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These are the best down and synthetic jackets to wear anywhere. bubble jacket womens
If you’re flying somewhere warm this fall or winter, the last thing you want is to be lugging around a parka or peacoat when you land. A bulky jacket won’t be useful either, especially if your travel plans include activities like hiking, running, or camping. Fortunately, that’s why packable jackets exist.
Insulated either with down made from duck and goose feathers or synthetic materials, packable jackets are ultra-lightweight, keep you warm, and magically stuff into their own pocket or carrying sack for optimal portability. While these jackets tend to look like puffers, they aren’t the big and bulky ones you’d see in a ‘90s hip-hop video. They’re much thinner and weigh next to nothing, making them perfect for layering.
We tried out the best packable jackets available firsthand and wore them for our travels and day-to-day activities during the testing period. We found jackets that are not only comfortable, warm, and provide good value, but that also have travel-friendly features like inside pockets and stashable hoods. These are our favorites.
This is a no-nonsense packable jacket at an unbeatable price.
There’s no extra packing pouch or a way to pack it into its own pocket.
This Eddie Bauer jacket earned top scores during our testing, and for good reason. It’s the kind of jacket that’s perfect for cool summer nights, whether at home or on your travels. While it’s fairly thick, it’s not as bulky as a winter puffer, making it ideal for camping and hiking when you need an extra midweight layer — ideal to pack for a trip to Iceland.
Filled with real down that’s responsibly sourced and made with recycled nylon and polyester, this jacket packs down super small into a backpack and quickly de-wrinkles upon pulling it out. After six months of testing, we think it's perfect for shoulder season when the days are warmer, but it gets cold at night. We also found it fashionable and unlikely to go out of style in the coming years. While this trusty Eddie Bauer jacket doesn’t come with an extra bag to stuff it into and can’t be folded into its own pocket, it’s extremely comfortable, made with real down feathers, and has a classic style.
The Details: S to XXL regular and tall | 650-fill premium down, recycled nylon and polyester | 9.6 ounces
It’s a warm, high-quality down jacket that can handle drizzly weather.
It’s on the expensive side and it’s slightly heavier than others on our list.
The big issue with down is that it isn’t built for wet weather – it often clumps and loses its insulating advantage. Freeport, Maine’s L.L.Bean changes all that by filling this jacket with specially treated down that stays dry over 10 times longer than untreated down. The down is also 850 fill, meaning it’s more densely packed than many other down jackets so it’ll keep you more insulated and warm. Throughout our six-month tests, we didn't expect this to keep us as warm as it did, and were pleasantly surprised. Plus, it still looks good as new.
We found this jacket to be of excellent quality overall and very soft to the touch. We loved the pull cord in the hood, too, and found it very packable — being able to fold it into the left pocket to form a 9 x 12-inch pouch is a highly useful feature for travelers.
The Details: S to XXXL, regular and tall | 850-fill water-repellent down, recycled nylon | 15.68 ounces
It’s a jacket that feels like a sweater, but more insulated.
After six months of regular use, the jacket does show a few small stains.
This layer is the anti-jacket jacket. It’s extremely durable and comfortable — and feels as if you aren’t wearing a jacket at all. The chest pocket for storing a phone and other small belongings is convenient and the cuffs around the wrist are a nice touch as well.
We used this jacket for a cooler-temperature hike or even for running as it allows for full mobility. It’s great for traveling since it packs down super small and only took up a fraction of a pocket in our backpack. After wearing the coat almost daily for six months, it is still in good condition and likely to last for seasons to come.
The Details: S to XL | Fabric: 100 percent nylon; Insulation: 60 percent recycled polyester, 40 percent polyester | 12.5 ounces
This versatile jacket is perfect for a variety of occasions.
We wish it came in more vibrant colors.
Built for taking your workouts outside, the Canadian yoga brand has made an excellent packable running jacket. We found it to be super versatile and remarkably insulated, despite being so thin. After using the coat for running up to two times per week for six months, we're happy to report that it does not retain odor. The pockets are convenient and we loved having a slot in the back during our runs. The jacket packs down well and its material features four-way stretch and sweat-wicking and anti-odor capabilities, making it perfect for sweaty activities.
