We’ve put the best puffer jackets all in one place so you can stay toasty warm this winter.

Keeping warm during the Aussie winter is all about layering. Moving here from England I thought I could leave all my warm gear behind, but boy was I wrong. Very wrong. Despite being known for blue skies and beaches, the Australian winter can get really cold.

But unlike England, it doesn’t stay cold all day, even in the Snowy Mountains. You might start off covered head to toe and wrapped up to the nines, but come lunchtime you’ll want to lose a few layers, which means a lightweight puffer jacket should be a staple of your winter wardrobe.

Lightweight Puffer Jackets for Life!

It doesn’t matter if it’s a walk to the local shop for your morning coffee, a day hiking in the Blueys, or full day shredding in the Snowies, adding a lightweight puffer jacket to your repertoire will keep you warm when you need, but pack away easily when things heat up. This is why we’ve focussed our selection on the best lightweight, packable puffer jackets out there – leave that oversized puffer and the puffer coat behind – we’re going lightweight baby!

Whether you’re after the best men’s puffer jacket or the best women’s puffer jacket, a hooded puffer jacket or one without, these are the best puffer jackets for keeping warm during the Aussie winter.

Read more: 11 Best Rain Pants in Australia in 2024

Jump to Section

Best Lightweight Puffer Jackets in Australia

1. Arc’teryx Cerium Insulated Hooded Jacket

RRP: $660 
Weight: Men’s puffer 335g / Women’s puffer 290g
Pros: Durable water repellent finish, nifty internal pocket
Cons: Pricey

 

 

The Arc’teryx Cerium Insulated Hooded Jacket will keep you warm during colder temperatures at the crag, while checking the dawn surf, and when you’re out for post shred beers. This premium puffer jacket has a down-filled hood to keep your noggin warm and a wind-resistant shell. While it won’t keep you dry during a downpour, the Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish will repel some moisture. 

Weighing in at just 335g and with a pack size similar to a Nalgene bottle, this is the perfect puffer jacket for Explorers to keep warm this winter. We’ve got more where this came from – check out our full review of the earlier model of this jacket.

Shop Mens

Shop Womens

2. The North Face Terra Peak Jacket

RRP: $350 
Weight: Men’s puffer 520g / Women’s puffer 445g (size small)
Pros: Eco-friendly materials, super warm even when wet
Cons: Recycled polyester is less compressible than down

 

 

If you’re looking for a puffer jacket that’s eco-conscious and chock-full of recyclables, then The North Face Terra Peak Jacket is for you. Explorer Evan has tested this in a variety of conditions and rated it highly as a great all-rounder – check out his full review of the Terra Peak Jacket for all the details and useful photos. 

TNF is using ThermoBall technology, which means this puffer jacket is filled with synthetic fibre-clusters that have been designed to mimic the way down traps heat within air pockets. But more importantly, these synthetic fibres are made from 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Polyester. 

The exterior of the jacket is made using Pertex® Quantum fabric which provides exceptional protection from the wind, making it ideal for those outdoor adventures where the elements are relentless. Couple this with the convenience of being able to stow the jacket into the left hand pocket, a standard fit to accommodate layers underneath, and elasticised hems to keep breezes out, and you’ve got an excellent all-weather companion. 

Shop Mens

Shop Womens

3. Marmot Highlander Women’s Insulated Jacket

RRP: $379.99 – $429.95
Weight: Women’s puffer 377g / Men’s puffer 430g
Pros: Zippered pockets, flattering fit
Cons: Not waterproof (but has a water resistant outer shell)

 

 

Marmot’s Women’s Highlander Jacket is comprised of 700-fill-power-down insulation. It’s outer shell is made from Pertex Quantum® fabric which is designed to protect from wind and improve the efficiency of insulation.

Elastic binding at the cuffs helps block wind while zippered hand pockets shield your hands from the cold. Stash essentials in the interior chest pocket. Lucky for the guys, Marmot has also brought out a men’s version. 

