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How to Choose the Best Duck Hunting Jacket
The short answer: Choose a duck hunting jacket by the weather you hunt most: a waterproof shell for rain, a waterproof insulated jacket for wet cold, a breathable insulated jacket for active hunts, a windproof layer for boat rides, and waxed canvas for the timber. Make sure it fits over your waders.
No single jacket handles every morning of the season. Opening day can be warm and wet, and the late season brings ice. Most duck hunters end up with two jackets: one waterproof and one warm. This guide sorts our most popular jackets by the job they do. Each one comes in Mossy Oak Bottomland, Original Bottomland or both.
Waterproof or water-resistant?
A waterproof jacket keeps out steady rain and spray. A water-resistant jacket sheds light moisture and drizzle, but soaks through in a downpour. If you hunt in rain or run a boat in rough water, you need waterproof. If your mornings are mostly cold and dry, water-resistant is enough, and it's usually quieter and more comfortable.
For rain: a waterproof shell
The Hydro-Lok Shell Jacket uses three-layer construction to keep out water and wind, with an adjustable hood, hem and cuffs. It's tough enough for brambles and branches. Layer insulation under it as the season gets colder. Comes in Mossy Oak Bottomland and Original Bottomland.
The Hydro-Lok Velo Rain Jacket weighs 12 ounces and packs small, with draw-cord adjustments on the hood and hem. Keep it in the blind bag for early-season showers. Comes in Mossy Oak Original Bottomland.
For wet cold: waterproof and insulated
When the rain and the cold arrive together, you want both in one jacket. The Hydro-Lok Insulated Jacket pairs Hydro-Lok weather protection with our most advanced insulation, plus an adjustable hood, hem and cuffs. Comes in Mossy Oak Bottomland and Original Bottomland.
For active hunts: insulation that breathes
Setting decoys and walking in make you sweat, and a sweaty jacket gets cold when you sit down. The Flyweigh Jacket is wind- and water-resistant, with insulation, breathability and stretch panels, so you can drop the boat, set the spread and fill the strap without shedding layers. Comes in Mossy Oak Bottomland and Original Bottomland.
For wind and boat rides
The Scout Windproof Jacket was built for boat rides and north winds. It's 100% windproof with a water-repellent finish and a fleece-lined interior, and its slim fit layers under waders. Comes in Mossy Oak Bottomland.
For the timber: waxed canvas and down
Waxed canvas handles wind, light water and brush, and it's quiet, which makes it the traditional choice for flooded timber. The Waxed Canvas Goose Down Jacket puts 100g of 600 fill-power goose down under a 10.10 oz waxed cotton shell, for early season through late cold. Comes in Mossy Oak Original Bottomland.
Not sure waxed canvas is for you? Read Waxed Canvas for Duck Hunting: Does It Still Hold Up?
Warmth where the waders end
The Over/Under Jacket is built around the wader line. The top half has extra insulation, and from the wader line down it has a tapered fit with sherpa fleece lining for less bulk. Comes in Mossy Oak Bottomland and Original Bottomland.
For time out of the water, the Camp Jacket is a puffer whose insulation outperforms down when it's wet or compressed. Its fit leaves room to layer over it. Comes in Mossy Oak Bottomland.
Match the jacket to the season
| Conditions | What to wear |
|---|---|
| Early season, warm, chance of rain | Hydro-Lok Velo or Hydro-Lok Shell over a light base layer |
| Cool and dry, lots of walking | Flyweigh |
| Cold wind, boat rides | Scout Windproof, with a Hydro-Lok Shell over it if it's wet |
| Flooded timber, cold with light water | Waxed Canvas Goose Down |
| Late season, rain and ice | Hydro-Lok Insulated, or Hydro-Lok Shell over the Over/Under |
Make sure it works over waders
A jacket that fits in the driveway can bunch at the top of your waders. Look for a hem that sits above the wader line, cuffs that close down around your wrists or gloves, a hood that doesn't block your side vision, and room in the shoulders for layers and a gun mount. For the details, read How to Choose a Waterfowl Jacket That Fits Over Waders.
Jackets for young hunters
The Youth Hydro-Lok Shell Jacket, Youth Hydro-Lok Insulated Jacket and Youth Over/Under Jacket bring the same constructions down to youth sizes, in Mossy Oak Bottomland.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a waterproof duck hunting jacket?
If you hunt in rain or run a boat, yes. For cold, dry mornings, a water-resistant or windproof jacket is enough.
Should my jacket go over or under my waders?
Most outer jackets go over the waders, so the hem should sit above the wader line. Slim layers like the Scout Windproof Jacket can go under the waders.
Is down a good choice for duck hunting?
Down is warm for its weight, but it needs a shell that keeps water off it. The Waxed Canvas Goose Down Jacket puts down under waxed canvas. For wet conditions, synthetic insulation like the Camp Jacket's holds up better.
How many jackets do I need?
Most hunters get by with two: a waterproof shell for rain, and an insulated jacket for cold.
