Puffer jackets have evolved significantly and are now engineered to be warmer, lighter, and more stylish than ever before. These jackets, also called quilted jackets, have a signature quilted design with "puffy" sections created by the stitching.
Let's delve into the features of puffy snow jackets, including insulation types, design elements, and how to choose the right jacket for your needs.
An insulated jacket can help you stay comfy when conditions are cold, or warm up when the weather unexpectedly takes a turn for the worse.
If you’ll be outside when conditions are so cold that a mid layer like a fleece won’t cut it, you need insulated outerwear.
The Evolution of Puffer Jackets
Puffer jackets have come a long way since being mocked ruthlessly by Ralphie’s little brother in “A Christmas Story.”
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The origin of puffer jackets can be traced back to the early 20th century when outdoor enthusiasts began seeking gear that provided significant warmth without excessive bulk.
In 1936, outdoor adventurer Eddie Bauer created a down jacket following a hazardous fishing trip during which Bauer almost died of hypothermia; the adventurer invented an outer jacket encased with feathers, originally sold as the "skyliner".
Bauer was first to create, sell and patent his design in 1939.
In 1937 designer Charles James developed a jacket with a similar design for haute couture.
Within the last couple decades, the down jacket has become a staple of winter fashion.
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Designers and fashion influencers of 2020 reject cropped, bright-colored versions of the jacket, opting instead for a longer, knee-length layer with subtle shades of beige.
Key Features to Consider
There are many puffer jackets in the world of winter clothing, so here are a few things to consider before making your final decision.
Compared to wool or leather, puffer jackets provide the unique combination of both warmth and lightness.
From style perspective, you may hesitate and think that the puffer style will be too bulky and unflattering.
That is why RefrigiWear offers quilted designs for a stylish fit that also protects and offers functionality.
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Quilted designs can vary from small diamonds to larger triangles, which allows for different fits and styling.
Though vertical and horizontal puffers are the most common, we have found that diamond and other geometric shapes provide a more fitted, functional jacket that lasts longer.
The "puffs" of a puffer jacket are created by the combination of the insulation layer and stitching.
Insulation Types: Down vs. Synthetic
As mentioned, these jackets can feature down or synthetic down insulation. Both are fairly lightweight, but not all methods of insulation will provide the same level of warmth.
Start here when choosing. The right insulation type for you will depend on how cold you tend to run, where you’re recreating and what you plan to do.
Down Jackets: If you’ve ever noticed feathers poking out from your pillow or bed comforter, you’re familiar with down insulation. Down jackets are filled with feathers from ducks or geese.
A key benefit of down is that it has small air spaces within the down “plumules” (superfine, featherlike plumage) that trap heat and keep you warm.
Down is warm, lightweight and compressible, easy to pack down when you’re backpacking or traveling.
But the feathers take a long time to dry if they get wet, which can leave you feeling cold and clammy.
Water-resistant down is treated with a chemical that helps water bead up and slide off the garment, so you don’t end up soaked.
Pay attention to fill power if you’re trying to save weight and space in your pack.
The higher the fill power, the easier it will be to compress or pack the jacket away.
Fill power is different from fill weight or the weight of the insulation, measured in grams or ounces.
A higher number tells you that the insulation is heavier and therefore warmer but less compressible.
Insulated jackets don’t receive temperature ratings the way sleeping bags do.
This can make it difficult to compare two similar insulated jackets.
In general, Ross tells her customers that the thicker or puffier the jacket, the warmer it’s likely to be.
Synthetic Insulation Jackets: Synthetic insulated jackets like the Cotopaxi Capa Hooded perform well when damp and dry faster than down alternatives.
Synthetic insulation is made from human-made, water-repellent fibers like polyester.
The main benefits of synthetic insulation are that it performs when damp, dries fast and is usually more affordable than down.
Synthetic insulation is also a little heavier and less packable than down, and you may have to replace a synthetic jacket more quickly.
You may also need to wash your synthetic jacket more frequently than down since synthetic materials readily absorb moisture, even when treated with a water repellency, which can cause a buildup of dirt and sweat over time.
The weight in grams of a square meter of synthetic insulation will often be listed.
A higher number tells you that the insulation is thicker and therefore warmer.
This spec is only useful in comparing warmth between identical types of insulation.
Down/Synthetic Blend: Like the name implies, these jackets have a combo of down and synthetic insulation.
Sometimes the synthetic and down is blended throughout the garment.
Other times, the jacket has down in key spots for warmth, like your core, and synthetic in other areas, like your arms or sides.
Down/synthetic jackets offer a happy medium: They provide some warmth when they get wet and tend to be more affordable than down.
That said, they may not be quite as warm as pure down.
Materials like fleece and wool are sometimes also referred to as insulation, but they lack the ability to trap warm air in the way that down and synthetic insulation do.
Here's a table summarizing the pros and cons of each insulation type:
| Insulation Type | Pros | Cons | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down Jackets | Extra warm, lightweight, compressible | Doesn't insulate when wet, takes long to dry, more expensive | Cold, dry environments; backpacking, climbing, traveling |
| Synthetic Insulated Jackets | Warm when wet, dries quickly, affordable, vegan | Not as warm as down, needs more washing, heavier and less packable | Cold, wet environments; cross-country skiing, running, biking |
| Down/Synthetic Blend | Warm in targeted spots, offers warmth when wet, dries quickly | Not as warm as pure down, heavier and less packable | Cold, wet environments; cross-country skiing, running, biking; affordable alternative to down |
How to Pick the Right Jacket for Your Activity
Below, we offer suggestions for how to pick the right jacket for your activity and how to layer.
Think in threes when layering: Wear some sort of base layer to wick moisture from your skin, a mid layer to insulate, and outer layer to insulate and protect you from the elements.
Your insulated jacket can serve as your mid layer, outer layer or both!
Keep in mind that two people might choose two different insulated jackets for the same activity.