8 best men’s gilets for layering up during outdoor adventures

The North Face’s nuptse puffer jacket is nothing short of an outerwear legend. Its cropped cut and oversized baffles (they’re the poofy panels that the down insulation lives inside of) have made it a huge hit with everyone from alpine explorers to NYC rap royalty, which we’re sure you’ll agree is a pretty broad spectrum.

This sleeveless version offers everything that makes the original nuptse so great, but it doesn’t have to go into hibernation when the winter is over. It’s still heavily insulated to keep your core nice and toasty, but the sleeveless design means you can wear it in warmer weather without causing unsightly sweat patches to form.

We love the fit, which we would say is true to size while still leaving room for a hoodie or sweater underneath. The packable hood is a nice touch, although we rarely used it, and the drawstring hem is great for sealing the cold out on blustery days.

This super lightweight down gilet is the work of Danish premium cycling apparel brand Pas Normal Studios. Its cycling kit is known for being some of the best looking and most luxurious (read: expensive) in the game, so we were excited when it first started dabbling in off-the-bike clothing a few years back.

This packable vest has a regular fit that works well in everyday casual settings as opposed to hunched over a set of handlabars. It delivers an impressive amount of warmth for its incredibly low weight and stuffs into a handy carry pouch for easy transportation. We’re big fans of the two-way zipper, which is useful for ventilation, and the back pocket is a nice touch for stashing valuables like keys and cards.

The downside? It’s rather expensive (although it is currently on sale). There are plenty of other similar options out there for a smaller financial outlay. But do they look as good as this one? That’s for you to decide.

You don’t have to drop a small fortune to get a lightweight, packable down gilet. This reasonably priced option from Japanese retailer Uniqlo offers all the insulation, packability and practicality you’d expect from a big-name outdoor brand, but with a price tag that leaves plenty of room for maneouvreability. Granted, the fabric and zippers may be a tad more flimsy than those you’d get from your Patagonias and Rabs, but if you’re on a budget then it’s an excellent alternative.

This gilet can survive in the great outdoors, but we’d recommend it predominantly for everyday casual use. It’s a great tool for layering up on particularly chilly days, and the lightweight and low-profile design mean it’s not too bulky or cumbersome when worn underneath coats and jackets. It even works with light outerwear, like an overshirt, for tricky transitional layering. And all of that versatility for less than £40.

Universal Works blends elements of casualwear, sportswear, workwear and soft tailoring to form its own unique aesthetic. A big part of the Universal Works look is layering. Pieces are designed to be stacked, and the gilet has long been a key garment in the British brand’s offering.

This fleecy little number is surprisingly versatile and not too outrageously priced either. It has a wide neckline that makes it excellent for layering up, a two-way zipper, three patch pockets to the front and a textured woollen fabric. It’s not warm enough to fend off the cold all on its own, but it works great as an extra barrier against chilly weather when worn with a coat, jacket or even a blazer. We’d recommend it to anyone looking for a stylish casual option that’ll go with anything and everything.

Patagonia’s deep-pile fleece outerwear is some of the best in the business. The Californian outdoor brand has been making heavily textured fleeces for many decades, and this particular vest is a sleeveless version of one of its most popular styles: the retro-X jacket.

The gilet is made from cream coloured fleece with contrast trim to the chest pocket, zip pulls, neck and hem. It’s cut slim in the body, which means it’s great for layering on top of, but if you’re in between sizes and want room for a jumper underneath then you might want to think about sizing up. We love the retro look of this gilet and the way it can be used to jazz up otherwise boring casual outfits. If you’re looking for a versatile, everyday layer with character then this is the gilet for you.

This limited-edition down vest from Iceland’s 66°North is a bit of a head turner. It features an all-over print made from images captured by local photographer Benjamin Hardman, and no two are the same. It’s made from a recycled polyester fabric, which is stuffed full of 700 fill-power down insulation for a puffy, oversized silhouette and maximum heat retention.

Make no mistake, this is a very warm gilet. In fact, we’d say it works best as a standalone outer layer in the autumn and spring, or on milder winter days, particularly when layered up with a fleece, hoodie, jumper, or some other similar midlayer. In terms of sizing, we’d say it runs pretty large so we’d suggest going a full size down from your usual in order to get the best fit.

Let us preface this by acknowledging that this is by no means a cheap gilet. It’s very much at the premium end of the pricing spectrum. Unfortunately, that’s par for the course when dealing with a brand that builds outerwear capable of standing up to the harshest conditions on earth. Sure, you’re just as likely to spot Canada Goose’s round logo patch in European city centres as you are at Antarctic research outposts these days, but the fact remains that this is tough-as-nails gear designed with cold-weather performance front and centre.

The freestyle vest is the Canadian brand’s best-selling sleeveless jacket and has been a staple in the range for many years. It’s made from the same highly durable face fabric you’ll find in many of the label’s flagship parkas, and everything from the zippers to the press studs feels equally robust and rock solid.

One of our favourite features is the unusual pocket layout. The gilet has two three-way patch pockets to the front, complete with fleece lining to keep hands warm. There’s also a zip stash pocket just inside the main zip and a mesh compartment on the other side that’s perfect for keys, a wallet, or even a spare goggle lens if you’re skiing. The inside of the neck is fleece-lined too, which makes it nice and comfortable against the skin when worn without a hooded or collared garment underneath, and the low-cut back is great for keeping the cold out.

One thing to bear in mind is sizing. We’d say this gilet runs very slim. If you’re usually in between sizes or are in any way broad in the torso, size up for the best possible fit. Oh, and if you’re (understandably) worried about fur, don’t be, as the brand has now ceased the use of real fur in all of its products.

Looking for a super lightweight and packable gilet for alpine adventures and high-output outdoor activities? This one from renowned down outerwear specialist Rab is one of the best in the business. It’s designed to keep your core warm while also being breathable enough to handle things like hiking, mountaineering and anything else that puts you at increased risk of getting a bit sweaty while out and about.

Interestingly for a brand that specialises in down, the cirrus flex 2.0 vest doesn’t use down insulation. Instead it uses a synthetic filling, which is very similar to its feathered counterpart in terms of weight, insulation and loft, but unlike down, will keep performing when it gets wet. It has plenty of pockets, including two internal stash pockets, and the whole thing packs neatly into a little carry pouch.