Best women’s puffer and down coats winter UK 2023

The key to staying warm in cold winter conditions? Try the ‘onion method’, and get layering. Wearing multiple layers is a great way to trap in body heat effectively, and one of the most useful pieces you can add to your wardrobe is an insulated jacket. A warm insulated mid layer is ideal for wearing under a thick coat in winter or with a waterproof shell jacket on top in a storm, and thicker versions can be worn alone as winter coats.

Animal down or synthetic down - what is the difference and which is better?

Insulated jackets either use animal down or synthetic down as warm padding. Animal down, which usually comes from ducks or geese, is very warm and very lightweight. The downside is that it is useless if it gets wet – plus, cheaper down is sometimes harvested unethically from live animals.

Stick to brands that use traceable down (look for the R.D.S, or Responsible Down Standard), or just avoid animal down altogether and pick synthetic insulation.

Synthetic materials such as PrimaLoft (made from polyester) are rapidly catching up with traditional down when it comes to warmth and performance, and are also quicker to dry and still provide some warmth when wet. Increasingly, brands are using recycled insulation and other recycled materials to make their jackets, which definitely gets our vote.

What should I look for in an insulated jacket?

You’ll see a range of insulated jackets for women on the market, from lightweight, packable down jackets to thicker padded coats. The former are best for active sports such as hiking and climbing, and the latter are ideal for dog walking, camping and keeping cosy when the temperature drops below zero.

Some insulated jackets pack down into a small stuff sack or into their own pocket – these are ideal for carrying in your backpack or popping in a bicycle pannier bag so you can sling a jacket on and off as you go.

Look for a jacket with zipped pockets and an adjustable hood, and that feels snug enough around the body to trap in heat but still leaves space to wear base layers underneath. Insulated jackets aren’t usually fully waterproof – you’ll need to pop a waterproof shell over the top in heavy rain – but water-resistant jackets are handy for wearing in light rain or snow.

Best insulated jackets for women at a glance

• Best for value for money: Mountain Warehouse Cosy Extreme Womens Short Down Jacket
• Best for sports: Keela Belay Pro Jacket
• Best down jacket on test: Montane Women’s Anti-Freeze XT
• Best for warmth: 66 North Dyngja Down Jacket
• Best for style at a reasonable price: TOG24 Raleigh Jacket
• Best long jacket: Craghoppers Narlia Jacket
• Best for comfort: Icebreaker Merinoloft Jacket
• Best for style points: Jack Wolfskin Nature Corduroy Jacket
• Best recycled jacket: Dare2B Striking Jacket
• Best reversible jacket: On Running Switch Jacket