winter jacket

I just have a waterproof coat and vary the warm layers underneath between none and three depending upon the conditions. Ok, and how many pies I've eaten recently. Sometimes that third layer can be inside my underwear rather than outside.
 
layers are usually the warmest way to dress instead of just wanting a warm jacket, but for a specific item to be warm you want it trapping air like a down jacket, but they can suffer if they get wet. So, a down gillet under a decent windproof/waterproof is probably the best way. I'm just thinking of my snow gear when it's brass monkeys (which I've been down to colder than -30), it's been thermals, then longsleeve t-shirt, then fleece or gillet, then jacket with snood thing. 1 of my jackets has a metallic weave inside which reflects/traps body heat and helps, but another is like a puffa thing that just relies on trapping air. Need to build up layers to control temp.
 
layers are usually the warmest way to dress instead of just wanting a warm jacket, but for a specific item to be warm you want it trapping air like a down jacket, but they can suffer if they get wet. So, a down gillet under a decent windproof/waterproof is probably the best way. I'm just thinking of my snow gear when it's brass monkeys (which I've been down to colder than -30), it's been thermals, then longsleeve t-shirt, then fleece or gillet, then jacket with snood thing. 1 of my jackets has a metallic weave inside which reflects/traps body heat and helps, but another is like a puffa thing that just relies on trapping air. Need to build up layers to control temp.


OK good advice thanks, a decent micro fleece and water proof outer layer.
 
Just splurged on loads of 'coats'

Think I have one for every occasion now.

If I'm out in the countryside wear my layers. Soft shells and hard shells.
But I've also bought a parka for 'civilization'. By that I mean the rare occasion to into town etc.
 
Just splurged on loads of 'coats'

But I've also bought a parka for 'civilization'. By that I mean the rare occasion to into town etc.

only image that ever comes to mind with a parka

9sSmZo7.jpg
 
Down is great until you have to wash the things and dry them then a complete pain

Got 2 Berghaus parka (1 mine 1 sons £330 each) and 2 Mountain equipment puffs (2 sons £220 each )down filled pain to clean all of them

Got Jack Wolfskin parka had for 3 years non down and it better than all the above cleans and dries great and the rain runs off same as when I bought it

I use Nikwax TX for washing and proofing works well
 
Decent down jacket with a long sleeve t/base layer underneath if you know it's not going to rain else hard shell and a load of layers if raining (which means it's not really going to be thaaaat cold anyway)
 
For warmth nothing beats a good down jacket, I've got a great RAB Sanctuary down jacket that keeps me toasty even in the coldest the UK can offer, a little too warm if being active so only used on the coldest conditions/when not being active.
However, for general winter use i prefer the Fjallraven Jacket No68, and layer up appropriately depending on temp/activity.
 
I've got an insulated waterproof jacket from Jack Wolfskin which is the warmest one I own, has down inside and water/wind proof layer on the outside. Also have a Skogstad parka that did me in iceland in -8 to -14 with just a fleece and tshirt under it (and hat and gloves on). Layering is the real way to warmth though, and accepting that you will basically always feel a bit cold after a while outside in anything.
 
Warmest is obviously a down jacket. Had Rab stuff which was fine up in the Arctic Circle in winter, but it costs. But it depends where you are geographically/how cold it's actually going to get/if it'll 'just' be English cold with English rain/etc.
The problem with down is that it's not usually waterproof, which isn't ideal in our climate. So you can only really wear them on dry days unless you also wear a waterproof outer layer. But having said that I did invest in a RAB Infinity Endurance jacket this year. I adore this thing. It's toasty warm in freezing weather with just a t-shirt underneath it.
 
Back
Top Bottom