REASONS TO BUY
Great price
Decent weather protection
Lightweight
Stuff sack included
REASONS TO AVOID
Lower quality
Limited ventilation
Restrictive
Amazon Essentials Lightweight Puffer Hooded Review
A comfortable insulated jacket that provides acceptable warmth at a price that's hard to beat
We took the Amazon puffer onto a frozen lake to test it against the wind and cold.
Credit: Travis Reddinger
RELATED: The Best Insulated Jackets
Our Verdict
The Amazon Essentials Lightweight Puffer Hooded is a low-cost option for those seeking a lightweight insulated jacket with some weather protection. This jacket has a high rating in the reviews at roughly 1/6 the price of some competitors. This lightweight jacket works well for cooler temperatures throughout the year or as a mid-layer when things turn cold. It is not a good choice for colder temperatures, and this jacket doesn't have the best manufacturing quality, so durability is a concern. With an insulated hood, water-resistant shell, multiple pockets, and an included stuff sack for storage, this jacket is a good option for those casual users or those on a strict budget. Check out the insulated jacket guide to see how it compares to the others.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Amazon Essentials Lightweight Puffer Hooded | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best on A Tight Budget |  Best Overall Insulated Jacket |  Most Comfortable | Best Buy | |
| Price | $43 List $28.93 at Amazon | $239.95 at Evo Compare at 3 sellers | $260 List $260.00 at Amazon | $100 List $99.95 at REI | $77.99 at Backcountry |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | An uninspiring insulated jacket at a great low price | This insulated jacket is the go-to choice when the temperatures drop below freezing | A feature rich insulation layer that is great for hiking, snow sports, and climbing | This basic yet comfy insulated jacket is a solid choice for mild winter days | This insulated waterproof jacket provides weather protection at a reasonable price |
| Rating Categories | Amazon Essentials L... | Rab Nebula Pro Insu... | Rab Xenair Alpine | REI Co-op Trailmade... | Carhartt Rain Defender |
| Warmth (25%) | |||||
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Weather Resistance (20%) | |||||
| Portability (15%) | |||||
| Breathability (15%) | |||||
| Specifications | Amazon Essentials L... | Rab Nebula Pro Insu... | Rab Xenair Alpine | REI Co-op Trailmade... | Carhartt Rain Defender |
| Measured Weight (size M) | 14.85 oz | 21.2 oz | 18.30 oz | 17.07 oz | 18.98 oz |
| Insulation | 100% polyester | PrimaLoft® Silver RISE 100% recycled synthetic insulation | PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Active+ | 80 g polyester (98% recycled; bluesign approved) synthetic | 100% polyester insulation |
| Outer Fabric | 100% nylon | 30D Recycled Pertex® Quantum Pro outer (52gsm) with fluorocarbon free DWR | 20D Pertex Quantum Air with fluorocarbon-free DWR | Recycled polyester taffeta (bluesign approved) | 100% nylon CORDURA® fabric shell |
| Lining | 100% nylon | 0D Recycled Pertex® Quantum lining (38gsm) with fluorocarbon free DWR | 20D recycled nylon | Recycled polyester taffeta (bluesign approved) | Quilted nylon lining |
| Number of Pockets | 2 zippered hand 2 internal drop in | 2 zippered hand and one inside chest | 2 zippered hand, 2 zippered chest | 2 zippered hand | 2 snap closure hand, one inner zipper, one velcro inner |
| Hem Type | elastic | Adjustable x2 | Dual adjustment | Adjustable | Adjustable x2 |
| Fit | Regular | Regular | Regular fit | Regular | Regular |
| Hood Option | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Built-In Stow Pocket | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Cuff Construction | Elastic | Elastic with velcro adjustment | Elastic with velcro adjustment | Elastic | Velcro |
| Spec #10 |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Amazon Essentials Lightweight Puffer Hooded is a slimmer-fitting lightweight jacket with an insulated hood. This basic jacket has 100% polyester insulation and a nylon shell with a simple elastic hem and cuffs. Storage is provided by two external zip-up pockets and two internal slip pockets, and a small drawstring stuff sack is included for travel.
