This is not a comprehensive list of every vest we’ve tested since 2017, as we’ve removed models when they are discontinued or don’t meet our criteria.Rab Microlight Down Vest (men’s and women’s): This vest is warm, lightweight, and its down is RDS certified. Our hesitation to recommend it is because of its inconsistent sizing. The vest we tested ran quite a bit smaller than its counterparts of the same size (especially its width), which created a lot of bunching and made it less comfortable than the rest (especially when we tried to layer a sweatshirt underneath). But if you can try on different sizes in-person or don’t mind exchanging your order for a better fit, this is a solid vest to consider.L.L. Bean’s Mountain Classic Puffer Vest (men’s and women’s) was thinner than expected for the name (its puffiness most closely resembles Patagonia’s Nano Puff Vest). We also didn’t love that its pockets close via a single snap button rather than a zipper, which is a little trickier with gloves on.Patagonia Men’s Nano Puff Vest: This popular, stylish vest was among the least puffy and least warm models we tested. It didn’t keep out the wind, either. Despite its synthetic design, it wasn’t very durable: After six shakes, an insulating fiber popped out of this vest’s seam. For the price, you have better options.Stio Pinion Down Vest: This vest simply didn’t feel as robust as our top picks. The baffles are quite thin, giving the vest less puff. That’s ideal for active adventures when you need flexibility and plan to layer, but it also means you won’t feel as warm when the wind kicks up, since there’s less down in each of the baffle segments. The 800-fill down is RDS-certified. And at a lightweight 8 ounces, this vest packs down small. It also stayed fairly waterproof on drizzly days.Marmot Men’s Highlander Vest: This 700-fill down vest is not as warm as our top picks, and the hardware — especially the zippers — felt a bit cheap. We found ourselves fighting to get the zipper up and down, and the pockets weren’t as well placed as those on the other vests we tested. Also, the down is not certified as sustainable.Montbell Superior Down Vest (men’s and women’s): We previously thought this vest was worth considering for backpacking. It packs down small and has a good warmth-to-weight ratio, but at 5.5 ounces, it is probably too minimalist for most people, and its 10-denier fabric won’t hold up as well as our picks to rips and tears.Stio Turnbolt Down Vest (women’s): Our tester thought this vest was too boxy fitting and didn’t love that it only comes with a hood. She also wasn’t a huge fan of the pattern of the interior lining.Stio Hometown Down Hooded Vest (men’s): This vest was as warm, comfy, and well-fitting as our top pick, but at the time of writing it costs $50 more. There’s also no hoodless option. We think our top pick is a better choice.Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Vest (men’s and women’s): We’ve tested this ultra-budget vest in the past, and we decided not to test it again because its availability is unpredictable (it’s out of stock as of January 2026), and Uniqlo doesn’t disclose how it sources its down.Heated vestsIn addition to the Ororo Classic Vest that he thinks is worth considering, Kyle tried other heated vests. The Venustas Classic Heated Vest (women’s, men’s) has batteries certified by Intertek and the same number of heating zones as the Ororo, but it costs a little bit more. The Fieldsheer Backcountry Xtera Heated Vest (women’s, men’s) didn’t have a heating zone in the collar. Gerbing never returned emails requesting battery certification info for its 7V Khione Puffer Heated Vest 2.0 (women’s, men’s). Gobi Heat offers a meager 90-day warranty on its batteries, and its Dune Heated Vest (women’s, men’s) didn’t have a heated collar. The 32 Degrees Heated Vest, mostly available at Costco, is a decent budget option if the Ororo’s near-$200 price tag is too high for you. Its batteries are UL certified, but it lacks heating in the collar and pockets, and its design is boxier and less insulated.
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