March 21, 2023

In the case of staying heat in chilly climate, one of the crucial essential layers is an insulated jacket. Prior to now, conventional down (feather) jackets dominated the market, however due to advances in cloth expertise, artificial insulation is now one other best choice. Artificial down jackets provide heat and breathability at a extra reasonably priced value – plus artificial holds up higher in opposition to moist climate.

On this weblog publish, we’ve rounded up the perfect girls’s artificial down jackets. We hope you discover the perfect down-alternative jacket in your cash that may hold you heat irrespective of the place you’re going or what outside exercise you’re pursuing!

Greatest Ladies’s Artificial Down Jackets At A Look


Greatest Ladies’s Artificial Down Jackets Comparability Desk

See the comparability desk under for a fast abstract of every of the highest girls’s artificial jackets. You may click on on the columns to kind by what’s most essential to you.

Bearfoot Principle Reader Favourite

Patagonia Nano Puff Hoodie

Key Options:

  • Weight: 10.8 ounces
  • Insulation: 60-g PrimaLoft Gold Eco 100%
  • Outer cloth created from recycled ripstop polyester
  • Value: $279

Verify value: Patagonia | REI | Backcountry

Patagonia Nano Puffy Jacket

Nice for: all however the coldest climate, windy circumstances, crossover from on a regular basis put on to outside actions, hanging out at camp, snowboarding mid-layer

Professionals: versatile for day-to-day put on and outside actions, tried & examined jacket that has been available on the market for years, packs down into its chest pocket & simply compressible

Cons: cloth is inclined to tears and snags, stitching permits for water to seep in throughout prolonged intervals of rain

The Patagonia Nano Puff Hoodie is one in every of my private favourite girls’s artificial down jackets and likewise the most well-liked jacket amongst Bearfoot Principle readers. The Nano Puff was one of many first-ever artificial jackets available on the market and it continues to be a best-seller 12 months after 12 months – with good purpose. The Nano Puff is the proper crossover jacket – simply worn across the campfire, tossed in your pack for a hike, or simply operating errands round city. It’s light-weight, extremely compressible, and will get the job accomplished in all however the coldest of climate. It’s additionally the proper layering jacket beneath an outer shell due to how skinny it’s.

The draw back of the Nano Puff is that the material is inclined to tears and snags – take warning in case you are sporting this jacket on overgrown hikes or whereas climbing. The Nano Puff additionally is available in a non-hooded version.

A woman wearing the Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket in Joshua Tree
BFT Workforce Member Linda sporting the Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket (hoodless model) in Joshua Tree

Our Private Favourite

Arc’teryx Atom Heavyweight Insulated Hoody (FKA Atom AR)

Key Options:

  • Weight: 13.9 ounces
  • Insulation: 60g Coreloft
  • Value: $300

Verify value: Arc’teryx

Arc'teryx Atom LT Insulated Hoody

Nice for: 3-season mountaineering, snowboarding mid-layer, windy circumstances, day hikes and backpacking journeys

Professionals: sturdy in opposition to harsh use, smooth design, zipped hand and chest pockets, extraordinarily comfy liner and shell cloth, cinched hood retains you heat and guarded in windy circumstances

Cons: costly funding, not probably the most breathable jacket, not designed to pack down into its pocket and doesn’t include a stuff sack

Observe: The Atom Heavyweight Hoody was beforehand named the Atom AR Hoody.

A flexible artificial down jacket that works nice as a layer or as an outer shell, the Arc’teryx Atom Heavyweight Insulated Hoody is heat, breathable, and wind and rain-resistant. That is my private favourite artificial down jacket that comes with me on most adventures.

Because of the redesigned Tyono™ 30 face cloth, the Atom Heavyweight has an abrasion-resistant shell. Yep, abrasion-resistant – which means it can save you that emergency duct tape for when you really want it as a result of this artificial down jacket is designed to rise up in opposition to scrapes and scratches within the backcountry.

Greatest Artificial Down Jacket for Summer season Day Hikes

Arc’teryx Atom Insulated Hoodie

Key Options:

  • Weight: 10.9 oz
  • Insulation: 40g Coreloft Compact (core solely)
  • Value: $260

Verify Value: REI | Arc’teryx

Arc'teryx Atom SL Insulated Hoodie

Nice for: summer season hikes, delicate climates, utilizing as a layering piece in cooler climate, windy circumstances

Professionals: one of the crucial light-weight jackets on our checklist, could be worn on longer hikes with out overheating, zippered hand pockets, holds up effectively in opposition to the wind, breathable cloth

Cons: costly funding for restricted heat, not designed to pack down into its pocket and doesn’t include a stuff sack

The Atom Insulated Hoodie is a superb addition to Arc’teryx’s tremendous widespread Atom collection. That is probably the most light-weight Atom jacket out there, a full 3oz lighter than the Atom Heavyweight above. The usual Atom has reasonable insulation within the core with fleece on the perimeters and minimal to no insulation alongside the arms. It gives a little bit bit of heat with out being overkill and is nice for windy days and delicate climates.

