The best ultralight puffy jacket for under $200

This is not a down jacket, but the Enlightened Equipment Torrid Pullover outperforms most down jackets in its price range when it comes to warmth to weight.

We’ve been tracking the continuous improvement trajectory of synthetic insulation, and it doesn’t surprise us that the highest warmth-to-weight products are still coming out of the ultralight cottage industry.

• Price: $185 | Weight: 8.6 oz
• Fabric: 10D Nylon
• Insulation: ClimaShield Apex
• Pros: Top tier synthetic insulation. Great value. Warm when wet. Kangaroo pocket.
• Cons: Heavier and less effective than 900 fill power down.

Features

Torrid is constructed with ultralight 10D nylon, and filled with Climashield® Apex Insulation. Climashield® is a high-loft, continuous filament sheet insulation that is a highly effective thermal barrier without cold spots, that is warm when wet, durably compressible, and resists tearing, clumping, and shifting through repeated use.

We find it to be similar in warmth-to-weight performance to mid-tier down, likely beating out 650 fill power.

Selling for only $185 and weighing 8.6 oz, this puffy competes with ultralight down jackets that cost twice as much, and crushes most mainstream down sweaters when it comes to warmth-to-weight.

We love a pullover with a kangaroo pocket, it’s our preferred chassis for both fleece and puffy jackets. It helps to keep your hands warmer than separated pockets, is comfier to use, and double insulates your core.

Verdict

So we’ll admit the Torrid is perhaps the least visually appealing puffy jacket on our list, but we’ll write that off because the value and performance is just so dang good relative to the price.

Enlightened Equipment Torrid Pullover is the best performing puffy for under $200 by a mile, and an exciting development in the use of synthetic insulation.

Dive even deeper in our full length,  in-depth review.

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Check out more great ultralight puffy wear in our guide to the best down jackets and pants of the year.