Early Black Friday jacket deals — Save up to 40% off my favorite outerwear from The North Face, Patagonia, and Arc’teryx

The North Face makes some of the softest, most comfortable fleece jackets on the market, with the Glacier quarter-zip being a personal favorite, especially when it's just $45 in eye-catching "dusk blue."

Do you believe in magic? I didn't, until I got my hands on my first Patagonia Houdini jacket (now I own several), a ridiculously lightweight and packable outer shell for windy and/or drizzly days. While not as hardy as a proper rain shell, the Houdini is made from 100% recycled ripstop nylon and treated with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) spray, so it should keep you pretty dry in all but the hardest downpours.

The North Face Alta Vista Jacket is a seriously capable yet stylish outer shell designed with hikers in mind. Translation: The Alta Vista is light and packable, yet well equipped to keep you dry and comfortable in even the nastiest weather. Meanwhile, pit zips allow for exceptional breathability, while an adjustable hood and hem let you truly batten down the hatches as needed.

The Arc'teryx Squamish hoody is easily among my all-time favorite mid-layers thanks to a remarkably lightweight (are you noticing a trend here?) yet insulating design with just the right amount of stretch and excellent breathability. Also, it looks all sorts of snazzy in royal blue; I mean, "Fluidity."

Last but not least, we have this retro-fabulous Patagonia "Better Sweater" half-zip fleece discounted by a sizable 35% in classic "Marlow Brown." As soft and cozy as they come, the Better Sweater is the type of garment that, once you put it on, you may never want to take it off. Trust me, don't lend this one to a friend or partner; you'll never get it back.