Whether you’re exploring the backcountry, or trekking across town to meet friends for dinner, if you live and play in the Rocky Mountain region, you better have a kick-ass jacket that will keep you warm and dry all winter long. From technical around town jackets to mountaineering must-haves, check out these five winter jackets that we can’t get enough of this season.
Marmot Featherless Hoody
If you’re going to spend the money on one jacket that will perform anywhere — from skinning up a mountain, to snowshoeing in the trees, to making the trek to your local watering hole — this jacket is it. Marmot’s Featherless Hoody comes in both men’s and women’s sizing and is the all-around winter jacket that you’ve been looking for. Not only does it come in at a budget-friendly price point ($200 for both men’s and women’s), it’s warmth to weight ratio is on point. Weighing in at under 2 lbs, the Featherless Hoody’s design features 3M™ Thinsulate™ Featherless Insulation — a synthetic alternative to natural down that is intended to mimic the look of your favorite down puffy, but offers twice the loft of natural down when wet. Equal to a 700-fill, the Featherless Insulation is cheaper to produce, making this hard-working jacket a great option for budget-conscious consumers. Little details like elastic binding on the hood, an attached stuff sack pocket, and elastic bound cuffs make this jacket an especially perfect piece for the adventerous traveler looking to pack light, without sacrificing warmth. $200; marmot.com
Arc’teryx Cerium SV Hoody
When you need a powerhouse jacket that will keep you warm even when the temperature falls below zero degrees, Arc’teryx’s Cerium SV Hoody is sure to get the job done. This jacket is a beast, even though it sports a slimmer, athletic fit. Available in both men’s and women’s sizing, the Cerium SV Hoody boasts an 850-fill insulation rating but it’s a surprisingly lightweight piece, weighing in at a mere 415 grams. It’s designed with a pleated baffled structure that is intended to stop the shifting of down — eliminating cold spots and keeping you warm, even in brutally frigid temps. This jacket also features a tight-fitting StormHood™, to keep all of your body heat from escaping through your noodle, as well as a Coreloft™ insulation in particularly moisture-prone areas. The Cerium SV Hoody also features elastic bound cuffs and a little extra length in the rear to help keep as much of your body warm, even on the coldest of days. $525; arcteryx.com
Rab Laktok Jacket
Regardless of the temperature, for those wet winter days, you need a solid outer shell that will protect your down mid layer and keep you warm and dry during whichever outdoor adventure you might be on. Enter the Rab Laktok Jacket. At $500, this jacket may seem pricey, but it more than holds up its end of the bargain. It’s the ultimate waterproof jacket. With it’s eVent® Waterproof technology, this jacket isn’t just weather or water-resistant; it’s waterproof. And a hardcore waterproof outer shell is exactly what you need when heading into the kind of unknown weather often found on the best backcountry expeditions. Solidifying this jacket’s waterproof assurance are two-way AquaGuard front and chest pocket zippers and a waist drawcord and velcro cuffs to fully keep the elements out. Comfortable touches added to the jacket include a fleece lining on the chin guard and back of the neck, a helmet-compatible hood, full-venting YKK®AquaGuard® Escape Artist™ pit zips, and even a bottle pocket and zip pocket for can’t-live-without items like your cell phone and chapstick.
$500; rab.equipment
Helly Hansen Boyne Parka
This jacket is only for the ladies, but it’s the only outer layer women need when they’re not on the mountain. Designed for wet and chilly spring and autumn weather, but burly enough to withstand winter storms, Helly Hansen’s Boyne Parka is the ultimate casual three-season jacket. Wear it over jeans, a dress, leggings, to work, to the gym — wherever your day-to-day adventures take you — this jacket will keep you warm and dry. The Boyne Parka is treated with DWR (Durable Water Repellency) to keep you dry, and stuffed with a comfortable 60 grams of Primaloft Insulation to keep you warm, but not roasting, which makes it versatile enough to use in the spring and fall months. It’s windproof, extremely waterproof, and features conveniently placed exterior pockets, an adjustable drawstring at the waist and a draft collar with a fleece lining at the chin to add an extra layer of comfort and warmth. $225; hellyhansen.com
Fjallraven Bergtagen Lite Insulation Jacket
Fjallraven’s new Bergtagen line is a system of layers designed with the adventurous mountaineer in mind. The Lite Insulation Jacket is a cornerstone piece in the line, available in both men’s and women’s sizing and built for whatever weather the day might throw at you. Utilizing the company’s G-Loft Supreme synthetic insulation, this jacket can be worn as a stand-alone mid layer, or underneath a shell jacket for added protection from the elements. The innovative synthetic fill (made exclusively for Fjallraven) offers the same level of warmth as a down fill, but holds up in wet conditions at a much higher capacity. The lightweight design also makes this jacket incredibly packable, making it easy to pack down and stash in your bag when you finally break through the treeline on a sunny Colorado day. This jacket also features two-way zippers on the front and pockets and elastic cuffs on the sleeves to fully keep water out and warmth in. The entire Bergtagen line also highlights sustainable features like 100-percent recycled polyester in the padding and PFC-free impregnation.
$325; fjallraven.us
