7 Finest Windbreaker Jackets of 2024 for Males & Girls

We’ve been wearing the Patagonia Houdini (Men’s / Women’s) for many years, and we love it because of its low weight, excellent packability, and stylish design. This jacket has a great balance of breathability and protection, so it’s comfy to wear whether you’re taking a trail break or charging uphill. The slim fit makes it slightly more difficult to layer over thick insulated jackets, so we use it as a midlayer with bulky outerwear. The Houdini is our top pick for ultralight backpacking, but it’s also perfect for running, day hikes, and everyday wear.

We don’t recommend replacing your rain jacket with a windbreaker. But if you’re determined to ditch the rain gear for trips where the weather is more predictable, the Black Diamond Alpine Start (Men’s / Women’s) is what you should go with. This heavy-duty windbreaker is the most protective jacket on our list for both wind and rain, and it’s the most durable in the long run. All that comes with a small hit to weight and packability, but the Alpine Start is still quite manageable for backpacking. If you’re after a bomber jacket for high-alpine adventures, you can’t go wrong with the Alpine Start.

We know that good looks don’t stave off chilly breezes, but we can’t help but rave about how fashionable the Cotopaxi Teca (Men’s / Women’s) is. It doesn’t end there, though, the Teca also delivers on performance. The loose fit makes this jacket incredibly easy to layer over other clothing, and the vent flap in the back provides some breathability. The Teca is also one of the few windbreakers on our list with hand pockets – a feature we wish was included more often. The Teca is a little heavier and bulkier than some others for backpacking, but the affordable price, great performance, and stylish looks make it a great choice for a wide variety of activities.

The high-quality Arc’teryx Squamish (Men’s / Women’s) strikes an excellent balance of breathability and protection. While it’s one of the more expensive jackets on our list, the quality of the stitching and hardware will no doubt hold up well to multiple years of use. This jacket is packed with little design details, like a helmet-friendly hood and hem adjustment cords, that make it an excellent choice for a variety of activities. So if you’re a biker or climber, you’ll likely find the Squamish particularly appealing. The slim fit and lightweight build is really similar to the Patagonia Houdini above, but the Squamish is a little more versatile if you need it to be functional for multiple types of recreation.

The Rab Vital Windshell (Men’s / Women’s) immediately stood out to us because it’s one of the few windbreakers with zippered hand pockets and a zippered internal storage pocket that makes it easy to keep track of a credit card or lip balm. The Vital jacket also has one of the best fitting hoods of any windbreaker we tested, and it even has a small visor to keep the sun out of your eyes. If you’re looking for a windbreaker that breaks away from the typical minimal design of many other jackets on our list, the Vital Windshell won’t disappoint.

The Ortovox Windbreaker (Men’s / Women’s) is made with a unique blend of nylon and merino wool, which gives it excellent moisture wicking and odor control properties. This blend makes it feel a little warmer and less breathable than others, but it blocks wind better than many of the other windbreakers we’ve used. The Ortovox Windbreaker is the most expensive jacket on our list, but it’s worth the splurge if you need a durable, lightweight jacket that’s fit for high-alpine adventures and cold-weather use.