The ten Greatest Winter Jackets for Males, Examined and Reviewed

There’s a lot to like about the Cotopaxi Calidez Down Parka, which we tested across a variety of environments and weather conditions before naming it our top pick. The jacket is fully seam-sealed, windproof, and waterproof — a rarity among down jackets — so you and the down filling will stay dry. We found the fabric to be soft, plush, and comfortable, feeling high-end while skipping the scratchiness that’s typical of waterproof finishes. Plus, its lightweight construction provided impressive warmth. 

Cotopaxi managed to pack a lot of useful features into this jacket, including fleece-lined pockets, which act like mittens for your hands, and an internal fleece chin guard that’s soft on the skin even when zipped all the way up. Overall, we think the jacket is a fair value considering its multiwear scenarios, solid construction, and good-looking silhouette, and we won’t hesitate to throw it on whether running errands, taking a stroll, or racing down the slopes.

We think the jacket runs slightly large, though the fit accommodates additional layers on the coldest days. The only potential drawback is that some people may find the sleeves too long.

The Details: S-XXL | 100 percent recycled polyester shell | 650-fill responsibly sourced down interior | Waterproof

Right away we noticed this Kühl parka’s warmth relative to its weight. The jacket managed to keep us warm during our testing without ever feeling too heavy or cumbersome, but that heat never translated into sweating, even when we wore it on walks and while running errands. The waxed exterior brings water-resistance to the table while also giving the jacket some ruggedly handsome style points, and the interior is soft and supple, like a down-filled cocoon. 

The removable faux fur trim isn’t just for looks. It’s soft and cozy and framed our face via a custom fit courtesy of cord lock adjustments. That customization extends to the jacket body, with an interior waist adjustment that can be pulled or loosened depending on how you like your jacket to fit and how many layers you’re wearing. The inner cuffs have thumb loops, which were helpful on those days when we wanted some hand protection but our fingers free. And whenever our hands needed extra help, two zippered hand warmer pockets with snap closures were there to shut out the cold. We noticed that this jacket fits slimmer than some, which should be fine for those who prefer slimmer cuts, but others may want to size up.

The Details: S-XXL | Dynawax cotton, polyester, and nylon body | 800-fill goose down interior | Water-resistant

L.L.Bean makes gear for all of life’s adventures, but when you need a reliable jacket that repels water and combats cold weather, it’s hard to beat the classic Baxter State Parka. The jacket is based on a 1982 design and has been updated with a light, tough nylon shell that’s meant to withstand serious wind, rain, and cold. We can confirm that it also withstands early morning dog walks and afternoons picking pumpkins and navigating corn mazes. The relaxed fit allows for multiple layers underneath so you can bulk up when temperatures drop, or keep things streamlined with a T-shirt or henley on more temperate days.

We like the level of warmth this jacket provides, all without making us feel overheated or like an overstuffed couch cushion. The outer layer is solid and durable and easily held up during our several weeks of wear, and we can imagine it handling just the same years from now. The faux fur hood is adjustable and can be removed, and the adjustable wrist cuffs are especially useful when wearing gloves. This parka may not rival the higher-end brands like Canada Goose and Woolrich, but it performs very well without the premium price tag.

The Details: S-3XL | 100 percent nylon shell | 100 percent polyester lining | Regular and tall fits | Water-repellant

Sometimes you want a coat to touch the top of your knees. This long parka from Helly Hansen could be that coat. It’s built for urban environments, so you’re better suited wearing it on neighborhood walks and chilly coffee runs than on the ski slope, but its coverage and insulation will keep you warm nonetheless. Long parkas can often feel bulky, but we moved easily in this one. We could bend down, reach up high, and wrap ourselves in a hug, and its fit and breathability allowed for multiple layers underneath. The jacket is insulated, but we never felt overheated, even while indoors. The two-zipper system lets you zip the jacket up or down, depending whether you want to bring some air toward your chest or your legs. There’s a massive interior pocket that was big enough to hold our laptop, with room to spare, and a smaller pocket that’s perfect for a phone or wallet. This jacket isn’t waterproof, so you may want to put something else on during inclement weather, but its comfort and warmth will get the job done on most winter days.

The Details: S-XXL | 100 percent polyester shell | 100 percent polyester insulation | 2.98 pounds

Stio Men’s Hometown Down Hooded Jacket is our favorite down jacket and a great pick overall thanks to its trifecta of warmth, quality, and versatility. We wore it lakeside when temperatures measured in the mid-30s (Fahrenheit) and wind gusts exceeded 30 miles-per-hour, and we also enlisted it for bike rides and everyday activities, finding it up to the task for everything we threw at it. The jacket is lightweight and packs into an included pouch, but the 800-fill down insulation rebounds quickly and keeps its shape. Its slim fit is flattering and comfortable, and still roomy enough to wear a couple layers underneath without feeling like that kid in “A Christmas Story.” 

