The best women’s gilets 2024: hiking vests and body warmers to keep your core snug (2024)

Gilet, hiking vest, body warmer – whatever you call them, the best women’s gilets are warm, winter-friendly insulated vests ideal for staying cosy and comfortable when you’re outdoors in cold conditions. Whether you need extra warmth around your torso while keeping your arms free or just need a lighter, less bulky alternative to a down jacket, sleeveless vests are brilliant for layering with on cold days and for wearing alone in changeable conditions in fall and spring.

Gilets weren’t always considered the most stylish bits of outdoor kit, but in recent years they’ve become a lot more common, and you’ll spot them worn on mountain peaks, at climbing crags and by cyclists. Outdoorsy types have embraced gilets, having realized these insulated hiking vests are one of the most practical layers you can wear, trapping heat around your core while leaving your arms free to move and working over base layers and under women's waterproof jackets.

If you want to get in on the layering action, we’ve picked ten of the best insulated gilets designed specifically for women, suitable for different weather conditions (you can also check out our best gilets buying guide if you’re looking for more unisex options). We’ve included both warm padded vests that can double up as outer wear as well as slimmer body warmers that you can pop under a winter coat. Plus, our buying guide below explains what features to look for in a gilet and explores the key differences between animal down and synthetic insulation materials.

The best women's gilets

The best women's down gilets

Party like it’s 1996 in The North Face’s new collection of down jackets and gilets, inspired by the designs the brand turned out before the turn of the millennium. We love the old-school looks of the 1996 Retro Nuptse gilet, and this vest ticked all our boxes for design when on test, too: it includes a hood that can be packed away into the collar when it’s not needed: roomy pockets (including handy interior zipped pockets ideal for stashing your phone or other valuables); and a bungee on the hem that helps you adjust the gilet to get a snug fit and further trap in body heat.

While the Nuptse looks rather boxy when on, it packs down small enough to stuff into its own pocket, which is great for popping it in your rucksack on the go. It’s also just about slim enough to fit under a jacket. While appearance isn't the most important factor when choosing an insulated vest, the Nuptse was definitely number one of our best women's gilets when it comes to looks. Top marks.

Featherlite by name and by nature, Montane’s down gilet totals just 255 grams. If you don’t like to feel weighed down by heavy outdoor layers, this is a freeing choice that you’ll barely notice you have on – well, besides the fact that the water-resistant down insulation is doing a great job of warming up your core. The silky outer material looks rather thin but is actually made of reasonably tough recycled nylon, and the soft inner lining feels lovely to wear, too; this is a great vest to pop on to stay cosy and comfy from dawn until dusk. If we could change anything, we’d have made the side panels stretchy, so that this gilet moves with you when you’re picking up the pace, although the adjustable hem and elasticated arm holes go a long way to getting a comfortable fit that still traps in heat.

Insulated gilets are either slim-fitting and easily layered, or big, bulky and seriously warm for use as outer wear – and Columbia’s Bulo Point is firmly in the second category. This is a chunkier, padded gilet that offers impressive warmth – zip it up and it immediately traps in warmth thanks to plentiful down insulation and Columbia’s clever Omni-Heat gold lining, which reflects body heat.

The elasticated arm holes and neck are great for getting a comfortable close fit without restricting movement, and we also like that the vest packs down into its own stuff sack – this could double up as a handy pillow on winter camping trips. You’ll probably either love or loathe the slick, shiny finish of the Bulo Point – we like its urban feel but others may think it looks a tad too much like you’re wearing a bin bag. All in all, this is a high-performing vest that will keep you cosy even in snowy conditions.

If cosy comfort for winter wear is top of your shopping list for the best women's gilets, try the Dyngja for size. This highly padded vest is as close as you’ll get to the feeling of taking your duvet from home out and about with you – it’s stuffed with highly insulating goose and duck down.

If you’re choosing animal down, this is a more eco-friendly choice than many, too, as 66 North use recycled down reclaimed from used clothing and bedding, diverting waste from landfills and extending the lifecycle of the down.

