The 8 Best Winter Jackets for Women of 2023

Best Overall Women's Winter Jacket

Fjallraven Nuuk - Women's

Insulation: 250g supreme microloft (polyester) | Hood: Insulated, faux fur

The Fjallraven Nuuk was a fast favorite among our testers, keeping us warm in bitter temps with its generous insulation. Recently updated, the Nuuk's now recycled polyamide fabric is still soft and pliable, with enough heft to feel like a hug. It's also waterproof, with a generous hood and faux-fur ruff that flips out like a brim to block the wind. With the zipper up to your nose and the hood blocking side gusts, you're pretty much weatherproof. We also found that this jacket breathes well, and the generous cut leaves plenty of room to layer up without feeling like an overstuffed pillow. But maybe our favorite part of this jacket is its abundance of pockets. They are generously sized and artfully tucked away, lending the jacket a functional, laidback style.

The Nuuk is heavy, which we think is a fair tradeoff for how much goodness it packs into every pound. We don't love carting it around inside when inside though — for strictly urban use there are more user-friendly options. The larger, relaxed fit can sometimes feel overwhelming, particularly the sleeves, which are a roll or two too long. And, while the Nuuk kept us dry in our shower tests, the face fabric held onto water more than we'd like for wetter winters. Still, this one's for you if you like staying warm and dry in snowstorms or apres tailgates.

Read more: Fjallraven Nuuk review

Best Bang for the Buck/

REI Co-op Norseland Insulated Parka

Insulation: 238g of 650 fill duck down | Hood: Insulated

The REI Co-op Norseland Insulated Parka drapes you in down for a price that feels like a steal. Winter jackets are an investment, and this is a reasonable one. It also feels well-built and likely to last. The 238 grams of 650-fill down is lightweight yet warm in freezing weather. A fleece-lined hood, soft, deep pockets, and colorful wrist gaiters keep your extremities happy. Hitting midthigh, this jacket extends further in the back to hold in the heat where you need it. A two-way zipper in front and zippers on either side at the hem give you enough mobility to race up steps or launch a snowball attack. To top it all off, the Norseland is Bluesign-approved, is filled with responsibly harvested down, and the polyester lining is recycled.

The Norseland is warm, but it is not the warmest model in our test. It has plenty of down, but a shorter hem, extended side zips, no cinch at the waist, and a shallow hood. You'll likely need warm pants or long johns when temperatures plummet. Although the hood fits well and features soft high-pile fleece insulation, it's not deep enough to keep cold, dry winter wind or wet snowflakes off your face. We also wish the collar was roomier. You can tuck your chin into the top of the zipper, but it's a tight fit. If you don't, the zipper rubs the underside of your chin. These caveats aside, if you need a light and warm jacket with a laidback style that won't blow your winter gear budget, this is an excellent choice.

Read more: REI Co-op Norseland Insulated Parka review

Best on a Tight Budget

Wantdo Waterproof Snow Jacket - Women's

Insulation: Unknown | Hood: Insulated with removable faux fur trim

The Wantdo Waterproof Snow Jacket is both waterproof and warm, featuring a layer of high-pile fleece around your core. An incorporated snow skirt holds in heat while protecting against unexpected tumbles in the snow. Combine those facts with this jacket's low price tag, and you get the gist — it does the job for less. Of course, a deal this good rarely comes without compromises. While the roomy and insulated hood has a large, detachable faux fur ruff that does a great job of blocking out crosswinds, the fur is oddly bulky and often tickled our cheeks. And though the ruff slows headwinds around the face, the jacket zipper doesn't come up to the chin, exposing your face and part of your neck in bitter weather.

There are also no wrists cuffs to keep drafts out, and the short hem length leaves your lower half out in the cold. Our biggest concern, though, is the quality of this jacket's construction. The fabric panels are attached with largely spaced straight stitches, and you can easily slide the end of a paperclip through the gaps. This isn't true for any of the other jackets we tested, and we're afraid it might not last over time. Still, if your budget is tight, this jacket will keep your core warm and dry for at least a season or two.

