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How We Tested Insulated Jackets for Men

Thursday October 26, 2023

For years now, we have tested synthetic insulated jackets side by side. We've worn them under shells, over base layers, as belay jackets, and as insulating mid-layers. We've tried them in every combination of layering imaginable.

insulated jacket - comfort and subsequently, a jacket's mobility proved essential to...
Comfort and subsequently, a jacket's mobility proved essential to its performance when we were out climbing on the rocks around Boulder, Colorado.
Credit: James Lucas

Warmth


We've spent the cool months of fall, the still-chilly springtime, and the frigid depths of winter outdoors in these jackets. From the icy Eastern Sierra to the Colorado Rockies and the Oregon Cascades, we've put these jackets through the wringer. We evaluated their hoods and cuffs for air leakage and directly compared how warm they made us feel doing the same activity in the same place on the same day.

insulated jacket - we tested each of the jackets in a variety of conditions including...
We tested each of the jackets in a variety of conditions including sun, rain, and snow.
Credit: James Lucas

Weight and Compressibility


We considered each jacket's overall weight and compressibility by — you guessed it — weighing and compressing them. We put them each on a scale and also noted how heavy or light they feel while worn. We packed them into their pockets, into stuff sacks, and into the bottoms of backpacks to gauge their packability.

insulated jacket - we spent a fair bit of time testing these jackets in the flatirons...
We spent a fair bit of time testing these jackets in the Flatirons around Boulder Colorado, climbing and exploring the sandstone in the hills there.
Credit: James Lucas

Comfort


To assess comfort and fit, we wore these jackets on as many different types of outings as we could. We ran errands and walked the dog. We went to coffee shops and breweries. We wore them climbing and scrambling, running and jogging, and even cycling. We asked our friends to wear them and help us rate their fit and feel. We noted which ones felt tight across the chest and shoulders, which left our wrists exposed to the cold air, and which ones couldn't keep our necks from getting chilled.

insulated jacket - running up the 1,000 foot ridge line of the first flatiron provided...
Running up the 1,000 foot ridge line of the First Flatiron provided us with evidence as to how well the jacket breathed under heavy exercise.
Credit: James Lucas

Weather Resistance


To compare weather resistance, we stood out in the rain for too long just to see what would happen. We brought them indoors and stood under a cold shower for side-by-side comparisons of how well their different water repellents worked. We timed how long it took for the jackets to soak through (some never did!) and how long it took for them to dry.

Breathability


During our exertions, we pushed ourselves to see how sweaty these synthetic jackets would get inside. We climbed, skied, hiked, camped, slept, and went out on the town in all these jackets to gauge their livability, no matter if you're a sweaty person or you just happen to be sweating in one particular moment.

insulated jacket - we wore these jackets from the crags to the backcountry to the bars...
We wore these jackets from the crags to the backcountry to the bars to find the very best.
Credit: James Lucas