How we score
Every product is scored from 0 to 10. A garment is judged mainly on the job it exists to do, so that one criterion carries most of the score. The others still count, but much less.
Where the information comes from
The name ThreadTested describes the method, not hands-on trials: every product goes through the same scoring test. We do not test products in person. Scores are built from three sources: the manufacturer's published specifications, independent reviews from outdoor and running publications, and owner reviews on retailer pages. Each ranking states its basis near the top of the page, and every product lists the pages its findings come from.
Scoring by layer
Clothing is grouped by the layer it plays in a system. Each layer has one primary criterion worth 55% of the score. Three supporting criteria share the remaining 45%, at 15% each.
Base layers
- Sweat wicking (55%). The main job of this layer.
- Comfort and fit (15%)
- Odor control (15%)
- Durability (15%)
Mid layers
- Warmth (55%). The main job of this layer.
- Breathability (15%)
- Weight and packability (15%)
- Durability (15%)
Outer layers
- Waterproofing (55%). The main job of this layer.
- Breathability (15%)
- Fit and mobility (15%)
- Durability (15%)
What each criterion looks at
- Sweat wicking. Fabric construction and fiber, plus how owners describe staying dry during hard effort.
- Warmth. Insulation type and weight, plus owner reports across a range of temperatures.
- Waterproofing. Stated waterproof rating, seam taping and membrane type, plus owner reports in sustained rain.
- Breathability. Published breathability ratings, venting and owner reports of internal moisture.
- Durability. Fabric weight, reinforcement and how products hold up over a season of use.
How evidence becomes a rating
Each criterion gets a rating from 0 to 10. We start from the published specification, such as the construction, the waterproof and breathability figures and the weight, and adjust it using what independent reviewers and owners report. A jacket that leaks in sustained rain, or a fabric that wears quickly, loses points whatever the label says. When sources disagree, we use the more cautious figure and say so on the page.
Ratings are our assessment. They are not laboratory measurements, and a few products have only a handful of owner reviews, which the page notes.
Prices
Prices are the regular price at a named retailer on the date shown on each ranking. Sale and outlet prices are ignored, and a product sits in the price range its regular price falls in.
Standout strength
When a product clearly beats others of the same type on a measurable specification or a consistent review theme, we call it out as its standout strength. If we cannot find one, we leave it out rather than invent it.
Updates
Rankings are reviewed every season, and every page shows the date it was last updated.
Independence
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this site. Commissions never influence scores or order. Read the affiliate disclosure.