Read more: Wantdo Waterproof Snow Jacket review

Best for Extreme Conditions

Canada Goose Expedition Heritage Parka - Women's

Insulation: 625 fill duck down | Hood: Insulated with zip-off real fur trim

The Canada Goose Expedition Parka Heritage is temperature rated for -22°F weather and below. We tried it out on a walk in a -20° windchill in northern Vermont, and it did the trick. No surprise when you consider that this jacket was created for scientists working in McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Duck-down insulation, incredibly waterproof Arctic-tech fabric, and a hood with a real coyote fur ruff work together to block out cold air and brutal winds. With the hood deployed in our shower test, we barely even heard the water, and not a drop snuck inside this fortress of a jacket. It's also surprisingly wearable, with plenty of room in the shoulders and two pockets tucked inside the insulation.

Even in locales with cold winters, this level of warmth and weather protection is usually unnecessary. So this jacket may be overkill for your needs. It's also heavy, and while it's surprisingly comfortable, especially with the waist cord cinched, the jacket does feel bulky. And, of course, the elephant in the room is the price tag. This jacket is by far the most expensive in our lineup — by a LOT. But for the right person and conditions, we have no doubt the Expedition is worth it. Canada Goose also has an excellent warranty and repair program.

Read more: Canada Goose Expedition Parka Heritage review

Best for Passive Cold Weather Activities

Outdoor Research Coze Down Parka

Insulation: 250g of 700 fill goose down | Hood: Insulated, down ruff

The Outdoor Research Coze Down Parka wraps you in 250 grams of 700-fill power goose down. The high-quality feathers keep the jacket light, and the pliable nylon shell is cloud-soft. An insulated hood that extends beyond your face in what Outdoor Research (OR) calls a down-baffle ruff helps keep the weather at bay. It works like a fur ruff to block wind, though not as well. OR says that this jacket zips up to your nose, and while its collar is very tall and wide enough to tuck your face into, it only reached a bit above our lead tester's chin. Still, it's one of our test's most comfortable tall collars, with a knit lining and inner down baffle to hold in more heat. Knit wrist-cuffs and lined pockets beneath the down keep your hands warm.

The Coze is frumpy in a way that some very fashionable or very tall people can probably pull off as elegant. Our lead tester is not one of them. She loves wearing it, though, despite teasing from a few friends — friends who weren't nearly as warm as she was. We wish it cinched at the waist, which could lend a more flattering shape. More importantly, it would/stop frigid temps from sneaking up into our down cocoon. This isn't a problem with temps around freezing, but it can be when the weather turns truly cold. Still, if you want to float around outside in a cloud, thumbing your nose at conventional fashion, seriously consider the Coze.

Read more: Outdoor Research Coze Down Parka review

Best for Backcountry Use

Rab Neutrino Pro Down Jacket - Women's

Insulation: 212g of 800 fill down | Hood: Insulated and adjustable

The Rab Neutrino Pro Down Jacket is our top choice for backcountry adventures. The size small is insulated with 212 grams of 800 fill down, which is the loftiest, warmest, and most compressible in our lineup. Those numbers translate to a whole lot of feathers holding warmth around your core. An included stuff sack compresses the coat to roughly the size of a football. What really blew testers away, though, was this jacket's weather protection chops. Water beaded up and bounced off throughout our 2.5-minute shower test. A few quick shakes, and it was good to go. The highly adjustable hood has a flexible brim, and the jacket has a wide, comfortable collar. So when you're all zipped up, you can tuck your face and chin out of the wind without impairing your field of view.

There aren't a lot of downsides to this jacket. A couple of our curvier testers found it can be tight around the hips while fitting well in the shoulders. As a result, the jacket can bunch around the waist, leaving the bum uninsulated and chilled. Sizing up may solve the issue. The Neutrino is also a shorter jacket than the lineup of parkas that dominate this review, but that's because it's made for movement. If you're looking for a beastly jacket to keep you warm between laps on the ice wall or backcountry rips, we recommend this one.

Read more: Rab Neutrino Pro Down Jacket review

Best for Active Urban Environments

Arc'teryx Patera Parka

Insulation: 59g of 750 fill down, 100g of Coreloft | Hood: Insulated

The Arc'teryx Patera Parka balances warmth, breathability, lightweight comfort, and classic style. It's an excellent option if you're always on the go, overheat easily, or find yourself ripping your jacket off the second you step inside. It's also light and compact enough to drape over your bag while running errands. The jacket uses high-loft, 750 fill down to hold maximal warmth around your shoulders, chest, back, and over your arms. It places synthetic insulation strategically to hold heat in areas that are more likely to get wet, like the collar, hood, side panels, underarms, and around the lower eight inches of the jacket (Wet down feathers are not good at retaining heat.) The combination works well for us when we're on the move or in milder temps. The Patera is also windproof and fully waterproof for warmer, wetter winters.

