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What are your favorite WARM winter coats? ETA photos

Jenny H

I'm looking for inspiration this weekend. I'm potentially moving to a colder climate (Midwest) in the next month or two and my current winter coat has proven that it is not adequate for the milder climate where I currently reside. Do you have any favorite winter coats for cold climates that you can share with me?

See below: I tried on a few coats and would love opinions on two of them...

Shopping

32 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

lisaflex

Veteran

lands end chalet coat. super warm!

Anonymous

I live in the Canadian version of your Midwest - and we wear North Face (or any other gear /outdoor brands) puffers and parkas in the worst months of winter. Canada Goose, SAM, Mackage, Patagonia, Columbia ...all make really good warm winter outerwear that is functional and fashionable. A good lined wool coat is fine for less harsh weather - and for milder days. Where exactly are you moving to?

missvee

Veteran

Anything down filled will be super toasty. If you run cold, a cashmere sweater underneath is the ultimate in warmth. No, actually a silk blouse under a cashmere sweater under a down filled coat is the ultimate in warmth. I would pass out from the heat though :-).
If you're buying a parka/ puffer, make sure the hood fits too.

marianna

Veteran

I'm in the Midwest. Agree on a gear brand down coat. I like Eddie Bauer, LL Bean, Lands End, or North Face. Those hold up best to the elements in my experience.

Colette

Veteran

I'm in the midwest too. I agree that you are going to need something down filled with a hood and at least one warm and waterproof pair of snow boots. The brand suggestions above are great.

And as missvee points out LAYER! I run cold so I have thin silk long underwear I wear under my clothes on the coldest days and I wear Smartwool socks. Don't forget a hat, scarf and gloves.

If budget is a concern, something like this coat might be a good starting point: http://www.costco.com/1-Madiso.....0961.html#

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ma342

Native Midwesterner here, though I now live in New England. In addition to getting one with down, and at least knee length, make sure it has a hood. I can't tell you how much difference that will make on windy days.

Jenny H

I'm enjoying all the responses so far! Thank you everyone. Are there any of the gear type coats that you find to be particularly stylish? Perhaps the holy grail is a warm coat that also looks good.

Also, have people found the temperature ratings that some companies offer for their coats to be accurate?

Jenny H

lisap: I'm hoping to move closer to my family in Michigan. I have some potential job leads there however I currently have an attractive offer for a job in Madison, WI and I am seriously considering accepting it.

rachylou

Veteran

Ankle length down with a waist and a two-way zipper...

Rebecca1147

Down and down. And make sure it covers your bum. That makes a world of difference.

Elle

Veteran

Agree with all of the above. Down, layers, and knee length. When it gets to be mid-winter, style has to take a back seat to warmth. All of the above-mentioned brands are good. The LL Bean temperature ratings (the only ones I've used) seem accurate to me.

Good luck with your move!

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

Definitely down. I prefer a length that is just above the knee. If they are too long, I find it a pain to get in and out of cars and it can interfere with my long stride (a necessity when it is really cold). I also like to have a few lengths. Just past the bum is really good when you are only going from the car to the destination but don't want to freeze on the way.

Thistle

Veteran

I live in the Midwest, and gear jackets reign supreme here in winter. There is a reason Lands End was founded in Wisconsin I have ones from Land's End, LL Bean and Columbia. All are good and warm. I usually opt for the Warmest.

Down is great, but I also like some of the manmade fabrications as they can also take the snow. I live near Lake Michigan, so we get a lot of thick, wet snow as well as cold.

Laurinda

Veteran

What to look for:
Down-filled or good poly-fill if you are wearing it over a sweater.
Water-repellent
Dark color to hide winter dirt
A bit over-sized to fit over a sweater or fleece jacket
A waist drawstring is handy to keep some semblance of a shape
Long enough to cover your buns
with a two-way zipper for car/bus sitting ease
A storm flap over the zipper (but be careful with velcro, it can catch and snag scarves)
Hooded
Sleeve cuffs that block wind
Hand-warming (fleece-lined) side-entry pockets
Extra snap/velcro or zipper outer pockets
Inside pocket(s) with zipper or velcro

Madison specific: consider if you will be living within a walk or bus
commute (cold waits!) or will be driving to work. (Or biking, some folks do that year-round Also expect to need two winter coats or jackets, different lengths, weights, or ruggedness etc -- we might wear them from November through April.

Lands' End "Squall" Parkas are great, but check out the reviews to see if there are any problems with the current model. One year they left off the two-way zipper! They regularly have 30 to 40% off. Depending on your size you might luck out at a thrift or consignment store, LE is pretty common around here and people sell them because they are tired of the color before they wear out.

Windchime

Veteran

Congrats on the job offer, and welcome to the Midwest!

I bought my first Lands End puffer coat last year, and now totally understand why they're so popular. Mine is a black knee-length coat with a hood. It's so lightweight that you wouldn't think it could keep you warm, but it certainly did, all winter long, no matter how cold it became. I wore it for everything from running errands to work or church and received many compliments. Would definitely recommend!

