8 Best Vegan Winter Coats For Women, Men, And Beyond
As a vegan, if you were deserted in a snow-covered forest with just you and a goose, would you steal their feathers to make yourself a winter coat? While that’s not the question vegans usually get asked, the answer remains the same: if we can avoid harming non-human animals, we should. Here’s what you need to know when it comes to vegan winer coats.
As an anti-species traveler who has been exploring the world for the last 10 years, sourcing gear and clothing as ethically as possible has been an ever-evolving journey for me. And while I still hold the belief that the most ethical purchase is no purchase at all, sometimes we need to buy things that will keep us warm, fit comfortably, and hold up well on adventures. So if you’re looking for a vegan-friendly winter brand, vegan winter coat, or travel-friendly jacket, you’re in the right place. Almost all of the coats and brands listed below are ones that I’ve personally put to the test by using them in chilly climates, on rainy hikes, and long travels through multiple countries.
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The Best Vegan Winter Coats
1. Back-Packable & Layerable: Patagonia’s Nano Puff Jacket
This jacket has earned itself a 4.5 start rating (out of 5) out of 920 reviews on REI’s website. Made to last, the women’s Nano Puff Jacket & men’s Nano Puff Jacket are made with made with 100% post-consumer recycled content and pack down into their own pockets. Great for backpackers who want to keep their load light, this vegan winter coat is wrapped in a windproof and moisture-shedding ripstop shell with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish.
Highlights: Highly-rated by users, packs down into pocket, made with 100% post-consumer recycled content, windproof and moister-shedding, water repellent, internal stuff sack, vegan winter coat
Price: $239 – Fairy priced for high-quality & durable materials
Style: Comes in “men’s” and “women’s” fit, has a unisex look
2. Clean Look & Lightweight: Marmot’s Echo Featherless Insulated Jacket
🚨 This jacket is currently on sale as part of a close-out deal!
Still at the top of our list is the puffy (but not too puffy) and comfortable women’s Echo Featherless insulated jacket. It’s made with 3M™ Thinsulate® featherless insulation that mimics the feel of 700-fill-power down. And good news: it keeps on insulating when wet, whether from sweat or rain. Additionally, you can check out their featherless long insulated jacket if you’d prefer a longer fit or the men’s fit of the jacket which is made from recycled fishnets.
This coat made the list because it has a nice, clean look that makes it perfect to bring along on city travels yet is lightweight, durable, and versatile enough to put to the test on various adventures including climbing and hiking. Also offered is Marmot’s Echo Featherless Hybrid insulated jacket (men’s fit here) to add as part of your layering kit for freezing days.
Price: $149 – On sale now! Originally $200
Style: Comes in “men’s” and “women’s” fit, has a unisex look
Highlights: Made with 30-denier fabric from recycled nylon fishnets, equivalent to the feel of 700-fill-power down, zippered hand pockets, clean look, lightweight & packable, vegan winter coat
3. Rugged Yet Sophisticated: KUHL Kollusion Fleece-Lined Jacket
🚨 This jacket is currently on sale! Winter sale ending soon
This jacket first came into my vision when my partner, who works outside full-time and homesteads, kept ripping and running through softer puffy jackets. Needing something that can take abuse and still look good, they found the hearty KUHL Kollusion Fleece-Lined Jacket. This animal-free jacket has multiple pockets and is perfect for off-grid living when the temperature drops.
It’s complete with reinforced shoulders to carry gear and under panels for stretch and breathability when you’re working up a sweat. Although it’s on the pricier side, this wax-coated jacket is wind and water resistant, lined with soft high-pile Italian fleece for warmth and comfort.
Highlights: Hearty work jacket, fleece-lined, wax-coated, wind & water resistant, vegan winter coat
Price: $167.73 – On sale now! Originally $239
Style: Comes in “men’s” fit only, has a unisex look
4. Lightweight Outer Water-Resistant Shell: The Barrage Technical Shell
Travelers, runners, those who pride themselves on packing light: this one’s for you. The Barrage Technical Shell by Coala Tree is my new go-to travel jacket. Lightweight and flexible enough to stuff in your backpack, this water-proof jacket is breathable and UV resistant. It’s something I’d take with me to explore waterfalls in Costa Rica, car camp and surf in Wales, or look for the rare Blue-Footed Boobie on Isla de La Plata. Add layers beneath it to make it warmer or use it on its own for water and sun protection. The best part? It’s made from S.Cafe fabric. These fibers are spun out of recycled plastics and coffee grounds that would have otherwise gone to the landfill!
Highlights: Lightweight rain jacket, water-resistant running jacket, lightweight travel jacket, made out of recycled materials, smaller company whose products are animal-free by default
Price: $159
Style: Comes in unisex fit
Shop Coalatree’s eco-minded gear and apparel and save 15% on your first order! No restrictions. Use code ECOGEAR15 at checkout
5. All-Vegan Brands: Save The Ducks & Noize
The Save The Duck company is a 100% vegan brand based in Canada that specializes in fashionable vegan winter coats, raincoats, puffy jackets, and more. While I’ve never tried their products before, their jackets are more stylized and less for travel and outdoor adventures. A user in a vegan Facebook group noted that sizes run small. They’re the most expensive on the list coming in at around at $500 per winter jacket.
Then we have Noize, which is another 100% vegan brand based in Canada. When I posted in online vegan groups to see if I was overlooking any brands, multiple people said that they have Noize winter jackets and highly recommend them. Over the years they’ve earned prestigious PETA-certified designation and say: “Let’s face it, this is a new decade and we’re leaving old ways behind. By the way, whoever says fur keeps you warmest clearly never tried on one of our coats.”
6. Other Brands To Lookout For & Find Used
If you’re willing to hunt around a little more (no pun intended) for a cruelty-free jacket, there are a couple other brands to look out for, including La Sportiva (also known for their vegan hiking boots & climbing shoes) and Wild Things.
When my partner and I did a winter van trip across the US a few years back, we sported both of those brands and really put them to the test. We were driving into different climates daily, needing jackets that were warm and comfortable for hikes while we explored the national parks, yet not too bulky that they would weigh us down if the sun came out and things warmed up.
I used a heavier Wild Things jacket (pictured in my Great Sand Dunes National Park guide) which was perfect for chilly nights in the van while we car camped for free on BLM land, sometimes sticking it out in the snow. My partner’s La Sportive jacket did solid on that trip and is now used for multiple day backpacking trips in the back country. Lightweight and breathable, it’s a great score for anyone looking for a dependable jacket to take on outdoor activities. Choosing used gear is a great way to create less waste in the world while saving money that can be spent on future adventurers!