In terms of style, we felt comfortable wearing this jacket everywhere from around town to the trail, and even on the Maid of the Mist boat ride in Niagara Falls — it’s water-repellent and there’s a hood to keep out drizzles. This jacket could also easily work as a base layer for when it’s colder outside.
The Details: XS to XXL | Fabric: 91 percent recycled polyester, 9 percent elastane; Mesh: 89 percent nylon, 11 percent elastane; Back mesh: 53 percent recycled polyester; 43 percent elastomultiester, 4 percent elastane
It’s thicker and more insulated than many on this list.
It might be too heavy of a layer depending on your activity.
For colder-weather adventurers, this Rab jacket is wonderful. It’s made of warm, water-resistant down as well as high-quality polyamide including nylon. We loved the brimmed hood, which kept us as comfortable as if we were wearing a hat. It’s very easy to pack down and comes with an extra sack to stuff into.
While expensive, in terms of quality, insulation, and comfort, we feel that it’s certainly worth the price. After wearing the coat daily for six months, it shows no signs of wear and tear and has proven to be a durable winter coat.
The Details: XXS to XXL | Fabric: recycled 30D nylon Pertex Quantum, 50g/m² with DWR; Lining: recycled 20D nylon, 38g/m²; Insulation: recycled 700 fill-power down Nikwax hydrophobic (water-resistant) finish; Composition: 100 percent recycled polyamide outer with 100 percent recycled polyamide lining | 16.5 ounces
It’s an excellent down jacket at a shockingly low price for the value.
The zipper is a bit finicky.
For years, outdoor gear was expensive, making it inaccessible to the vast majority of us who are curious about the outdoors but aren’t looking to spend our entire paychecks on gear. Then came Decathlon. The French retailer has proven that you don’t have to be flush to own high-quality gear. Case in point, this down puffer jacket.
Made from warm, responsibly sourced 800-fill down and a water-repellent polyamide shell, it’s built for temperatures between 23 and 41 degrees Fahrenheit, making it ideal as an extra layer for your travels. The jacket stuffs into its left-hand pocket, which seems to magically expand to fit the rest of the material, and the jacket feels very durable overall. Even after six months of wearing the coat for daily activities including yard work and walking the dog, plus washing in a standard washer and dryer, it still looks new. It’s comfortable, too, and we definitely see it being a go-to for our next camping trip or hike.
The Details: S to XXXL | 800-fill down and polyamide | 10.2 ounces
It’s surprisingly warm for how thin it is.
It doesn’t come with a hood, though you can pay a bit more for the hooded version.
Patagonia needs no introduction. The height of sustainability and corporate responsibility, the brand is a reliable choice for travel gear, and this synthetic puffer jacket is no exception. Remarkably thin, we found that the Nano Puff kept us warm in windy, cooler temperatures. The absence of bulk makes it stand out as a base layer for activities like skiing and mountaineering, and while you could reasonably wear it for a run, it isn’t very breathable.
The quilted pattern isn’t just a classic look, it’s also meant to prevent rips from spreading, and this jacket has a great system of pockets, including a zippered chest pocket that duals as a packable sack. Also since it’s synthetic instead of down, you don’t have to worry about getting it wet, and you can keep it packed down for longer without risking damage. Still, after six months of use its puffiness remains nice and plush, and it has kept us warm on milder days.
For those who want a hood, Patagonia also sells the Nano Puff Hoody version for a bit more.
The Details: XS to 3XL | Recycled polyester | 11.9 ounces
Style meets functionality in this convenient jacket.
After six months of use, we noticed the zips in the side pockets snag on the fabric frequently.
This synthetic jacket is stylish and functional. Bright colors combinations like wine/blue violet and mezcal/sunset are irresistible — but there’s even more to love about this packable jacket than style alone. The mix of a nylon shell and polyester/spandex sleeves make it super comfy and it fits snuggly on the arms. It’s also very breathable due to side meshing, and the sleeves feature convenient thumbholes.
This jacket is insulated with a recycled synthetic polyester material, PrimaLoft Gold P.U.R.E. (Produced Using Reduced Emissions), which is stretchy and temperature-regulating. And we love that it packs into the chest pocket, though we did find it simpler to toss it in a tote bag for easy grabbing. It also is still in great condition after multiple wash cycles.
