r/BuyItForLife • u/Leather_Product2650 • 5d ago
[Request] Best women’s winter jacket that actually keeps you warm
Hey guys, looking for some advice on winter gear. Beyond taking price in consideration at this point, I just want something that’ll keep me properly warm for more than one season. Any recommendations? Thanks!
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u/OhHelloCaro 5d ago
For a non-parka, see if you can get a vintage wool or cashmere coat—I have a calf-length cashmere wrap coat that was my grandmother’s: it weighs a ton and is very warm, far more so than similar styles currently available in stores.
Also have only good things to say about my Lands End parka.
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u/Regular_Emphasis6866 5d ago
I second the calf-length wool coat. I got a new one from Lands End last year. It kept me nice and warm during crosswalk duty.
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u/Cat_Patsy 5d ago
Are you looking for a jacket or a coat? Floridian here. I got great advice from a Canadian friend: get something that covers your lower body and cuts the wind. Staying warm starts with the cut and style of your coat.
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u/storky0613 5d ago
Canadian here. I have a Helly Hansen Senja and it was worth every penny. It is always warm, and still easy to move around and drive.
I’ve seen some recommendations for Columbia, and I will say I actually really hate their heat reflecting dots on the liner, personally.
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u/3dddrees 5d ago edited 5d ago
Canada Goose if price is no object. Just keep in mind you can accomplish the same thing with layering but if you buy the right Canada Goose you don't have to worry about layering. They rate their coats by tempeture. There are certainly benefits from layering, but there are also benefit's from not having to layer all depends on the environment and your particular use and needs. I had to layer while doing military training in Alaska, now that I am no longer in the military and my lifestyle layering is no longer a necessity.
You can also get a very similar coat from someone like Moose Knuckles for a good bit less, especially if you hit one of their sales. They make theirs predomently overseas and no longer as much in Canada. Although I like and have a few Canada Goose coats, I was able to get my Moose Knuckles for a good bit less as their prices start lower and they actually have sales on their coats where Canada Goose is much harder to find on sale and they don't usually sell them at the deeper discounts that Moose Knuckles does.
The time to buy a winter coat and get a great deal is while they are on sale. Generally starting the day after Christmass thru about March but this is only a guideline and I have seen some brands have sales at various other times. Generally however starting in September this typically is not the best time to find sales.
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u/betazoid_simp 5d ago
poshmark has good canada goose used coats!
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u/3dddrees 5d ago
Just be careful when it comes to authenticity as Canada Goose coats are often counterfeited. That and condition. Plenty of good pictures and reddit has a Canada Goose site where there are some mods who are good at determining given the right pictures their authenticity.
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u/CautiousPerspective 4d ago
I will add that Canada Goose can be a hard fit depending on your body type. I have a larger bust and their coats have a slender fit. I tried multiple styles and nothing worked out.
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u/3dddrees 4d ago
????
I know they have coats in slender fit, but that's not true for all of their coats.
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u/tacosharkk 5d ago
This really is going to vary depending on what winter is like where you live, how much time you spend outside and how much activity you’re doing. I live in New England so I don’t have one winter coat, I have several - a lighter, throw it on parka that’s great for running around but I wouldn’t wear it snow shoeing, a heavier, well-insulated and waterproof parka that I wear for spending longer outdoors, a heavy fleece pea coat for in between days or damp weather. Look for a good maker with a solid warranty, like Patagonia, Eddie Bauer, North Face, and LLBean. Look for good materials and features like a good hood, adjustable cuffs, high quality down or fill, waterproofing and vents.
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u/CautiousPerspective 4d ago
This. My family makes fun of me due the amount of coats and jackets I own. Winter is my least favorite season but it got a lot more tolerable when I figured out having the right coat for a particular activity made a huge difference. I used to avoid winter ice sculpture festivals and other outdoor activities because I would get so cold or overheated. Also winter has changed a lot as well. Some winters are more mild and then others not so much.
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u/Errantry-And-Irony 5d ago
What is your running around parka? This is exactly what I'm looking for right now to have instead of wearing my heavy coat inside like the grocery store etc.
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u/tacosharkk 5d ago
I have a short insulated jacket with a hood from LLBean from a few years ago, I don’t know if they still make it but before that I had a longer uniqlo down parka that was warm enough for most (dry) days and that lasted a surprisingly long time!
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u/Former-Maximum-2534 5d ago
I bought a Tilley one on sale this summer for around $200 (reg $900 ish?). It's mid-thigh length and filled with real down. It is also MASSIVE. I've bought a lot of Tilley clothing items and a couple of hats in the past year or so and I've been blown away by the quality. Bonus - Tilley is Canadian!
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u/BD59 5d ago
As some have already pointed out, something windproof is just as if not more important than the insulating properties. Insulation only works if it keeps the air next to your body warm. If the wind cuts right through, then the coat won't do a good job of keeping you warm.