On test we liked the well-placed zipped pockets, handy for valuables, and the high neck, which keeps you warm without feeling restrictive. While we like how smart the creamy white version of this gilet is, the navy blue is probably a more practical choice for keeping it looking clean, and its neutral looks make it work for city streets as well as country strolls. This gilet isn’t water-resistant, so save it for dry but chilly days out.

Is this… a technical vest that actually looks stylish? Canadian brand Nobis do a fine line in high-quality outdoor clothing that you can rely on all winter long, and the new Elora gilet is no different. Plentiful duck down insulation provides instant welcome warmth for all-day wear but the jacket still has a slim profile that looks very smart. The front material is a brushed twill that is fully waterproof and that repelled even heavy rain on test – obviously your arms will get damp, but keeping your torso warm and dry will go far to staying comfortable and cosy if you’re out in the elements all day. Four front pockets are ideal for storing essentials and tools whether you’re working, gardening, fishing or camping. This is an investment piece for sure, but if you plan to wear a gilet daily all winter long, the Elora is worth splashing out on.

The best women's synthetic-fill gilets

We’ve tested out multiple reflective jackets designed to make you more visible when you’re out and about at night, and while they’re very effective many of them do make you look like a blindingly bright beacon whenever you encounter a light source.

The more subtle reflective details on the Proviz REFLECT360 vest’s shoulders, back and sides make you easily spotted under street lighting or in car or bike headlights, but when worn in daylight the vest is a neutral, versatile black that doesn’t make you look like you’re part of a construction team.

This isn’t a one-trick-pony safety vest, either: the down filling offers instant warmth but isn’t too bulky, with a great warmth-to-weight ratio. 180g of insulation traps in heat quickly, but this vest is too insulated to be suitable for fast-paced sports, and is better kept for chilly winter walks and frosty city cycles. The outer material of the gilet proved water-resistant enough to repel light rain, so it’s ideal if you’re heading out in changeable conditions. You can easily layer jackets over this slimmer insulated gilet.

Ever heard of the onion method? Layering up, onion-style, is the best way to keep warm in the outdoors in cold weather, and a lightweight gilet like Alpkit’s new Sierra insulated vest is the perfect mid layer to pop over a base layer and under a warm jacket.

This gilet is so light and comfortable to wear that you’ll barely notice you have it on, but a layer of synthetic PrimaLoft insulation adds welcome warmth around the torso. This lighter vest is ideal for faster-paced sports and outdoor activities, as it’ll keep you cosy without overheating whether you’re climbing, cycling or hiking, and stretchy side panels keep the gilet in place even when you’re moving fast.

We found it worked brilliantly worn under rucksack straps, and it also compresses down for easy storage in a backpack pocket. It’s a pity the vest’s outer material isn’t water-resistant, like many others on the market, but neutral looks and a black colorway make the Sierra work for nigh-on any situation, from commuting to country strolls.

If you want just one handy gilet you can sling on for more relaxed outings in rain or shine, Sundried’s quilted body warmer is a good contender. The outer fabric is water-resistant enough that rain will bead off the surface, while the satin-y inner fabric is soft and cosy to wear.

Hooded gilets aren’t usually very easy to layer, but Sundried get around that with a well-designed detachable and adjustable hood – pop it on if you’re wearing the gilet over a base layer, or zip it off if you want to add a waterproof jacket over the top.

Sundried’s gilet isn’t as warm as some bulkier models we tested, but for warmer days when you don’t need a super-insulated layer it’s useful to sling on. We like the two zipped pockets and the fact that you can cinch in the neck of the gilet using the hood toggles. We also think this body warmer sits at a good price point at well under $100 / £100 – a fuss-free, versatile member of our best women's gilets collection, to wear in fall and spring.

Fancy two gilets for the price of one? The Compress Lite V from Craghoppers is fully reversible, so you can swap between the navy blue and the white sides from day to day. The gilet itself is lightweight, slim-fitting and easy to wear over long-sleeved base layers, and the lack of bulk makes it comfortable to pop under form-fitting waterproofs and tight cycle jackets.

