These vests will keep you warm and cozy, through chilly mornings and rainy hikes.
You may think outdoor vests aren’t a necessary part of your outdoor wardrobe if you have a warm and cozy puffer coat, but the fact of the matter is that vests are awesome. Not only can they be stylish, but they’re also the go-to for adventurers around the world wanting to protect their core with more warmth. You can wear an outdoor vest over long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, and thermals during shoulder season. And for extra warmth in deep winter (or cold destinations like Alaska), you can layer your outdoor vest under a winter coat.
We spent the past two years testing 27 outdoor vests in almost every travel situation, looking for traits like best fit, warmth, durability, value, and more. Here, we've gathered the outdoor vests that stood out and might deserve a place in your fall and winter outfit rotation — from durable puffers to packable fleeces.
Our Top Picks Best Overall: L.L. Bean Mountain Classic Hooded Down Vest at L.L. Bean $159 Jump to Review Best Fleece: Patagonia Men’s Better Sweater Fleece Vest at Backcountry $119 Jump to Review Most Stylish: SALE Alo Incline Puffer Vest at Aloyoga.com $198 $138 Jump to Review Best Active: Columbia Arctic Crest Down Vest at Dicks Sporting Goods $230 Jump to Review Best Puffer: Eddie Bauer Reissue Down Bomber Vest at Eddiebauer.com Jump to Review Most Packable: SALE Fjallraven Vardag Pile Fleece Vest at Amazon $150 $102 Jump to Review Most Versatile: Vuori Hillside Down Vest at Nordstrom $198 Jump to Review Best Quilted: Athleta Whisper Featherless Vest at Gap.com Jump to Review Best for Hiking: Montbell Thermawrap Vest at Montbell.us Jump to Review
Best Overall
L.L. Bean Mountain Classic Hooded Down Vest
$159 at L.L. Bean Why We Love It
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It has a reasonable price tag and comes in a variety of fits including regular, petite, and plus sizes.
What to Consider
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It doesn’t have any interior pockets, which can be inconvenient for those who want to keep their items extra safe.
Also available for men, the L.L.Bean Women’s Mountain Classic Down Vest is great thanks to its extra warmth and comfortable fit. During testing, we wore it in different settings including daily commutes, walking the dog, working from home, and more. We love the comfortable hood, which features drawstrings that allow you to adjust it to your needs. The zippered pockets have a soft, cozy lining, keeping your hands warm and your belongings safe.
We wore the L.L.Bean vest over a T-shirt, paired with a hoodie, and underneath a full puffer coat. Sizing is great — it felt true to size and was never tight or bulky when wearing over a sweater or T-shirt. When we put it on, we could feel how quickly the heat transferred to the 650-fill down interior. The thick outside shell did a great job of blocking the wind and repelling rain and dirt as well. The arm openings gave us a nice range of motion without feeling tight or constricting and due to its versatility and classic design, we think this vest is great for fall, winter, and spring. This vest is a great option for all types of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, and even downhill skiing.
The Details: Size XXS to XL | Recycled polyester and nylon | Water-resistant
Best Fleece
Patagonia Men’s Better Sweater Fleece Vest
$119 at Backcountry View on Patagonia.com View on Sunandski.com Why We Love It
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Its simple design pairs well with just about any other garment.
What to Consider
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The collar sits up a little high, making it look a bit bulky when wearing flannel or collared shirts underneath.
Also crafted for women, the Patagonia Men’s Better Sweater Fleece Vest can be a great addition to your wardrobe if you’re looking for a versatile, durable fleece vest. With a simple-yet-classic look, we wore it on different indoor and outdoor occasions over a flannel shirt or a hoodie. In all scenarios, it felt comfortable, warm, and roomy. The interior and exterior fabrics felt very high-quality, and both front and pocket zippers ran smoothly without snagging.
We loved how the regular fit of this vest provided a nice amount of breathability while still retaining heat. Also, the length felt right without sitting too high or low. After washing it in cold water and machine-drying it on low, it didn’t show any signs of wear and tear — it came out looking brand new. This vest would be a great option for low or high-intensity outdoor activities, as it provides a cozy, breathable layer that you can easily remove when needed. Additionally, at only 13.9 ounces, it’s a lightweight layer you can pack and take just about anywhere you go.
The Details: Size XL to 3XL | Recycled polyester knit fleece
Most Stylish
Alo Incline Puffer Vest
$198 $138 at Aloyoga.com Why We Love It
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Its turtle neck makes it extra warm and cozy in cold or windy weather conditions.
