There are twenty-odd jacket names on a typical rail and most shoppers only know three. This guide sorts every common style into three families -- insulated jackets that trap warmth, heritage jackets built on classic shapes, and technical jackets that fight the weather -- so you can match the jacket to the job.

Insulated & Warm

Puffer Jacket

A jacket with sewn baffles filled with down or synthetic insulation, giving the quilted 'puffed' look. The default winter warmth layer.

How it works

Insulation is held in stitched chambers (baffles) so it cannot shift or clump. More loft means more trapped air and more warmth. A puffer can be filled with natural down or a synthetic equivalent.

Who it suits

Anyone who wants maximum warmth for minimum weight. Shop puffers across men's coats & jackets and women's coats & jackets.

Down Jacket

A puffer filled specifically with goose or duck down -- the warmest, lightest and most packable insulation per gram.

Why down

Natural down has the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any insulation. It compresses small and lofts back up, which is why it dominates premium winter coats.

Trade-off

Down loses warmth when wet unless treated, so it is happiest under a shell or with a water-resistant outer. See down vs synthetic.

Insulated Jacket

Any jacket with a dedicated warmth layer -- down or synthetic -- as opposed to an uninsulated shell.

The umbrella term

'Insulated' simply means the jacket is built to keep you warm rather than only block weather. Puffers, parkas and many ski jackets are all insulated jackets.

How warm

Warmth depends on fill type, fill power and fill weight -- covered in the insulation hub.

Parka

A longer, hooded, insulated coat that covers the hips or thighs -- built for serious cold and wind.

Defining features

Length (hip to knee), an insulated hood, and usually a windproof outer. The extra coverage protects more of the body than a hip-length puffer.

Best for

Commuters, dog walkers and anyone facing a long stand in the cold. Brands like Parajumpers and UBR specialise in them.

Quilted Jacket

A lightly insulated jacket with a flat quilted (often diamond or box) stitch pattern -- warmth without bulk.

Quilted vs puffer

Quilting uses thinner insulation and a sewn-through stitch, so it sits close to the body. A puffer is thicker and lofted. Quilted jackets layer easily under a coat.

Best for

Town wear, mild days and layering. A staple of British country style.

Gilet

A sleeveless insulated body-warmer. Keeps the core warm while leaving arms free.

Why sleeveless

Your core drives how warm you feel; a gilet warms it without restricting the arms, making it ideal over a jumper or under a coat.

Best for

Layering and active days. Shop men's and women's gilets.

Fleece Jacket

A soft knitted-pile mid-layer that traps warmth and breathes well. A layering workhorse, not a weatherproof outer.

How it works

Brushed polyester pile creates loads of small air pockets that hold body heat while letting moisture escape. Light, quick-drying and packable.

Best for

A mid-layer under a shell, or a standalone on dry days. Pairs naturally with a waterproof shell.

Hybrid Jacket

A jacket that combines insulation where you need warmth with breathable or stretch panels where you need movement and venting.

Body-mapped design

Typically insulated front and core, with fleece or softshell side and underarm panels. Warm where it counts, breathable where you work.

Best for

Active cold-weather use -- walking, commuting by bike, layering on the move.

Ski Jacket

A waterproof, insulated jacket built for the slopes -- snow skirt, helmet hood, lift-pass pocket and sealed seams.

Slope-specific features

A powder skirt keeps snow out, the hood fits over a helmet, cuffs seal against gloves, and pit zips dump heat on the climb.

Best for

Skiing, snowboarding and the coldest, wettest winter days.

3-in-1 Jacket

A waterproof shell plus a zip-in inner (usually fleece or insulated) that can be worn together or separately -- three jackets in one.

Three ways to wear

Shell alone for wet mild days, inner alone for dry cold days, both zipped together for cold and wet. The most versatile single purchase.

Best for

One jacket to cover most of the year. Common from The North Face.

Casual & Heritage

Bomber Jacket

A short, waist-length jacket with ribbed cuffs and hem and a zip front. Military origin, now a fashion staple.

The shape

Cropped body, elasticated ribbing at the waist and wrists, often a smooth nylon or wool-mix outer. Lightly lined rather than heavily insulated.

Best for

Casual layering in spring and autumn. A style piece more than a weather piece.

Field Jacket

A hip-length utility jacket with four front pockets, drawcord waist and a tough cotton or waxed outer. Military heritage.

The shape

Boxy, practical and pocket-heavy -- designed to carry kit. Often in cotton, canvas or waxed cotton for weather resistance.

Best for

Everyday layering with rugged style. Belstaff is a heritage name here -- see the Belstaff guide.

Harrington Jacket

A lightweight, waist-length zip jacket with a stand collar and tartan lining. A British mod and casual classic.

The shape

Slim, short and uninsulated, with a soft collar and a signature checked lining. A smart-casual layer, not a winter coat.

Best for

Dry spring and autumn days, worn over a shirt or tee.

Coach Jacket

A relaxed, snap-front nylon or cotton jacket with a shirt-style collar. Sporty American heritage.

The shape

Boxy fit, press-stud front, side pockets and a flat collar. Light and unlined or lightly lined.

Best for

Casual streetwear and mild, dry weather.

Overshirt (Shacket)

A shirt-jacket hybrid -- heavier than a shirt, lighter than a coat. Worn open as a layer or buttoned as a light jacket.

Shirt or jacket

Cut like a shirt but in jacket-weight fabric (brushed cotton, wool-mix, overdyed twill). Worn over a tee and under a coat as a mid-layer.

Best for

Transitional weather and layered looks. See men's overshirts and the Belstaff overshirt guide.

Technical & Weatherproof

Softshell Jacket

A stretchy, breathable, water-resistant jacket that moves with you. Wind-resistant and warm-ish, but not fully waterproof.

How it works

Woven stretch fabric, often fleece-backed, with a DWR finish. Sheds light rain and wind while staying breathable and flexible.

Best for

Active use in changeable but not torrential weather. See softshell vs hardshell.

Hardshell Jacket

A stiff, fully waterproof and windproof shell built around a membrane like Gore-Tex. Maximum protection, minimal insulation.

How it works

A waterproof-breathable membrane laminated to a tough face fabric, with taped seams. Keeps rain out while letting sweat vapour escape.

Best for

Heavy rain, hill walking and worst-case weather, worn over insulating layers.

Rain Jacket

A lightweight waterproof jacket focused on keeping rain out. Anything from a packable shell to a town raincoat.

How it works

A waterproof outer (coated or membrane) with a hood and often taped seams. Lighter and simpler than a technical hardshell.

Best for

Everyday wet-weather cover. See best waterproof jackets.

Windbreaker

A very light, packable jacket that blocks wind and sheds light showers. Almost no insulation.

How it works

Tightly woven or coated nylon stops wind chill, which is often what makes you feel cold. Folds into a pocket or its own bag.

Best for

Running, travel and unpredictable mild days -- a 'just in case' layer.

Shell Jacket

An uninsulated weather-protection outer designed to be worn over your own layers. Hard or soft.

The principle

A shell handles wind and rain; you control warmth with what you wear underneath. This layering approach is more flexible than a single thick coat.

Best for

Layered systems and changeable weather. See fit & sizing for layering room.