We love a good jacket, whether it’s a cozy and warm down piece, a hardshell that keeps you protected in a winter storm, or an everyday rain shell. Below you’ll find our jacket buying guides and in-depth reviews, which cover the gamut from budget and casual to high-end designs meant for serious alpine use. We’ve tested these products in far-off places like Patagonia and New Zealand, as well as the backcountries in our home states of Colorado, Oregon, and Washington.

Best Rain Jackets of 2024

With a long history in the Pacific Northwest, the Switchback team knows a thing or two about rain. From months of daily drizzle to heavy downpours in the mountains, we're acutely aware of the benefits of a quality waterproof and breathable shell—not...

Best Down Jackets of 2024

It's tough to beat a great down jacket, whether it’s for casual use or tearing around the backcountry. This cozy insulation type offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio on the market and packs down smaller than synthetic options for easy storage. From...

Best Women’s Down Jackets of 2024-2025

As impressively warm and cozy insulators, down jackets are one of our favorite pieces of outdoor gear. Whether you’re looking for an uber-light alpine piece for the mountains, a casual and well-tailored option for around-town use, or something in...

Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets of 2024

Synthetic insulation might not offer quite the warmth-to-weight ratio of down, but it resists moisture, breathes better, and is more cost-efficient. With the choice of both types of jackets in our gear closet, we find ourselves consistently reaching...

Best Hardshell Jackets of 2024

Hardshell jackets are designed for the mountains: They're highly windproof, waterproof, breathable, and durable. This is the outer layer you turn to for ultimate protection while backcountry and resort skiing, mountaineering, alpine climbing, and 4...

Best Softshell Jackets of 2024

For high-output activities, it’s hard to beat a softshell jacket. Their breathable and stretchy fabrics offer fantastic performance and a really comfortable fit that moves with you. As long as you don’t take them out in a rain storm, their durable...

Best Midlayers of 2024-2025

In the typical three-layer clothing system, the midlayer is given the all-important insulating duties. As such, it is the one article of clothing you're most likely to swap out depending on weather conditions. Is it bristling cold and dry? Grab your...

Best Windbreaker Jackets of 2024

Let’s get right to the point: We love windbreaker jackets. In our opinion, a good windbreaker is the most versatile outdoor jacket money can buy. These small but mighty outer layers pack a punch, offering serious protection from the elements for hikers...

Best Fleece Jackets of 2024

With a wide variety of insulated jackets on the market, the classic fleece is still the most comfortable and affordable. These polyester jackets have been providing cozy warmth for years, from campsites and ski resorts to the streets and restaurants of...

Best Winter Jackets of 2024

When the coldest winter months arrive, it’s time for a serious jacket. Our picks for the best winter jackets and parkas below are among the warmest on the market—they are packed with down fill (or synthetic on occasion) and built to stand up to...

Best Ski Jackets of 2024-2025

Choosing the right ski jacket is all about managing the conditions that you might encounter on the mountain. This depends on the specific kinds of skiing you enjoy most—skinning up a sunny ridgeline in the North Cascades is far different than bracing...

Patagonia Ski Jackets: How to Choose

From resort days to deep backcountry missions, Patagonia’s ski jacket lineup covers nearly the full gamut of possible designs. At the time of publishing, a grand total of nine different models...

Marmot PreCip Eco Rain Jacket Review

Being from Seattle, we get asked for rain jacket recommendations a lot, and we often steer people to the Marmot PreCip. The reasons for this are fairly simple: the jacket punches well above its $100 price with quality waterproofing, a versatile feature...

REI Co-op Drypoint GTX Jacket Review

Backed by a Gore license, REI Co-op now has top-of-the-line waterproofing technology to replace their old eVent line. Combine this with REI’s increased focus on design and performance of their in-house products, and you have some very competitive...

Arc’teryx Zeta SL Rain Jacket Review

Arc’teryx’s Zeta line of rain jackets is designed for lightweight trekking and runs the gamut from the fully featured and pricey Zeta AR (“all round”) to the feathery Zeta FL (“fast and light”). The Zeta SL is the “superlight” version and puts a big...

Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket Review

Outdoor Research has updated its long-standing and very popular ultralight rain shell for 2020. The latest Helium—replacing the “II”—sticks largely to the same formula with upgrades in durability and fit without...

Marmot Minimalist Rain Jacket Review

Marmot’s Minimalist jacket isn’t new, but its combination of price and performance keeps it among our favorite rain shells year after year. With proven Gore-Tex waterproofing, a thoughtful feature set, and premium build quality, the...

Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody Review

Climbers, hikers, and outdoor adventurers of all types have enjoyed Patagonia’s Down Sweater for years. It’s a go-to piece that has defined a jacket category, and Patagonia gave it a significant revamp a few seasons back. Key changes include a more...

Best Cheap Down Jacket: REI Co-op 650

Here at Switchback Travel, we’re passionate about our down jackets. We’ve tested a huge range of models over the years, from entry-level options from Outdoor Research and Columbia to premium alternatives from Patagonia, Arc’teryx, and Montbell. While...

Arc'teryx Cerium Hoody Review

Arc’teryx’s Cerium Hoody is their leading down jacket and replaces the popular Cerium LT for this year. Key changes include a slightly roomier fit, thicker shell fabric, and full suite of sustainability measures. The rest of the design remains largely...