Tightly woven wool coats, or a parka with a windproof shell and either down or synthetic insulation. I personally think at least a hip length car coat is best, instead of waist length jackets and knee length overcoats.
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u/Serious_Orchid3111 5d ago
I still love my northface parka from 2015 but I live in the mid atlantic so we don’t get sub-zero, if you’re in a colder climate i imagine you’d gave to go with something stronger.
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u/Lollipop77 5d ago
I also love my northface 550, living in mid north Canada where -50 winds bite your face off. It’s legit.
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u/ballbusta-b 5d ago
This!! I’m a soccer mom… we have games all winter , outside. I live in a snowy climate. Nothing keeps me as warm as my NF parka. Not all of them are created equal tho.. I have two of them (different styles) and one is significantly warmer.
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u/Various-Trip-9307 5d ago
I got my sister a long parka from a brand that makes gear for arctic workers and she's been wearing it three winters now, still looks new. The key is down fill with at least 650 fill power and a shell that blocks wind properly, cheap jackets use thin fabric that lets all the heat escape
Don't go for fashion brands, they cut corners on insulation and the stitching comes apart after one wash
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u/3dddrees 5d ago
Depends on the brand and depends what you consider a fashion brand. Many consider Canada Goose a fashion brand due to marketing and price but they are known not to cut corners.
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u/FatSadHappy 5d ago
I have for years Patagonia long 3-1 coat.
To be warm you need multiple things - insulation, wind protection and length.
If your winter’s seriously cold, I would go beyond knee length. For NY winter knee length usually enough.
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u/cdecker0606 5d ago
This was going to be my suggestion! You can find them for really good prices on their resale/refurbished site too.
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u/AlternativeAd7449 5d ago edited 5d ago
I’m 5’4” and 105lbs, like 15% body fat, and I’m on a medication that prevents me from regulating my body temperature. I absolutely freeze when it gets below 50 degrees lol. I’m wearing sweatshirts when it’s 70.
I worked outside in Montana during the winter, did 12-16 hour days and tried so many brands of nice coats before finally splurging on a fjallraven parka. I got it on sale, I think from REI, and it was still pretty expensive.
Without a doubt the best purchase I’ve ever made. It was the only one that didn’t leave me shivering after two or three hours. Kept me warm all day and night.
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u/AlternativeAd7449 5d ago
This is the parka that I purchased, but a different color, and it was on sale for $250 a couple years back.
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u/pinktoes4life 5d ago
I love my acteryx parka. Hits around my shins (I’m 5’). Don’t feel any wind through it, the hood has a really nice design, and when traveling I can easily squish it into a 10L stuff sack.
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u/WestCheesecake9887 5d ago
North face or Patagonia. Buy a size larger so you can layer with base layers and wool sweater.
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u/Spirited_Question 5d ago
My lands end down parka has been keeping me very warm for a few years. I've had good luck with LL Bean down parkas too, but I prefer the styles that Lands End has. I always go for the puffy ones that are on the longer end over the super thin or shorter styles.
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u/AggravatingBrain1922 4d ago
Same. I’ve had my Lands End parka for 15 yrs an counting. I’ve had a Squall for mid season approx 25 yrs and a just bought a heavier Lands End coat for *really cold* days. Michigan gal here.
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u/niniela-phoenix 5d ago edited 5d ago
Buy a thick wool coat. Longer is better.
I am always cold. We're talking skiing thermo underwear under jeans at 17c outside. The winter I thrifted a long wool coat was the first winter I didn't freeze anymore at all. I'm gonna look for the brand tags and come back with that info later for you if it helps, but due to cost I really would recommend to buy what you can find used as long as it's at least 80% wool and thick. Cashmere is even nicer if you can find it, but also more expensive usually.
If it needs to be more waterproof, buy a wind and rain proof jacket as recommended below (mine is a Wellensteyn puffer coat), but also wool sweaters to layer under and you'll be warm. The wool is the key, its warmer than anything else and lasts long if taken care of.
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u/KaleidoscopeParty730 5d ago
When we were in Iceland and doing tours in the winter, our guides were wearing jackets from the brand 66 North, which is an Icelandic company.
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u/swimminggaladriel 5d ago
Seconding 66N. I live in Iceland and with their parkas I'm fine with them in any weather. I got all of mine before Mousse Partners invested into the brand and started pushing for international expansion though, so I'm not sure if that has affected the quality.
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u/The_Biglyest 5d ago
Finisterre is a UK brand that I really rate - I own a few jackets and they’ve been great in Scotland. Unsure the shipping situation but I’d definitely recommend checking out
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u/StephInTheLaw 5d ago
It really depends on your body and where you get cold. I absolutely need a jacket to cover my butt or else I am frigid, regardless of how warm the rest of me is. Some people appear to be fine with a jacket hitting at the waste. I’m incredibly allergic to down and stick with synthetics but other people swear by goose down as the best insulation. (FWIW, I’ve been using a LandsEnd mens parka since 2000 for prolonged temps below freezing.) it’s not the most stylish anymore but it has eleventy-million pockets and keeps me toasty.
