10 best men’s puffer and down jackets that will fend off the wintry weather

With the best warmth to weight ratio on test, the quality of this jacket can be felt as soon as you put it on, with a rip-stop nylon outer that will withstand wear and tear.

The baffle pattern allows plenty of movement around the arms and across the back and shoulders, and Mammut has loaded the areas of the jacket that take the brunt of wet weather conditions (such as the shoulder, hood, forearm and sleeves) with synthetic down.

This retains its loft and keeps you warm, no matter what the weather, and the elastic cuffs help keep everything wind and water tight.

There’s a two-way zip, which runs smoothly and never seems to snag, and the pre-shaped sleeves add to the anatomical tailoring that offers one of the best fits we experienced. As usual with Mammut, there are plenty of colour choices too, and we really liked the deep ice marine with its two-tone blues and bright orange zip.

We really couldn’t fault this jacket in any of our testing criteria and, although its price point is punchy, you will really get your money’s worth whether hiking through a sea of trees or powering up a peak. 

The first thing you’ll notice with the cerium is that it’s as light as a goose feather, filled with 850 fill power down, which packs down easily, making it a superb choice for local adventuring or expeditions farther afield. The outer will withstand the rough stuff, or even an urban snag, but won’t withstand driving rain and instead has a low profile that should fit seamlessly with most people’s layering systems. Arc’teryx has utilised some synthetic down on the shoulders and the hood, to lessen the impact, if you do get caught out.

The hoody offers up a really nice fit and allows for easy movement and, in terms of the details, this is a very well thought out jacket with nice, stretchy cuffs, an internal zip pocket and two roomy, warm hand pockets with zips.

This 800 fill jacket from the UK outdoor specialist brand has excellent warmth to weight ratio, considering it’s a big coat designed to take you a lot further than down to the shops on a frigid February day. The baffle arrangement has been well thought out and you really have to be careful when it comes to layering up, as the jacket really locks the heat in to its lining, while the DWR treatment will keep out the sharpest of showers.

The outer itself is durable and proved to be a very effective barrier against icy winds – especially when we reached the peak of one of Dartmoor’s many tors – while the dropped hem offered extra coverage and warmth. The storm cuffs weren’t too restrictive, while the detachable hood was fumble free, which was not always the case with some of the other jackets we tested.

In terms of pockets, the jacket has everything you might need, starting on the outside with two hand-warmer pockets (which we loved) and two napoleon pockets for easy access to essential items, such as sunglasses. Internally, there is an elasticated drop pocket for your hat and gloves, and a security pocket.

Finally, there is a grab handle on the back of the coat, which could come in handy if you find yourself in a bit of bother halfway down a crevasse.

As the name suggests, this is a jacket that’s put together with the mountains in mind and is good for dry, cold days, offering plenty of protection against wind and low temperatures, while still managing to feel lightweight and manoeuvrable.

The 850 rating takes care of the warmth for sub-zero conditions, while the jacket employs the technique of body mapping, which uses different baffle constructions on different areas of the body to maximise warmth and keep you moving freely, even when wearing a backpack.

Berghaus has reinforced the areas of the jacket that are most likely to take a battering when travelling the trails, and we felt confident that it could withstand close encounters with rocks, ice and vegetation, whether you’re mountain climbing or countryside rambling.

If you like your puffer to come with plenty of pockets, you won’t be disappointed here, as the MTN arete has five in total: two napoleons and three internals.

The mimic is so-called because the jacket is filled with synthetic materials that replicate the insulation you get from traditional goose down, and it certainly did the job well when we were perched on top of a particularly windy Dartmoor tor.

The jacket comes with excellent warmth to weight credentials and packed down well, for a synthetic jacket. We don’t think the jacket shell would withstand too much rough stuff, but it had an elasticated hem and cuffs, and a pleasing body-hugging fit that would work really well when layering. The peaked hood was comfortable and practical, the zip ran free and easy, even in very cold conditions, and we loved the hand-warmer pockets, which combine with a zipped chest pocket for extra storage.

This UK brand keeps delivering innovative jackets that marry quality construction, good detailing and eye-catching design, and the melee is no exception. The Pertex quantum air outer gives plenty of protection against wind, while remaining breathable, and the DWR-treated rip stop fabric is certainly built to last and will stop you from getting damp in a downpour.

The baffling works well with the quality down to provide plenty of insulation and the whole jacket feels incredibly well made and hard-wearing. The adjustable cuffs and collar are both made from a composite blend of fabrics that are tough without compromising the jacket’s overall comfort, and the collar can be turned right up for extra elemental protection.

In terms of the pockets, there are two hidden chest zip pockets, two lower body zip pockets, as well as two chest pockets that close magnetically. Internally, there’s another zipped security pocket and there’s even Velcro-compatible patches on either arm carrying the Thru Dark branding, just in case you want to personalise the jacket some more.

Sustainable and stylish, this puffer is made from recycled nylon and insulation and offers a good warmth to weight ratio. Both practical and stylish, it has a nice cut for a longer jacket that can easily accommodate additional layers for added functionality, if you’re being more adventurous. The DWR finish on the outer worked well in the wet and there is a dropped hem, hand-warmer pockets, a zipped internal and a popper finish to the zip, to keep the heat in and the cold and wind out.

The XT had a very impressive warmth to weight ratio and a fit that’s roomy enough to layer up underneath without restricting movement, but not so much that the jacket feels flabby when walking or keeps getting in the way of a backpack.

Even when fully layered up, there was a low-profile feel to the jacket, which did a great job of trapping the warm air created by the duck down, so insulation was never a problem, even on colder days and evenings.

The recycled, rip-stop outer was clearly capable of withstanding more than just the elements, and gave us plenty of confidence that the jacket wasn’t going to get shredded when we were moving through claustrophobic terrain.

As you’re unlikely to be wearing anything over this one, the water repellent treatment stood up to the elements well – and that goes for the down itself, which is hydrophobic, so it won’t collapse when wet and lose all its insulating properties.

There are two zipped hand pockets, an internal zipper, elasticated cuffs and a drawstring hem and, for a big coat, it’s easily compressed.

This hooded, bomber-style puffer from the British brand is filled with duck down and is ideal for urban adventuring, with wide baffling that held the down in place and insulated evenly. The stadia offered up good protection against wind and water, with rain beading well and running off the jacket’s outer before it had a chance to affect the down.

The outer is hard-wearing and the fit is comfortable without looking baggy, enabling you to layer up underneath, if needed. The three colours are all available with a different coloured lining, which really makes the jacket stand out in a crowd. It’s also detailed nicely with two front pockets and another branded flap pocket on the arm, which adds to the eye-catching profile.