The 7 Best Insulated Vests of 2025
If you’re planning to go climbing or trail running: Consider the Arc’teryx Atom Vest (men’s and women’s lightweight). 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. The Atom isn’t as warm as the Montbell vest, and it doesn’t keep the wind out quite as well. That said, many of our testers preferred the sleeker style of the Atom over the boxier Montbell.
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 $300, it’s more expensive 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.
If you need an ultra-budget additional layer: Consider the Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Vest (men’s and women’s). It’s warm and lightweight enough to be a solid midlayer. However, the company offers no information about the down count, and when compared to our budget pick, The Ultra Light Down Vest’s construction reflects its cheaper price—less dense down fill, more delicate nylon shell, as well as smaller and cheaper zippers. For the price, though, it is a good economical option.
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 Fuego is made with 800-fill, RDS-certified down and has ripstop nylon lining, which proved to be both durable and waterproof. We found the stitching wasn’t quite as solid as on the Patagonia Down Sweater Vest; and its pockets were a bit less cozy. 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. Cotopaxi also donates 1% of proceeds toward climate change efforts each year.
If you need a rugged vest for working outdoors: The Carhartt Montana has a tougher, waterproof exterior that’s better suited than our picks to resist rips and punctures. Kyle felt most comfortable using this vest for his at-home construction projects in the fall. He also lent his vest to a friend who mostly works outside, and so far it’s kept him warm and held up well through half of a Vermont winter (we’ll update this guide if anything changes). He loves how well it repels water on wet, cold days; and he also says that it doesn’t stain easily when jobs get messy.
If you want a budget vest with synthetic fill: Consider the Columbia Powder Lite II Vest (men’s and women’s). We found it to be almost as warm as our budget pick (which is filled with down). Its zippers are sturdy and slide easily, with easy-to-grab pulls, and well-placed hand pockets lined with fleece. It has a reflective, foil-like interior liner, which does look a little odd, and we’re not sure how much it helps with warmth.
If you want a light, stretchy down vest that’s great for layering: Mountain Hardwear’s Stretchdown (men’s and women’s) is a great (albeit unique-looking) choice. It’s not as warm as our other down picks, but Kyle found himself reaching for it most often as a layer under his shell while skiing because of its slim profile and stretchy, movement-friendly material. Its fabric also has a matte finish, if you prefer that look, but its baffle pattern might not be for everyone. Its down is 700-fill and also RDS-certified. Also, its exterior won’t fare well in any damp or wet environment—Mountain Hardwear makes no mention of water resistance,, and moisture soaks through instead of beading off.
If you can’t get enough puff: The RDS-certified 700-fill North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse Vest (men’s and women’s) is the warmest and puffiest vest we tested in the 2024-2025 winter season. If you like going outside in very cold weather but aren’t a fan of jackets (yes, this is a thing), this is the vest for you. Despite being lower fill power than our top pick, it has large baffles that hold more down (and create more loft and puff) than the other vests we tested. If you run hot, beware this vest traps moisture and heat more than others