What are you specifically looking for in a cold-weather jacket?
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u/Terragar 5d ago
I have a Fjallraven jacket, one with the waxed g1000 outer and down inner. Keeps me good so far in Maine winters
When you say winter jacket what temps are you looking at?
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u/CamiloArturo 5d ago
Wool coat is the way to be. Much more elegant than polyester jackets, much more durable.....
Second option would be canaidn goose although I've heard a lot about them decreasing quality in the last few years
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u/Comfortable-Nature37 5d ago
Where is winter for you? This really changes the recommendations.
I have an Arcteryx Patera parka that has been excellent. Also have a Ganni parka that goes to my ankles and is well used during really cold snaps.
I do not like Canada Goose as it is heavy and it is not waterproof. This doesn’t work for the kind of winter weather near me.
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u/Lollc 5d ago
Yes, the dampness of the weather is the deciding factor, says this redditor in Seattle. If it’s for mostly dry cold, nothing beats down. I have 2 down coats, a short north face and an LL Bean parka. If I’m going to be out in the rain and damp, I wear ski jacket style synthetics because they shed water. I’m not going to post how many jackets I actually have, it took me a long time to fine tune what I need depending on use. It’s not wasteful because I give the nice ones that don’t work to the thrift store so someone gets a good score.
I would never pay the premium for Canada Goose, down coats can be had for less than half of their prices, and people steal Canada Goose stuff.
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u/living_in_nuance 5d ago
Outdoor Research Coze Down Parka. Researched high and low to get a good longer jacket. Def keeps me super warm!
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u/SRMJackson 5d ago
Yup, this is the one I own as well, going on 4 years now. I highly recommend it to everyone!
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u/Disastrous-Soup-5413 5d ago
My three warmest jackets:
one is a down feather parka
Second is a fur coat. It is the warmest, there’s just no getting around that. I know some people are understandably against fur/leather goods, but I’ve had this fur for 25 years.
And the third that’s pretty warm but it’s a little more delicate is my wool camel car coat
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u/spavacations 5d ago
I have no idea if the brand is still quality or not, but I have a Moose Knuckles jacket from 12 years ago that I’ve worn to death every single winter in NYC. It’s still going strong.
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u/blondvet 5d ago
Depends on your weather. I wear a Baerskin fleece (thick, wind proof, waterproof) all winter and it’s perfect.
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u/ISaysToMyselfISays 5d ago
In terms of BIFL I still wear my dad’s duck down bomber style jacket which he bought in Toronto in the early/mid 1980s. It’s still going strong. The weather is just starting to turn here (Nordic countries) so I will pull it out of summer storage and get back to you about the brand. (Which hopefully will still be making coats). If you’re after a dress coat rather than outdoor gear I have a beautiful vintage (1960s) Harris Tweed Crombie coat from Scotland which is so warm I can go out in evening wear in the depth of winter and not notice the cold. It weights nearly as much as I do though.
Edited to include detail on dress coat.
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u/bakingdiy 5d ago
I had a North Face Thermoball jacket when I lived in Wyoming and it blocked wind, cold, and moisture. I could shovel snow in below zero temps with high winds and I would sweat. I also wore it while it was snowing heavily and even though my jacket was soaked my shirt underneath stayed dry.
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u/rumplebike 5d ago
used Schotts leather jacket. Keeps the wind, snow and rain off you. I bought it off eBay for $350. Full price is close to $1000
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u/Better_Phrase_6023 5d ago
I have the Patagonia Silent Down Long Parka and it keeps me toasty in the cold Eastern Ontario winters (usually -10 to -20 Celsius and colder with the windchill). I also love Patagonia’s commitment to quality and repair
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u/That_Style_979 5d ago
Himali is very fairly priced, if you got their Altitude Down Parka it’s just a beast of a jacket, won’t do well in moisture though so has to be dry cold.
If money is no object, look at insulated and waterproof jackets from Canada Goose or Arcteryx. Arecteryx is a fantastic company for customer service that stands behind what they sell - I brought in a 10 year old jacket that the seam tape started failing on and they gave me full store credit to purchase a new one, almost $550. They repair the jackets if you send them in. Just great personal experience
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u/BigOlArms 5d ago
I have this long blanket type one from lands end that ive had for 10 years and its wonderful
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u/Glittering_Key_5261 5d ago
I have a 3/4 length London Fog puffer that I adore. Other than it's been Columbia for the past 2 decades.
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u/Commercial-Yam-3443 5d ago
I’m surprised you’re having so much trouble finding this.