I wore the usual Atom whereas backpacking in Sequoia Nationwide Park and likewise whereas on the seashore on the California Coast. The hood isn’t insulated, nevertheless it helps block the wind effectively. As a result of it’s not that heat, I wouldn’t depend on it for chilly nights, however as a result of typically I’ll layer it beneath a heavier jacket once I’m hanging out at camp within the evenings. There’s additionally a hoodless version out there.

Greatest Ultralight Artificial Jacket for Backpacking

Enlightened Gear Torrid APEX Jacket

Key Options:

  • Weight: Beginning at 7.75 ounces
  • Insulation: Climashield APEX
  • Made within the USA
  • Value: $185

Verify value: Enlightened Equipment

Enlightened Equipment Torrid APEX Jacket

Nice for: ultralight backpacking, tossing in your daypack for emergencies, 3-season use

Professionals: very light-weight artificial down jacket, could be custom-made to your private wants with 16 coloration choices and three totally different weights of material, zippered and insulated hand pockets

Cons: primary match development, small hood, customized jacket takes 8-10 weeks to reach, not very best for every day put on

Enlightened Gear makes tremendous high-quality gear and their Women’s Torrid APEX Jacket isn’t any outlier. It presents heat, wind-resistance, and moisture-repellency multi function ultralight bundle. The rationale why we love this jacket is that it’s half the burden of different artificial jackets on this checklist, making it a standout for ultralight backpacking and thru-hikes the place each ounce counts. At $185, it’s additionally one of many best-value artificial down jackets available on the market for a way light-weight it’s.

For match, the APEX artificial down jacket is designed to be barely outsized to accommodate layers and it has raglan-style sleeves which creates a wider underarm space to permit for max motion. Reviewers be aware that that match can really feel odd – it’s not tapered or tailor-made and doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles as different artificial jackets on the market. Whereas this jacket wouldn’t be our first alternative for on a regular basis put on, it’s a high performer if weight is your #1 precedence.

Greatest Worth Artificial Down Jacket

REI Co-op Flash Insulated Hybrid Hoodie

Key Options:

  • Weight: 12.7 ounces
  • Insulation: 60g PrimaLoft Silver Eco Insulation
  • Value: $179

Verify value: REI

REI Co-op Flash Insulated Hoodie

Nice for: every day put on, highway journeys and journey, windy circumstances, 3-season mountaineering use, snowboarding mid-layer

Professionals: holds up effectively in opposition to windy and moist circumstances, packs down small into its left-hand pocket, versatile for on a regular basis put on and outside adventures

Cons: jacket runs brief – when you have an extended torso, this will not be the jacket for you

The REI Co-op Flash Insulated Hybrid Hoodie is a superb primary artificial down jacket that’s light-weight, tremendous compact, and versatile sufficient for the paths or metropolis put on. The 60g Primaloft Silver Eco artificial insulation is created from 100% postconsumer recycled content material in a Truthful Commerce Licensed™ manufacturing facility, which promotes secure working circumstances and sustainable livelihoods. The ripstop nylon shell has been handled with DWR to repel rain and this jacket holds up effectively in moist climate. We advocate utilizing it as a standalone jacket for cool days on the path or out on the town.

Greatest Eco-friendly Artificial Down Jacket

Cotopaxi Teca Calido Reversible Hooded Jacket

Key Options:

  • Weight: 13.2 oz
  • Insulation: 60g recycled polyester
  • Value: $150

Verify value: Cotopaxi | REI | Backcountry

Cotopaxi Teca Calido Reversible Hooded Jacket

Nice for: individuals who don’t want a technical jacket, brief hikes, vacationers, 3-season use

Professionals: most sustainable choice (100% repurposed cloth, 100% recycled polyester insulation), totally reversible (coloration block to stable), packs down into chest pocket, zippered hand pockets

Cons: runs small (order a dimension up to have the ability to layer!)

If you’re searching for an eco-friendly girls’s artificial down jacket, look no additional than the Cotopaxi Teca Calido Hooded Jacket. The outer shell is product of 100% repurposed cloth and the insulation is from 100% recycled polyester – plus Cotopaxi is a Licensed B Corp and offers again 1% of its annual income to struggle world poverty.

The jacket itself is totally reversible, with cute coloration blocking on one facet and stable coloration on the opposite. With tons of pockets (on either side of the jacket), it’s extraordinarily useful and an incredible worth purchase that colorfully stands out among the many sea of girls’s artificial down jackets.