The Details: S to XXL | Shell and lining: 40 grams recycled 20D ripstop nylon with PFC-free DWR; Side panels and sleeves: 200 grams 97 percent recycled polyester, 3 percent spandex; Insulation: 40 grams PrimaLoft Gold P.U.R.E. (recycled synthetic polyester) | 24 ounces
It weighs next to nothing and, after six months of testing, it still looks relatively new.
The technology that British clothing brand Rab has put into this jacket is astonishing. While reducing water to droplets that slide right off, it’s paper-thin and at just 3 ounces, it feels like you’re wearing little more than a (comfortable) plastic bag. Since it’s so thin, it’s terrific for running and we found packing it to be a breeze — it rolls into a sack no bigger than a soda can. You can also roll the hood down when you don’t need it thanks to a nifty stash loop that we can’t believe is not more common. Speaking of the hood, it’s very well-designed with a wired brim to keep the rain off your face.
Note that this jacket has virtually no insulation, nor any pockets, and that it’s on the pricier side. But we see it as an ideal shell for the active person who wants to keep dry on all their outdoor adventures.
The Details: S to XL | 40 grams 7D Pertex® Shield 2.5 liters | 3 ounces
It keeps you warmer than other options without sacrificing a light weight.
After six months of wearing, we've noticed some minor stains developing on the outer fabric.
We were very impressed with this jacket in all aspects, including packability (it stuffs into its pocket), warmth, weight, mobility, and comfort. The higher 800 down fill means that it can trap more air, thus ensuring greater insulation. Plus, it’s insanely stylish, perfect for everything from walking around town to hanging out at base camp.
The Details: S to XXL | Recycled and non-recycled nylon, 800-fill RDS®-certified down | 8.8 ounces
After near-constant use (and multiple washes) over our six-month testing period, it is still in perfect condition.
There’s no hood and it’s not adjustable.
If you don’t like the feel of a puffer, check out Vuori’s soft and comfy Venture Track Jacket. This jacket manages to pack up to roughly the size of a mango without looking wrinkled when it’s unfurled. Wear it around town or to the bar, then scrunch it up and put it in the central console of your car, a bag, or even a pocket of a pair of cargo shorts. It’s also great for cooler weather workouts, and if it gets sweaty you can simply throw it in the wash (on cold) with like colors.
Note that this jacket isn’t built for temperatures cooler than 50 degrees, and the cuffs don’t have much stretch, so we couldn’t push them up to stay on our forearm or above the elbow on their own. However, this works as a great layering piece to wear above or below other pieces in your travel wardrobe.
The Details: S to XXL | 88 percent polyester, 12 percent elastane
It features ultra-lightweight, NASA-designed materials.
The sleeves may not be long enough for taller testers.
This synthetic jacket deploys two state of the art technologies to make one fine product. One is Aerogel, a polymer and solvent mixture designed by NASA that’s one of the lightest solid materials ever created. The other is PrimaLoft Gold, an extremely light synthetic insulation. Along with a shell of recycled ripstop polyester, this jacket is extremely lightweight while keeping you warm and protected from the wind and rain. After regularly wearing the jacket for six months, it still looks brand new with no signs of wear and tear.
The Details: S to XXXL | Aerogel, PrimaLoft Gold (polyester fibers); Shell and lining: recycled ripstop polyester | 13.44 ounces
It’s warmer than other similar styles.
After six months of use, some of the stitching is starting to unravel.
Outdoor Research’s SuperStrand LT is a top of the line packable jacket you can count on. We loved how light and warm it was, and it felt durable enough to last for years. We felt great wearing it around town over a thin sweater, though it’s easily warm enough to wear on its own. Since it’s insulated with down, it’s not waterproof, so be careful not to get it wet. If you do, a little drizzle will be okay. Note that this jacket does not come with a hood, so you’ll need to wear a hat in the cold.
The Details: S to XXXL | 700- to 800-fill down, ripstop nylon | 10 ounces
It’s terrific quality for the price.
Some feathers may fly out.
