Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Fashion & Style

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The 18 Best Puffer Jackets for Men This Winter

By
A hiker in puffer jacket taking a picture of the mountain view.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Pack up your short shorts and break your best boots out of storage, because the time is here to gear up for the season ahead. That especially includes your outerwear rotation, no doubt about it. You know what that means: The frigid winds and arctic chill of winter won’t be long in following. Not to mention the precipitation, snow, sleet, hail, and “wintry mix” all very much included. And when the time comes, you won’t find a better defense from the cold than one of the season’s best puffer jackets.

Shopping for a puffer jacket, though, often means working your way through a lot of outerwear. Men’s puffer jackets come in all shapes and sizes — and most importantly, varying degrees of warmth. Some are better suited for casual cold, while others will lock in enough heat to summit a snow-capped mountain and still be sweating. To help you get started, check out these puffer jackets, each with its own strong suit. Here’s to staying warm and looking your best all fall and winter long.

Recommended Videos

Related Guides

Best Overall Puffer Jacket: Perry Ellis Hooded Puffer Jacket

Lightweight men's hooded puffer jacket.
Perry Ellis

For a standout price, take your pick from vibrant color options when it comes to this subtly stylish Perry Ellis puffer jacket. Made from water-resistant nylon and featuring a stretch hood, it’s a surefire way to stay warm on the move this winter.

Related

Best Luxury Puffer Jacket: NOBIS Oliver Men’s Reversible Puffer Jacket

Luxury puffer jacket for men.
NOBIS

NOBIS ups the ante with luxury and utility in mind by way of this top-of-the-line puffer jacket. This jacket, available in cool combinations like olive and camo, is filled with the brand’s Canadian Origin White Duck Down and available at an investment-worthy price that’ll surely pay off as you stay warm this winter.

Best Fashion-Forward Puffer Jacket: Todd Snyder Japanese Down Quilted Snap Bomber

Rugged down bomber jacket for men.
Todd Snyder

Leave it to Todd Snyder to take the puffer jacket and upgrade it in a decidedly fashion-forward way, right down to the bright orange colorway. The Japanese nylon exterior is both eye-catching and filled with ultra-warm 750-fill power down.

Most Versatile Men’s Puffer Jacket: Original Penguin Reversible Puffer Jacket

Reversible puffer jacket for men.
Original Penguin

Really, you’re getting two jackets for the price of one with this Original Penguin number featuring a handy detachable hood. It’s also water-resistant and features a slim fit for sleek style on the go.

Best Puffer Jacket for the Rugged Outdoorsman: Howler Brothers Merlin Jacket

Rugged insulated puffer jacket for men.
Howler Brothers

Based in Austin, the design team at Howler Brothers takes traditional menswear staples, like the puffer jacket, and shakes things up just a bit. Here, that means using durable cotton-nylon shoulder patches for contrasting style and functionality, plus a hard-wearing polyester ripstop construction.

Best Puffer Jacket for Active Wear: Ten Thousand Insulated Tech Jacket

Insulated men's puffer jacket
Ten Thousand

Although Ten Thousand is best known for its base layers, shorts, and other workout gear, they’ve taken things a step further with a puffer jacket that’s ready for just about any active pursuits you can dream up. This jacket is water-repellent, windproof, and streamlined for winter workouts and city exploration.

Other Puffer Jackets We Love

Aztech Mountain Super Nuke Jacket

Luxury men's puffer jacket for winter.
Aztech Mountain

Aztech Mountain makes some of the most technically savvy outdoor and mountain gear on the planet, and this jacket stands out even beyond that. Built to the nines with the best materials on the market, it’s a frankly incredible jacket perfect for skiing, hiking, or exploring a mountain town.

Burton Baker Expedition Down Jacket

Burton down jacket for men.
Burton

Burton knows a thing or two about outfitting guys for the cold weather, with plenty of heritage and design quality to go around. From the eye-catching color to the DWR coating and proprietary shell and lining, this jacket is a major winner.

Aether Apparel Launch Jacket

Stylish puffer jacket for men.
Aether Apparel

Aether Apparel has a knack for delivering gear that’s streamlined and stylish, but also technically savvy. This slim-fit, insulated and water-resistant puffer jacket is ideal for cruising around the city or hitting the road this winter.

Arc’teryx Alpha Parka

Luxury winter parka for men.
Arc'teryx

Things go to the next level when this brand sets its sights on technical innovation and style in equal measure. This hooded parka is ready for extreme conditions, thanks to its Gore-Tex Infinium weather protection.

Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket

A portrait of a male model wearing a green Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Uniqlo might as well be the industry standard when it comes to high-quality, affordable wardrobe essentials. Take this Ultra Light Down Jacket: It’s a modern minimal design, a DWR coating, and a fill power of 640 or more, all for less than 70 bucks.