Shop Womens

Shop Mens

4. Patagonia Down Sweater

RRP: $429.95
Weight (without hood): Men’s puffer 369g / Women’s puffer 292g
Weight (hooded puffer): Men’s puffer 420g /Women’s puffer 343g
Pros: PFC-free water resistant coating, optional hooded puffer jacket
Cons: Lightweight ripstop fabric may tear or snag more often than bulkier puffer jackets

 

Patagonia Down Sweater

 

Patagonia’s always a favourite for their environmentally and socially conscious gear that still performs at the top of its game. The Patagonia Down Sweater is no different with a shell made of NetPlus, which means it’s constructed entirely of recycled fishing nets that would otherwise risk polluting the ocean. It also has a PFC-free DWR finish to resist water.

The incredibly warm-for-its-weight 800 fill-power down conforms to the Responsible Down Standard in tight, well-stuffed baffles that trap your body’s warm, even as you move around. You can stuff the Down Sweater into its jacket pocket where a carabiner loop allows you to hang it.

The jacket also comes in a hooded and vest version and each one comes with repair patches so you can keep on using it for years to come.

Shop Mens

Shop Womens

5. Mont Zero Ultralight Down Jacket

RRP: $399.95 
Weight: Men’s puffer 198g / Women’s puffer 210g (size 12)
Pros: Lightest of the puffer jackets on this list, packs small
Cons: Pricey for infrequent use

 

 

Boasting the lightest weight of our selection at under 200 grams for the mens jacket AND the highest down fill rating, the Mont Zero Ultralight Down Jacket packs a serious double whammy. Filled with premium 800+ down and featuring an anti-gravity nylon shell, this puffer jacket is the ultimate choice for the ultralight connoisseur.

Hot tip – no need to size up, Mont has already accounted for the fact that you’ll be layering! Read the full review of the Mont Zero Ultralight Down Jacket for all the info you need to decide if this is the one for you! 

 

Mont Zero Ultralight Down Jacket – Reviewed & Tested, photos by @jessleenehme, sapphire coast, narooma, nsw

It also comes in this stunning north sea colour!

 

Shop Mens

Shop Womens

6. Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 Hoody

RRP: $325
Weight: Men’s puffer 249g / Women’s puffer 220g
Pros: Packs into its own pocket, packs down small, zip pockets
Cons: Higher price

 

 

Mountain Hardwear’s Ghost Whisperer 2 Hoody is a ‘sustainable reimagining’ 0f the brand’s original ultralight down hoody.

This puffer jacket makes use of recycled fabrics around the face and along the trims as well as 800 fill RDS certified down.

Cleverly, the first baffle on the cuff of both sleeves is actually filled with a synthetic insulation, rather than down, so you can wash your hands or play in the snow (hehe) without worrying about moisture wetting out the sleeves. Someone on their team is a real thinker!

With two zippered hand pockets, a drawcord at the hem and elastic bindings around the hood and cuffs, Mountain Hardwear is doing everything in its power to keep the heat locked in.

This puffer jacket comes in five different colours (six for women!) and packs itself right into the hand pocket. Plus the internal carabiner makes it easy to clip onto your pack.

Please excuse the Amazon links, this jacket is getting hard to find in Australia!

Shop Mens

Shop Womens

7. RAB Altus Jacket

RRP: $269.95
Weight: Men’s puffer 438g / Women’s puffer 383g
Pros: Synthetic insulation is ideal for wet environments, easy to wash
Cons: Not as compressible as down

 

 

RAB is another outdoor brand that’s shifted away from traditional down to a trademarked synthetic insulation instead. The Altus Jacket is filled with 195g of Cirrus insulation powered by 3M Featherless, which has a similar weight to warmth ratio as 600 loft down.

However unlike down, get one of these puffer jackets wet and they’ll still keep you toasty (and they’ll dry a heck of a lot quicker).

The RAB Altus Jacket also boasts easy care for this puffer jacket – just chuck it in the washing machine with your other washing and Bob’s your uncle!

Shop Mens

Shop Womens

8. Columbia Labyrinth Loop Omni-Heat Infinity Insulated Jacket

RRP: $349
Weight: Men’s puffer 408g / Women’s puffer 380g
Pros: Omni-Heat™ reflective lining for enhanced warmth
Cons: Bulky

 

Labyrinth Loop Omni-Heat Infinity Insulated Jacket – that’s a lot of words to take in, but so is the trademarked Omni-Tech that Columbia has managed to sew into this puffer jacket.

