It’s all in the name really. A waterproof puffer jacket is an insulated “puffy” jacket that’s also waterproof. They’re typically insulated with duck down, goose down, or a synthetic alternative.

Puffer jackets started becoming popular in the 1990s and, before long, it seemed almost everyone was wearing them in winter. They were warm, but when it came to durability and water-resistance, they were found wanting.

Most puffer jackets were—and still are—made from lightweight, flimsy fabrics that leak water and rip easily. And when down gets wet, it loses its insulating powers. 

This kind of performance doesn’t cut it for people who spend a lot of time outdoors in cold, wet weather, such as hikers, hunters, and farmers.

The waterproof puffer jacket was the solution. But there were challenges around creating a waterproof, insulated jacket that was breathable and allowed for freedom of movement.

A true waterproof puffer jacket required a 3-layer construction, similar to regular waterproof jackets: 

• Waterproof outer shell

• Insulation in the middle

• Breathable inner lining

The major difference being regular puffer jackets have a lot more stitching due to the dozens of down baffles. Water can penetrate the tiny holes created by stitching so a new solution was required for creating down baffles.

The face fabric also needed to be more tough and durable than regular puffer jackets.

At Bushbuck, we solved this problem with the release of our Igloo Waterproof Puffer Jacket which used Fusearc Technology to fuse, rather than stitch, the down baffles, and a durable canvas outer fabric.

We classify a waterproof puffer jacket as a warm, insulated “puffer” that you can wear in the rain. It’s fully waterproof, not just showerproof or water-resistant. 

Other brands have created their own solutions and, here, we’ll compare some of the best waterproof puffer jackets on the market.

You’ve seen the features compared head-to-head, but which waterproof puffer is best suited to your needs?

Bushbuck Furnace Lightweight Waterproof Puffer Jacket

The Bushbuck Furnace Waterproof Puffer Jacket is a more lightweight, compact puffer jacket than most. At just 800 grams (size L) it’s the lightest waterproof puffer jacket of the ones we’re comparing here.

It’s designed for hiking and adventure, but doubles as an everyday puffer. With 160 grams of 800-fill hydrophobic duck down, it’s not as “puffy” as some puffer jackets. But when it comes to warmth, the Furnace is true to its name. 

It has a 10,000mm waterproof rating, comparable to a good-quality waterproof jacket. It uses Bushbuck’s FuseArc Technology, which means the down baffles are fused rather than stitched to prevent water getting in. And all the zips are water repellent with a storm flap for extra protection.

The ripstop nylon face fabric is much more durable than conventional puffer jackets. 

The underarm “pit zips” are great for managing heat. If you’re hiking up a hill you can open the zips to offload heat, and when you’re on the flat or having a break, you can zip them up.

Read the full Tech Talk on the Furnace Waterproof Puffer Jacket

Bushbuck Igloo Canvas Waterproof Puffer Jacket 

The Bushbuck Igloo is probably the most hardcore puffer jacket you can get. It’s ultra-warm with 290 grams of 800-fill RDS duck down. 

Like the Furnace, it has a 10,000mm waterproof rating with fused seams to prevent water getting in and waterproof YKK zippers.

But the thing that really sets the Igloo apart is the durable 100% nylon canvas face fabric, which is tougher than most—if not all—puffers on the market.

With that amount of insulation and no underarm zips for offloading heat, the Igloo is probably a bit too warm and bulky for taking on a gruelling hike.

But it’s a great option for getting around the farm, standing on the sidelines at the kids’ sports matches, and running errands around town in seriously cold temperatures.

The Igloo is pretty much the warmer, waterproof version of the Bushbuck Polar X Puffer Jacket.

Read the full Tech Talk on the Igloo Waterproof Canvas Puffer Jacket

Macpac Phoenix Waterproof Down Jacket

The Phoenix is Macpac’s version of a waterproof down puffer jacket and, from what we can tell, it’s a solid winter jacket.

All up, it has 253 grams of insulation—173 grams of 700-fill goose down and 80 grams of PrimaLoft® Gold, a synthetic insulation, in “moisture-prone areas”. This should deliver as much warmth as you need in most winter conditions.

The jacket has a 10,000mm waterproof rating, which is achieved with the Pertex® Shield outer fabric, bonded baffles, YKK waterproof zips, and C6 DWR treatment.

As far as durability goes, Pertex® Shield is a nylon fabric that is probably comparable to ripstop nylon in terms of toughness and abrasion resistance. It’s not as durable as the canvas outer fabric in the Bushbuck Igloo, for example, but it’s better than most generic puffer jackets.

At 820 grams (size medium) it’s a reasonably lightweight waterproof puffer jacket, but not as light as the Bushbuck Furnace. 

Macpac gear is designed primarily for hikers, but with no pit zips for dumping heat this puffer jacket will likely be too warm for strenuous activities. It will be a great option for around camp, at the hut, and everyday wear during winter. One thing to note is the Phoenix is the most expensive of all the waterproof puffers we found, unless you can get it on a decent sale.

