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By Heidi Quill , Jessie Atkinson and Faye Fearon
A piece of outerwear that prioritises comfort without skimping on style, investing in a quality puffer jacket is one of the best winter fashion moves you can make. Shop GQ’s pick of the best options to beat the chill in style
Let's be honest, on the coldest of English mornings, when frost is covering every surface and your car is closer to operating as a fridge, those more sophisticated wool overcoats just don't cut it. In fact, those days are made for the puffer jacket. Down-filled for supreme outerwear insulation, the puffer is the perfect coat for those who have rightly prioritised comfortable, cosy wardrobe additions this year, offering the snugness of your beloved duvet even on the most teeth-chattering winter walk.
With everyone from sports and outdoor brands such as Nike and The North Face to fashion houses such as Gucci and Prada getting down with the puffer jacket this season, there’s no need for a comfortable coat to come at the expense of your discerning sense of style. In fact, puffer jackets are the winter coat of choice for such men’s style icons as David Beckham, Drake, Daniel Craig and Frank Ocean, to name just a few.
Which is why, just in time for the turn of the seasons, we’ve done our duty in scouring the online outerwear rails to bring you the best puffer jackets to beat the chill. Life is about to get a whole lot cosier…
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Haven’t you heard? Abercrombie is cool now. A lightyear away from the moose-studded prepwear of the early aughts, this puffer jacket — which is on the lighter side of the kind typically on offer — comes in cream, navy, black and green. And at under £100? One in each colour, please.
With convenience at its core, the Crofton puffer from Canada Goose is an easy-to-stash pick for the man on the move. Easily worn as a crossbody bag or backpack, this puffer goes from jacket to carry-on in just a few smooth moves. And, when worn in full down jacket mode, this gold-tone jacket can withstand temperatures up to -25 degrees celsius.
Keep it monochromatic with this black and white panelled down jacket from The North Face. Windproof, water-repellent, filled with a lofty down and yet breathable, this puffer does it all and does it well. Finished with the label's instantly recognisable logo at the chest, this jacket secures with a zip fastening that runs from the piece's hem all the way up to your chin, leaving no room for wind or rain. Wrap up and stay warm out there.
Where goose-down jackets were once the saviour of cold water workers, they’re now the reserve of fashion lovers who get a little bit chilly when the mercury drops. Moncler serves the latter audience well with this hybrid, which keeps the down-stuffed body but adds knitted sleeves for a little bit of a twist.
Did you have M&S making one of the best puffer jackets of the season on your 2024 bingo card? If not, this will be a nice surprise for you: the department store’s affordable winter piece uses feather and down to fill out chocolate brown padded panels, finishing it off with a detachable hood, soft feel and stormproof tech.
Feather fillings? Forget them. The ever-innovative and enviro-loving Pangaia is instead insulated with ‘FLWRDWN', a bio-based, animal-free alternative to traditional down that uses wildflowers. Plus, this puffer jacket diverts pre-consumer waste materials from landfills. Simply put, this is a style that looks good, and does good.
Outfitter to the East London masses, Carhartt WIP's utilitarian output simply never gets old. A water-repellent shell filled with feather down, this Carhartt puffer is sharp, cosy, and dripping with streetwear edge. Get on board.
Axel Arigato's chocolate-brown puffer has all the trappings of a grail. Dubbed the ‘Nebraska’, this voluminous choice is made from lightweight recycled polyester that’s filled with re-used down and feathers, sealed by a cinching waist for a customised fit.
If you want a simple, no-nonsense puffer jacket that will get you from point A to point B with no dramas, Uniqlo's seamless pick is one for you. Complete with a water-repellent coating, this longline puffer lends itself to a sporty style, thanks to its matte fabric and streamlined feel.
Designed for both metropolitan and mountainous lifestyles, Moncler's pieces transcend seasons with its modern styles. Keeping you warm in style, this ‘Wollaston’ down jacket maintains a light weight despite its major insulation, whilst its shiny finish adds a lick of panache.
It’s the little things that separate a lacklustre puffer from the cream of the puffed-up crop. Cos excels at those little things: evenly distributed down for a perfectly pillowy shape, curving collars for chin-hugging style and warmth, and just the right crop for a physique-flattering finish. Just as excellent in off-white or black, but our favourite colourway is the airy light grey for its modish Yeezy-esque vibe.
Looking to stand out amid a sea of navy and noir-clad commuters? Look no further. In a dual-panelled design, Arc'Teryx's answer to the puffer is here to ensure your partner never loses sight of you, whether you're scaling a foggy mountain, or just braving the crowds at Oxford Street.
Perhaps better known for its output of celeb-adored knitwear (Jamie Dornan and Chris Evans are fans, FYI), Percival also offers a pretty major line of outerwear. Ideal for days when leaving your duvet behind is particularly difficult, this fluffy puffer from Percival is trimmed with some subtle logo tape, adding dimension to its voluminous design.
This boxy beauty from Gucci forms part of the label’s Aria collection, from a runway dedicated to the glamour of Hollywood with all the usual tinges of Italian heritage and equestrian iconography, all wrapped up in a dynamic 1970s-style flair. This puffer is among the warmest offerings of the collection, filled with down and secured with a press-stud front fastening, and is finished with the label’s signature Web stripe and logo patch detail.
A rich latte cream hue and a little added length in this coat make it something we can imagine on the back of Roger Moore’s James Bond. Opting to put its pockets on the outside rather than the customary quilted jacket style, this is another Reiss triumph that’s a shoo-in for anyone who’ll be in the vicinity of the slopes this winter.
Those of you who have ever looked at a four year-old girl’s wardrobe and felt envy…this acid trip of a pink floral puffer goes out to you. Brainchild of L.A. brand ERL, this twill outer, down inner special is inspired by the 1970s and intended for the very bravest — and coolest — among you.
New York-based brand Schott may be known for its leather jackets, but did you know that they serve an excellent selection of puffer styles too? A fine case in point is this new Blackburn design: crafted from a down-packed cotton-blend shell and nodding to the brand’s most famed texture through supple leather shoulder panels. A hardy outerwear staple in all manners, we suggest pairing it with your best black essentials to channel the muted codes of the brand.
If a bright and billowing puffer jacket is a bit much for you, good news: Moorer provides a simpler solution. Reflecting the Italian brand’s flair for exquisitely elegant pieces, this puffer jacket takes a more sartorial stance through its tailored silhouette – framed with notch lapels, tortoiseshell buttons and flap pockets. Thanks to the high-fill down of its fabric, rest assured that it will also help you weather the storm.
The Marmite of fashion prints, Burberry’s ‘Vintage Check’ gets a darker update on this collectable choice, which makes up for its price with the promise of years of wear. And, if you're wondering, yes: Burberry check does count as a neutral.
Windbreakers By The Editors of GQ