightly inadequate, which in the end affects the warmth feeling a little bit.

Thinsulate Jackets | REI Co-op Thinsulate Jackets | REI Co-op

Sweat built up quickly, and we needed to use the dual zippers to ventilate or simply take the jacket off altogether to avoid being cold and sweaty. Editor's Note: Our insulated jacket review was updated on October 26, 2023, to include more jackets and offer more recommendations as alternatives to our award winners. With a sleek design, stellar breathability, surprising warmth, and notable mobility, don’t think twice about adding this to your arsenal. As soon as fresh technology or new designs hit the market — we’re scoping them out, testing them in the wild, and deciding whether they deserve attention.Arc'teryx Atom Heavyweight (aka AR) ( Men's - Women's) is equipped with 120 g/m2 + 80 g/m2 + 60 g/m2 of Coreloft Continuous. If it’s just burly wind you’re worried about, throw a thin windbreaker jacket over your insulator for an ultralight, ultra-mobile barrier against the elements. While this won’t keep you near as warm, it boosts the A/C during those awkward shoulder-season temps where the weather just can’t make up its mind.

Jackets For Men | Insulated Coats | GO Outdoors Winter Jackets For Men | Insulated Coats | GO Outdoors

But they do have a noticeable effect, and combined together, they might come close to affect the warmth as much as the insulator capability and amount. We also devised more objective tests, eventually rating each product on several metrics, including warmth, weight and compressibility, comfort, weather resistance, breathability, and style. A few notable upgrades from this jacket’s previous iteration make it an even more potent tool for the active adventurer than before. A fair amount of manufacturers come up with their unique insulators - such as Coreloft, PlumaFill, Octa, Stratus, FullRange, etc.

This active mid layer has been a staple for backcountry alpine climbs, winter cragging, and blustery ski touring with its breathable four-season insulation and stretchy silhouette. Black Diamond describes this jacket as the ideal “start-stop” piece, providing warmth when you need it, and airy breathability when you don’t. Burly, 20 denier Liquid Crystal Polymer nylon is used in high-abrasion areas, while more breathable, stretchy fabric is placed on the underarms and back panels to increase mobility and moisture control. We rank warmth and weight high on the list of essential attributes, yet other features, such as weather resistance and breathability, may prove significant depending on your use.