Keep your core warm in our women’s body warmers and gilets

In our collection of women’s body warmers and gilets, you can find everything you need to keep you warm when facing the UK’s colder seasons. Women’s vests deliver heat, comfort and versatility, while simultaneously allowing you to enjoy maximum movement. They make sure you feel warm and toasty and let your arms move without restriction and stay cooler. Gilets and body warmers are perfect for when brisk weather arrives, but you’re not ready to bring out your women's puffer jacket quite yet.

We love versatile clothes, and a vest is one of those wonderfully versatile pieces of clothing you can use for various occasions. A padded women’s body warmer is a practical layering piece, as it can be worn in different ways. You can wear a vest as casual outerwear over a soft fleece jacket, or as an inner layer under one of our waterproof coats. When the weather is milder, wear it over your blouse and show off your sleeves, while still adding an extra layer of heat to your core.

Our women’s gilets come in a variety of stylish colours and looks based on the activity you have planned and the climate you’re tackling. If you’re looking for a vest for everyday errands in the city, you can opt for a hooded and quilted puffer vest with an urban fit. Complete your outfit with a cool pair of boots and denim jeans, and you’re ready for your city adventure.

Or why not go for an exclusive and luxuriously warm down padded vest with a high collar and a shell made from recycled polyester? For your coldest adventures, a down insulated vest is the best option. Are you going skiing or camping on a chilly mountain with the kids? Imagine being surrounded by nature, waking up early in the morning, and seeing the trees lit up by the sunrise lighting. Add a cosy down vest to that, and you’ll be able to enjoy your nature quests in comfort.

Down clothes are the ultimate warmth standard and are also wonderfully lightweight. That means that they’re light and comfortable, allowing you to stay active for as long as you like on your visits to the great outdoors. It also means that they’re incredibly packable, making it easy to roll them up in your bag. Just throw it into one of your backpacks when you're travelling along with all your other gear for the road. One undeniable advantage is they are easy to store during spring and summer.

Of course, our collection also includes lighter technical vests, perfect for when you’re planning to hit the trail. Columbia is a hiking specialist, and our water resistant and breathable sports vests are the perfect trekking companions. Many have practical pockets, such as interior security pockets, where you can store a mobile or other essentials. Just zip up your vest and pockets and keep yourself and your belongings safe and warm when the temperatures drop.

Omni-Heat™: Columbia’s insulation technology

Our advanced thermal-reflective technology is the key to the lightweight heat that our vests deliver. It retains and reflects body heat, with the goal of allowing you to enjoy your outdoor adventure as long as possible. Skip wearing a ton of stuffy layers with this heat retention.

Columbia’s reflective technologies include Omni-Heat™ Infinity, Omni-Heat™ Black Dot, Omni-Heat™ 3D and Omni-Heat™ Reflective. The technology utilises tiny golden dots, black dots, silver reflectors and silver dots to reflect your body heat.

At the same time, we know that warmth isn’t everything. That’s why we also make sure that our thermal clothing is also highly breathable. Our vests are all made of fabrics with breathability and moisture-wicking, allowing excess warmth and moisture to escape. As a result, outdoor enthusiasts can keep on the move for as long as they like, while staying dry inside and out. Next-to-skin comfort is also optimised, with small pods of soft fibre creating a comfortable air gap between your skin and the fabric.

Which body warmer or gilet suits you the best?

When shopping for the perfect vest for you, don’t settle for the first sleeveless piece of clothing you stumble across. Our body warmers and gilets provide maximum movement and comfort, as well as ultimate warmth and practicality. Use the filter function on our online shop to browse through different options. Our vests are available in a wide range of popular colours you can choose from, with shades such as black, cornstalk, dark nocturnal, olive green, copper and coral. You can also find vests with different design features, such as with or without a hood. You can also consider how long you want your vest to be. Do you prefer a shorter body warmer or a longline gilet?

You can also narrow down choices by picking which activity you’re planning in the gilet and what level of warmth you need. Do you want a body warmer for urban activities or sports activities, such as hiking or walking? Do you want a gilet in the category “light warmth” or “warm”? Keep in mind the weather conditions you’re facing. Do you prefer a vest with down insulation or synthetic insulation?

You’ll also find vests in our collection with varying levels of water resistance. While some have no water protection, others are water resistant. Water resistant gilets are not quite waterproof, but can withstand a drizzle. Some of our body warmers have the technology Omni-Shield™, making them both water and stain repellent. Omni-Shield™ vests prevent liquids from being absorbed into your vest’s fabric.

Think about what features are important to you in a vest to find a hiking companion you can enjoy exploring nature in for a long time!

FAQs

Should I size up in a gilet?

Before you buy a ladies’ gilet, it’s recommended that you stick with your typical size. That being said, if you plan to wear it over a bulky jumper or over a top from our collection of sweatshirts and hoodies, you may want to consider sizing up. Ideally, they should be comfortable, but snug enough to trap heat and keep you warm.

We recommend trying on your gilet or bodywarmer with what you plan to wear underneath it to ensure you get the right fit.

Which is the warmest gilet?

A down gilet is the superior standard for warmth. It’s also lightweight and can be easily packed into a backpack when not being worn. However, synthetic insulation is preferred in damp conditions; it will stay puffy and warm when wet.

For added warmth, look for the following technologies found in some of Columbia’s collection of ladies’ gilets:

• ThermaratorTM: Recycled, faux-down fibres that combine the look and feel of real down with the resilience of synthetic insulation. Delivers more warmth with less weight.
• Omni-HeatTM Reflective: Uses silver dots to effectively reflect and retain heat for better lightweight warmth.

Are gilets still fashionable?

Absolutely! Gilets are considered a timeless and versatile wardrobe staple. They transition well between an assortment of outdoor adventures. From a walk in the fresh country air to more urban adventures, stay stylish and comfortable with one of our ladies’ gilets. Available in a range of colours, including natural shades like khaki green and brighter options like light purple, you’re spoilt for choice!

Need some style inspiration? Try pairing a sleek down gilet with a heavy jumper and a pair of faux fur-lined boots for an excellent après ski look! They also look great with jeans or leggings, as well as more formal workwear.

What to wear with a gilet for ladies?

Ladies’ gilets can be worn by themselves or as part of a layering system. Wear your gilet as an effective mid-layer underneath a waterproof shell for some added insulation in wet weather. Alternatively, you can wear a gilet with a water-resistant finish (like Omni-ShieldTM) over a women’s fleece as an outer layer.

Are gilets and bodywarmers the same thing?

Both terms refer to a sleeveless jacket. However, there are minor differences between their design and function. Generally, a gilet is lighter and better suited to a mid-layer. On the other hand, a bodywarmer tends to be thicker and worn as an outer layer.

Keep discovering our new women collection and the many categories of women’s jackets that Columbia offers:

• women's parka coat
• women's waterproof jacket
• women's coats
• quilted puffer jacket women's
• black puffer jacket women's
• lightweight puffer jacket women
• women's puffer jacket with hood
• quilted jacket women's
• women's parka with hood
• ski jackets women
• women's 3 in 1 jacket
• long puffer jacket women
• hiking jacket women's
• women's walking jacket
• women's windbreaker jacket
• softshell women's jacket
• women's casual jackets

And don’t forget to check out our men's puffer jacket collection to explore our line of insulated men’s jackets.