Tommy Hilfiger Men's Hooded Puffer Jacket Review

The Tommy Hilfiger Puffer provides excellent value with its reasonable all-around performance and super low price.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

The Puffer uses synthetic insulation throughout the torso, sleeves, and hood to provide warmth. This jacket has enough insulation for chilly days, but not enough to keep you warm on the coldest days of winter without wearing an additional layer underneath. There is an insulated neck rib that takes up space around the neck cavity, and this rib is also fleece-lined, adding both warmth and a cozy, comfortable feeling. We had no problem grabbing this jacket on chilly days in the fall and spring, and on mild winter days.

The insulation is held into place using baffles that are sewn through both the external shell fabric, which introduces cold areas at the stitching. The front zipper has a small flap underneath to prevent a cold spot along the zipper, but it isn't very thick and doesn't help that much. Nonetheless, this jacket keeps us warm in most winter temperatures, but on the coldest days, you'll have to supplement its warmth with additional clothing.

Weather Resistance

The Puffer lacks any kind of waterproof shell, which is a major problem for weather resistance. The exterior nylon shell is treated with a waterproof chemical, but these treatments soon wear off, leaving the shell fabric susceptible to liquid water. Fortunately, the jacket has synthetic insulation, which keeps its loft when wet, but nobody likes a soggy jacket. This shortcoming relegates this jacket to use only during fine weather.

The hood offers good coverage of the face and chin, and it can be tightened on the sides, but not on the back. The sleeve openings are made of stretchy cotton wrist gauntlets, which are comfortable, but incredibly unpleasant if they get soaked on a cold rainy day. This jacket is not designed to withstand inclement winter weather. It will probably suffice if you live in a mild winter climate, but if your winters are filled with rainy and snowy days, this won't be enough to protect you.

Comfort

This is a comfortable jacket to wear. The thin exterior and interior nylon shell fabrics are soft and pleasant against the skin. The neck rib has a cozy fleece lining that feels great, and the handwarmer pockets are lined with a soft jersey material. The jacket is light and drapes nicely over the body without feeling overbearing or cumbersome.

The fit of the jacket is great, meaning it conforms to the body's contours and doesn't restrict movement. Our testers loved wearing this jacket around town for errands or long walks since it doesn't bog you down. Some users don't like the plasticky feel of puffy jackets with nylon fabrics, but compared to other options on the market that use canvas, we prefer the feel of a puffy.

Style

Puffy jackets have long been in style in cold climates and small mountain towns, and they also fit right in on the streets of cold cities. This jacket is understated, yet refined, and feels at home in any winter situation. The stylish, contoured fit may feel a bit too refined for certain locales, but our testers felt comfortable wearing it in any social situation.

This jacket comes in an incredibly large number of color choices, meaning there is an option for everyone, from those who prefer subtle dark colors like black and navy blue, to those who want to stick out with shiny metallic finishes and bright color combinations. Your ability to look unique in this jacket is greater than in any other jacket in our review.

Features

With only two handwarmer pockets and one internal zippered pocket, the Puffer is decidedly light on features. The outer pockets don't even have zippers. So while you might be able to stay cozy by jamming your hands into your pockets, you won't be able to keep valuables or winter accessories in them. This is a major downside, in our opinion.

The interior zippered pocket is large enough to hold a phone, wallet, and car keys, but when this pocket is overstuffed, the jacket bulges out and looks weird. That internal pocket is the only useful one on the entire jacket. Most winter users need places to stash their gloves, scarf, and hat, in addition to their valuables. This jacket won't let you do any of that.

Durability

The Tommy Hilfiger Puffer is a decently durable jacket, but it uses some materials that we know to wear out quickly. The jacket's synthetic insulation keeps the price down, but synthetic insulation loses its loft over time, and we find that synthetic jackets start to lose some of their warmth after a couple of years. The thin nylon shell material is thin and prone to snagging and can rip easily if caught on a sharp edge.

The stretchy wrist gaiters are also susceptible to snagging and tearing, and the elastic can wear out over time, preventing a snug fit around the wrists. The front zipper doesn't snag on the thin nylon fabric, thanks to a robust zipper flap, but the interior zipper pocket is prone to snagging. Overall, this jacket is durable enough, especially considering the cost, but if you want the most durable jacket, you'll have to spend more money.

Should You Buy the Tommy Hilfiger Men's Hooded Puffer Jacket?

This jacket has some shortcomings, particularly when it comes to weather resistance and features, but it also costs a fraction of the rest of the competition. With decent warmth, style, comfort, and durability, this jacket is a great value. It won't be enough for the worst winter weather, but it is just fine for fall, spring, and mild winter weather. It could be a good choice for a primary winter jacket for a user on a very tight budget, but they'll have to supplement with additional layers on cold or stormy winter days. It also makes a fashionable alternative on fine days for users who already have a protective winter jacket for the worst weather.

What Other Winter Jackets Should You Consider?