The 8 Best Vests, Raincoats, Coats & Jackets for Alaska

UNIQLO combines practicality and style in their Ultra Light Down vest. The Japanese brand has updated its classic vest to show a sleeker and more stylish design.

The company built the vest with a gorgeous anti-static lining and has updated its quilting pitch and seams to boast a more attractive fit. Perfect for travelers, it has a pocketable design, and you can easily fit it in a pouch.

While the vest is not waterproof, it comes with a durable water-repellent coating, so you’ll be protected when it starts to drizzle. You can easily keep the cold air out thanks to its adjustable hem. While the vest serves as a valuable middle layer, you can also use it to go out for dinner in Alaska, as it makes a fashionable top layer when paired with jeans. 

A customer favorite, J.Crew has brought back their Sussex vest by popular demand. This vest covers all the basics: it has a timeless style, it’s comfortable, it’s warm, and it’s (relatively) affordable.

The stunning details are what stand out the most in this vest. The lightweight quilted vest features button adjusters at the back waist so you can dial in your perfect fit and a leather pull tab on the main zipper. It also comes with a beautiful corduroy-lined collar and pockets, one on the chest for your phone and another one inside for your essentials.

Best of all, J.Crew built this insulated vest with organic cotton and recycled nylon; the lightweight PrimaLoft filling comes from recycled plastic bottles. Similar to UNIQLO’s, it is excellent for casual or active use, thanks to its versatile design. 

The North Face is a well-established brand when it comes to the best outdoor clothing manufacturers. Unsurprisingly, they have designed one of the best jackets to wear in Alaska for women.

The Women’s Apex Bionic Jacket is smart, stylish, and practical; I’ve had mine for over 14 years and it’s still one of the best jackets I own. In fact, I finally had to send it in for zipper repair after my August 2021 trip to Alaska.

The Apex Bionic features a refined design and 100% windproof fabric to keep you warm and block the wind in any circumstance. The jacket’s fabric also has a nice flex and is very soft. The many pockets are a plus, so your hands can be off-duty during those long hikes.

While the jacket is rather form-fitting, it’s roomy enough to wear a light vest or hoodie under it.

The North Face has also designed an Apex Bionic jacket for men. Once you try it on, it will become your all-around jacket.

It features top-quality materials, including a water-repellent finish to keep you dry for longer. The fabrics are lightweight and breathable, regulating the body temperature and allowing moisture to evaporate. This fabric is also 100% windproof, reducing the effects of wind chill.

It comes in a wide range of sizes, so big guys won’t have trouble finding a suitable size. The jacket is stretchable and roomy enough to wear a couple of layers under it if needed. 

Whether you’re looking for a coat for men, women, or any way you identify, the Apex Bionic is honestly the best jacket for Alaska – if you don’t trust me, trust the 15 years I’ve been wearing it while traveling to Alaska.

Thin, light, and warm, UNIQLO Ultra Light Down is one of the best jackets for Alaska in the market.

Don’t let the extra thin fabric fool you, this jacket has an amazing heat-retention. Its high insulation level slows down your body’s heat loss, keeping you warm in temperatures as low as 40 F. Thanks to its pocketable design, the jacket is perfect for frequent travelers and is easy to carry around.

The design is similar to UNIQLO’s vest, featuring water-repellent coating, anti-static lining, and an adjustable hem to keep cold air out.

UNIQLO has also designed the Ultra Light Down jacket for men. The men’s jacket follows the same principle: a perfect balance of comfort and design. Surprisingly light and warm, the jacket is ultralight and ultra-packable.

Unlike other models, the Ultra Light Down comes with a three-dimensional gusset under the armpit, making it easy to move your arms. The fabric is an anti-static lining and features a water-repellent coating.

Its stylish matte finish gives it an elegant look, so you can also wear the jacket for a casual night out and still look good.  

When it comes to lightweight rain gear, I always reach for my North Face Resolve jacket. I found one in a Goodwill store years ago, and it has kept me dry (and colorful) on many Alaskan adventures since.