Dee

Veteran

Echoing what others have said. Definitely a down filled parka or puffer. I've found that this is an area where brand/price makes a difference, in that most of the nicer gear brands are worth the money and will keep you warmer than a down coat made by a non-gear designer. I like LLbean. North Face and Patagonia. My favorite one in terms of style was the Patagonia Downtown Loft Parka.

And congrats on your job offer and the move!

lisaflex

Veteran

some northface are not so waterproof imho so read tags. we all have northface also but the best by far is the landsend below knee length for waterproof and warmness!

JAileen

Veteran

If your credit card can stand it, order several from different companies (Lands End, Patagonia, etc.) and see what fits. Laurinda gave you an amazingly comprehensive list. I don't live in the midwest, just the high desert and have a Cabella's down puffer that is FABULOUS. I don't need it very often, but when I need it, I love it. I agree with Dee that gear brands know what they're doing. Last year I bought several Patagonia long waterproof coats with zip out liners. Some are warmer than others. The one I bought was NOT warm enough for our trip to Turkey in February. I ended up having to layer a nano puff jacket under it to be warm enough. It was okay for a trip, but I wouldn't want to do that on a daily basis.

ETA: if it matters to you, North Face is good quality but they put their giant logo on front AND back. I overlooked this for a super soft fleece jacket that I just bought from them. Patagonia is much more subtle in that regard.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

The Patagonia Tres parka is fantastic. I think they are still making versions of it but mine is about five years old and going strong. I wear it for long outdoor walks in deep winter.

If you just want a nice warm coat to go to work in, get something from J. Crew with thinsulate.

Echo

Veteran

I just recently bought a full-length puffer coat. I have a stadium length puffer that is plenty warm, but found that when spending any time outdoors my legs were very cold (I tend to wear dress pants and not jeans). The full-length should take care of that issue. And while there is no doubt that the branded coats (Land's End, LL Bean, Patagonia, etc.) are warmer, I tend to run warm all year round, so a non-branded or "fashion branded" coat (though full length puffers are hardly fashionable!) works fine for me. For the longest time I was able to make do with a wool coat or other fashionable outerwear because I spent little time actually outdoors, but I have occasional outdoor recess duty with my new teaching position and a full length puffer is a necessity!

And while these don't come with coats, it is VERY handy to have the hand warmers in your mittens or pockets. I like the Hot Hands ones you can buy at stores like Target.

Jenny H

I still need to try the Lands End Squall Parka, but I was able to try a couple Lands End coats and here are my two favorites. I don't know why I'm making that crazy face in photo 1, lol!

Thoughts/opinions?

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missvee

Veteran

I think I prefer the second one. I like the way it's quilted - the smaller squares define the waist area very well. How would the colour work for you?

Astrid

Veteran

I like the second one too! I have a Lands End down coat and a Lands End Squall Parka. It wasn't all that cold since I bought the puffer coat, so I couldn't really test it, but it seems to hold the warmth quite well. One issue I have with it right now is that it smelled kind of weird when I got it out of storage last week and I'm not sure why. Hopefully it's something that can be resolved with cleaning. I don't think the Squall Parka is as warm in comparison. I wore it in Hamburg 2013 when it was below freezing and also quite windy and I was cold. Probably also because I was sweating at the same time, because the jacket wasn't very breathable and we were walking all day. I've thought of selling it - I think I'd now prefer a wool coat or even lots of wool layers under my thin rain jacket to the Squall Parka.

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Jenny H

Astrid, that feedback is super helpful comparing the warmth of the Lands End Squall vs. the puffer! Thank you.

kkards

Veteran

this is just my opinion, but i like my down coats to have 2 options to close….so i prefer your 1st picture. on the coldest days, the zipper plus snaps add another layer to keep the chill/wind out. on the warmer days, just the snaps are usually enough.
also, i'm going to go against the grain, and recommend a light color….i think darker coats aren't any less likely to so winter dirt--ever brush up against a dirty car in a dark coat…instant white streaks.
also try llbean….

catgirl

Veteran

I have the North Face Metropolitan down coat in blue and another long down coat from Nordstrom that is 10 years old in dark bronze. Both str warm because they are long.

I also highly recommend the Skhoop down skirts which go over my regular clothes and are unbelievably cozy.

http://www.skhoop.us

Elle

Veteran

I have a slight preference for the blue coat.

ananthimathur

(website)

I like all those you have worn! The grey one that @Astrid has shown is pretty too! I dig that!

Leighways

(website)

Personally I just love layering up. I live in New Zealand and during winter, spend a lot of time in the snow.

I'd invest in long sleeved tees, thermal underwear and such. I've found that no matter how good the outwrwear is, the underclothes are what essentially keep you warm. My fave jacket is this huge, oversized man-jacket my uncle gave me. It's dark blue with two reflector strips and is rainproof - an absolute bonus.

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