Overheating in Your Winter Coat? The Best Puffer Vests We Tested Keep You Warm Without Making You Sweat

This Lululemon vest delivered in terms of warmth, quality, and style. During testing, we found it kept us warm by insulating heat and blocking wind. It followed through on the small details, too: We appreciated the fleece-lined pockets (which make all the difference on a chilly day), adjustable hood, and cinchable waistline. The quality goose down kept things cozy without causing us to overheat.

We aren’t surprised that this vest is simultaneously one of the best looking and highest performing vests that we tested. After all, Lululemon products consistently offer both style and performance. So, while this vest is one of the priciest ones we tested, we think it’s well worth the investment. 

Sizes: 0–14 | Colors: 9 | Fill: 600-fill-power down

This Athleta vest will keep you comfortable in cool weather thanks to its lightweight, breathable insulation. During testing, we wore this vest during chilly morning and evening walks, and it kept us warm without making us overheat. Even when we layered sweaters, sweatshirts, or long-sleeved shirts underneath this vest, we never felt claustrophobic. However, we wouldn’t recommend this vest for super cold weather, since it’s on the lightweight side.

We loved the stylish quilted design, and we appreciated that the longer length offered a bit of modesty, especially when we paired this vest with leggings. If we wanted to cinch the vest a bit, though, we were able to do so thanks to the adjustable bungee cord at the waistline. This vest also made the perfect travel companion, since it folded up nicely in our suitcase. 

Sizes: XXS–3X | Colors: 3 | Fill: 100% polyester

If you’d like to try out the trend with a budget vest, we’d recommend this lightweight Amazon option. The quality exceeded our expectations, thanks to sleek materials that held up throughout our testing. The fleece lining helped keep us warm on cool fall days, though it wasn’t super breathable, so we overheated when we stepped inside. 

We appreciated that the vest wasn’t too bulky, though, so we were able to layer a coat on top of the vest. However, small details distinguish it from higher quality options, such as the shallow snap-closure pockets and lack of adjustable bungee cords at the waistline.

Sizes: XS–XXL | Colors: 10 | Fill: 100% polyester

We were impressed with the simultaneous warmth and lightweight feel of this Lands’ End vest. The waterproof material is both warm and breathable, and it did a great job of blocking the wind, too. The vest is great for travelers, since it offers the warmth of bulkier vests while still rolling up nicely in a suitcase. Plus, since it’s lightweight, it’s easy to layer over sweaters or under jackets. We noted that this vest is quite boxy, though we appreciated that it’s offered in plus, tall, and petite sizes. 

Sizes: XS–XL; petite, tall, and plus-size available | Colors: 8 | Fill: 800-fill-power down

If you’re shopping for a transitional vest that’s warm but won’t make you overheat, this one from L.L.Bean is a reliable option. While it’s not intended for wear in very cold weather, it kept us plenty warm during cool days. It’s lightweight and super breathable, so we never overheated during testing, and it layers nicely whether under a jacket or over sweaters. 

We were impressed with the durable material, which we expect will hold up for years to come. It doesn’t hurt that this vest has a stylish and outdoorsy appearance that was easy to style, too. 

Sizes: XXS–XL; petite and plus-size available | Colors: 2 | Fill: 55% recycled polyester, 45% polyester

This vest from The North Face has become so popular in recent years, and it definitely lived up to our high expectations. The vest is one of the warmest we’ve tested, but it never made us overheat (a testament to its breathability). We were impressed with the little details on this vest, like the fleece-lined pockets and the stowable collar, which packs away into the hood rather than detaching completely (so you don’t lose it). 

The waterproof fabric performed well in the rain, and all of the materials felt durable enough to last us years. Needless to say, The North Face earned its glowing reputation with this vest. 

Sizes: XS–XL | Colors: 3 | Fill: 700-fill-power goose down

This trendy Aritzia puffer vest lived up to its impressive reputation during testing. This was one of the warmest vests we tested, so we’d trust it in truly cold weather. Even so, it never made us overheat — even when we stepped into warm train cars on our morning commute. The vest doubles down on its high-quality construction with sturdy zippers, adjustable bungee cords, and a removable hood. It’s a pricey option, but we believe this vest will follow through with impressive warmth and long-lasting durability. Plus, if you’re looking to avoid goose down, this is the warmest vegan option on our list.

Sizes: 2XS–L | Colors: 3 | Fill: 100% recycled polyester

Next time we’re traveling someplace cool, we’ll be sure to bring this Patagonia vest along. During our testing, it kept us warm without any unnecessary bulk (though we wish it had fleece-lined pockets, which would make it even toastier). We also appreciated that we could pack the vest into its own pocket for super easy transport. It has an adjustable bungee cord at the waistline, which can sometimes help to keep heat in. However, the vest runs small, so we didn’t need to cinch the waist at all. We would recommend you size up if you want to layer comfortably under it. 

Sizes: XXS–XXL | Colors: 6 | Fill: 100% recycled polyester

Our editors swear by Vuori activewear, and this vest lives up to the hype. When we tested this vest, we often layered it over our running gear to stay warm in very cold weather. We appreciated that this vest proved to be breathable and warm, although it certainly wasn’t warm enough for freezing temperatures. 

The zippered pocket gave us an extra sense of security, which was particularly helpful on runs. We like that we were able to layer a jacket over it, which was an advantage that we didn’t find with thicker puffer vests. All in all, there’s nothing we would change about this vest, and we think athletes and non-athletes alike would love it as much as we do. 

Sizes: XXS–XXL | Colors: 4 | Fill: 100% recycled polyester