Huntech MacKinnon Waterproof Puffer Jacket

The MacKinnon jacket is Huntech’s take on a waterproof puffer, and it’s a solid all-rounder for cold and wet weather. The MacKinnon is packed with 750-fill ethical water-resistant duck down, but Huntech doesn’t say how much down is in the jacket and there are no reviews on the website so we can’t rank it for warmth. 

The outer shell is made from ripstop nylon and has a waterproof rating of 11,286mm. The jacket looks to have bonded baffles and is seam sealed in areas that require stitching (such as around the hood, shoulders and pockets). It’s designed to be tough enough for outdoor adventures.

The MacKinnon puffer weighs 900 grams (size M), which is comparable to most other jackets we’re looking at here.

There are no underarm zips for managing heat when you’re on-the-go, but the MacKinnon has all the features you need for keeping warm and dry in miserable weather. It’s going to deliver much better performance than regular puffer jackets.

Swazi Puffadder Jacket

The Puffadder is Swazi’s showerproof puffer jacket. It’s not waterproof, but still deserves a mention here as not everyone needs a fully waterproof puffer jacket. 

The jacket is filled with synthetic comfortemp® insulation, but Swazi doesn’t say how much insulation the Puffadder has so it’s hard to say how warm it will be. Comfortemp® is known to be highly breathable and it retains its insulating properties when it gets wet.

The face fabric is Swazi’s own Gen II Strata®, which is said to be showerproof and have more stretch for freedom of movement, but it’s not as durable as most of the other puffer jackets we’re comparing here. Weighing 1 kilogram (size L) it’s not the most lightweight puffer either.

With stitched baffles and no waterproof zippers, it seems all of the showerproof performance comes from the face fabric.

The Puffadder is a bit of an upgrade from a regular puffer jacket, but doesn’t offer much in the way of water resistance and durability. 

Stoney Creek Thermotough Jacket 

The Thermotough is Stoney Creek’s version of a more durable, water resistant puffer jacket and it’s a worthy contender. 

The insulation is recycled Primaloft® Silver Down Blend. Primaloft® is a synthetic insulation, but the Silver down blend is said to consist of 40% Primaloft® synthetic fibres and 60% goose down. It’s apparently comparable to 650 fill down insulation. However, Stoney Creek doesn’t say how much insulation the Thermotough jacket has so it’s hard to tell how warm it will be.

The face fabric is durable nylon ripstop, similar to the Bushbuck Furnace, which offers solid abrasion-resistance for outdoor activities.

The Thermotough is water resistant, not waterproof. The face fabric is treated with DWR and the insulation baffles are welded rather than stitched. It should be sweet in light showers, but reviews say you’ll want your rain jacket in heavier rain.

With no underarm zips, the Thermotough you’re going to have a hard time regulating your temperature when the going gets tough. 

Hunters Element Forge Jacket 

The Forge Jacket from Hunters Element is a water-resistant, hard-wearing insulated jacket. There’s not a heap of information about this jacket online, but here’s what we do know.

The Forge is insulated with 650 fill power RDS down, but they don’t say how much down it has so it’s difficult to know how warm it will be. 

The outer is made from a ripstop fabric, but it’s not clear if it’s nylon, polyester, or something else. The face fabric is treated with PFC-free DWR and the jacket has bonded baffles for increased water resistance. The Forge Jacket isn’t waterproof, but it should provide some protection in light rain. 

It looks relatively compact to wear and comes with a stuff sack for compressing it down and stashing in your pack, which is convenient for hikers and hunters. Without any underarm zips, there’s nothing extra in the way of temperature regulation for when you’re charging up hills.

Cactus Outdoor Canvas Down Jacket

The Cactus Outdoor Canvas Down Jacket is another waterproof option worth comparing here. It’s not strictly a “puffer jacket” but it’s a durable, waterproof jacket insulated with down.

The Cactus canvas jacket uses a 750-fill ethical goose down which delivers more warmth than duck down. The down fill weight isn’t advertised so we don’t know exactly how warm the jacket is. This jacket also doesn’t use baffles (small compartments for ensuring the down insulation is distributed evenly) which is a key feature of most puffer jackets.

The face fabric is made from durable, water-repellent canvas, making it the toughest of the puffer jackets compared here. It’s got a detachable hood, two chest pockets, and two fleece-lined hand pockets. 

The weight of this jacket isn’t advertised, but Cactus are prioritising durability over pretty much everything else here. It’s not a lightweight puffer for chucking in your hiking pack.  

This is a good quality, hard-wearing down jacket that will hold its own in the worst conditions. But it does come at a significant cost. The Cactus down jacket is two to three times the price of some of the other jackets we’re comparing here.

The New Breed of Puffer Jackets

The era of flimsy, fair-weather puffer jackets is over. Today’s waterproof puffers are rugged, reliable, and ready for real-world winter adventures, whether you're hiking alpine ridgelines, working the land, or chasing game through sleet and snow.

At the end of the day, the best waterproof puffer jacket is the one that meets your needs in the wild. Hopefully, this guide helps you gear up with confidence and take on winter without compromise.

Explore Bushbuck puffer jackets