Canada Goose Armstrong Down Puffer Jacket

A male model wearing a black Canada Goose Armstrong Down Puffer Jacket.
Canada Goose

Since they’re made for harsh winters north of the border, you never have to worry about being cold in a Canada Goose jacket. Seriously, this one’s rated to keep you warm down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

The North Face Sherpa Nuptse Jacket

The North Face Sherpa Nuptse Jacket in Burnt Olive variant.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Part puffer. Part sherpa jacket, The North Face designed this as the lovechild of two of our favorite pieces of outerwear. Warm and cozy, it’s the best of both worlds indeed.

Polo Ralph Lauren Glacier Heated Down Jacket

A Polo Ralph Lauren Glacier Heated Down Jacket.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Polo didn’t just design this to look like a handsome astronaut blanket. They actually built a heating system into the thing, which uses featherweight carbon and silver ink — and a Mohpie battery pack — to provide heat for up to 11 hours. Futuristic, huh?

Arc’teryx Nuclei SV Parka

A blue Arc’teryx Nuclei SV Parka.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

For the really, really adventurous among us, this Arc’teryx parka is built to survive even the most severe weather. Take it ice climbing, mountain trekking, wherever — at 1.5 pounds, it’ll keep you warm anywhere without weighing you down.

Fjallraven Expedition Down Lite Jacket

A Fjallraven Expedition Down Lite Jacket.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The makers of everyone’s favorite simple backpack bring this lighter version of their Expedition down jacket. You know, for milder climates than their home base of Örnsköldsvik, Sweden.

Moncler Courcillon Hooded Puffer Jacket

A male model wearing a Moncler Courcillon Hooded Puffer Jacket.
Moncler

At this point, the Moncler name is synonymous with luxury winter style, and this jacket’s another great example of why. The brand’s ability to merge form and function is unmatched.

Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket

A black Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Just try to find a better packable puffer jacket than the Patagonia Nano Puff. You can’t. Warm, windproof, water-resistant — it’s the whole package, yet it can pack down to basically nothing. There’s no better layering puffer out there.

Editors' Recommendations

Beau Hayhoe
Beau Hayhoe
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Beau Hayhoe is a freelance men's style writer, consultant and PR pro based in Brooklyn. Beau's menswear and gear writing has…
Men’s spring fashion: How to build a transition wardrobe
Stay comfortable with clothing between seasons
man wearing tweed sweater

Seasonal wardrobes are simple things. Your summer wardrobe is stacked to the brim with the best shorts, t-shirts, swim gear, and other warm-weather staples to keep you cool. You also have a winter wardrobe that includes the warmest coats, the best hats, the softest scarves, and the most versatile gloves, all of which take up ample space in your closet. Of course, those pieces won't always help you if you don't know how to combine them to get through those in-between days. Men's spring fashion is built for those times when it isn't still cold enough for the coats, but it isn't quite the time for shorts and swim gear.

A transitional wardrobe is specifically designed to help you navigate the seasonal transition between the beginning of spring when snow could still surprise you, and the random sun-beaten day that can destroy your mood when you are still dressed for the cold. Of course, many of these days will involve both problems with cool mornings, hot afternoons, and even rainy evenings. Spring fashion isn't as complicated as it sounds. It is a matter of mixing cold and warm weather items to stack them in the most stylish ways. Here are the four tips we can give you to look great and stay both warm and cool (depending on the hour) from March to May.
Fabrics to love

Read more
From Cartier to Tiffany: The best designer bracelets for men
A woman holding the Tiffany Lock.

The best jewelry for men can change drastically depending on your tastes and preferences. However, there are some iconic designs that will always look good on your wrist whatever your regular aesthetic might be. If you’ve worked out your personal style and your essential tips for looking good, pair a classy designer bracelet to your outfit and it’s an instant upgrade.

While the best designer bracelets for men are a highly personal choice, if you don’t know where to begin, we’re here to help. We’ve picked out a handful of the best designer bracelets available right now featuring some of the biggest designer brands around like Tiffany, Cartier, and Versace. Take a look below at our highlights and see what works well for your personal style.
Tiffany Lock
Best for attracting attention

Read more
The 13 best men’s watches you can buy under $1,000
Keep your wrist looking great with these watches
Torgoen T16

A man’s style reflects his inner self, who he wants to be, and where he sees himself in society. If there’s one item in a man’s wardrobe that says more about his hopes and aspirations, it’s his watch. With a quick swap, you can make an all-new statement, from all-business to wild and crazy to chic and sophisticated. Is this the day you stride to the driveway looking like the neighborhood’s most-followed style influencer? Maybe you’ll channel your inner Speed Racer tomorrow, even if it’s on the drive to the grocery store. Later in the week, you’ll save the planet by sorting the recycling and picking up some litter from the sidewalk.

What kind of man will you be today? To help you figure it out, we’ve selected some of today’s best men's watches, focusing on those that — for under $1,000 — represent a bit of an investment but won’t blow your clothing budget for the rest of 2024. Here they are, the best watches for men under $1,000

Read more