Looking to get a coat as my last one has stuffing coming out the sides, but its lasted for a solid 10 years. Looking to get a coat that has multiple layers and an outer shell to use for various weather in winter biking for commuting. Looking to wait towards end of season to try to find some end of season sales, but want to know brands that are durable and have some warmth, my old coat is down since I sometimes bike or walk around in -20 degree with wind chill. Something water proof and wind resistent would be great for outer layer as my current coat is really only good for warmth only and end up acting more like a sponge in sleet or if I wear it on a day that it rains suddenly.
I seem to have similar use as you but use layers. I’ve had best luck with chrome wool hooded sweatshirt with a rain shell over the top. If it’s really cold I’ll put on a wool base layer too. It’s really warm and lasts a long time. I wear the sweatshirt nearly year round.
Seems like a good combo any recommendations on a good rain shell? or a good wool sweatshirts?
Personally love my lokiusa canyon puffy it’s my favorite commuting coat. It’s warm, hasn’t lost its waterproofness in the 5 years I have owned it, is pretty durable (I skidded out on the ice and ate shit on the pavement with no tears), and has built in mittens that are my absolute favorite thing.
I haven’t tested it in a torrential downpour as I usually wear dedicated rain gear for that but for the cold it’s amazing
It’s expensive as most BIFL stuff is but especially if you are in the U.S. I 100% recommend
I like my fjallraven 3 in 1. More of a 2 in 1 though, the shell is a bit big by itself
I’ve had good luck with Patagonia. I also kept my field jacket from the Army, which is 20+ years old now.
You can get a field jacket from any military surplus shop in the US, or from flea markets like Peddler’s Mall.
Patagonia has a used store where you can buy heavily discounted used, but good quality, Patagonia coats. That’s what I did. I didn’t bother buying a coat that has a built-in system for an outer water-proof layer, instead I just bought a larger waterproof coat and I wear that over my Patagonia insulated coat (which is water resistant, but not fully waterproof). Patagonia has good policies on repairs, so it is the closest to a Buy it for Life coat I can think of.
The particular coat I bought was the Women’s Down With It Parka, but I don’t know what the options for men are.
The waterproof coat I bought was a collaboration between Hawk & Co and Goodyear that was a limited edition run, I found it at a Macy’s. It has survived many years of rugged outdoor use, e.g. bicycle commuting >1000 miles. Unfortunately I found it through luck and it has served me better than I ever expected, but it’s not terribly helpful advice to tell someone to go hunting for a limited edition coat that was sold probably near a decade ago. So hopefully someone else will have advice on a waterproof outer coat suggestion - the ones I looked at recently at REI were not promising, with lots of people complaining the waterproofing was inconsistent or unreliable.