At just 265g, the Compress Lite won’t weigh you down, but it also offers less warmth than a more padded vest, so it works best as part of a layering system, or worn alone in warmer weather. On test we found it a nice vest to reach for when you want a touch more warmth without any bulk when out walking, or even for use indoors when the temperature drops. We also like the longer length, which adds warmth around the hips. The only thing we’d change about the design is that the neck is cut quite low – we prefer a high neck for extra warmth and wind resistance.

The best women's wool-filled gilets

We’ve always rated Icebreaker’s base layers highly on test, so we were excited to put their insulated vest through its paces. Unlike all the other gilets we tested out, this body warmer uses merino wool rather than animal down as insulation – merino is a bit of a wonder material for base layers and mid layers, as it’s naturally warm, breathable, moisture-wicking and more sustainable than animal down.

The resulting vest offers impressive warmth despite its light weight, and its form-fitting design is easy to layer upon. On test we loved the high neck, the longer-length cut around the hips for added warmth and the large hand-warmer pockets.

Elasticated side panels help the Helix vest to feel comfortable even as you move – this is a brilliant pick for faster-paced hikes, cycling (for work or play), climbing and other active sports where you need winter-appropriate warmth without too much heat or bulk. The sizing is on the small side, so consider ordering a size up to layer under.

How we test women's gilets

Our female reviewers test women-specific gilets on trails in a range of environments in the colder months and shoulder seasons. Features (including insulation, thermal properties, style, available colours, materials, hoods, weight and overall comfort) are tested against claims made by the brand, and we assess factors such as value for money, durability, functionality and environmental impact.

How to choose the best women's gilet

We reckon you can split the best women's gilets into two camps: slimmer hiking vests that can be layered under jackets but that tend to offer less warmth, and warm but bulkier puffer-style vests that are best used as an outer layer. Think about whether you want to wear your new gilet as a mid layer or as a standalone jacket – the former are better for active sports, as you’ll have more freedom of movement and won’t overheat, while the latter will keep you cosy on winter walks and are often more wind and water-resistant.

Fit

The main function of a gilet is to trap in heat around your torso, so whatever kind of vest you choose it needs to be slim-fitting enough that there’s no extra space inside the gilet once it’s zipped up. That said, you don’t want your vest to be too tight – make sure you can easily fit inner layers under your new gilet, and that there’s plenty of space to move your arms freely without any restriction, and that the gilet doesn’t ride up as you walk.

We like gilets that are cut lower on the hips, to keep your torso that bit warmer. A hood and/or a high-cut neck are useful for keeping your neck and face protected from the elements, and don’t forget to check your new vest has roomy (and ideally zipped) pockets – more technical vests often also have chest or internal pockets too, handy for storing small tools and other essentials as well as for keeping your hands warm.

Insulation

When picking an insulated gilet, the main question is whether you go for down or synthetic insulation. Down was traditionally higher-performing than synthetic materials, but the latter are catching up fast. If you want a mid-layer for high-intensity activities such as hiking or cycling, a lightly padded synthetic jacket is probably a better option. If you’re all about keeping cosy, warm animal down has traditionally been your best bet, but many synthetic insulating materials do now perform as well as animal down.

There’s an animal welfare issue with the production of some down jackets. The cheapest down is harvested from live (and sometimes force-fed) animals. You’ll see other down jackets labelled ‘humanely harvested’, which means the down is a by-product of food production. Ethically traced down is more expensive, but is well worth spending more cash on. Synthetic down jackets avoid this problem all together. (See also: The best eco-friendly outdoor brands.)

If you’re on the market to buy one good-quality jacket, we’d recommend picking something that either uses synthetic insulation or a company using humane, traceable down. There are other options on the market – merino wool makes great insulation, and some brands are recycling old, discarded down in their gilet designs, which saves it from landfill.

Waterproofing

If you’re wearing your new gilet in winter, it’s likely you might encounter some rain or snow. Down is notorious for being useless when wet, while synthetic insulation does retain some warmth when damp. These days, both kinds of insulation are usually treated to be water-resistant and will withstand a light shower or a bit of snow, and are thus a more versatile pick for the outdoors, where the weather can change at short notice.

• The best waterproof jackets: stay warm and comfortable in any weather