Greatest Artificial Down Jacket for Excessive Chilly Climate

Rab Nebula Professional Artificial Insulated Jacket

Key Options:

  • Weight: 1 lb 4.8 oz
  • Insulation: 53g/m² recycled 30D nylon
  • Made with recycled supplies
  • Value: $230

Verify Value: Moosejaw

Rab Nebula Pro Synthetic Jacket for women

Nice for: winter hikes and outside actions, individuals who reside in chilly climate climates, snowboarding mid-layer on tremendous chilly days, mountaineering

Professionals: warmest artificial down jacket on our checklist however nonetheless comparatively light-weight, zippered hand pockets, not a ton of bulk for a way insulated it’s

Cons: a lot heavier and bulkier than different jackets on the checklist, 1-season use

If you’re searching for the perfect chilly climate artificial jacket, look no additional than the Rab Nebula Pro Synthetic Jacket. It’s good for mountaineering in temperatures under 30F and it retains you tremendous heat with out that heavy-jacket really feel.

If you happen to usually keep away from chilly climate, this jacket could also be overkill. However you possibly can’t beat the warmth-to-weight ratio should you’re searching for a comfy, winter artificial down jacket!

Greatest Artificial Jacket for Moist Climates

Patagonia Radalie Insulated Jacket

Key Options:

  • Weight: 15 oz
  • Insulation: 150g Thermogreen polyester fibers
  • Jacket shell is product of 100% recycled nylon
  • Value: $179

Verify value: REI | Patagonia

Patagonia Radalie Insulated Jacket

Nice for: individuals who reside in chilly, wet climates, moist and windy circumstances

Professionals: DWR waterproof end, stand-up collar provide further heat, handwarmer pockets

Cons: not totally waterproof

Whereas not totally waterproof, the Patagonia Radalie Insulated Jacket is designed with a DWR waterproof end, making it an incredible alternative for drizzly or moist climates. It additionally has quite a lot of different nice options to maintain you heat like a stand-up collar to guard your subsequent, handwarmer pockets, and insulated zippers to stop rain and chilly from seeping by.

If you would like a totally waterproof set-up, pair this – or any jacket on this checklist – with a light-weight rain shell.


Down vs Artificial Jackets: Advantages of Various Supplies

You’ll have heard that goose or duck down is the superior materials on the subject of heat outside gear. Many jackets, sleeping luggage, camp booties, and different gear necessities are full of down insulation as a result of it’s heat, gentle, and packable.

Nevertheless, there are cases the place artificial supplies have a number of benefits over down.

1. Artificial down doesn’t take up moisture as quickly as down

When down will get moist, its capacity to maintain you heat is drastically lowered. Some corporations fight this by treating the jacket shell with a waterproof coating, however this isn’t a fix-all answer.

Artificial down jackets, alternatively, carry out a lot better in rain and snow and can proceed to supply heat even when damp or moist.

2. Artificial down jackets dry quicker than down

When down will get moist, it takes a very long time for it to dry and the general insulating properties of the jacket really considerably lower. Then again, when artificial down will get moist, it dries out a lot quicker with none long-term damaging insulating results.

A woman smiling wearing a buff and taking a selfie during Everest Base Camp trek
sporting The North Face Thermoball Jacket (common) in Nepal

3. Artificial down could be extra reasonably priced

Down jackets can price upwards of a number of hundred {dollars} whereas primary artificial down jackets are usually extra reasonably priced. In fact, some artificial insulating down jackets are nonetheless fairly dear, however they’re additionally as high-performing (if no more) than their down counterparts.

4. Artificial down doesn’t worsen allergic reactions

For some folks, down can worsen allergic reactions. It is because mud mites love to cover out in down feathers they usually can provoke a lot of allergy signs in some folks together with sneezing, coughing, runny nostril, itchy eyes, and extra.

Switching to an artificial down jacket can get rid of these allergy signs.

5. Many artificial down jackets are made with recycled supplies

We attempt to be as eco-conscious as we are able to and the most effective methods to help a extra sustainable attire trade is by shopping for merchandise that make the most of recycled supplies (whenever you want new gear). Many artificial down jackets just like the Cotopaxi Teca Calido Reversible Hooded Jacket are created from post-consumer recycled fibers. Using recycled supplies prevents supplies from going right into a landfill and reduces the necessity to manufacture new fibers, which is commonly vitality and water-intensive.

6. Artificial down is vegan-friendly

I’ve made the change to a plant-based weight-reduction plan, and since have discovered concerning the moral considerations round utilizing animals to provide outside gear. That’s why we’re doing our greatest to advocate vegan-friendly merchandise every time potential.

I hope this publish on the perfect artificial down jackets for ladies helps you discover the perfect jacket in your favourite cold-weather actions – possibly we’ve even satisfied you {that a} artificial vs down jacket is one of the best ways to go!

What’s your favourite girls’s artificial down jacket and what actions do you put on it for? Inform us within the feedback under!

Find the best women's synthetic down jackets including lightweight, packable, vegan-friendly down alternatives for cold temperatures.