The length goes down just past the hips, and easy-pull bungee cords around the waist and hood keep the warmth in and the cold air out. The only negative we found on this jacket is that the zippered pockets are a little smaller than we’d prefer, especially when wearing gloves, but that’s something we can look past considering all the other great features and fair price.

The Details: XS-3XL | Recycled HTD, 20 denier ripstop, and 100 percent recycled nylon shell | Allied feather and down HyperDry, 90/10 goose down interior | 800-fill power | Regular fit | Water-resistant

Quilted down puffers range from slim to Michelin Man. This vegan down jacket from Save the Duck is slim and sleek, so it’s a smart choice when you want a puffer with less puff. We wore it camping in the mountains and found it warm and comfortable while moving along the trail and hanging out at the campsite at night. The construction is solid, with high-quality fabric that feels expensive to the touch, and the stitching is sturdy and held up well during hiking, biking, and other activities. Its lightweight nature means you’ll probably want to avoid extreme weather, but its shell is wind-resistant and water-repellant, should you get caught in an unexpected storm.

The jacket folds up and packs into its own small bag, making it easy to transport if you won’t be wearing it all day. The only negatives we found are that it can be difficult to wear over bulkier base layers given its slimmer profile, and we’d have appreciated a hood and adjustable cuffs for tightening over gloves.

The Details: XXS-4XL | 100 percent polyester shell | Synthetic fill | Water-repellant

Everyday jackets need to be versatile, and the Spyfire Hoody hits the mark. It’s lightweight, durable, and warm, and its movement-friendly construction works across a variety of activities, from shoveling snow to exploring a new city. We even wore it while riding a motorcycle, finding it comfortable and warm against the whipping wind. Its 800-fill-power goose down is actually so warm that it could be too much for intense activities like running, but its light weight and underarm gussets help with breathability. 

One feature we really appreciate is that the jacket is designed with large baffles in the front and back for core warmth, and smaller baffles at the side body and along the sleeves, so it’s warm where you need it most while reducing unnecessary bulk. If we have to nitpick, the jacket does seem to run slightly small, especially when worn over a couple of bulky layers. But the Kühl Mens’ Spyfire Hoody checks a lot of important boxes, so we’ll happily wear it all winter long.

The Details: S-XXL | Mikrotex 20-denier nylon shell | 800-fill power, RDS-certified goose down | Water-resistant

If you’re looking for a ski jacket that’s more insulated than a shell, this is one of our favorites out of all the ones we tested. It’s not overly technical, so you could potentially wear it off the ski mountains, but it has the must-have features like an over-the-helmet hood, Velcro closing straps at the wrists, a powder skirt, and a high collar in the front to protect your face in bad weather. It’s waterproof, and we found that it stayed fully dry in light rain. We thought it was comfortable to wear — not too stiff and not too soft — with a medium level of insulation. The length is longer than some other ski jackets, which may feel inhibiting to more technical skiers. There is an open-top mesh pocket inside, but we wish it had a zipper to better protect keys or phones.

The Details: S-XXL | Print body: 75D 100 percent recycled polyester with DWR finish; solid body: 70D x 160D 100 percent recycled nylon with DWR finish | Recycled polyester insulation and lining | Regular fit | 1.97 pounds | Waterproof

We put the Ranger Parka to the test in Minnesota, when temperatures hovered around freezing. This affordable coat performed well on early-morning walks and on hikes, keeping us warm even when wearing only one thin layer underneath. It’s so warm we’d probably opt for a different jacket during more intense activities like skiing or snowboarding, but it allows for easy movement and the DWR-finished shell is water-resistant. It’s also spill resistant, as we found out after easily cleaning up a couple of accidental spills.

The polyester filling feels dense, without making the jacket too bulky or heavy, and it didn’t bunch up or compress after multiple wears. The zipper held up, too, never snagging even when we subjected it to 100-plus test zips, and the snaps are strong and durable, which are pleasant surprises at this price. We also liked that the stylish faux fur is removable from the hood for days when you don’t need its extra warmth. Internal and external pockets keep your phone, keys, and other essentials secure, so bring what you need. The only negative we found was that the arms seemed short on a jacket that otherwise fit us well, so those with long arms may need to size up.

The Details: S-XXL | Cotton-polyester blend shell with DWR finish | 100 percent polyester insulation | Regular fit | Water-resistant