The puffer jacket combines both Omni-Heat recycled synthetic down insulation, with Omni-Heat Infinity advanced thermal reflective lining.

Essentially this is a pattern of reflective gold dots that lines the inside of the puffer jacket, reflecting back and locking in your own body warmth within the jacket, without compromising on breathability.

 

 

On the outside, the fabric is water-resistant, there’s a drop tail at the back, and two zippered hand pockets in the front.

This puffer jacket comes in a couple of colours and patterns for both men and women.

Shop Mens

Shop Womens

9. Lé Bent Pramecou Wool Insulated Hooded Jacket

RRP: $399.99
Weight: Not provided
Pros: Uses natural fibres
Cons: Wool is typically less compressible than down

 

Best Puffer Jackets in Australia 2022

Lé Bent is an Australian brand best known for their Signature Merino and Bamboo blend snow socks and layers, so they know a thing or two about keeping out the cold!

This year they’ve taken that super soft fabric from their base layers and plied it into a brand new technical midlayer.

The Pramecou Wool Insulated Hooded Jacket is packed with 80g wool insulation and recycled poly – ever seen a cold sheep? Neither have I!

This layer sets itself apart thanks to the so-called, ‘FlowState™ Sleeve System’ that incorporates a flexible panel of their Signature Blend around the shoulders, back and arms to enable maximum movement and enhanced breathability. In other words – helping you forget your layer and enter the elusive flow state, no matter what you’re doing.

For more athletic pursuits, the Pramecou also comes in a Hybrid Jacket for even more mobility and flow. 

Shop Mens

Shop Womens

10. Arc’teryx Nuclei Jacket

RRP: $570
Weight: Men’s puffer 325g / Women’s puffer 285g
Pros: Synthetic insulation maintains warmth when wet, packs small
Cons: Pricey, less breathable than it could be for the price

 

Arc'teryx Nuclei FL Jacket // Gear Review, Aidan howes, kosciuszko

 

The Arc’teryx Nuclei will keep you cosy and protected from the wind thanks to the Arato 10D ripstop material lining, Coreloft insulation and elasticated sleeve cuffs. This jacket achieves peak puffiness for its weight, and like the Cerium, packs down smaller than a Nalgene bottle. What a winner!

There are a couple of handy bonus pockets inside for your valuables plus an adjustable hood so it won’t flap about your ears when the wind picks up. It’s slightly less breathable than it could be, but hey, you can always take it off if you get too warm. Want more? Check out our full review.

Shop Mens

Shop Womens

11. Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket

RRP: $439.99
Weight: Men’s puffer 397g / Women’s puffer 397g
Pros: Super warm without bulk
Cons: Pricey!

The Cotopaxi Fuego Down Jacket is as bold in performance as it is in colour. It’s filled with responsibly sourced 800-fill down that’ll keep you toasty warm, while the streamlined fit and lightweight design (397g for the women’s version!) mean it won’t weigh you down on long hikes or weekend getaways. And yep, it packs down nice and small for stashing in your pack when the sun decides to show up.

The price tag might make your wallet wince, but the water-resistant down and durable shell mean it’ll hold its own in damp, chilly conditions when other puffers might pack it in. Plus, the colours? Chef’s kiss.

We’ve got one out in the wild with a reviewer right now, so keep your eyes peeled — a full, detailed review is coming soon!

Shop Mens

Shop Womens

What To Consider When Buying a Puffer Jacket

  • Insulation – Down offers better warmth-to-weight ratio and compressibility, while synthetic insulation performs better in wet conditions.
  • Fill power – Higher fill power (800+ is considered high) provides more warmth for less weight.
  • Weight and packability – Consider how lightweight and compressible the jacket is, and how much that feature is worth to you.
  • Weather resistance – Water resistant jackets will often be described as having a DWR (durable water repellant) finish, and may also use Gore-Tex coatings. Generally it’s more cost effective to aim for a water repellant puffer and pair it with a waterproof shell over the top if more protection is needed.
  • Durability – Durable fabrics and construction are essential for outdoor activities. Lightweight fabrics are great, but sometimes you’ll need to carry a few extra grams so your puffy isn’t blowing out the first time you use it.
  • Ethics and sustainability – Look for puffer jackets made from recycled materials and ethically sourced down. It’s a good move for the planet.
  • Fit for purpose – As well as making sure the puffer fits you well, make sure the features match your needs. If your upper legs get cold, then you should be avoiding that stylish cropped puffer jacket in preference for a long puffer jacket that’ll keep you warm where you need it.