What to Consider
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It’s incredibly plush and oversized, so we do recommend sizing down.
We wore the Alo Incline Puffer Vest for hours at a time while driving, running errands, and taking outdoor walks. Although it has a big, boxy appearance, the stitching across the torso makes it look more tailored. The armholes sit a bit further past the shoulders, accentuating the boxy, chic cut. Besides enjoying the high-quality materials and roomy pockets, we loved the versatility of the vest. It’s super easy to layer with — we wore it with long sleeve T-shirts, sweaters, and hoodies and always felt comfortable.
During our tests, the Alo Incline Puffer Vest provided a nice amount of coziness without making us feel sweaty or too warm. Considering its dense fill construction, it didn’t overheat on warmer days as the armholes provided outstanding breathability.
The Details: Size XS to L | Nylon and elastane
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Best Active
Columbia Arctic Crest Down Vest
$230 at Dicks Sporting Goods $230 at Columbia.com View on Publiclands.com Why We Love It
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It features the beloved Columbia Omni-heat technology, which provides unparalleled warmth, insulation, and breathability.
What to Consider
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Its slightly boxy construction means it runs a bit large.
Built with high-performance features to endure the elements and just about any outdoor venture, the Columbia Arctic Crest Down Vest for men and women shines in comfort, insulation, and durability. This vest kept us warm in various activities and weather conditions. During testing, the materials felt high-quality, well-constructed, and soft to the touch. Besides using it in all sorts of everyday situations, we took this vest on a hike with tall grasses and bushes, and it didn’t have any marks afterward. Also, we accidentally spilled coffee on it and it was very easy to clean, showing no signs of staining — probably thanks to the Omni-shield technology that repels moisture.
The Columbia Arctic Crest Down Vest also felt lightweight, warm, and easy to layer. If you need a more tailored look, this vest features a cord at the bottom to adjust the base around your waist. Its two zippered pockets are convenient to keep your belongings safe and sound during hikes. After weeks of regular wear, the level of the 700-fill power goose down feels the same as new.
The Details: Size XS to XXL | Nylon and goose down | Water-resistant
Best Puffer
Eddie Bauer Reissue Down Bomber Vest
View on Eddiebauer.com Why We Love It
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Unlike other puffers on the market, this one doesn’t feel stiff or too bulky.
What to Consider
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Due to its plush construction, this vest would work best for low-intensity activities as you may get too hot when wearing during hikes.
We tested the Eddie Bauer Reissue Original Down Bomber Vest in a variety of outdoor settings with multiple types of layers underneath. It felt particularly nice while wearing it during cold mornings as the 650-fill down provided the perfect amount of coziness. During testing, we didn’t notice any loose spots on this vest, the warmth was consistent throughout the entire garment.
The fit of the vest was great — it felt like it was specially made for us. The collar felt soft and flexible and didn't get in the way while driving or carrying out other activities. Also, this vest features a couple of drawstrings at the bottom for easy adjustment. The stitching, zippers, and overall construction of this vest seem high-quality and durable, so we think it will hold up for a long time.
The Details: Size S to XXL | Polyester and down | Water-resistant
Most Packable
Fjallraven Vardag Pile Fleece Vest
$150 $102 at Amazon View on REI $150 at Zappos Why We Love It
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At only 19.4 ounces, this vest is perfect to take anywhere with you.
What to Consider
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It can run a bit large due to its roomy, relaxed fit.
With a lightweight-yet-sturdy build, the Fjällräven Vardag Pile Fleece Vest is the most packable outdoor vest for women and men. We wore it during a wide range of activities like golfing, hiking, commuting, and doing yard work. In all situations, it provided warmth, comfort, functionality, and durability — it was even accidentally chewed by our dog and we had no fraying or wear concerns.
Available in five colors, we found this vest to be very good-looking with a timeless vintage appearance and mixed textures, making it great for urban, casual, or athleisure wear. The elastic hems at the base, collar, and around the arms kept the warmth inside, while the soft fleece exterior felt thick and insulating. We were also pleased with the large, breathable mesh pockets that could hold all our belongings and made it easy to find things inside. Also, the additional chest pocket was large enough to fit an iPhone.
The Details: Size XS to XXL | Organic cotton and recycled polyester
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Most Versatile
Vuori Hillside Down Vest
$198 at Nordstrom View on Vuoriclothing.com Why We Love It
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Its minimal design makes it great for everyday wear, without necessarily looking like an athletic garment.
What to Consider
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It runs slightly large, so we recommend sizing down.