The Patera Parka isn't the warmest jacket we've tested. We noticed the chill in our arms and thighs in temperatures approaching single digits, especially when sitting down outside. The two-way zipper stops about eight inches above the hem. This feature allows you tons of room to stretch your leg but lets more cold air in around your thighs. You can close it with a small snap to circumvent this issue, but then the jacket becomes a touch restrictive. We like the Patera best in weather above 10°F. For less than frigid weather, this trim and durable jacket will keep you feeling sophisticated and comfortable in situations ranging from mellow walks to errand runs.

Read more: Arc'teryx Patera Parka review

Most Versatile Winter Jacket

Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka - Women's

Insulation: 150g of 700 fill recycled down | Hood: Zip-off, uninsulated

If you want a jacket that can take you from early fall to late spring, the Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka is the option for you. With an inner down layer, an outer shell, and an easy-to-use zipper that combines the two, this three-in-one jacket keeps you ready for ever-changing conditions. The inner jacket is insulated with 150 grams of 700 fill recycled down. It's water-resistant enough to get you out of a drizzle and is a great standalone option for clear and chilly days. The outer layer is waterproof, windproof, and breathable. When you zip the two together, this jacket is both warm and weatherproof. It's also one of the more stylish and flattering options we tested.

The Tres can be tight in the shoulders when you combine the layers. Consider sizing up if you're more muscular or wear thick winter sweaters often. Though the hood and outer handwarmer pockets are uninsulated, they are roomy enough to accommodate a beanie and gloves. The hood is also highly adjustable, which lets you snug it down enough to block out rain or snow. This jacket is expensive, but you are getting three high-quality options that will take you through more seasons for the price.

Read more: Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka review

Compare Products

Compare select up to 5 products to compare

	Score	Product	Price
	87	Fjallraven Nuuk - Women's Best Overall Women's Winter Jacket	$500
	83	Canada Goose Expedition Heritage Parka - Women's Best for Extreme Conditions	$1,695
	81	Outdoor Research Coze Down Parka Best for Passive Cold Weather Activities	$399
	80	Arc'teryx Patera Parka Best for Active Urban Environments	$700
	77	Rab Neutrino Pro Down Jacket - Women's Best for Backcountry Use	$400
	74	Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka - Women's Most Versatile Winter Jacket	$649
	74	Marmot Montreaux	$325
	74	Canada Goose Camp Hooded	$650
	72	REI Co-op Norseland Insulated Parka Best Bang for the Buck/	$199
	71	Rab Deep Cover Parka	$315
	71	The North Face Arctic Parka	$350
	68	The North Face Outer Boroughs Parka - Women's	$500
	65	Columbia Suttle Mountain Long	$230
	65	Patagonia Down With It Parka	$349
	63	Patagonia Jackson Glacier - Women's	$429
	52	Columbia Heavenly Long Hooded	$160
	51	Eddie Bauer Sun Valley Down Parka	$299
	50	Wantdo Waterproof Snow Jacket - Women's Best on a Tight Budget	$90
	43	Legendary Whitetails Anchorage Parka	$130

Why You Should Trust Us

After spending hours researching the current season's winter jackets, we purchase the top models to test side-by-side. We spent hundreds of hours switching between coats in similar conditions and running repeatable tests, from standing in the shower to laying in a snowbank to standing outside in freezing weather and bitter winds while checking for heat leaks with a laser thermometer. We hiked and walked over 125 miles in inclement weather. We tested every jacket in temps ranging from 50 to -30 degrees Fahrenheit with wind chill and in sideways snow and sloppy shoulder season weather.

Our winter jackets were tested across five rating metrics:

• Warmth (30% of overall score weighting)

• Weather Resistance (25% weighting)

• Comfort (25% weighting)

• Style (10% weighting)

• Durability (10% weighting)

Liz Williamson helped set the foundation for this review by testing winter jackets in Yosemite and around Lake Tahoe from 2015 to 2019. She tested over 100 jackets in harsh conditions, from the High Sierra to the Andes and Patagonia. Her design and wildlife management background gives her knowledge of the practical needs of outerwear in cold environments and the more functional considerations of day-to-day use around town.

Tester Clark Tate combines a Master's Degree in Environmental Science with a decade of science writing to build on this foundation and flush out our jacket testing plans and ratings. Clark developed an appreciation for finding the right winter coat over ten winters living and playing in mountain towns like Breckenridge, Durango, South Lake Tahoe, and Jay Peak. She now lives in Maine and frequents New England's snowy peaks.

