The Best Insulated Jacket For Women Review

Warmth
The common sense way to judge which jacket is the warmest is to determine which is the thickest. The thicker and loftier the insulation, the more of your body heat is trapped in around you. However, depending on how you wish you use your jacket, thickest does not always mean best. If you want a warm insulation layer but you are alpine climbing or long-distance hiking where weight really matters, the thin but light MontBell Thermawrap (7.5 oz) is the best. The warmest and thickest jacket in this review was the Arc'Teryx Atom SV (16 oz), but the best warmth-to-weight ratio would be the Sherpa Vajra, which weighs only 10.9 oz but feels much thicker and warmer than the 10.6 oz Nano Puff.

Insulation Type
Not all synthetic insulations are created equal and the type used is something to consider when purchasing a jacket. Primaloft is the most common of synthetic insulations. The highest quality (and most pricey) version of Primaloft is Primaloft One, which is more water resistant and has finer fibers than other types of Primaloft. Surprisingly, the least expensive jacket in this review, the Sherpa Vajra, uses Primaloft One. The Patagonia Nano Puff also uses this type of insulation. Primaloft Eco is made of 50 percent recycled materials, which for the environmentally conscious consumer is a great feature. However, it doesn't have the loft or softness of Primaloft One. The North Face Redpoint and the Mountain HardWear Compressor are made with Primaloft Eco. Other manufacturers, rather than use the brand name Primaloft, have developed their own synthetic insulations. The Arc'Teryx jacket uses Coreloft, MontBell uses Exceloft, and the Mountain HardWear Zonal uses an insulation called Thermic Micro, all of which claim to keep you warm even when it gets wet.

Layering Ability/Packiand Ability
The opposite factor of warmth is layering and packing ability, where the thinner jackets excel. The thinner jackets fit more easily under shells and pack down smaller. The thickest jacket, the Atom SV, still can fit under a shell and is a good warm layer for cold activities such as riding ski lifts. But for the most part it is more comfortable to wear a thinner jacket like the Nano Puff or the Vajra under a shell. The thinnest, lightest jacket (7.5 oz), which also stuffs into a stuff-sack, is the MontBell Thermawrap. The best jacket to use as a mid-layer is the Mountain HardWear Zonal because it insulates and breathes, similar to a fleece, but much warmer. It is thin enough to be comfortable under other layers and it does not suffocate or get clammy.

Breathability
Insulated jackets usually aren't very breathable because they are made to keep warmth in rather than let moisture out. Some jackets have features that make them more breathable than others, like the Atom SV which has Tricot panels under the arms, which is much more breathable than the rest of the lining fabric. The exception in this category is the Mountain HardWear Zonal. Its TechnoStretch panels follow your body's hot spots, allowing you to breathe, while the insulation keeps you warm right where you need it. This jacket makes the best mid-layer or outer layer to wear during an aerobic activity when it's very cold because it is significantly warmer than a fleece, but still lets your body breathe. Other thin jackets that make easy mid-layers, such as the MontBell Thermawrap, became clammy and suffocating when hiking in the cold.

Water Resistance
Besides wearing these jackets in snow and wet winter conditions, we performed a close observation test by sprinkling water on each jacket and noted if the water soaked in or beaded off. All of the manufacturers state that their jackets are treated with some sort of DWR coating to make the jackets water resistant, but the ones that seemed to resist water penetration the most were The North Face Redpoint, the Atom SV, and the Compressor PL.

The advantage to buying a synthetic jacket versus a down jacket is that the insulation itself resists water and even if it does get wet it still retains its loft so you can stay warm. This is true for all of these synthetic jackets. If you are going to be sweating in your insulation layer or be in direct contact with snow or rain, a synthetic layer is much more dependable.

The Bottom Line
Editors' Choice
Spending many a snowy and cold winter day with these seven jackets, I found myself reaching for the Arcteryx Atom SV - Women's most because of its warmth, style, and well thought out features, so this jacket wins the Editors' Choice award. The stretch woven cuffs on this jacket are much tighter and seal out the cold better than any other sleeve cuff with the exception of the Zonal, which can be Velcroed tightly. It also has a hood with a cinchable drawcord so it can fit tightly over your helmet or bare head. The pull cords then tuck under soft flaps so they aren't rubbing against your face. Its main drawbacks are that it is expensive and heavy (16 oz). However, it does not weigh much more than the North Face Redpoint (15.5 oz). The hooded version weighs 17.6 oz, which is more than the Atom SV or the Mountain HardWear Compresor (15 oz) and it is considerably warmer. The Ripstop Nylon from which this jacket is made is light but very abrasion resistant, and the waterproof coating keeps the jacket dry in most types of wintery weather.

Best Buy
Easily, the Best Buy award goes to the Sherpa Vajra. It is the least expensive, yet it has the highest quality insulation, using Primaloft One. It is a basic and lightweight jacket weighing only 10.9 ounces (this is only 0.3 ounces heavier than the Nano Puff) and it still has useful features like the big net pockets on the inside. It is thin enough to make a good mid-layer, yet it is very warm for its weight. If you don't want to shell out the money for a top-of-the-line jacket like the Atom SV, then this is an excellent, functional option for half the price.

Best Jackets for Different Applications
If I had the luxury to buy the ideal synthetic jacket for different applications, I would go with this list:

Best jacket for high-heart rate activities or the best mid-layer in alpine conditions in place of a fleece: Mountain Hardwear Zonal - Women's.
Best jacket for packing as an extra layer on long days in the mountains: Montbell U.L. Thermawrap Jacket - Women's.
Best jacket for clipping on your climbing harness for a long route: Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket - Women's.