A winter coat’s purpose is to help you withstand the cold, the wind, the snow or the rain. But they’re not only for this season, especially if you need protection to enjoy the countryside, for example. The perfect jacket will enable your outdoor pursuits, and should be heavily insulated so that you can stay warm even when you’re not walking around – unless you’re looking for jacket with no insulation, but with a waterproof layer, which shouldn’t be the only protection against very cold weather (or your protection when you skiing or hiking).
So what you should look for in an outdoors jacket, besides its insulation layers, is how functional it is. You need to be able to move freely and make sure you’ll be fully protected from water in any form. So your choice depends on a lot of different factors.
Insulation
Starting with the insulation, usually you get two options: down feathers or synthetic fibres. The overall effect is the same, since both insulation types trap your body heat to keep you warm. The higher the thickness, the warmer you’ll stay in cold weather.
Down is the original insulator and can be compressed to a small size. If you take proper care of it, it can last you years, but down feathers tend to clump when wet and lose their insulation abilities. A synthetic insulation is comprised of plasticised fibres that do not clump when wet. This type of insulation, however, can compress and expand over its lifetime, which means it loses the ability to keep you warm.
Material
The quality of the material is one of the most important things to look for, so you should always read the label to ensure the quality of the coat. Polyester, for example, won’t keep you warm in a snowstorm or on those ski slopes, and in addition it might also give off a bad smell.
Design
Design doesn’t just include the style of the jacket, although that’s important, of course, because you should like the look of it. But design should also apply to function, because if suddenly stops raining, you might have to remove layers in order to get comfortable. A removable hood, for example, will offer you more customisation.
Layers
Finally, the jacket shouldn’t be skin tight, because you need to be able to fit layers of clothing beneath it. So, when purchasing a coat, make sure you have enough room to wiggle your arms and definitely check that the torso is not too tight – this is especially important for outdoor activities, since you need to move freely.
Don’t hesitate to contact us or give us a call on 01524 791362 if you’re interested in purchasing a winter coat and need more information about the products we offer. Besides our coats for women and men, and we also provide a variety of Muck boots for mud and rain.
