Our 12 Favorite Men’s Windbreakers For Spring
Spring weather at it’s best is gorgeous: Neither too warm nor too cold, and perfect for getting outside.
But at it’s worst, that same season’s weather is entirely unpredictable. Even when the forecast calls for sunny and 75, a sudden rainstorm can change the entire trajectory of your day.
So you’d do well to be prepared for whatever weather spring brings your way, with one of our 12 favorite windbreakers to wear this spring. They’re the perfect piece of gear for the season’s uncertain weather patterns, offering just the right balance of protection from the elements and a cool, comfortable ride.
Outdoor Research Helium Wind Hoodie
The perfect combination of hoodie comfort and windbreaker performance, Outdoor Research’s Helium Wind Hoodie is the outdoorsman’s choice for springtime wear. It’s been named the “best windshell” by Backpacker magazine, and we tend to agree that it’s the cream of the crop when it comes to wind and rain-resistant outdoor gear.
Outdoor Research’s proprietary Diamond Fuse technology gives it exceptional weather resistance alongside best-in-class durability, and pairs those qualities with underarm vents for all-weather comfort. Add in a drawstring-adjustable hood and hem and pack-small sizing, and you get a jacket that will see you through whatever weather spring throws at you.
Helly Hansen Rapide Windbreaker Jacket
Though better known for their heavy-duty winter gear, the Norway-based Helly Hansen brand makes one heck of a windbreaker. Their Rapide Windbreaker Jacket is one of the more fashion-forward windbreakers on this list, with a refined cut and fit that make it a perfect companion for commuting to your job in an office.
It’s made entirely of lightweight polyamide which makes it quite packable, and treated with a durable water-repellent finish for top-notch weather resistance. And because it has a longer tail than many other windbreakers, Helly Hansen’s Rapide Jacket makes for a great cycling top layer, too.
Nathan Stealth Jacket
One of the most common problems with windbreakers—and one that most brands don’t like to talk about—is that they can be loud. Sometimes uncomfortably so, with an audible “zip-zip” and crinkle at even the slightest of movements. Nathan’s Stealth Jacket is one of the first lightweight jackets we’ve seen that’s trying to address this problem, by using a noise-free 100 percent nylon construction designed for a quiet ride.
That makes it a perfect jacket for runners, but anyone who has been bothered by the synthetic noises of a windbreaker will appreciate the Stealth Jacket’s silence. That same material is breathable, quick-drying, and water-resistant too, making it a great option for all your spring workout needs.
Columbia Men’s Loop Trail Windbreaker
Columbia’s Loop Trail Windbreaker is one of the most comfortable that you’ll find, with a slightly heavier construction and a polyester lining inside of its weather-resistant nylon shell. But even with its slightly bulkier design, the Loop Trail is one heck of a fine choice for spring mornings out on the trail, with zippered pockets and a drawstring-adjustable hood that keep everything right where it needs to be.
It also has the benefit of being one of the most affordable windbreakers on this list, making it a fine choice for anyone looking to save a few dollars while still being outfitted with all the best springtime gear.
Black Diamond Distance Wind Shell
Durable water repellent finishes are a must for any lightweight spring jacket, as they give the jacket’s material its water-beating properties. Unfortunately, many DWR finishes only last for a season or two before needing to be reapplied—but not so with Black Diamond’s unique and innovative Distance Wind Shell.
A specially-engineered water repellant finish is permanently bonded to the jacket’s individual fabric fibers, giving it the greatest durability of any weather-resistance treatment available on the market today. That’s all included in an incredibly light 98 gram design, making this the premier wind shell for ultralight backpackers (and anyone who wants to dress like them).
The North Face Summit Series Superior Wind Jacket
The North Face’s Summit Series Superior Wind Jacket is specially designed to get you from point A to point B in comfort and style, whether you’re taking the train to work on hiking to a mountaintop. It’s made with a recycled nylon and polyester ripstop material that’s both lightweight and durable, and given added perforations along the back of the jacket for enhanced breathability.
Elastic banding on the hood, cuffs, and hem pairs with drawcords to allow for fine-tuned fitting, and a semi-locking slider on the zipper reduces bounce for a more comfortable ride while you’re jogging or hiking.
KUIU Training Tech Wind Jacket
The low-profile and high-tech KUIU Training Tech Wind Jacket is perfect for anyone looking for their next piece of exercise gear, thanks to a breathable and durable nylon ripstop material and large back vents. It’s the kind of jacket you’ll want to pack with you on every hiking and camping trip, as it stows down small into its own pocket for barely-there convenience.
Made in a full-zip style with durable YKK zippers, it also features zippered pockets to keep your valuables right where they belong. For less than a hundred bucks, it’s an excellent addition to any man’s spring training wardrobe.
Patagonia Steel Forge Windbreaker Jacket
Many windbreaker jackets these days are built for low-impact exercise and commuting, and are made with the lightest and breeziest materials available. Not so with Patagonia’s Steel Forge Windbreaker Jacket, which is made with a much beefier (and more durable) Pertex Quantum nylon and a roomier fit that can easily accommodate a tool belt and vest.
It’s an outer layer that’s perfect for guys who work outdoors but don’t necessarily need or want to pack a full-weight coat—and it’s Fair Trade Certified too, so you know your money is going towards ethical ends.
Free Fly Breeze Jacket
Free Fly’s take on a windbreaker, the Breeze Jacket, is fully true to its name. This lightweight and breezy outer layer isn’t just a cool and comfortable jacket, though—it’s infused with enough stretch to make it a favorite for everyday wear, rather than just a layer you throw on when the weather gets rough.
It’s an ideal indoor/outdoor jacket for the spring and summer, with a look that’s refined enough to take into the office with you. Highly recommended for urban professionals.
Kuhl The One Jacket
What might look like an ordinary windbreaker from the outside is anything but, thanks the Kuhl’s legendary attention to detail in their materials. The One Jacket combines a stretch nylon exterior with a moisture-wicking polyester knit interior, then caps it all off with stretchy nylon and spandex underarm panels that allow for an incredible range of motion.
It’s pricy in comparison to many other windbreakers, but for that additional investment you get a jacket that feels like a second skin—but a skin that will keep wind and rain from entering your cozy bubble of perfectly temperature-regulated warmth and dryness.
5.11 Radar Packable Jacket
5.11 is the first brand you should look at when you’re on a tight budget but don’t want to compromise on the quality of your gear. Their Radar Packable Jacket is a perfect example of this: It’s the most affordable windbreaker on our list, but comes with the same range of features you’d expect out of a jacket nearly twice its price.
A woven polyester material gives it wrinkle-resistant looks and great durability, while a DWR treatment gives it a high degree of weather-beating capability. And when you don’t need it, the Radar folds up neatly into its own chest pocket for easy go-anywhere portability.
Orvis Lightweight Ripstop Windbreaker
If you live in a more northerly climate, a single-layer windbreaker just isn’t gonna cut it. Orvis’s Lightweight Ripstop Windbreaker is a better option for those places where it never gets really warm, thanks to a lightweight nylon insulation layer inside of its ripstop shell.
That lining is made with a technological marvel called MarinoWul+, created from recycled plastic bottles and oyster shells, that offers excellent moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating qualities.
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