Analysis and Test Results

We tested every winter jacket across five comprehensive metrics, and all the subsequent scores are relative to the other jackets in the lineup. A score of 6 or 7 in warmth is still very toasty — it's just not as warm as models that score higher. You'll want to consider your climate and favorite outdoor activities to determine which test scores and features are the most important for you. You may need a more waterproof jacket, a super warm option, or something that will breathe and help you keep from overheating. If you want something optimized for rain, see our best women's rain jacket review.

Value

It's essential to find the right winter jacket for your needs and your budget. For example, the REI Norseland Insulated Parka provides an excellent performance-to-price ratio, earns high scores, and is among the least expensive jackets in our test. The Wantdo Waterproof Snow Jacket is even cheaper. Since it's waterproof and has a deeper, more protective hood than the Norseland, it could be a good choice if you experience wet winters. However, though the Wantdo holds in a lot of heat, it is much shorter than the Norseland. If your bum and legs get cold easily, you may want to consider a longer option like the Columbia Heavenly Long Hooded Jacket, which doesn't cost much more. Though its scores are lower because it is lighter and less weatherproof, it is a solid jacket for milder climates or shoulder seasons.

The Marmot Montreaux scores a bit higher and is still reasonably priced, while the award-winning ​​Outdoor Research Coze Down Parka earns chart-topping scores for just a bit more. If you need a super warm coat but don't need protection from driving winds and snow or wet weather, we think these jackets are definitely worth their price tag. That said, their thin polyester fabric may not be as durable as heavier-duty options.

More expensive jackets can still offer excellent value. For example, the Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka gives you three jackets for the price of two budget options. It also offers ecological and ethical value. The coat is insulated with 100% recycled down and 75% recycled polyester (100% in the down layer and 50% in the shell), and its sewing labor is Fair Trade Certified.

Rab, Eddie Bauer, REI, Outdoor Research, The North Face, and Canada Goose all champion the responsible down certification, and some offer recycled fabrics. The shell fabric of the Fjallraven Nuuk is 100% recycled. If these practices align with your ethics, and you have the extra cash to spend, they offer value as well.

Warmth

It's important to stay warm and comfortable all winter long, so this is our most heavily-weighted metric. Much of a jacket's warmth comes down to its insulation. If a coat is filled with down feathers, its warmth is determined by the quality (fill-power) of those feathers, how many there are (fill-weight), and how thick the fabric containing them is. Higher fill-powers mean higher quality down and more warmth per weight. We consider anything over 600 to be excellent.

Numbers don't tell the whole story, though; the warmth of a jacket with synthetic insulation can be even harder to gauge. Other factors, such as how long a jacket is, the height of the collar, and the protectiveness of the hood and wrist cuffs, can also make a big difference. Lucky for you, we tested each of these jackets side-by-side in snow, rain, wind, and frigid temperatures to gain first-hand experience.

The warmest jacket in our test is the Canada Goose Expedition Parka. It's rated for temperatures starting in the negative double digits and trending down, so we weren't surprised by its decisive win. The thick insulation, enveloping hood, and cinching waist make it a walking winter cyclone shelter. Cold, wind, and wet weather simply can't penetrate. On the flip side, it's also bulky, cumbersome, and very expensive. It is too much jacket for most people most of the time.

The toastiest jackets you're likely to need day-to-day are also some of our favorites — these are the Fjallraven Nuuk, Outdoor Research Coze, Marmot Montreaux, Rab Deep Cover, and Rab Neutrino Pro Down. The Nuuk relies on thick, durable fabric, a protective hood, and synthetic insulation to hold in warmth. The puffy-style Montreaux is loaded with 700 fill power down and a fleece-lined torso. The Deep Cover is incredibly warm thanks to its masses of mid-quality feathers, while the Neutrino packs in 215 grams of top-notch 800 fill power down. Using these higher-quality feathers maximizes the Neutrino's warmth and compressibility while minimizing its weight, making it our favorite winter jacket to pack into the backcountry.

Knee-length parkas like the Montreaux or the Patagonia Jackson Glacier are incredibly cozy in brutally cold weather, which we think of as 10 degrees Fahrenheit or below. The Outdoor Research Coze reaches to the middle of the calves and covers the head with a large, deep, and very warm hood. Coze is right.