For women, the Resolve 2 Jacket is perfect because it’s formfitting without constraining your ability to move. Waterproof, breathable, and wind-resistant, this jacket can layer easily over a light down jacket or vest if you need it to – or work as its own primary layer on a drizzly summer day in Alaska.

In addition to working well when precipitation occurs, the hood folds up int to the collar, and it works as a windbreaker on dry days. That lightweight material is perfect for travel, as the Resolve 2 folds down or rolls up super small to pack, too.

(or buy from The North Face)

The North Face also makes a Resolve 2 jacket for men. It has many of the same features, but is cut bigger to fit men’s shoulders and is still long enough to avoid riding up when a damp breeze comes up.

As a midweight jacket, it works well especially in situations where you need to layer up (which, as you know, is pretty much all the time in Alaska). However, just like the women’s version, this jacket has breathable flaps and mesh inner layers to help keep it comfortable and easy to pack.

In case you (or the man you travel with) are worried about fit, this jacket runs true to size and has received 5-stars on over 85% of its reviews. It’s one of the most popular rain jackets made by The North Face (for both men and women) and is a perfect lightweight rainjacket for Alaska.

(or buy from The North Face)

You’ll have a hard time finding a more gorgeous and stylish garment to flaunt on your rainy days in Alaska. Pendleton Eureka’s raincoat is a fashionista’s dream. I bought their old, uninsulated style, but the newer, insulated version looks just as good – and is way warmer.

Besides featuring an unbeatable classic design and beautiful bold colors, this long rain slicker comes with high-quality materials to keep you warm and dry. The raincoat features fully lined and insulated fabric. Of course, the fabric is also 100% waterproof, resisting heavy showers and windstorms, and has underarm grommets to improve breathability. It has welded seams and a covered placket with a waterproof zipper.

The raincoat also has an attached hood (which actually stays put) and quilted-nylon lining in their colorful Tucson pattern. Its inside is as beautiful as the exterior, with nylon body lining and a colorful Tucson pattern.

As Pendleton doesn’t offer an equivalent rain jacket for men planning an Alaska trip, Helly Hanson has designed the perfect alternative. The versatile Dubliner men’s rain jacket is bold, elegant, warm, and suitable for rainy weather.

Despite not being very thick, it is extremely warm and blocks even the most intense winds. It’s waterproof and windproof, thanks to its HELLY TECH® Protection. It also comes with fully sealed seams for added protection against rain and wind. The lightweight fabric with PrimaLoft® insulation adds comfort in cold weather.

Following a sustainable approach, the insulation is 80% recycled, and the water-repellent treatment is PFC-free. The fabric also features a decent breathability rating to keep you dry. 

Columbia is another well-established brand when it comes to outdoor clothing. The Whirlibird IV Interchange Jacket offers fantastic performance in terms of weather resistance, breathability, and comfort.

Featuring a classic 3-in-1 design, the Whirlibird comes with a waterproof-breathable shell and thermal-reflective, insulated liner that you can wear separately or together, depending on the temperature and weather. It also features underarm venting to let perspiration out.

If you’re not a fan of bulky jackets, then you’re in luck. The Whirlibird is a far cry from boxy winter jackets, and its foil insulation method helps to limit the puffiness factor. You won’t have to buy a new jacket for snowy days as the Whirlibird also has mountain-ready features, including underarm vents and ski passes, goggles, security, chest, and hand pockets.

Columbia has also made a men’s model of their Whirlibird IV Interchange jacket. It has the same waterproof-breathable shell and a thermal-reflective, insulated liner as the women’s version.

The thermal reflective liner features OMNI-HEAT insulation technology and breathable material with little silver dots that reflect body heat for heat retention. The waterproof-breathable shell comes with adjustable and handy features for those who enjoy winter sports.

Columbia offers this three-in-one men’s jacket in multiple staple colors and sizes.