We tested insulated jackets of every stripe—from puffies to shackets, synthetic fill to down—to find the highest-performing options for your cold-weather adventure

Humans feel comfortable in a shockingly narrow temperature range—which is what makes a terrific midlayer so valuable for cool- and cold-weather outings. As the mercury dips into the 50s, 30s, or (gasp!) below zero, insulated jackets let us achieve our preferred climate conditions while we venture beyond the HVAC-controlled indoors. One could even say that a midlayer is the most important single piece of gear for outdoor sports through fall, winter, and spring.

Except that when it comes to materials and construction, midlayers can vary as widely as the weather you’re seeking protection from. In other words, choose wisely based on your activity level, region, and material preference, among other things. After testing close to 50 women’s insulated midlayers, we recommend these six standouts.

At a Glance

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

Editor’s Choice

Mountain Equipment Oreus

Sizes: XS-XL
Weight: 12 oz.
Warmth: 8/10
Breathability: 8/10
Durability: 9/10

Pros and Cons
⊕ Very warm
⊕ Excellent breathability
⊕ Compresses to a small size
⊗ Expensive

If I could custom design a midlayer, this would be it. I loved the Oreus for ski touring and winter hiking, finding it breathable enough to wear at the resort beneath a shell during pow laps at Steamboat. Checking boxes for warmth, ventilation, compressibility, and durability, the Oreus is made from 100 percent recycled polyester insulation fibers interlocked with a reflective material that traps body heat—like a space blanket, but more breathable thanks to air pockets between the insulation fibers. That’s topped with a 10-denier, 100 percent recycled ripstop fabric treated with a fluorocarbon-free DWR, which repelled snow flurries during testing and prevented clamminess when worn during and after high-exertion ski-touring climbs. Silky and quiet, the fabric also proved durable enough to resist snags or rips over four months of steady wear while ski mountaineering. Cozy enough to serve as an emergency layer in all but the coldest conditions, the Oreus ably handled temps ranging from 5 degrees Fahrenheit to up to 35 degrees—in other words, most winter conditions.

The jacket squishes to basketball-size when packed, and abundant pockets hold climbing skins (in the interior drop pouch) and other essentials (in three zippered outer pockets). Testers even gave the hood rave reviews for its three-way adjustability and warmth. At $450, this layer costs more than many insulated ski jackets and shells, but its performance won’t disappoint.

Best Ultralight Layer

Black Diamond Deploy Down Hoody

Sizes: XS-XL
Weight: 4.8 oz.
Warmth: 8/10
Breathability: 7/10
Durability: 7/10

Pros and Cons
⊕ Light but warm
⊕ Packs small
⊗ So-so breathability
⊗ Fragile shell fabric

Behold the mighty warming power of 1,000-fill down. Made with a hood—but without a full-length zipper—this pullover claims to be the world’s lightest down hoody. We believe it: The combination of high-loft insulation and tissue-thin, four-denier ripstop nylon packs so small that I was able to stuff it into the water bottle pocket of my hip pack. Unfurled, it delivered impressive warmth when testers paused while cross-country skiing or hiking. “It’s all the warmth I needed in 15 to 32-degree conditions,” one tester reported. That said, everyone agreed that colder temperatures warranted a heavier-weight emergency layer. Because down insulation’s Kryptonite is moisture, the Deploy isn’t ideal as the only layer for resort skiing, uphilling, or other sweat-producing activities (a PFC-free DWR does protect the down from light flurries). Instead, it’s best as a topper during game delays: Pull it on during a scenic snack break and savor its low-bulk warmth.

