The Best Winter Coats for Braving the Cold
Wind, snow, and frigid conditions are no match for these jackets and parkas.
Whether you decide to invest in an eco-friendly design or a down jacket with stitch-free baffles, our list of the best winter coats includes options to keep you toasty while at the job site, carving lines on the slopes, or running to town for supplies. Many have classic silhouettes, but brands are also introducing new styles that blend performance with a minimalist aesthetic by placing baffles or quilted insulation inside waterproof shells. The result: Coats that are sleeker and warmer than ever. But there will always be a place for the Stay Puft-esque puffies we know and love. Read on for some buying advice, followed by reviews of the best coats from our testing.
The Short List
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Warmest: Marmot West Rib
- Best Down: The North Face Gotham III
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Best 3-in-1: The North Face ThermoBall Eco TriClimate
- Best Value Parka: L.L. Bean Baxter State
- Best Parka: Kühl Arktik Down
- Best Synthetic: Arc’teryx Atom LT
- Best Wool Coat: Fjällräven Vidda Pro Wool Padded
- Best Value Down: Flylow Stiles
- Best Puffy: Fjällräven Expedition Pack Down
- Best Value: Carhartt Duck Quilted Flannel-Lined Active
- Most Comfortable: Berne High Country Hooded
- Best Workwear: Caterpillar Workwear Triton Insulated
What You Need to Know about Insulation
Down, synthetic materials, and wool are the most common types of insulation used in winter coats. Each has its own advantages, but the way they keep you warm is similar: Your body generates heat and warms the still air trapped between the fibers and filaments of the materials. “We know air is the best insulator on earth,” says Hsiou-Lien Chen, a textile researcher and associate professor at Oregon State University. “If you can create more spaces to trap that air, the material will have better insulation.” Here’s how each does it and how to determine which is right for you.
Down
Numerous filaments diverging from a central point create the spherical shape of—and pockets of air in—down clusters. These clusters offer the most warmth for their weight of any insulator. But they collapse when wet, losing their ability to retain warm air. In the face of winter’s snow, sleet, and sometimes rain, look for a coat with a water-resistant or waterproof shell or one that uses hydrophobic down, which is created when filaments are treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) coating. Also, down is usually the most expensive insulator because it’s sourced from goose or duck, so be prepared to pay a premium if you’re committed to a down jacket.
Synthetic Insulation
Polyester insulation is made of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, two petroleum derivatives (though it’s becoming increasingly common to source these compounds from recycled water bottles). The resulting fibers are crimped to create air-trapping loft and spun into a bolt of fabric. Newer, more sophisticated synthetic insulation, such as Patagonia’s PlumaFill and The North Face’s ThermoBall, is designed to mimic down with ultra-fine threads and clustered shapes. Regardless of shape, synthetic insulation is generally cheaper to produce than down and better at retaining its insulating power when wet, but still can’t quite compete with down when it comes to pure warmth.
Wool
Some coats skip down and synthetic insulation altogether and rely on wool instead. These organic threads have a naturally crimped shape, similar to the man-made structure of polyester fibers, that provides space for air. Wool is also a poor conductor of heat, meaning your warmth stays within the jacket well. These together make wool a good insulating material, but one that is heavy and can absorb moisture up to 30 percent of its weight. Accordingly, wool is often used in casual-use coats instead of performance-oriented jackets.
Fill Power and Gram Ratings
When you’re shopping, pay attention to the fill power of down or the weight of synthetic insulation that’s used in winter coats. Fill power is the amount of loft that one ounce of down produces, and a higher number indicates a better quality down. Most winter coats have 500- to 800-fill. Synthetic insulation is measured in grams per square meter, with higher amounts traditionally signaling a thicker and therefore warmer material. Most synthetic insulation for winter coats is less than 200-gram.
These numbers are important, but the overall warmth-trapping ability of a coat also depends on other factors. For example, insulation can lose its loft when stuffed into baffles that are too small. And keep in mind that if you’ll be skiing, running, hiking, or otherwise exercising in the cold, more insulation can lead to excess sweat. If this moisture isn’t wicked away from your skin, it can freeze and make you feel colder.
Other Features
Speaking of moisture, it’s a good idea to choose a coat with some level of waterproofing to keep you dry from snow and sleet. Most on our list are water-resistant (usually because the exterior has a DWR or wax coating), and some are even fully waterproof. Waterproof fabrics can have two, 2.5, or three layers. A jacket with a hood can also protect you from the elements and trap more warmth around your head. Make sure you can adjust the hood to your liking, or if you’ll be partaking in alpine sports, find a coat with a helmet-compatible hood.
How We Tested
To find the best winter coats, we considered price, insulating ability, comfort, and style. Over the current and past cold seasons, our test editors have worn dozens intended for a variety of uses to assess the fit, feel, and performance of each. For the outdoor and casual-wear jackets, we also did a warmth comparison test, during which we sat or walked outside for an hour while wearing the coats on slightly windy days when the temperature was at or just above freezing. We gave the coats our own rating—warm, warmer, and warmest—based on how we felt at the end of the hour.
For workwear jackets, we considered price, features, comfort, style, and the needs of a wide range of jobs. We wore these jackets in temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to just under freezing, in sunny, rainy, damp, and windy conditions. We cut firewood, trimmed trees, worked on carpentry projects, raked leaves, cleaned gutters, did landscaping, toiled in an unheated shop, and ran our weekend errands in these jackets to determine how well they performed.
After our thorough evaluations, we’re certain there’s a jacket here that can fit your needs.