Feathered Friends Eos Down Jacket Review

Feathered Friends is a boutique down specialist birthed out of Seattle’s climbing scene in the 1970s, and they still lead the pack in down outerwear construction and design. The company is known for...

Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody Review

Years ago, Patagonia’s Nano-Air helped to define the active insulation market, debuting the new category with a fun “put it on, leave it on” campaign. With soft and breathable materials, the synthetic jacket is designed to be worn all day...

Arc'teryx Atom Hoody Review

The Atom from Arc’teryx is a legend. This popular synthetic piece crosses over between daily wear and backcountry use as well as anything on the market, thanks to its truly impressive balance of warmth, comfort, and styling. Arc’teryx gave the...

Rab Xenon Synthetic Jacket Review

U.K.-based Rab has a long history of designing quality, high-performance products for the harshest of conditions (or “connies,” as the British would say). And when rain and cold are constantly in the...

Black Diamond First Light Stretch Hoody Review

Touted as Black Diamond’s most breathable insulation piece, the synthetic First Light Stretch Hoody is built for technical activities like ski touring and climbing. Updated from the standard First Light (no “stretch”) last year, the new jacket retains...

Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody Review

Patagonia’s Nano Puff remains one of the most popular and recognizable insulated jackets on the market today. But with a fresh crop of new rivals, we felt it was time to take another look at this legendary synthetic piece. What we found is that the...

Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket Review

From Arc’teryx’s formidable hardshell lineup, the Beta AR slots in as the all-around workhorse. The jacket has been a flagship piece since its release back in 2000, and it’s a favorite for everything from hiking and backpacking in rough conditions to...

Patagonia Galvanized Jacket Review

Alpine pursuits demand a balance of weather protection, breathability, and mobility that few jackets are able to achieve. Enter the Patagonia Galvanized. Combining the waterproofing of a hardshell with...

Arc'teryx Alpha SV Jacket Review

Arc’teryx is no stranger to hardshell jackets and long has been a go-to option for protection in harsh mountain environments. At the very top of their lineup is the Alpha SV ("severe weather"), which is designed for use in the most serious of...

Arc'teryx Alpha FL Jacket Review

Arc’teryx's Alpha series is designed for top-notch climbing and alpine performance, and their “FL” represents fast and light. True to its name, the Alpha FL jacket is minimalist and lightweight, yet meticulously designed and highly protective. We took...

Arc’teryx Beta LT Jacket Review

Arc’teryx’s hardshell collection is highly revered among avid backcountry-goers, and their Beta LT has been a mainstay for years. Updatedseveral seasons back, the latest jacket represents a fairly substantial shift from the past-generation LT...

Arc'teryx Firebee AR Review

Arc’teryx rarely misses the mark with quality, performance-oriented gear, and the Firebee AR is no exception. This winter parka is the whole package: it’s loaded with premium down, and offers excellent weather resistance and impressive packability...

Rab Neutrino Pro Jacket Review

Winters are harsh in the U.K., and British alpinists are known for getting out in all types of conditions. So if there’s any brand we can trust to make proper gear for the cold and wet, it’s Rab. This England-based company launched the Neutrino down...

Marmot Montreal Review

Many women’s winter jacket models come and go, but Marmot’s Montreal has been a powerhouse for years. For less than $300, you get quality down fill, a fleece-lined interior, fur-rimmed hood, and clean styling, making it ubiquitous across a wide range...

Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Parka Review

Patagonia’s down products are known for their 100-percent-traceable feathers, quality construction, and sleek, stylish looks. Building off of these core characteristics, the Fitz Roy Down Parka is...

REI Co-op Stormhenge 850 Down Hybrid Jacket Review

REI Co-op continues to impress us with their in-house line of products, and the Stormhenge 850 Down Hybrid Jacket is one of their best. Highlights include a combination of premium goose down and synthetic insulation, a 2-layer waterproof shell with...

Hardshell vs. Softshell Jackets: How to Choose

A common debate amongst backcountry-goers is whether to wear a hardshell or softshell jacket as an outer layer. Both types have areas in which they shine: Hardshells excel in extreme conditions, while softshells are generally breathable, stretchy, and...

What is a Softshell Jacket?

Softshell jackets fill a much-needed void between lightweight insulating pieces and waterproof hardshells. They stretch for movement and breathe well, yet still offer better protection from the elements than...

Does Your Down Jacket Need a Hood?

A down jacket is a wonderful insulating piece: It’s light, packable, and offers premium warmth that you simply can’t find in a synthetic equivalent. In choosing your perfect puffy, one of the forks in the road is whether to go with a hood or without...

How to Choose a Down Jacket

For the best in cozy and lofty warmth, down jackets are in a class of their own. That said, the category covers a wide range of options, from lightweight and packable designs for backcountry use to stylish and hardwearing models for your winter...

Down vs. Synthetic Insulation

As the weather cools down each year, the great down-versus-synthetic insulation debate heats up. Goose and duck down fill are among the premier insulators on earth, trapping air and creating pockets of warmth around your body with very little weight...

Ski Jackets: Shell vs. Insulated vs. 3-in-1

Today’s ski jackets are well made and built to handle many seasons of use in foul weather. They can also be big investments, with even entry-level jackets often setting you back a couple hundred dollars or more. With so many styles to choose from, it...

How to Choose a Ski Jacket

As your outermost layer, ski jackets play a key role in keeping you comfortable and protected from the elements. The jacket market has expanded in recent years, covering everything from warm and cozy insulated resort pieces...