Best Emergency Warmth

Women’s Jones Re-Up Down Recycled Hoodie

Sizes: XS-L
Weight: 14 oz.
Warmth: 9/10
Breathability: 7/10
Durability: 8/10

Pros and Cons
⊕ Ethically and sustainably made
⊕ Reliable warmth
⊕ Very durable
⊗ Sometimes too warm and not super waterproof

Here’s the piece that kept our California-based tester comfy through all conditions—including a shockingly cold April ascent of 14,179-foot Mt. Shasta. “This jacket was great in blizzard conditions, for wearing over layers on a multi-pitch ice climb, and when transitioning from skis to crampons and back again during mountaineering objectives,” she reported. Plenty of responsibly sourced, upcycled 750-fill down fattens the baffles, sewn in certified ethical factories using 100 percent recycled, 20-denier ripstop nylon. That fabric proved its durability over a season by remaining tear-free despite getting shoved into packs with sharp tools and sparring with hamburger grease during après (“It did great in the wash,” reported a tester). Water-repellent coatings on both the plumes and fabric keep the jacket lofty through light precipitation or modest perspiration, but this piece is no standout in breathability or rain resistance. Emergency warmth is its calling and its Achilles heel: It’s too warm to wear while moving or in mild conditions.

PAID ADVERTISEMENT BY REI
REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket – Women’s ($129)

Bundle up for chilly walks, crisp air and crunchy leaves in the REI Co-op women’s 650 Down jacket. This everyday jacket boasts recycled materials to help you feel good in more ways than one. Insulation is down and the weight of the jacket is 10.2 oz

Best Stretch

Lé Bent Genepi Wool Insulated Hybrid Jacket

Sizes: XS-L
Weight: 14.8 oz.
Warmth: 7/10
Breathability: 9/10
Durability: 9/10

Pros and Cons
⊕ Unconfining fit
⊕ Odor-resistant
⊕ Spiffy enough for town
⊗ Not very compressible

First, a warning: The Genepi will make every other jacket in your closet feel like a restraining device. “I can’t believe how free my arms feel,” reports one tester, who wore it for nordic ski workouts, hiking, and resort skiing (when she topped it with a ski shell). Its modified raglan sleeves extend the underarms’ heat-dumping stretch panels (made of a synthetic/rayon/Merino wool blend) around the shoulder blade area to reduce constriction when pole-planting. More of that highly breathable fabric extends across the lower back. The chest and center back have baffled insulation containing recycled polyester and wool (30 percent), which results in a comfort zone that spans an impressively broad range of temperatures, from eight degrees Fahrenheit (during high-exertion skating) to mild spring days at the resort. Equally versatile is its styling: Testers wore it around town and for road trips.

Best Wind Protection

Arc’Teryx Proton Hybrid Hoody

Sizes: XXS-XXL
Weight: 10.9 oz.
Warmth: 6/10
Breathability: 10/10
Durability: 10/10

Pros and Cons
⊕ Outstanding breathability
⊕ Buffers wind
⊕ Extended sizing
⊗ Not the warmest

A winter-weight wind shell, the Proton blocks knifelike gusts without trapping sweat. I was impressed with how regulated my temperature stayed in this jacket while ski-touring in 20-degree Fahrenheit conditions and skate-skiing at 12 degrees. Colder than that, and wearers reached for additional layers: Only this jacket’s chest panels are insulated, using a thin layer of 40-gram Coreloft polyester (recycled and Bluesign-approved). Windproof Gore-Tex Infinium fabric across the shoulders and hood shielded testers against storms, while the jacket’s back and arms used a proprietary air-permeable fabric. Its breathability is excellent, and that moisture control—along with the unfettered feel of four-way stretch fabric and articulated seams that allow the arms to move freely—made the Proton Hybrid testers’ favorite midlayer for sweat-producing adventures. Three zippered pockets (two for hands and one on the chest) hold a phone and neck gaiter.

Best Sport/Casual Crossover

Strafe Women’s Highlands Shirt Jacket

Sizes: XS-XXL
Weight: 8.3 oz.
Warmth: 7/10
Breathability: 9/10
Durability: 8/10

Pros and Cons
⊕ Great-feeling fabric
⊕ Breathable warmth
⊕ Functional pockets
⊗ Wind cuts through

With a banded collar, snap-front closure, and roomy hand pockets that invite slouchy lounging, this puffy became testers’ anytime pullover during road trips, shopping errands—and yes, winter hikes and tours calling for technical insulation. Lightly insulated with synthetic PrimaLoft Active Evolve, it kept testers warm while moving in 22-degree Fahrenheit conditions, and the stretchy, air-permeable nylon face fabric virtually eliminates clamminess. “This jacket actually feels better than it looks, which is saying something,” noted one Colorado tester who praised the material’s unusually soft hand. “Balled up, it made the perfect airplane pillow,” she added.

