The right winter work jacket comes down to three questions: how cold it gets, how wet it gets, and whether your site asks for hi vis. A soft shell suits wind, light showers and work where you're moving all day. A puffer or padded jacket is warmer on cold, dry mornings. A seam-sealed rain jacket is for days that are properly wet. Fleece sits underneath, or does the job on its own when the weather's mild. Here's how the jackets we list compare.
Soft shell: wind, showers and plenty of movement
A soft shell has a stretchy outer fabric with a softer face bonded inside, so it blocks the wind without the bulk of padding. That makes it the all-rounder of the four types here.
- Bisley Soft Shell Jacket BJ6060: 310gsm, with a "Bonded internal fleece face" and "Showerproof fabric with breathable membrane". The listing quotes a waterproof rating of "Up to 7,500mm H20" and adds eyelet vents under the arms and sleeve cuff adjusters.
- Aussie Pacific Olympus 1513: a 320gm "3 layer performance softshell" with waterproof zips and a concealed waterproof hood, in eight colours. There's a women's Olympus 2513 with the same features. The Selwyn (1512 men's, 2512 women's) is the pared-back "2 layer" version, with no hood listed.
- FXD WO-3: 3-layer polyester with a membrane and a "Brushed fleece backer for warmth". Its listing says wind and water resistant, not waterproof.
Puffer and padded: warmth for cold, dry starts
Puffers hold warmth in a polyester fill, which makes them the pick for frosty mornings in the yard or on the road. Read the shell description before you rely on one in steady rain.
- FXD WO-5 Insulated Puffer: stretch polyester ripstop with polyester fill and a "Stitchless, bonded baffle construction".
- Syzmik Streetworx Hooded Puffer ZJ240: a ripstop shell with mechanical stretch, "Warm blown polyester fill" and a "Removable zip off hood".
- Aussie Pacific Buller 1522: a nylon outer with "lightweight fill" and a high collar. The women's version is the 2522.
- Pilbara Mens Quilted Jacket RMPC065: "100gsm Polyfill Padding", a "Microfibre Waterproof Coating" and a check cotton lining, in Alpine, Black, Ink Navy or Whisky.
If arms need to stay free, the FXD WO-6 and Syzmik ZV245 are puffer vests.
Rain jackets: for days that are properly wet
- FXD WO-2: a three-layer nylon shell, "Fully seam-sealed", with a "Waterproof rating 10K" and an "Adjustable 3-piece hood".
- Bisley Stretch PU Rain Coat BJ6835: "All seams are seam sealed", a built-in concealed hood and a rating of "Up to 22,000mm H20". Our photos show a longer, coat-length cut.
- Syzmik Super Light Packable ZJ260: 90 GSM, "Waterproof to 10,000mm and fully seam sealed", and it packs into its own pocket for the ute.
- FXD WO-1: warmth and waterproofing in one, with "140gsm polyester insulation", fully sealed seams and a 3-point adjustable hood.
Brands quote waterproof ratings in different ways, and none of these listings says which test was used, so treat the numbers as a rough guide, not a ranking.
Hi vis jackets
When your site requires hi vis, the outer layer is what people see, so either the jacket is hi vis or a hi vis vest goes over it. Here are three hi vis jackets that go about it differently:
- Bisley Taped Hi Vis Puffer BJ6929HT: quilted with polyester wadding, a "Reflective taped H pattern and biomotion taping on sleeves", and an adjustable lined quilted hood. Orange/Navy or Yellow/Navy.
- Bisley 5 in 1 BK6975: a fully seam-sealed waterproof shell with a reversible padded body warmer that zips out, plus detachable sleeves. The parts combine in different ways, which is where the "5 in 1" comes from. The listing doesn't spell out the five combinations, so ask us if you need a particular setup. The women's BKL6975 comes in sizes 6 to 24.
- Ritemate 4 in 1 RM73N1R: a 311gsm cotton twill jacket plus a vest, both with 50mm reflective tape. Its listing quotes "High Visibility for Day and Night Wear - AS 4602.1:2024".
Of these three, only the Ritemate listing names a hi vis standard. Where your site specifies one, match the jacket to that standard, not just to the colour. More styles are in our hi vis jackets collection.
Hoods and pockets at a glance
| Jacket | Type | Hood | Pockets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bisley BJ6060 | Soft shell | None listed | 2 waist, zipped |
| AP Olympus 1513 | Soft shell | Concealed | 2 side, 1 chest, zipped |
| FXD WO-5 | Puffer | None listed | 2 front, 1 inside, zipped |
| Syzmik ZJ240 | Puffer | Removable | 2 hip, zipped; 1 arm |
| Bisley BJ6835 | Rain | Concealed | 2 waist, flapped |
| Bisley BJ6929HT | Hi vis puffer | Lined, adjustable | 2 waist, zipped |
Where fleece fits
Fleece is the layer under a shell on a cold morning, and the outer on a mild, dry day. The Bisley BK6725 fleece hoodie is a 365gsm brushed fleece, with a lined hood and a pen pocket on the sleeve.
Adding your logo
Several listings mention access inside the jacket for decoration: the Aussie Pacific Buller ("Internal zipper access for decoration"), the Syzmik ZJ240 ("Large embroidery zip access"), the Pilbara RMPC065 ("Concealed Internal Embroidery Zipper") and the Bisley 5 in 1 ("Inner and outer jacket embroidery access"). That access is there so a logo can be stitched onto the outer shell without sewing through the lining as well.
Performance and waterproof fabrics need more thought than a cotton jacket, so tell us which jacket you've picked and we'll suggest the method and position. On hi vis jackets, keep logos clear of the reflective tape and check your site's rules with your safety officer or principal contractor. Our embroidery or printing guide sets out how we decide.
Got a shortlist? Send the jackets you're weighing up, your crew's sizes and your logo via our custom workwear enquiry form, and we'll help you narrow it down to one.
