Best Duck Hunting Jackets of 2024

Duck hunters chase birds in humid swamps of the south, frigid prairies of the north, and everywhere in between. While the terrain and subspecies are all different, the one thing duck hunters in all four flyways have in common is that the more brutal the weather, the better the hunting. Having the best duck hunting jacket for the conditions is key.

You need to stay warm and dry for hours on end if you want to shoot a limit on the best migration days. You also need to be able to move freely to set decoys and blinds without a bulky jacket slowing you down. And, most importantly, you need to be able to mount your gun swiftly. The following jackets will get the job done no matter where or when you hunt. 

How We Chose the Best Duck Hunting Jackets

I’ve hunted ducks all over the continent with a variety of diehard waterfowlers who all use slightly different gear. Through those experiences, I got to see which duck hunting jackets perform, and which ones fail. I also surveyed other Outdoor Life editors who have field tested top jackets. We made our final picks based on wind and waterproofness, warmth, comfort and fit, price, and overall design. There are a lot of jackets that will work just fine for everyday duck hunts, but these are the true standouts. 

Best Duck Hunting Jackets: Reviews & Recommendations

Key Features

• Weight: 42 ounces
• Gore Optifade concealment waterfowl marsh camo
• Three-layer Gore-Tex stretch technology
• PrimaLoft insulation
• Bellowed shell pockets and zippered tuck-away pockets
• Water-sealing gasket cuffs
• Drawcord hem

Pros

• Wind and waterproof
• Great mobility
• Gasket cuffs protect from wet sleeves

Cons

• May need to size up
• Finicky front zipper

The Hudson is a hard-core shell that’s adept at keeping out the elements while allowing a full range of motion. Special Gore-Tex stretch material is incorporated into panels behind the shoulders for a quick and agile shotgun mount. It was plenty breathable while I was in motion, but sealed against wind and ice. A major perk is the gasket sealing cuffs that keep water out while placing decoys in case your gloves fail or you have to reach farther than anticipated. The insulation is thin and body mapped to increase flexibility and breathability so the Hudson doesn’t provide much warmth on its own besides protecting against cold splashes and breeze. This means you’ll want some serious mid-layers and maybe a puffy underneath. This jacket fits more snugly than a shell should and you may want to size up to avoid compressing underlayers and leaving no room for warm air to sit.

The pockets on the Hudson provide ample storage. There are two open pockets on the chest to warm up your hands, two bellowed shell pockets that fit a full box of shells but lay flat when empty, and two zippered tuck-away call pockets on the exterior. There is also an interior zipper pocket over the left chest. I would have appreciated two additional open pockets behind the bellowed shell pockets at the waist for another place to keep my hands warm. Sitka’s Hudson is a performance layer with a women’s fit that will keep you warm and dry to stay dialed on your next waterfowl hunt. —Ashley Thess

Key Features 

• Sizes: XL, S, M, L, 2XL, 3XL
• 80 grams of PrimaLoft insulation 
• Three-layer water/windproof fabric
• Pit zips
• Hooded
• Removable liner jacket
• MSRP: $229.99

Pros

• Plenty of pockets
• Taped seams
• Good range of motion 

Cons

• Needs additional layers for warmth below freezing

I wore the Wicked Wing 3-in-1 Parka on an eastern Colorado hunt with lows in the single digits and highs in the 30s. Paired with the Wicked Wing Bibs, Sitka Ambient hoody, and a merino base layer, I was comfortable throughout three days of hunting. I never shivered and stayed warm from the first bird through my limit. One of the keys to keeping warm was not sweating while setting up the blind and a huge spread of decoys. During the pre-dawn work, I unzipped the jacket, opened the pit zips, and then zipped up during the hunt. On the second day of the hunt, we hunted a field for geese in the afternoon. That’s where I got my first taste of the eastern Colorado wind, but it never got through the outer layer. Another feature I liked is the jacket never impeded shouldering the shotgun or doing anything active. 