Japanese retailer Uniqlo has made down accessible for many of us by keeping its packable parka affordable, and very warm. It packs down into a small bag that conveniently attaches to the inside of the jacket when you’re not using it, and we loved how warm it kept us on a cool night outside watching Friday Night Football. The jacket is one of the lightest we tested and wasn’t at all cumbersome to wear. After six months of testing, we found this to be the perfect option for leaving in your car or day pack for spontaneous needs.
An issue we encountered was that a couple of down feathers escaped while we were wearing it, and we also didn’t feel like the material was quite as durable as others we tried.
The Details: XXS to 3XL | 750-fill down, nylon and polyester | 8 ounces
It’s rugged and very waterproof.
If you’re in the market for a durable packable jacket, consider this one from American workwear brand Carhartt. This jacket is tough and exceptionally waterproof, even under heavy rain. It’s much lighter than you’d expect for something so durable and it packs up into its left pocket.
One thing we really loved is that it comes with velcro cuff straps and a big hood that kept water from dripping onto our face. It also kept us dry in rain and snow throughout our six months of tests. The price is right as well.
The Details: S to 4XL; Tall: L to 2XL | Nylon | 15.7 ounces
A few of the other jackets we tested didn’t quite make our list of the very best, but were still worth an honorable mention.
Coolibar Men’s Arcadian Packable Sunblock Jacket UPF 50+: We loved how light and breathable this jacket was, but it felt too thin and not warm enough to be as versatile as we would have liked.
Eddie Bauer Men’s RainPac Anorak: This jacket is a terrific water- and windproof shell that packs into a neat travel backpack. Unfortunately, the strings of the packable backpack felt uncomfortable when we put it on.
We tested firsthand the best packable jackets on the market for ease of use, design, comfort, and value over a three-month period. After unboxing, we tried the jackets on, tested out their zipper(s) and rated their comfortability and overall feel. We tested design features such as pockets, hood, and tightening cords. Then we tested the jackets’ packability by stuffing them into their sack, pocket, or directly into a bag or backpack. After packing them, we unfurled them to check whether they came out wrinkled or not (most came out wrinkled, but flattened out relatively quickly). Then we put the jackets into circulation in our daily routines for six months to assess their value and durability.
The idea behind a packable jacket is that it’s something you can pull out when you need it, and won’t mind carrying around in your backpack or luggage. So make sure it’s as lightweight as possible so it won’t add extra bulk to your travel gear and won’t be cumbersome to wear while you’re out and about.
The jackets on this list are meant to keep you warm and pack down small. After that, features vary widely. Not all are waterproof or windproof, and many aren’t breathable enough to wear for high-intensity exercise like running. If you want a jacket for activities that involve sweating, look for something that’s breathable by checking for venting and materials that wick away moisture. If general warmth or an extra lightweight layer is what you’re looking for, you’ll want to look for different features more suited to your needs.
Most of these jackets fit snugly to the body, allowing you to layer a rain shell over them, but if you plan to wear layers underneath — such as a fleece jacket —consider getting a size larger than you usually do. Many packable jackets are inherently lighter weight to account for wearing more layers on top or underneath.
Many packable jackets come with an extra bag to easily pack into or they’ll fold up into one of their own pockets. A hoodie can also act as a way to pack it – simply fold in the arms and roll it into the hood. After you pack it, the jacket will likely come out wrinkled, but it should pop back into shape after you wear it a bit.
A packable down or synthetic jacket like those listed above are best for spring, fall, or cool summer nights, as well as for trekking or camping. We recommend adding an extra layer like a rain shell on top and/or a sweater underneath to keep you warmer.
Down, made from the soft feathers of ducks or geese, isn't made to get wet. If it does, it can clump up and fail to keep you warm. Many of the down jackets on this list can handle a light drizzle but aren’t fully waterproof, so make sure you have an umbrella or rain shell on hand as well. Or, if you don’t want to worry about wetness, opt for a packable jacket made from synthetic materials which can be just as light and warm.
For this story, freelance journalist Joel Balsam summarized reviews from our in-house testers and put them into context for this roundup. He also did his own research and added his own insights from experience gathered from more than a decade of full-time travel.
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