Andrew MacNeil

Jackson M

Best Men’s Lightweight Insulated Jackets

These days, you may most commonly see lightweight synthetic jackets worn casually around town for a little bit of warmth or weather protection on a cool fall or spring day. But aside from their frequent casual use, these jackets are a great multi-purpose midlayer for hiking, skiing, etc., and can be compacted down super tight to minimize space in your pack. The overall versatility, light weight, breathability, comfort, and reasonable price points make these jackets a must have for every outdoor lover’s apparel collection. 


+ Warmth, mobility, comfort, hooded, weather resistant - works well as a both a midlayer and standalone jacket

- Pricier than its competitors, breathability

✓ All around great jacket by one of the top brands in outdoor wear today. The LT Hoody can be worn for many uses and is going to stand up to the weather and everyday use better than some of the other jackets on the list

The North Face ThermoBall Eco Insulated Jacket (Best Value) 

+ Similar to the Patagonia Nano, light, comfortable, compact, versatile

- Durability is going to be an issue when worn actively as outerwear, but nylon is going to hold up a bit more than polyester

✓ For this price, this jacket is a solid option for the casual hiking and camping person. Thermoball won't compete well against the two scoring leaders in this pack, but it will keep you comfortable and can easily be worn with a hard shell to protect the material and keep you dry

+ Lightweight, comfortable, variety of colors available, compact for packing, extremely versatile for many activities

- Durability, standing up to any serious weather, no hood on this version (nano-puff hoody is an option)

✓ A staple of many active people 's outdoor wear. Great casual lightweight jacket for variety of uses, from hanging out at the campsite to being used as a (light) mid layer when coupled with a heavier jacket or hard-shell

+ Lightweight, breathable, versatile, decent price point, windproof

- No waist draw string, a bit bulkier than its peers

✓ Good, solid overall jacket built with high quality. You won't go wrong with this choice, but there are more better value options and overall higher quality products on the list

Black Diamond First Light Stretch Hoody + Four-season insulation, breathability, stretchability, durability

- The priciest of the bunch, a touch on the heavy side due to durability, warmth and weather resistance

✓ This jacket is probably our second favorite on the list, and customers love it. If you are getting out in the elements, the durability of this jacket might be worth the price point. If you're a casual hiker/camper, there are some more affordable choices in our list

The Aventura team page - check it out for trips, guides, gear recs, inspiration and more. 