You’ll be disappointed in the warmth if you use the Wicked Wing 3-in-1 Parka as your primary insulator. It needs help from a good base and mid-layer—quality bibs help too. I recommend using the Parka an insulated, weather-proof shell. Another great use for this parka is in conjunction with a heated vest. —Scott Einsmann

Best Shell: Kuiu Flex Stormshell

Key Features

• Weight: 37 ounces
• Valo or solid ash
• Toray 4-Layer Waterproof Fabric
• Polyurethane coating
• Fully seam taped
• Watertight neoprene cuffs
• Cargo pockets with magnetic snap closure & drainage holes
• Pit zips for ventilation

Pros

• Extremely wind and waterproof
• Versatile for a variety of cold weather conditions
• Variety of useful pockets

Cons

I’ve worn Kuiu shells while hunting big game in Alaska and while hunting ducks at home. I’ve always been impressed with Kuiu’s weatherproofness, and their Flex waterfowl jacket is no different. I should point out that “Flex” is a bit of a misnomer as the jacket is actually quite stiff. This doesn’t make it the most comfortable while sitting in a blind, but that’s a tradeoff I’ll happily take for the weather-proofness that this jacket offers. No amount of wind, rain, or snow bothered me while duck hunting in the Storm Shell. 

The front breast pockets have a plush lining for keeping your hands warm. The cargo pockets are held closed by magnets. The other two, front pockets are roomy and zip shut with water-proof zippers. There’s also an internal pocket for keeping precious items dry. 

The collar rides extra high when zipped to the top, which is nice when you’re hiding from the wind while ripping down a frigid river in a boat, but it’s also useful for hiding your face from circling mallards. 

The jacket cuffs will keep out the elements with velcro straps and neoprene lining. The hood is form-fitting and adjustable with draw cords. 

The only ding I have on this jacket is that it runs a bit big for sizing, at least for my build. I’m 6 feet, 2 inches and weigh 180 pounds and the large size was a bit baggy on me. It will fit better for huskier duck hunters. Other than that, Kuiu has made what I consider to be an ideal duck hunting jacket for hunting in brutal conditions. If you layer under this jacket properly, you’ll be comfortable in any conditions from a light rain to sub-zero cold. 

Key Features

• Waterproof and windproof Refuge HSTM fabric on upper body and arms
• Two Magnattach call-and-whistle pockets
• Offered in a variety of camo patterns
• Taped seams

Pros

• Comfortable
• Waterproof
• Light and sleek

Cons

This pull-over jacket is ideal for those mid-season days when it’s chilly in the morning and then warm by midday. The top half is waterproof and windproof so you stay comfortable while running in the boat or setting decoys. The bottom half is breathable polyester material so you don’t sweat to death in your waders while picking up the spread. It has a thoughtful chest pocket that’s magnetized for holding your calls. This is nice even when you have your calls on a lanyard because it keeps them from getting tangled or from getting in the way when you bend over. 

Drake says this is the best selling wading garment of all time. I’m not sure about that, but I do know that this is a surprisingly versatile jacket that will keep you hunting comfortably through a good part of the season. 

Best Wading Jacket: First Lite Migrator

Key Features

• Weight: 46 ounces
• First Lite Typha or Cache
• Polyester waterproof and breathable body fabric
• PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation
• Short, 19-inch torso for wading
• Dual-cinch wading belt 
• Magnetic chest pockets
• Insulated side pockets 
• Form-fitting adjustable hood

Pros

• Lots of clever features
• Very warm

Cons

• Bulky around the body of the jacket

I usually prefer to wear my jacket beneath my waders because when I wear a coat on the outside I tend to wade too deep and soak the bottom of it. But if you like to wear your duck hunting jacket outside over your waders, you need a wading-style jacket like First Lite’s Migrator. This jacket is designed with a short torso so you can go about hip-deep without getting the bottom of the jacket wet. 

This jacket has a ton of clever features including: a built-in wading belt; a wide variety of pockets to accommodate your shells, calls, phone, and cold hands; and a variety of adjustment points on the hood. The jacket even has black strips on the underside of the arms so that it’s easier for your dog to see you when you’re casting him back or over. It’s thoroughly insulated and I found the jacket to be very warm when hunting. 

The tradeoff of all that toasty insulation is that the jacket is a bit bulky around the body. However, I didn’t find that this hindered my gun mount at all, which is what matters most.

Best for Brutally Cold Weather: Aves Bering Kinetic Jacket

Key Features

• Solid brown
• Berber fleece on the interior
• Toray Dermizax®EV Shell Fabric
• Toray 3DeFX+ 90g/m2 Synthetic Insulation
• Flexible 3mm EVA foam padded elbows
• Velcro adjustable wrist cuff cinches
• Form fitting hood
• Fleece lined upper hand warmer pockets

Pros

• Incredibly warm and windproof
• Good fit

Cons

• Too warm for many waterfowl hunting conditions

Aves is a relatively new company and last year I hunted with one of their reps in Nebraska. I got some gear from him, including the company’s impressive Bering Kinetic Jacket. I ended up lending the jacket to my dad for one late-season field hunt and never getting it back. That’s because this jacket is so damned warm and comfortable there’s no way the old man is ever giving it up. Now he also wears it for ice fishing, plowing snow, and any other sub-zero adventures he takes on. 

