The Best Men’s Puffer Vests To Buy In 2022
When in need of a new layer to keep you warm, a lack of sleeves may feel like a dealbreaker. After all, you wouldn’t buy a car without brakes or a house without a roof, would you? It’s just a fundamental part of the package. But to strike a men’s puffer vest from your outerwear wish-list because of its sleeveless design would be a mistake. In fact, it would be to deny yourself one of the greatest layering pieces in modern menswear.
Once a country staple, the merging of old-school dress codes has seen puffer vests infiltrate all areas of men’s fashion. It’s been layered over baggy hoodies by haute-streetwear pioneers. It’s been slimmed down and styled under tailored jackets by style-savvy city workers. It’s been teamed up with preppy pieces like Oxford shirts and boat shoes, and paraded around university campuses by the Ivy League elite.
The best puffer vests for men (also known as gilets), you see, are more than just an extra layer of insulation. They’re an economical way of adding something else to your look – another color or texture to give your outfit a lift. For many years, you could only seem to get padded ones but now they’re available in fleece, canvas, corduroy and wool.
Here are some modern ways to wear one, as well as some suggestions on where to get the most bang for your buck.
The Best Men’s Puffer Vests
Uniqlo
Japanese high-street outfitter Uniqlo is a safe bet for most menswear essentials, but alongside Oxford shirts and reasonably priced selvedge denim, it’s ultra-light down vests and jackets that it does best. Beyond classic styles, there are also V-neck puffer vests, which are perfect for lining your suit jacket on wintery morning commutes. At less than $50 a pop, you’ll struggle to find better.
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Patagonia
When it’s not busy saving the planet or suing Donald Trump, Patagonia is making some of the best down vests around. Durable, packable and made using ethically sourced down and recycled fabrics, the best men’s puffer vest from Patagonia is as much an investment in the environment as it is in your wardrobe. Plus, if you happen to tear it on a particularly jagged rock (read: bus-shelter wall) while out climbing (read: waiting for the bus), Patagonia will fix it up as part of its Worn Wear initiative.