Performance Comparison
The Amazon Essentials Lightweight Puffer is tested in various winter scenarios for fit and function.
Credit: Travis Reddinger
Warmth
The Amazon Essentials Lightweight Puffer Hooded provides decent warmth for such an inexpensive insulated jacket. This baffle-design jacket uses 100% polyester insulation to retain body heat and a nylon shell to keep the elements from cutting through. This jacket doesn't have enough insulation to protect from cold weather but is adequate for the cooler temps of spring and fall. The sleeves are a little short when arms are extended, but the hem hangs just low enough to keep your butt covered.
With the hood up, the jacket zips high enough to keep your chin covered, but the elastic provides almost no stretch or compression to keep it tight. This jacket is not ideal for very cold temperatures, but the soft and flexible fabric makes it a good option as a mid-layer.
The hood and hem provide a little extra protection from the elements.
Credit: Travis Reddinger
Comfort
The Amazon Essentials Lightweight Puffer Hooded is a decently comfortable jacket, but has some flaws. The baffle design and insulated hood are comfortable to wear with a lightweight feel. The elastic hem and cuffs are not too tight and allow for the jacket to move with you. Unfortunately, there is no way to adjust the tension of the hem, sleeve, or hood on this jacket. The external pockets are decent-sized, and the inner slip pockets provide extra storage.
The Amazon lightweight Puffer has a regular to slim fit, resulting in some restriction when moving. When the arms are extended, the sleeves pull up to about mid-forearm and stay there. We also found our range of motion to be limited with tightness in the armpits and upper back. This jacket feels light and flexible with activities, but the limited range of motion was annoying enough to deter its use.
Simple design without excess features help to keep jackets affordable.
Credit: Travis Reddinger
Weather Resistance
The Amazon Essentials Lightweight Puffer Hooded does a sufficient job of preventing Mother Nature from stealing your warmth. The nylon shell and hood keep the wind out with some water-repellant function. The lower hem and cuffs cannot be tightened, so if the wind picks up, there is no way to cinch them down.
The shell causes water to bead, so there is some protection if you get caught in the rain. The main zipper prevented water entry, but the zippers on the pockets allowed water to seep through. The baffle stitching and seams of the jacket were found to be weak areas and allowed water to penetrate through.
We test all jackets for their ability to resist water.
Credit: Travis Reddinger
Portability
The Amazon Essentials Lightweight Puffer Hooded we tested weighed in at almost 15 ounces for a men's medium, which is about average for the test group. The jacket feels very light, portable, and flexible enough for easy travel.
A separate stuff sack makes for simple transport.
Credit: Travis Reddinger
Breathability
The Amazon Essentials Lightweight Puffer Hooded provides average breathability but isn't one we would use for vigorous activities. Using it as a mid-layer, we didn't find ourselves becoming too overheated or sweating into the base layer, which is a good thing.
The sleeves were a little short and constricting for our taste.
Credit: Travis Reddinger
Should You Buy the Amazon Essentials Lightweight Puffer Hooded?
The Amazon Essentials Lightweight Puffer Hooded is a budget option that provides average warmth and protection. If you need a jacket for cold weather with many features for hiking or skiing, there are better options out there. If you need an affordable jacket for casual use or something you are worried about wrecking, this is a perfect option.
The non adjustable shorter hem of the Amazon Puffer limited the wind protection and warmth.
Credit: Travis Reddinger
What Other Insulated Jackets Should You Consider?
The Amazon Essentials Lightweight Puffer Hooded is a basic insulated jacket for cooler weather use without a heavy price tag. If you want something with a little better quality and durability, the REI Co-op Trailmade Hoodie is a much nicer jacket for just a little more money. If money is no concern, the Patagonia DAS Light Hoody provides great water protection, and the Rab Nebula Pro is the cold weather jacket of choice.
—Travis Reddinger
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