 

Down Versus Synthetic Filling —Arc'teryx Cerium vs Arc’teryx Atom Jackets, Rachel Holland, two jackets, gear,

Knowing what you need helps prevent impulse buys that don’t meet your requirements | @mattwisemanmedia

Fill Power Versus Fill Weight

Fill power measures the quality and loft of the down used in the puffer jacket. The higher the score, the better the quality and the warmer the jacket will be.

Fill weight measures the actual amount of down in the jacket. A higher weight does not necessarily mean a warmer puffer jacket, as the fill power between two jackets may be different, but it does mean a heavier puffer jacket.

It’s best to compare both the fill power and fill weight when buying a puffer jacket to make sure it’s a warmth and weight that works for you.

 

Patagonia Macro Puff Hoody // Gear Review, Amy Fairall, puffer jacket, snow, snow angels

Get the balance right and you’ll be toasty even when you’re surrounded by snow | @amy.eloise

Best Puffer Jacket FAQs

How do I wash my puffer jacket?

Not sure how to wash your new puffer jacket? Read our how to guide!

Are puffer jackets suitable for everyday wear?

Yep! There’s a puffer jacket out there to suit every occasion. You can even use one to replace your heavy winter coat.

Which puffer jacket is the warmest?

The warmest puffer jacket is the one with the highest fill power, with premium puffer jackets reaching the 800 mark or higher. Fill power measures the quality and loft of the down used and is different to the fill weight.

On this list, the jackets that have a fill power rating of 800+ are the Mont Zero Ultralight Down Jacket and the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 Hoody.

Which brand has the best puffer jacket?

Choosing the best puffer jacket is less about the brand and more about the application, and the features you need. Do you want a removable hood, fleece lined pockets, and a jacket that’s water resistant? You need a very different jacket than someone chasing a cute puffer with faux fur and a drawstring waist. Forget brand – chase your ideal features.

Why are The North Face puffer jackets so popular?

Aside from providing excellent quality jackets, it could be that The North Face 1996 retro nuptse design fans are just louder than other consumers. Just kidding. There’s no concrete reason that a North Face Puffer Jacket should be any more popular than puffer jackets from other brands.

What are the best puffer jackets for women?

The best puffer jackets for women balance weight, warmth, durability, and style (though this isn’t a technical requirement!). There are many great women’s puffer jackets out there.

What’s the warmest puffer jacket on this list?

In terms of warmth, the best puffer jackets on this list are the Kathmandu Heli R Down Jacket and the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 Hoody.

What’s the best hooded puffer jacket on this list?

In the world of padded jackets, it’s important to consider features like adjustable hoods. Five of the best puffer jackets listed have hoods, making them more versatile choices for your next winter jacket.

Are puffer jackets for women different to puffer jackets for men?

Puffer jackets for women tend to have a more tailored fit, with narrower sleeves, and often slightly smaller pockets. In terms of style, puffer jackets for women tend to come in more varieties of brighter colours, while men’s puffer jackets are more often made in darker and more neutral colours.

What’s a good lightweight puffer jacket?

Each puffer jacket on this list is a lightweight puffer jacket.

Is the Patagonia Nano Puff a good jacket?

Yes! You can buy one here.

 

Feature photo by Roger Stuart.

Your puffer is keeping you warm, but are you dry?

How we chose these products

We put this list of products together because the team at We Are Explorers backs them. If a piece is sponsored – we are very clear about it and communicating our actual opinion is our top priority. If we don’t like a product, you’ll be the first to know. You can read more about our approach in our Editorial Standards.