10 best men’s gilets for layering up during outdoor adventures

A lightweight, packable down gilet for less than £40? That’s a rare find in a marketplace where prices are otherwise soaring to dizzy new heights. Your interest is probably piqued, and rightly so – not only is this insulated vest affordable, it also performs way better than you might expect, given its modest price tag.

Japanese retailer Uniqlo has a knack for nailing modern wardrobe essentials at accessible prices, and its down outerwear is a prime example of this. We’ve tested gilets more than twice the price of this one and found they weren’t half as good.

While it might lack a quirky colour palette and any real discerning visual features, this gives Uniqlo’s gilet the versatility to blend into almost any outfit with ease.

The gilet fits close to the body, for easy layering, but our tester still had enough room for a mid-layer underneath in his regular size M. The vest also packs down incredibly small for easy transport.

While it’s easy enough to stuff into a backpack, it’s not durable enough for heavy active use when it comes to activities such as hiking, climbing and mountaineering – it’s a vest for hanging out in town rather than scaling mountains.

Rough, tough and built for the long haul, this workwear classic is a firm favourite in American blue-collar workshops and trendy Southeast London coffee shops alike. It’s made from a heavyweight cotton canvas that’s highly resistant to scuffs, scrapes and tears, and it ages gracefully, taking on character with time.

The gilet is comfortable, with a stretchy ribbed collar, slightly dropped hem at the rear and a quilted lining for warmth. It features two external pockets (one with an internal Velcro stash pocket for valuables) and an internal Velcro pocket. We love the metal two-way zipper, which feels sturdy and robust, but the slim fit won’t suit all body types.

If you’re looking for a packable, lightweight gilet for stowing away on adventures, this is not it. But, if what you want is a practical everyday vest for casual wear, this one is durable, functional and about as versatile as it gets from a style standpoint, too.

British mountaineering brand Montane has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best in the business when it comes to lightweight down gear for outdoor adventures. What’s more, the prices tend to be far more reasonable than those charged by many of the usual outdoor-apparel suspects.

Case in point: this super-lightweight down vest. OK, £160 isn’t exactly pocket change, but compare this gilet with similar options from some of the industry’s bigger names, and the savings are plain to see.

It packs down to a miniscule size, weighs almost nothing and provides high-quality insulation that can be layered up every which way, depending on the temperature outside. Is it the sexiest gilet out there? No. But if you’re more bothered about functionality at a fair price and less concerned about fashion, this could be a good choice for you.

Founded in France and later taken over by the Japanese, Danton mixes its European workwear heritage with modern design elements to create a range of functional yet stylish casual clothing. One of the things for which it’s best known is its lightweight down-filled layering pieces, including liner jackets, technical cardigans and, of course, down vests.

Danton’s vests all feature a collarless design, which makes them excellent for layering with other garments. This particular one features a round neck that works great over the top of a hoodie, with no collar to bunch up if you decide to wear it underneath a coat or jacket, either.

We like the fit of this gilet, which is neither too slim nor too loose and can be cinched in at the hem by using the single-sided adjustable drawcord. It also has two zip pockets, press-studs to fasten the front, and packs down nice and small for travel. Unfortunately, it’s labelled as dry clean only, but we have put it through the wash with no ill effects.

If you’re the type of person that likes to push their outdoor gear to the very limit of what it’s capable of, you’re probably already well acquainted with Canadian brand Arc’teryx. For anyone who isn’t, just know it’s been making some of the best high-performance outerwear in the game for more than 30 years, and is one of the labels of choice for the most hardened of mountaineers, climbers, backcountry skiers, and pretty much anyone who gets their thrills from doing dangerous stuff at altitude, in extreme conditions.

The cerium vest has been a staple in the brand’s down-insulated offering for many years now, blending ultra light weight with packability, durability and functionality. This revised version has a slightly improved (if a bit weird) fit, an extremely high warmth-to-weight ratio, and understated styling for maximum versatility.