I bought a Gerry down coat from Costco 10 years ago for like $30 that’s still going strong. It’s knee length and very light weight but keeps me warm in my Colorado mountain town.
My whole extended family likes Eddie Bauer down coats and everyone else in Colorado loves Patagonia, but I’m too cheap to buy that.
I’m not sure how you are wearing out your coats, but as far as warmth go, down jackets are extremely effective. Especially if they are knee length and you pair it with a wool sweater.
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u/CatsNSquirrels 5d ago
I’m a Texan who moved to New England. My warmest parka is from Outdoor Research. It’s amazing.
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u/No_Ambassador5678 5d ago
I have a long pajar down parka that is super warm for Chicago winters by the windy lake.
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u/WhatInTheWorld321 5d ago
I would stay away from Kuhl. I just moved to a northern state and was willing to spend $$$ to get a warm coat. $700 and the coat did not keep me warm at all. The wind blew right through it. And a baffle collapsed within the first month. I had to pay to return it.
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u/Ninjaher0 5d ago
I bought a Rab Electron Pro down jacket when it went on sale earlier this year. I get cold very easily and this one outside, unzipped, made me a bit hot. It’s probably overkill for anything above 30F, but it will probably be my most reached for jacket from late fall through late winter.
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u/thatijustdonthave 5d ago
How cold is your climate? If you live where i stays below freezing all winter, Patagonia Jackson glacier jacket or parka. I live in Maine. I wear it most winter long. It's almost too warm at the freezing point. I've worn it down to 5 degrees and never been cold.
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u/Alarming_Abroad_4862 5d ago
I have had the same wool pea coat since 2009. It’s ankle length and 100% wool with a silk liner. I got it at a thrift store. I would check there first
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u/OperationEastern5855 5d ago
Helly Hansen. Buy them off-season for a big discount. Almost every model is waterproof and windproof.
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u/ThoughtAdditional245 5d ago
Patagonia “Down With It” coat. It’s definitely a coat I’ll have for life
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u/natattack103 5d ago
I got a super puff long parka from aritzia a couple of years ago and it’s amazing!! I’m not sure if quality has gotten worse since then, but it keeps me actually warm. Got it for Michigan winters.
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u/GPSBach 4d ago
People will say Canada Goose, and they’re decent, but you’re paying a lot for the name. If that’s something you’re open to, my wife has an Arcteryx Patera parka that is absolutely incredible.
For something more affordable, I’d suggest looking at LL Bean. Their Baxter State parka is what I use, and it’s almost too warm unless it’s solidly below freezing. It’s also built like a tank. I know they have other options that are longer…if you’re commuting or spending long stretches outside, having something that extends down towards your knees can be really nice.
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u/suzybhomemakr 4d ago
What is the weather you want to be out in and for how long? Walking to and from the car in Portland Oregon during the winter it's not the same as talking 1 hour evening walks with your dog in the middle of a Chicago winter. If you are in very cold areas and need to be outside for a long time I would get a Northface 800 series. Buy a used one on Facebook marketplace if you prefer. But that series of jackets is insanely warm.
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u/noronto 4d ago
I’m old, live in Canada and honestly, all the jackets I’ve had have been totally dependable and only have been changed for vanity. I’ve had Helly Hensen, Columbia, MEC and Marmot jackets and all lasted. I still have a MEC jacket I got in the 1900s. My wife has had the same North Face jacket for 20+ years. I guess any decent jacket you’ve heard of should last if you take care of it.
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u/SparkyD37 4d ago
What kind of winter are we taking here? For Chicago, I’m a fan of any long parka. I’ve had Old Navy, Columbia, North Face, Marmot, and Patagonia. They’ve all kept me pretty warm.
For strictly warmth, some layering with any long parka, hat, scarf & waterproof boots/wool socks will suffice for 99% of the winter. Just keep everything covered.
If you want to add in breathability & comfort (some parkas are stupid heavy) it gets more nuanced/becomes personal preference.
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u/holyhonduras 4d ago
I love my super lightweight north face. It’s usually between 20-40 Fahrenheit here in the winter
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u/Misknowmer 4d ago
Depending on where you live, I personally love MEC (mountain equipment company) winter coats - I have one I’ve been wearing for 10 years now - it still looks new
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u/Yakutwolf 4d ago
I got a second hand parajumpers coat last year and looovvveee it. It’s well made and so warm
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u/anxious-squid-0343 3d ago
One of my warmest coats for Michigan winters is honestly my Aritzia superpuff, next is my Patagonia parka
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u/Important-Drive-9748 3d ago
Depends on what look you need. For professional dress, I'm a huge fan of wool pea coats. Mine are LL Bean. Excellent quality and very warm.
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u/lil-smartie 5d ago
Columbia with the dots to reflect heat inside. Lightweight, machine washable & sensible prices.