The The North Face Outer Boroughs Parka and the Jackson Glacier are also plenty warm for most winter weather. The Jackson Glacier has less down but higher quality 700 fill. The Outer Boroughs has lower quality down but plenty of it, and a thick and windproof shell that holds in heat. Keep in mind that the warmest jackets may be overkill in some conditions. Good design can help mitigate this — the Arc'teryx Patera Parka places 750 fill down where you need to hold in heat, and synthetic insulation where you're likely to generate sweat and need more breathability.

Most of the jackets we tested have smart features to help keep out the cold. Cuffed sleeves keep drafts from creeping up the arms, and insulated fleece-lined pockets are lifesavers on truly frigid days. A solid base layer can also be part of a smart layering system and go a long way in keeping your body heat close.

A warm hood makes a huge difference in cold weather, and we like hoods that are large enough to allow you to fit a beanie underneath. Insulated hoods with faux-fur ruffs that roll out around your face, like those on the Expedition Parka, Nuuk, and The North Face Arctic Parka, keep the head happy in stormy weather. The OR Coze and Rab Neutrino Pro have unique hoods that serve a similar purpose. The Coze has a down baffle that juts out beyond the face to protect it, and the Neutrino has a flexible but stiff brim that allows you to cinch the hood around your face and still see. Both help keep your face warm, but they don't replicate the wind-cutting power of fur, real or faux.

The Canada Goose Expedition Parka uses real coyote fur in the hood ruff. While a fur ruff certainly makes a jacket more protective in a storm, the ethics of using real fur can be controversial. Canada Goose is the only manufacturer in this review that uses real coyote fur, and they are committed to sourcing the fur ethically and responsibly.

Weather Resistance

Winter weather can range from cold and dry to sleet, wind, and freezing rain. If you live in a wet climate like Seattle, having a moderately warm and completely waterproof winter jacket is a good idea. If cold temperatures, biting winds, and dry snow are your reality, warmth and wind resistance are critical. All the models we tested offer some protection from wet weather, from a water-resistant coating to a full-blown waterproof membrane. To test how well each jacket keeps you dry and cuts cold winds, we went for walks on wet snow days, stood in the shower for 2.5 minutes, headed out in windstorms, and braved blizzards.

The Canada Goose Expedition Parka wins in this metric too. It's as close to impenetrable as a winter jacket can be, with a tough outer shell and an insanely protective hood to block wind and snow. Though it's not meant to be used in temperatures where water is in liquid form, it shrugs rain off as well as anything else.

The Arc'teryx Patera and Patagonia Tres are also windproof and are our favorite wet weather options. Both have nicely shaped hoods with good coverage and completely waterproof exteriors that didn't let a drop in during our shower tests. The Tres Parka's water and windproof outer shell work wonderfully as a rain jacket.

The North Face Arctic Parka, The North Face Outer Boroughs Parka, and Fjallraven Nuuk also offer excellent shelter from a storm. Their hoods roll out to form protective tunnels, and the collars zip up to the nose. While the two North Face options have tight and uncomfortable collars when zipped up, the Nuuk provides plenty of room. That said, while you'll stay dry when wearing the Nuuk, the fabric does wet out in rain or wet snow. The Outer Boroughs also has a gap where the faux-fur ruff snaps to the hood that cold air can funnel through.

The Outdoor Research Coze and Rab Neutrino Pro are other impressive options. Both have hoods that form a protective ring around the face and cinch down to keep the wind at bay. They are also incredibly water resistant, easily shrugging off 2.5 minutes of steady water in our shower test.

The Patagonia Jackson Glacier and REI Norseland Parka both have impressive wet weather chops, with DWR coatings that shed moisture effectively and zippers that keep water out. Unfortunately, both also have small and shallow hoods that do very little to protect the face. The Wantdo Waterproof Snow Jacket kept us dry during our shower test, and its hood is extremely protective. Its face fabric, however, wets through and stays that way.

Comfort

Winter jackets can feel restrictive, so we love the ones that feel roomy and cozy instead. We also love soft details that keep the body warm in a storm, like a well-designed hood and protective cuffs. The most comfortable jackets we reviewed are supple and cut to provide plenty of shoulder room to stretch, move, and layer up with a nice fleece. Some winter jackets wrap you in down from your head to your knees, and others drape you in comfortingly weighted canvas. All of these features factor into comfort.