First thing to know is this vest fits slim and long – particularly at the back, with its dropped hem. This might take a bit of getting used to, but we found it great for keeping us warm in cold conditions, as it covers your backside in a way that most gilets don’t.

The face fabric is light and feels almost delicate to the touch, but it’s actually highly abrasion-resistant. Our tester has snagged it on all sorts of pointy bits and even had the odd dog jump up, and it hasn’t ripped or torn yet. There are two zippered pockets on the outside, one on the inside chest, and there’s even a stuff sack to pack it down for easy transport. Yes, it’s expensive but, as is often the case with outdoor gear, you get what you pay for.

The North Face’s nuptse puffer jacket is nothing short of an outerwear legend. Its cropped cut and oversized baffles (the panels in which the down insulation is housed) have made it a huge hit with everyone from alpine explorers to NYC rap royalty, which, we’re sure you’ll agree, is a pretty broad spectrum.

This sleeveless version offers everything that makes the original nuptse so great, but it doesn’t have to go into hibernation when winter is over. It’s still heavily insulated to keep your core nice and toasty, but the sleeveless design means you can wear it during warmer weather, without causing unsightly sweat patches.

We love the fit, which we would say is true to size, while still leaving room for a hoodie or sweater underneath. The packable hood is a nice touch, although we rarely used it, and the drawstring hem is great for sealing out the cold on blustery days.

Universal Works blends elements of casualwear, sportswear, workwear and soft tailoring to form its own unique aesthetic. A big part of the Universal Works look is layering. Pieces are designed to be stacked, and the gilet has long been a key garment in the British brand’s offering.

This fleecy number is surprisingly versatile and not too outrageously priced, either. It has a wide neckline that makes it excellent for layering up, a two-way zipper, three patch pockets to the front and a textured woollen fabric. It’s not warm enough to fend off the cold on its own, but it works great as an extra barrier against chilly weather when worn with a coat, jacket or even a blazer. We’d recommend it to anyone looking for a stylish casual option that’ll go with anything and everything.

This super lightweight down gilet is the work of Danish premium cycling apparel brand Pas Normal Studios. Its cycling kit is known for being some of the best looking and most luxurious (read: expensive) in the game, so, we were excited when it first started dabbling in off-the-bike clothing a few years back.

This packable vest has a regular fit that works well in everyday casual settings (as opposed to hunched over a set of handlabars). It delivers an impressive amount of warmth for its incredibly low weight and stuffs into a handy carry pouch for easy transportation. We’re big fans of the two-way zipper, which is useful for ventilation, and the back pocket is a nice touch for stashing valuables such as keys and cards.

The downside? It’s rather expensive. There are plenty of other similar options out there for a smaller financial outlay. But do they look as good as this one? That’s for you to decide.

Patagonia’s deep-pile fleece outerwear is some of the best in the business. The Californian outdoor brand has been making heavily textured fleeces for many decades, and this particular vest is a sleeveless version of one of its most popular styles: the retro-X jacket.

The gilet is made from cream-coloured fleece with contrast trim to the chest pocket, zip pulls, neck and hem. It’s cut slim in the body, which means it’s great for layering, but if you’re in between sizes and want room for a jumper underneath you might want to think about sizing up.

We love the retro look of this gilet and the way it can be used to jazz up otherwise boring casual outfits. If you’re looking for a versatile, everyday layer with character, this is the gilet for you.

Looking for a super lightweight and packable gilet for alpine adventures and high-output outdoor activities? This one from renowned down outerwear specialist Rab is one of the best. It’s designed to keep your core warm while also being breathable enough to handle activites such as hiking, mountaineering and anything else that puts you at increased risk of getting a bit sweaty while out and about.

Interestingly for a brand that specialises in down, the cirrus flex 2.0 vest doesn’t use down insulation. Instead, it uses a synthetic filling, which is very similar to its feathered counterpart in terms of weight, insulation and loft but, unlike down, will keep performing when it gets wet. It has plenty of pockets, including two internal stash pockets, and the whole thing packs neatly into a little carry pouch.