Its effectiveness at managing moisture made it perfect for backcountry climbs and resort downhills—but donning a shell on top during the latter was imperative because wind penetrated the weave. Even the pockets proved useful during sport: Along with the two hand pockets and a snapped chest pouch, two interior drop pockets hold kicker skins or a spare pair of gloves.

How to Choose an Insulated Midlayer

Insulated midlayers come in as wide a range as the activities you’ll use them for and the conditions you’ll use them in. Their fabrics and insulation determine warmth, breathability, and weather protection. Synthetic-fill insulation, goose and duck down, hybrid designs that blend baffled panels with other fabrics; these fabrications and more all appear in the midlayers we tested last winter. Each has its benefits. But in general, a great midlayer should keep you warm—but not so warm that you overheat and fill it with sweat. It should provide enough breathability for perspiration to move away from the body, and its protection against wind and water should be minimal (a waterproof shell worn over a midlayer does most of the weather-protection work).

Here are the questions to ask to decide will best serve your needs.

How Wet Will it Get?

Down-filled layers have the best warmth for the weight but can lose that advantage if the garment gets soaked from precipitation or an accidental dousing. If you expect especially wet conditions, a synthetic fiber (used in the Oreus) or bio-based fiber fill (the Lé Bent Genepi) will do better at keeping you warm when wet.

How Cold Will it Be?

The general rule of thumb is the thicker the layer, the warmer it is. That comes with tradeoffs like weight or size if you have limited space in your pack. If you know it’s going to be frigid, by all means, go for a thick puffy like the Jones Re-Up Down. But that piece could be a wasted layer if it proves too warm for the weather. Consider layering more than one piece, like the Strafe Highlands Shirt Jacket, to better handle changing temperature conditions.

How Much Weather Protection Do You Need?

If you plan to wear a wind-and waterproof shell over your midlayer, you won’t need to worry about the storm cutting right down to your base layers. If not, look for a piece that offers a light shell and/or a DWR chemical treatment for more wind and weather resistance, like the Mountain Equipment Oreus or the Arc’Teryx Proton Hybrid Hoody.

How Hard Are You Going to Hammer?

If you are planning to work up a sweat, look for a more breathable layer so you won’t trap too much moisture next to skin, which can turn into serious cold if you stop moving or encounter big winds. More porous fabrics used in the Arc’teryx and LéBent jackets will allow that perspiration to move away from your body.

How We Test

• Number of testers: 10
• Number of products tested: 46
• Testers’ age range: 15-54
• States represented: 5 (California, Colorado, Wyoming, Minnesota, Maine)

Our testers don’t just spend a lot of time outdoors—though they do qualify as obsessive skiers, mountaineers, ultrarunners, climbers, hikers, and view-admirers. They also possess the gift of gab. Our testers must be able to say much more about a piece of gear than “it’s awesome” or “it sucks.” They sweat details about—well, sweat, and how apparel responds to their sweat or contributes to its production. They note what makes a jacket feel unconfining, how much wind protection it delivers, and whether it plays nice with a backpack.

For this test, we evaluated 46 of the most promising puffies and hybrid-style insulators on the market, including full-zip and pullover styles. We asked testers to consider the fit, the breathability, the warmth they enjoyed from each jacket, and its best application: Is the jacket best for ski-race spectation? Nordic skiing? Après at the resort? All of the above? Only the items that earned raves on performance and livability earned coverage among these reviews.

Meet Our Testers

Kelly Bastone moved to the Colorado Rockies in 1998 and has pursued outdoor sports ever since. A freelancer who writes about gear and other outdoor topics for publications such as Backpacker, AFAR, and The Red Bulletin, Bastone has contributed many gear reviews to Outside over the years. An avid skier (resort, Nordic and backcountry), fly-fisher, mountain biker and mushroom forager, she gets the news she needs from the weather report.