If you like puffy jackets, consider the Outdoor Research Coze, Rab Neutrino Pro, REI Norseland, or the Patagonia Down With It Parka. All earn top marks for combining a great cut with a velvety soft feel. We also adore the Marmot Montreaux with its nicely fitted, downy hood and soft ruff. It offers instant comfort with a plush, fleece-lined torso and collar, though the shoulders are a little tight. The Rab Deep Cover Parka and Canada Goose Camp Hooded also score well for their lofty, unrestrictive down fill and light nylon shells.

If you need a sturdier exterior but don't want to cut on the cozy factor, we suggest the Fjallraven Nuuk. Its design gives you plenty of room to layer and move, the fabric is buttery soft, and its slight heft truly feels like a hug. We also found the cut and comfort of the Arc'teryx Patera Parka impressive. It's trim and flattering but never restrictive, even with the collar fully zipped. It also offers plenty of shoulder room. The sleek outer fabric belies the cozy down baffles inside. Soft storm cuffs hug your wrists, and the insulated hood snugs around your head. The Columbia Suttle Mountain Long and Heavenly Long jackets are similarly easy to wear. They are lightweight with roomy cuts and soft fleece liners in the hood.

Style

Why not stay warm and look good doing it? We know style is subjective, so we weight it less than the metrics above. The winter jackets in this review vary in length, fit, function, and fashion. Some have smooth, sleek outer shells like the Arc'teryx Patera, some sport the rugged, functional look of the Fjallraven Nuuk, and others feature downy baffles, like the Marmot Montreaux. We like all of these styles, but some are executed better than others.

The Rab Deep Cover Parka and Marmot Montreaux are two of the most stylish jackets we tested. They're similar, with thin fabric, down baffles, and a hood with a faux fur ruff. The Deep Cover has horizontal seams and a mid-thigh length. The Montreaux's baffles are angled to create a chevron pattern, and it reaches the knees. Both earned us tons of compliments. The Deep Cover is a bit sportier, while the Montreaux is more elegant, thanks to those angled seams, which suggest a slight drape.

The Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka nails sophisticated winter style, with princess seams and pleasing proportions. We like the look of all three layers. The Patera is a close runner-up. Clever insulation mapping cuts down on bulk to offer a trim silhouette. The handwarmer pockets never interrupt the elegant line, and the face fabric's high quality is evident.

Durability

A durable jacket should serve its intended purpose for years, if not decades. To get one, you may need to spend more. Thicker fabrics stand up to rough use, but thinner shells work fine if you avoid manual labor and things like ski edges. Most of the jackets in this review are made with quality materials and should last, but there are some notable differences.

The North Face Outer Boroughs, The North Face Arctic, and Fjallraven Nuuk parkas seem indestructible with minimal exterior stitching and tough nylon, polyester, and cotton shells. The Canada Goose Expedition Parka feels similarly bombproof. However, we worry about the hook-and-loop storm flap closures on the Arctic and the name-brand Velcro ones on the Expedition Parka — both could wear out over time.

The two-layer polyester and Gore-Tex shell on the Arc'teryx Patera also brushes off sharp sticks and brambles with ease. Based on our experience with this and other Arc'teryx products, we expect it to maintain its weather and windproof properties for many years. The Patagonia Tres has a two-layer H2No membrane and polyester twill fabric that seems invincible. There isn't much to snag or unravel between the sturdy material and minimal external stitching. We did notice a few down feathers escaping from the inner jacket. It's not enough to concern us, but this layer is thin, snaggable, and has loads of external stitching. Keeping this layer up and running will require some care.

Some of the softest and most comfortable jackets we tested didn't earn the highest marks for durability. Jackets like the Montreaux wrap all that lovely down in a thin polyester shell. We ripped a small hole in the Montreaux during testing. It hasn't gotten any bigger, and it's easy to fix, but you do need to take good care of this type of winter jacket if you want it to last. The Jackson Glacier Parka is a good compromise, offering a light and soft down puffy feel with thicker, presumably more durable, fabric.

Conclusion

There is no perfect winter jacket for every occasion. Still, there are plenty of excellent options for your needs, and based on the information we've presented here, you can choose one suitable for the conditions and climate where you live. When it comes to protection against the elements, though, your outermost layer is the most crucial, and winter parkas are just one of many jacket options. If you plan to hit the slopes, you may opt for a top ranked women's ski jacket. If weight to warmth ratio is important, and you don't need the length of a parka, you can't go wrong with a cozy down jacket from our best women's down jacket review.