As a travel writer, I sometimes feel like a real-life Walter Mitty. The highlight of my career, so far, has been sailing on the first cruise ship crossing of the fabled Northwest Passage. Highlights of that 32-day voyage include watching polar bears in the wild, soaring over the tundra in a helicopter, ice camping in Greenland, and last but not least, getting an Arc’teryx Atom Insulated Hoodie. 

I’m not joking. I’ve had this jacket since 2016, and it’s still going strong some 30-plus countries later. The cruise company gifted it to me since I was working for them, which is important to note since I never thought I’d be able to afford Arc’teryx. It’s not a cheap brand, but based on my experience with this one piece alone, it might be one of the best insulated jackets out there and is worth every penny. However, right now, you can be lucky enough to grab it for as little as $196 at Amazon and $210 at REI, if you can find your size.

Arc’teryx Women’s Atom Insulated Hoodie

Coming in at just 10.9 ounces and compressing down to be smaller than my beloved Cabeau travel pillow, the Arc’teryx Atom Insulated Hoodie is one of the most packable jackets on the market. I don’t even feel it when I’m wearing it around my waist. Despite how lightweight it is, it’s also incredibly warm thanks to the brand’s “Coreloft” insulation. Not only did it keep me cozy while I tent camped on the world’s second-largest ice cap in Greenland seven years ago, but one January it was also my second skin on a 12-day trip to Antarctica. 

The Arc’teryx Atom Insulated Hoodie has also kept me dry. The Atom Insulated Hoodie has the brand’s Tyono 20-denier nylon shell treated with a durable water repellent, and I’ve noticed that it sheds water much better than my other go-to puffer (albeit I got that one at Amazon for a fraction of the price, so I don’t expect it to perform as well.) For my fingers and my valuables, it has two hand pockets with hidden zippers and a generous internal zippered chest pocket. My favorite feature, however, is the hood. It’s spacious, adjustable, and has a handy brim, which keeps snowflakes out of my eyes. 

Meanwhile my friend Kean Christensen, an adventure photographer also based in Montana, is obsessed with the stretchy side panels. “The ability to have full range of motion while staying warm is the reason I chose the Atom Hoodie,” he recently told me. “Money well spent!” He’s had his jacket (it’s also available in Men’s) for years and wears it as a mid-layer, under a ski shell, and as a top layer. 

Arc’teryx Men’s Atom Insulated Hoodie 

You can score my favorite packable puffer at Amazon in black or lavender for as little as $196; you can also get it at REI in four different colorways starting at $120. The jacket is offered in women’s sizes XXS to XXL (but sizes are limited at Amazon and REI). At Arc’teryx, where I prefer to shop because there are more size options, it’s priced at $300 and comes in versatile black — and all sizes from XXS to XXL are in stock.

Of course, my Arc’teryx Atom Insulated Hoodie will always be the alpha since I’ve had it the longest, and it’s served me so well. But don’t just take my word for it. Online, it has more than 360 five-star reviews and nearly 90 percent of shoppers say they’d buy it again.  “Both my wife and I are on our second Atom jackets,” wrote one shopper who left a five-star rating. “The first ones are still going after more than 10 years, but showing their age, so we decided it was time to get new ones. We wear them almost daily for 6 months of the year and in almost all scenarios outside of torrential downpours.”

Another satisfied shopper who promises it will be “your most worn jacket” wrote, “it’s sleek enough to dress up and go out to dinner in.” I can’t agree more. I pack light, so I don’t usually bring both a dress jacket and a warm jacket. Yesterday, I wore my Atom Hoodie while hiking in Montana’s Paradise Valley before sporting it a few hours later at Sky Shed, the trendy rooftop bar at The Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman.

Of course, many shoppers mention taking it on trips, too. One who said it works well in fall, winter, and spring has sported it in downtown Chicago, in the mountains of Colorado, and on a road trip across California. Another shopper who got theirs for a February trip to the Pacific Northwest wrote, “This jacket is light, breathable and amazingly warm. I am curvy and it contours nicely.” I also read a review left by someone who wears theirs in airports!

I can’t tell you if your next flight will leave on time or if your luggage will make it to your final destination. But if you’re looking for an incredibly warm, lightweight jacket that will last for years (despite all the wear and tear of traveling), I can tell you not to sleep on the Arc’teryx Atom Insulated Hoodie. And if you like the idea of a packable puffer, but want something more affordable, see below for a few options, all under $60. 

Shop More Packable Puffer Jackets at Amazon:

The North Face Flare Down Insulated Puffer Jacket II

Wantdo Hooded Packable Ultra Lightweight Down Jacket 

Outdoor Ventures Full-Zip Packable Puffer Jacket

Alpine Swiss Eva Down Alternative Puffer Jacket 

Amazon Essentials Lightweight Packable Puffer Jacket

Carhartt Montana Relaxed Fit Insulated Jacket

At the time of publishing, the price started at $196. 

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