Compared to down, synthetic jackets breathe better, resist moisture well, and are more cost-efficient, making them popular for activities like hiking, backcountry skiing, climbing, and more. Below we list all of our detailed synthetic jacket reviews, from active insulation pieces for high-output pursuits to down-mimicking jackets that are impressively warm for their weight. From the Pacific Northwest to far-flung places like Patagonia, we’ve put these jackets through the wringer to truly test their performance.

Synthetic Jacket Reviews

Arc'teryx Atom AR (synthetic insulated jackets)

Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets of 2024

If you’re looking for a jacket that offers solid warmth at a good value, synthetic insulation is the way to go. You don’t get quite as high of a warmth-to-weight ratio as down, but synthetic jackets resist moisture, can breathe better, and are more...
Patagonia DAS Parka synthetic jacket (belaying using two-way zipper)

Patagonia DAS Parka Review

Ever since its debut in 1992, Patagonia’s DAS Parka has been a staple for winter climbers and backcountry skiers due to its excellent combination of warmth and weather protection. Reintroduced for 2020, the newest model...
Arc'teryx Atom AR Hoody (hiking in snowy forest)

Arc’teryx Atom Heavyweight Hoody Review

Arc’teryx’s Atom series is a longtime favorite in the synthetic jacket world, and the Heavyweight slots in as the warmest design in the collection. Updated a couple seasons back with a revised fit, improved durability, and smaller tweaks including...
Outdoor Research Refuge Hooded synthetic jacket (smiling in front of lake)

Outdoor Research Refuge Jacket Review

Seattle-based Outdoor Research is a leader in the synthetic jacket market, often hitting a nice balance between price and performance. Their Refuge replaced the old Cathode and slots in as an impressively warm and comfortable piece for casual use and...
Patagonia DAS Light Hoody synthetic insulated jacket (putting hood on)

Patagonia DAS Light Hoody Review

Merging features from Patagonia’s winter-weight DAS Parka and their fast-and-light-focused Micro Puff, the new-for-2020 DAS Light Hoody might just be the best of both worlds. Billed as an “ultralight belay hoody"...
Patagonia Macro Puff (hiking in snowy mountains)

Patagonia Macro Puff Review

Patagonia’s Micro Puff became an immediate hit in the synthetic jacket world by attempting to mimic the lofty warmth and packability of down in a weather-resistant package. Last year, the brand released their follow-up Macro Puff, which shares the same...
Arc'teryx Atom LT Hoody (smiling in snowy forest)

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...
Arc'teryx Proton FL jacket

Arc'teryx Proton FL Hoody Review

Made to move with you during high-output activities, active insulation jackets—like those in Arc’teryx’s Proton collection—merge warmth and weather resistance with class-leading breathability. For spring 2019, the Proton FL ("fast and light") joins the...
The North Face ThermoBall Eco Hoodie (fall colors)

The North Face ThermoBall Eco Hoodie Review

Now in its fourth generation, The North Face ThermoBall remains an extremely popular insulated jacket. With its puffy synthetic fill and smooth shell, the latest “Eco” version does a pretty good...
The North Face Ventrix Hoodie synthetic insulated jacket (holding coffee cup in camp)

The North Face Ventrix Hoodie Review

Now in its second generation, The North Face’s Ventrix Hoodie is a synthetic jacket designed for use during activity. Changes with the retooled model include less insulation and a lighter overall build...
Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody (hiking in Fisher Towers)

Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody Review

Patagonia’s synthetic Micro Puff made headlines when it was first released a few years ago, touted for its down-like weight and packability. In 2022, the Ventura, Calif.-based company released an update to the popular jacket...
Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody (walking to get water 2)

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...
Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody (wearing jacket while fly fishing)

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 Proton LT (zipping up jacket while backcountry skiing)

Arc'teryx Proton LT Hoody Review

High-output activities like ski touring and winter climbing require an insulated jacket that balances warmth and ventilation, and Arc’teryx’s Proton LT Hoody fits the bill nicely with air-permeable fabrics and lightweight synthetic fill...
Black Diamond First Light Stretch Hoody (skinning up)

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-Air Light Hybrid

Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid Review

Patagonia has been a front-runner in the active insulation market with the popular Nano-Air and Nano-Air Light, but even those jackets can be overkill for sustained, high-output activities. Enter...
Rab Xenon synthetic jacket (inside tent)

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...

Synthetic Jacket Informational Articles

Down jacket (insulation closeup)

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 resort chairlift

How to Stay Warm While Skiing

There’s a lot to love about resort skiing: you can cram in a ton of runs per day, always have the convenience of a lodge nearby, and don’t have to hoof it up thousands of vertical feet to earn your turns. That said, the biggest challenge with skiing...