Available in black and white, the Vuori Hillside Down Vest is perfect for traveling, hiking, or running errands. We tested it in several outdoor activities in Seattle while temperatures ranged from 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Besides enjoying the warmth provided by the responsibly sourced duck-down insulation, we also appreciated the versatility of this vest. We love the matte material on the exterior that makes it look and feel a little more sophisticated than a typical outdoor vest.
Despite its puffy construction, we found that the Vuori Hillside Down Vest is compressible and lightweight. It truly feels like wearing a pillow and we love the collar that adds a little extra warmth in the neck area for a cozy feel. Additionally, this vest performed well in light drizzle and dried within minutes.
The Details: Size XXS to XXL | Recycled polyester and duck down
Best Quilted
Athleta Whisper Featherless Vest
View on Gap.com Why We Love It
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It features two bungee cords that add a nice tailored fit at the waist.
What to Consider
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It can be a bit long and stylish for active wear.
The Athleta Whisper Featherless Vest is the best quilted outdoor vest on our list thanks to its sleek design and well-thought features. During testing, we found it to be warm, stylish, and easy to layer with other clothing, including coats. While it has plenty of padding, it didn’t feel bulky or heavy at all. It was also easy to zip up and provided a good amount of mobility, even when wearing it over thick sweaters.
As this is a bulky outdoor vest, we really loved that it has pull cords on the inside of the vest, so you can tailor the waist, preventing you from looking and feeling too puffy. Despite its size, it's also surprisingly easy to pack as it lays quite flat.
The Details: Size XXS to 3XL | Recycled nylon | Water-resistant
Best for Hiking
Montbell Thermawrap Vest
View on Montbell.us Why We Love It
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It’s reversible and still has hand pockets on both sides.
What to Consider
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It only comes in neutral colors.
Also available for men, the Montbell Thermawrap Vest has all the necessary features to be a great hiking accessory. With its quick-drying and heat-retaining properties, this vest performed remarkably well during our hikes in rainy and cold weather conditions. It provided great warmth and freedom of movement, while the included stuff sack made it convenient for portability and protection. We also found that its smooth material worked well during rock scrambling, as we didn’t have to worry about it getting caught on the rocks.
Although it’s much lighter than other vests we’ve tested, the Montbell Thermawrap Vest is designed to retain body temperature in various conditions — something that really surprised us. Additionally, we didn’t feel sweaty when walking fast, nor did we feel too warm when going indoors, making it a practical option for everyday wear.
The Details: Size S to XL | Nylon | Water-resistant
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Other Outdoor Vests We Liked
We've tested outdoor vests for over two years, so while the vests listed above are our favorites, we've tried many others that have some great qualities, too.
The North Face 1996 Retro Nupste Vest: This is a fashion-forward and cozy vest, but it’s just a bit too puffy to use as a layering piece (and difficult to pack!)
Travel + Leisure / Anna Popp
L.L.Bean PackAway Vest: This vest is made with NASA-developed technology for a superior warmth to weight ratio; however, the asymmetrical style isn’t for everyone.
Our Testing Process
Our expert Travel + Leisure testers wore these vests throughout different activities and weather conditions for more than two weeks per vest. Throughout every scenario, we assessed fit, warmth, durability, value, and more. Our reviewers wore these styles on flights, hikes, chilly mornings, commuting, running errands, and in more situations in which you’d like to add an outdoor vest to your outfit. So far, we’ve tested a total of 27 vests and will continue wearing these vests for over six months more to collect further insights.
Tips for Buying an Outdoor Vest
Consider waterproofing
Since the weather can be unpredictable, it’s always good to consider waterproofing qualities when it comes to outerwear. That being said, we recommend you look for outdoor vests with water-repellent or waterproof exteriors that will keep you dry.
Think about packability
Packability is key if you plan to travel with your outdoor vest or take it on daily commutes. Packable vests are lightweight and can be easily thrown into a bag without taking up too much room. While outdoor vests tend to be puffy, they can still be lightweight and foldable to fit in checked and carry-on bags.
Look for functional features
Functional features like zippered pockets, flexible fabrics, breathable panels, and quick-drying properties can be nice additions for your outdoor vest. We suggest you think about the essential features your new outdoor vest should have according to your own needs and guide your purchase from there.
Travel + Leisure / Bobby Nolan
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
For this story, writer Joe Niehaus worked with T+L editors and combed through testing feedback and results to identify the best outdoor vests for every situation. Joe is a product reviewer, international traveler, and outdoor enthusiast who knows what to look for in a high-quality outdoor vest needed to combat the elements.
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