Aves uses Toray for an outer material, which is the same thing that Kuiu utilizes in a lot of its outerwear. Overall, the Bering Kinetic has  the best warmth-weight ratio of any of the duck hunting jackets that I’ve field tested. If you do a lot of late-season, cold weather hunting, this is the jacket for you. The only downside to this jacket that I found was that it was too warm for a lot of hunting that I do. If it’s not in the 20s or colder, this jacket is overkill for me. But if you run cold, this is the best duck hunting jacket for you. 

Key Features

• Heavyweight, 12-ounce 100 percent ring-spun washed cotton duck
• 80g 3M Thinsulate
• Elbow pleats
• Knit cuffs to keep out the cold
• Triple-stitched main seams

Pros

• Durable
• Affordable
• Versatile

Cons

Field hunting can feel a lot like work. You’ve got to haul around endless bags of decoys, mess with trailers that are always getting flat tires, and then pack it all up again at the end of the day. So it makes sense that a lot of hunting guides who run field shoots don’t wear fancy camo, they opt for workwear. The Carhartt Insulated Active Jac will stand up to all the hard labor a field hunt requires and it will keep you warm enough to stay in the field until the birds fly. Since you’re hunting out of a blind on field hunts, highly detailed camo is not needed, and the traditional Carhartt brown will work just fine. 

This is not the most windproof or waterproof jacket in the list, so if you’re planning on hunting arctic conditions, consider a parka-style hunting coat. But for everything else this classic Carhartt jacket will get the job done. 

Best Puffy Jacket: Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2

Key Features

• 800 fill power RDS-certified down
• Nylon ripstop shell with durable water resistant finish
• Drawcord hem
• Two zip hand pockets

Pros

• Excellent warmth for weight
• Synthetic insulation at the cuffs helps prevent wetting out

Cons

Sitting still for hours waiting for the ducks to come can get pretty dang cold. Fortunately for you, the birds you’re after already came up with the perfect insulation layer: down. Duck down (or goose down) are the tiny feathers closest to the bird’s body that have wispy filaments that form pockets to trap hot air. They are such a powerful insulator that synthetic alternatives haven’t yet been able to match it.

While the traditional puffer jacket of yore is a bulky marshmallow affair that probably isn’t going to fit under one of the duck jackets on this list, newer models that use higher-grade down provide a ton of additional warmth without a lot of bulk. My favorite of these is Mountain Hardwear’s Ghost Whisperer 2, which pairs 800 fill power down (the sweet spot between less insulative lower grades and the extreme price point of 1000fp down) with a streamlined, no-frills design. And if you run especially cold, there is always the option to add the Ghost Whisperer 2 pants which will keep you toasty beneath your duck hunting waders even on the most brutally cold days. —Laura Lancaster

Key Features

• 8-ounce waxed cotton outer layer 
• Polyester softshell fleece underneath
• Fleece lined side pockets and upper chest pockets
• Rib knit cuffs

Pros

• Excellent warmth for weight
• Synthetic insulation at the cuffs helps prevent wetting out

Cons

Quite simply, this is a windproof polyester fleece that’s overlaid in 8-ounce olive drab waxed cotton. This pullover jacket (or sweater) is made for those duck hunters who care about style and performance. If you’re nostalgic for the good old days when men smoked pipes in the blind, drank fine bourbon in camp, and never even missed ducks, then the Avery Heritage Waterfowl Sweater is for you. It will allow you to relive those good old days without freezing your ass off. 

FAQs

Final Thoughts on Duck Hunting Jackets

I was once on a sea duck hunt in Maine where the guide rigged two layout boats next to each other. I sat comfortably in one boat, and my partner (who had on inferior gear) began to shiver in the other. Just as the ducks started flying my partner caught a bad chill from the wind and the waves that were spilling into his layout and had to be picked up by our tender boat. I toughed it out and shot my ducks (eiders, longtails, and bufflehead) as they cruised over the surf into my spread. The takeaway? Duck hunting is hard, and if you don’t have the right gear for the gnarly conditions that often make for the best gunning, well, then you might as well just stay home. Buying one (or two) of the best duck hunting jackets is a good start.

 

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