Columbia Heavenly Hoody - Women's Review

The Columbia Heavenly is an insulated jacket that prioritizes warmth and everyday comfort over packable, technical performance. It features a slightly slim, tailored fit, a soft fleece-lined hood, and a protective “OmniShield Storm-Lite” polyester exterior. The Heavenly has two zippered, fleece-lined hand pockets and a zippered chest pocket. The extended, stretch-knit cuffs with thumbholes provide extra-cozy coverage on cold days. Although it lacks adjustability in the hem or hood, and an integrated stuff sack, we appreciate its practical features and cozy construction, particularly considering its affordable price.

Warmth

If staying warm is what you're after, the Columbia Heavenly is one of the better options. Though it's not particularly lofty, its thin baffles are packed with synthetic insulation, and Columbia's reflective Omni-Heat lining helps hold onto body heat. The Heavenly is warm enough to wear on its own for most cold conditions, but reaches its limits if temps drop below the mid-20s. But on most days, you don't need to pile on a bunch of extra layers underneath it to stay comfortable. The fleece-lined hood is another nice touch, keeping your head and neck warm when the weather gets chilly.

We especially like the extended knit cuffs with thumbholes, which cover your wrists and keep cold air from sneaking in between your gloves and sleeves. They're also nice when you're not wearing gloves, since they provide a little extra coverage for your hands. The hem doesn't have a drawcord, and the hood also lacks adjustment, which can be a slight warmth drawback during storms. Between the reflective lining and fleece, the Heavenly has plenty of features to maximize warmth despite its relatively low loft.

Comfort

As we mentioned, the Heavenly Hoody is one of the coziest jackets we've tested, with a few features that make it particularly comfortable. Our favorite is the super soft, fleece-lined hood, which almost feels like wrapping a warm blanket around your head. The fuzzy lining extends around your face and chin, so you can really tuck yourself inside when it's cold outside. The jacket fits true to size in our experience. It is slightly fitted without being overly restrictive, though it has no integrated stretch.

The slick Omni-Heat lining isn't especially pleasant against bare skin, but the smooth texture slides on easily over other clothing. We had no trouble wearing it over a fleece. You might want to size up if you want the freedom to layer thicker sweaters underneath. The stretchy knit cuffs with thumbholes feel great to pull on. The two hand pockets are roomy enough for gloved hands, and the soft lining is gentle on cold fingers. The zippered chest pocket is useful for keeping a phone or other small items close. Overall, the Heavenly has quite a few thoughtful little features that make it pleasant to wear.

Weather Resistance

The Columbia Heavenly does a great job of keeping out winter weather, thanks to its insulation and relatively thick and protective Storm-Lite DP II polyester shell. The exterior blocks wind particularly well and sheds light rain and snow without much trouble. It's not a waterproof jacket, and we wouldn't want to rely on it during a long rainstorm, but for most cold weather outings, it provides plenty of protection. We wore it while running errands, walking around town, and spending time outside in all kinds of fall and early winter conditions.

We tested the Heavenly on some particularly blustery days and were impressed by how well it kept the wind out. Even with just a thin base layer underneath, we stayed warm when the gusts picked up, likely due in part to the OmniHeat lining. During our water tests, light precipitation beaded up on the exterior rather than immediately soaking into the fabric. “When I wore it in a proper downpour, the stitching and baffles eventually became saturated, but moisture never made it through to the inside,” noted our lead tester. For such an affordable jacket, it does a fine job of handling unexpected precipitation, but it isn't what we would reach for if it was truly blizzarding outside.

Everyday Versatility

The Heavenly Hoody is a great option for anyone who wants a warm jacket that doesn't look like it belongs on a mountaineering expedition. It has a slightly fitted, hourglass shape that looks nice with everyday clothes, without feeling overly bulky or puffy. We found ourselves reaching for it often, whether heading out for a walk, running errands, or just spending time outside.

The Heavenly looks as natural with jeans and a sweater as it does with more outdoorsy clothing. The warm hood and extended cuffs are handy when you don't feel like bringing along a bunch of extra accessories, and the pockets have plenty of room for your phone, keys, and other essentials. That said, this isn't a jacket we'd choose for a long hike or backpacking trip. Size small weighs 22.4 ounces, making it much heavier than most of the other jackets in our lineup, and it doesn't pack down particularly small. It can be a little too warm for milder days or anything that gets your heart rate up. But for everyday winter use, we think the Heavenly strikes a nice balance between style, comfort, and warmth.

Breathability

All that warmth means reduced breathability for the Heavenly Hoody. The insulation and reflective Omni-Heat lining are great at keeping heat in, but they don't do much to help it escape. For walking around town, running errands, or hanging out outside when you're not moving much, this isn't a big issue. We found ourselves getting hot quickly whenever we picked up the pace for anything more than a brisk walk

We wouldn't choose this jacket for winter runs or even hiking if we had the choice. Even if we were just walking fast, it's easy to start sweating, and there aren't many ways to cool down besides unzipping the front or taking the jacket off altogether, which caused us to cool down way too quickly, leading us to do the on again, off again dance with this jacket.

Should You Buy the Columbia Heavenly?

The Columbia Heavenly Hoody is a great choice for anyone who wants a warm, comfortable insulated jacket without spending a ton of money. It does a great job blocking wind and shedding light precipitation, making it a dependable option for winter weather. While it's not particularly lightweight or breathable, we don't think those are major drawbacks for a jacket that's mostly designed for casual use.

What Other Women's Insulated Jackets Should You Consider?

If you like the warmth of the Columbia Heavenly but want something a little lighter and easier to pack, check out the Rab Cirrus. It's more breathable and works better for hiking, climbing, and other activities where you're moving a lot, without costing too much more. If you're shopping on a tighter budget, the Outdoor Ventures Packable Lightweight Hooded is another option worth considering. It's less warm and doesn't have the same cozy features as the Columbia, but it gets the job done for casual use. For anyone who wants a warm, comfortable jacket that doesn't cost a fortune, we think the Heavenly is hard to beat.