Best Lightweight Puffy Shells and Packable Down Jackets

1. Outdoor Research SuperStrand LT Hoodie

Best for Blocking Wind

The quilting pattern on OR's SuperStrand LT Hoodie uses minimal stitching to mitigate moisture and wind penetration. Fewer holes, combined with elastic around the cuffs and hem, provides better resistance against blustery wind. Underneath the DWR-treated (durable water-repellent) nylon ripstop is a polyester synthetic insulation that's very light and soft next to skin. It clocks in at just 309 grams.

[$175; outdoorresearch.com]

2. Rab Mythic Alpine Light Down Jacket

Best for Winter Climbing

Mythic Alpine Light Down Jacket is happy to take on damp spring trails or fall errands, but the slim-fit, 900-fill down is designed to withstand more extreme elements like skiing down mountains or climbing up them. The DWR-treated ripstop nylon jacket has down-filled baffles along your torso and core (where you need added warmth). Synthetic PrimaLoft fluff wraps the articulated arms and shoulders to keep mobility unrestricted. Rab’s insulation-to-weight ratio is tough to beat at just 252 grams.

[$315; rab.equipment]

3. Cotopaxi Fuego Down Jacket

Best for Mountain Towns

Fuego comes in four fun, retro colorways that boast 800-fill down sandwiched between two layers of ripstop nylon. A DWR coating keeps the down from getting saturated come rain, sleet, and snow. You can dial in the generous fit with an adjustable drawcord waist. 

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Bindings at the cuffs help seal out gusts of wind, and when the jacket's at the end of its life, Cotopaxi makes it easy to trade in for a gift card. Weight: 397 grams.

[$245; cotopaxi.com]

4. Columbia Pebble Peak Down Hooded Jacket

Best for Bagging Peaks

Pebble Peak feels toastier than traditional lightweight puffers because Columbia lines it with gold dots that bounce your body's radiant heat back at you, increasing warmth without added weight. The untreated 700-fill down sits between two layers of polyester—and heat, not stitching, creates the baffles here. That prevents the insulation from shifting and also sidesteps thousands of needle holes that can let air and moisture infiltrate. This baby weighs 442 grams.

[$115; columbia.com]

5. Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody

Best for Travel

Like a lot of puffers these days, Micro is made with recycled materials, though here it includes the entire shell and insulation. Water repellent on the outside with synthetic stuffing inside, designers stitched the jacket with cubes rather than long baffles to maximize loft. You can block out wind with the elastic cuffs and adjustable hem. There's a reinforced loop on the stuff sack, so you can carabiner it to the outside of your bag or pack. Bonus: You can also use it as a pillow during long airport layovers. It's just 303 grams.

[$329; patagonia.com]

6. Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Hoody

Best for Ultralight Hiking

Weighing a little more than an 8-ounce steak, Ghost Whisper (249 grams) is the lightest jacket here with almost as much insulation as Rab's. An 800-fill down is used in most of the jacket, except around the cuffs where synthetic insulation withstands sweat better. The shell is made from ripstop nylon with a regular fit that’s not too slim, finished with elastic bindings around the hood and cuffs to keep in heat. 

[$360; mountainhardwear.com]

7. Stio Pinion Down Hooded Jacket

Best for Layering

Pinion's generous fit makes it an ideal shell to pair with base- and mid-layers for winter activities in the mountains. The 800-fill down is treated with a water repellent that allows the natural fibers to provide warmth even when wet—something traditional, untreated down struggles with. There's an added layer of protection on the outside with DWR-treated ripstop nylon. 

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The narrow baffle design helps prevent the insulation from shifting around. A single chest pocket inside keeps a smartphone handy while the high collar protects your head from wind even when the hood is down. It's a strong contender at 340 grams.

[$285; stio.com]

8. Eddie Bauer Microtherm 1000 Down Hoodie

Best for Winter Warmth

On the puffer end of the spectrum is this 1,000-fill down hoodie. It has Eddie Bauer’s most robust DWR finish. The athletic fit is roomier than a slim fit, and stretching gussets near the shoulder encourage mobility for winter trekking, camping, and skiing. The move away from traditional baffles helps keep the insulation from shifting around. It's ultralight at 283 grams.

[$400; eddiebauer.com]