Synthetic Insulated Jackets

Recent Synthetic Insulated Jacket Reviews

Outdoor Research Women's Ascendant Hoody

Shockingly warm for the weight and highly breathable with just the right amount of wind protection. This jacket is a great insulation layer for winter activities such as backcountry skiing and ice climbing. It's become my go-to insulation layer for winter. I am very impressed by this jacket and it has become a staple part of my winter adventure suit replacing the Patagonia Nano Air Hoody. I'm 5'4" 125 lbs with a very athletic build and the small fits great over long sleeve baselayers and lightweight… Full review

Helly Hansen Men's Lifaloft Insulator Jacket

The Helly Hansen Lifaloft Hooded Insulator jacket is a synthetically insulated jacket that partners HH’s Lifa fibres with Primaloft’s extensive knowledge of synthetic insulation in an attempt to mimic the weight and compressibility of down, while still providing the warmth when wet of synthetic insulation. The Insulator is highly successful in replicating the feel and warmth of down, but would benefit from further refinement in the fit and fabrics. FIT AND COMFORT The Lifaloft Insulator Jacket… Full review

The North Face Men's Bombay Jacket

Very lightweight packable jacket that is good as a middle layer or light jacket. Light machine wash and able to dry on low temperature. For a North Face product it’s lacking quality in the assembly of the jacket with single stitching. Has hardly any insulation and is more of a sweater or middle layer. Missing an interior pocket and needs a bottom drawstring or elastic to keep it tight to your body. Its MSRP is $99 and I bought it through North Face for $59. Full review

Sherpa Adventure Gear Kailash Hooded

This jacket checks all the boxes—lightweight, warm, breathable, and can handle all the elements. If you are looking for a jacket that does it all, no need to look further. Full review

Patagonia Women's Nano Puff Pullover

Nice jacket but the labels are itchy and abrasive. Patagonia needs to fix that now in many jackets. Fix the labels in your garments! They are sewn so firmly they cannot be removed and they are extremely abrasive to the neck!!  Full review

Montane Men's Prism Jacket

Amazing piece of kit that is very warm but packable to a tiny size. Mine is the 2015 version. Don't believe it has changed much if at all apart from colour. I got given this bit of kit as a leaving gift from my last Major level command. I could not have been more grateful. It is a fantastic hiking top, great for travel as it's smart but very functional. It is snug without being tight. Has light, but after three years, very robust zips. It is tiny when packed, easily fitting in a ultra running pack,… Full review

Patagonia Men's Nano Puff Hoody

Overrated? Obsolete? So I'm not bashing the Nano Puff. A lot of people have one and love them, much as you would have loved a good Irish fisher's jumper (sweater) or a peacoat fifty or a hundred years ago. There's nothing wrong with those things per se, it's just that there are garments that outperform them. For examples by Patagonia, there's the Nano-Air, Hyper Puff, and R1 TechFace. All are either more insulating, more packable, more breathable, durable and weather-resistant. With any stitch-through… Full review

Patagonia Men's Nano Puff Hoody

Everyone that owns this puffy hoody loves it. The reason is that it looks good, fits good, performs good, and is packable. Everyone that owns this puffy hoody loves it. The reason is that it looks good, fits good, performs good, and is packable. It is not quite an athletic fit, rather I'd say it is a casual athletic fit. I'm 6 ft 175lbs and a medium fits me perfect. I can wear it over a base layer or a down vest. I can wear it under a parka. The fit and comfort are excellent. There's not much adjustability… Full review

Outdoor Research Men's Ascendant Hoody

OR questioned everything, took a couple risks, and ended up making my new favorite mid-weight jacket. "It’s cute, but it looks like you skinned Cookie Monster and made a coat out of him,” said the Mrs. upon her first view of me in the Ascendant jacket. OR may have made the jacket a little odd by removing the traditional smooth lining to expose the insulation but the oddness makes sense when you consider the benefits.  Don’t want to read the entire review? I fell in love with this jacket… Full review