A few brands stand out above the rest when it comes to performance jackets. The uncontested king is Patagonia. Not only does this brand have some of the best midlayers on the market (I’m looking at you nano-air), but they have incredible customer service and a lifetime warranty on all their products. If your Patagonia clothing rips you can send it in and they will repair it free of charge. it doesn’t matter how long you’ve owned it, or even where you bought it.
Arc’teryx, Black Diamond, Mountain Hardware, Smart Wool, and Outdoor Research are a few other brands that also offer incredible quality. Of course, all of these brands are super expensive. If you are looking for a jacket at a better price, Columbia can be a good choice, although the lower price often does mean shoddier material and fit.
Over the brand names, we think that which website you search on is almost more important. With websites such as Zappos, they offer free shipping and free returns. As an added bonus, they ship their items out insanely quickly. We prefer to buy on sites like the ones we have linked here because they are full of honest reviews from people just like you. So, even if you’re shopping on a budget, you will still be able to find something for you and read honest reviews.