Perfect coat for a cold woman in the UK?
November 18, 2014 6:06 PM Subscribe
Er, a woman who tends to feel the cold, and who will spend falls/winters in the UK. How rainproof should it be? How warm should it be? Should it be brightly colored to avoid getting hit by a car in the fog?
Difficulty level: must be synthetic, no down/feathers.
Preferences: mid-thigh/knee length. Budget max $300 USD, but prefer to stay well below that. Definitely want something that will last for a long time, and can use many days of each year (is layering better, to maximize warm day water resistance?) The 3-in-1 jackets seem tricky and more work/expense than they're worth, but I'm open to hearing why they should be given a shot. Would also like something that is flexible for wearing to work, wearing out, etc.
Many thanks for your recommendations!
Difficulty level: must be synthetic, no down/feathers.
Preferences: mid-thigh/knee length. Budget max $300 USD, but prefer to stay well below that. Definitely want something that will last for a long time, and can use many days of each year (is layering better, to maximize warm day water resistance?) The 3-in-1 jackets seem tricky and more work/expense than they're worth, but I'm open to hearing why they should be given a shot. Would also like something that is flexible for wearing to work, wearing out, etc.
Many thanks for your recommendations!
Response by poster: Can't use feathers due to allergies! Would prefer synthetic materials as they tend to dry quicker, and I cycle often. OK with silk/wool, but don't love the smell of wet wool!
posted by stillmoving at 7:07 PM on November 18, 2014
posted by stillmoving at 7:07 PM on November 18, 2014
I don't think the fog in London is a factor; London was famous for fog due to coal fires, which were banned in 1956.
IMHO you want something light and water-proof you can wear in the autumn and spring, under which you can layer fleece in the winter months. Something like this would be a thought; it's cycling length and off-friendly.
posted by DarlingBri at 9:31 PM on November 18, 2014 [2 favorites]
IMHO you want something light and water-proof you can wear in the autumn and spring, under which you can layer fleece in the winter months. Something like this would be a thought; it's cycling length and off-friendly.
posted by DarlingBri at 9:31 PM on November 18, 2014 [2 favorites]
How rainproof should it be?
Very.
How warm should it be?
Depends on your comfort level, but bear in mind that the average minimum winter temperature in London is above freezing.
Should it be brightly colored to avoid getting hit by a car in the fog?
Not sure if this is a joke, but are you coming from the US? There are 7-8 times more pedestrian deaths per person in the US than in the UK. You'll be safer dressed all in black in the UK than you would dressed in neon in the US.
posted by caek at 9:35 PM on November 18, 2014 [2 favorites]
Very.
How warm should it be?
Depends on your comfort level, but bear in mind that the average minimum winter temperature in London is above freezing.
Should it be brightly colored to avoid getting hit by a car in the fog?
Not sure if this is a joke, but are you coming from the US? There are 7-8 times more pedestrian deaths per person in the US than in the UK. You'll be safer dressed all in black in the UK than you would dressed in neon in the US.
posted by caek at 9:35 PM on November 18, 2014 [2 favorites]
I have different jackets for your different criteria.
For cycling and hiking, I usually use something like this - a waterproof outer shell.
If I need to be warm but it's not raining much, I have a fleece lined water-resistant short jacket that I put thermal layers under, or if I'm going to be outside all day I wear a ski jacket. I also have fleece-lined cycling leggings that I sometimes wear under normal trousers, but I feel the cold a lot.
I don't wear anything special to avoid being hit by cars, unless I'm walking on country lanes in the dark or unless I'm cycling.
posted by kadia_a at 11:20 PM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
For cycling and hiking, I usually use something like this - a waterproof outer shell.
If I need to be warm but it's not raining much, I have a fleece lined water-resistant short jacket that I put thermal layers under, or if I'm going to be outside all day I wear a ski jacket. I also have fleece-lined cycling leggings that I sometimes wear under normal trousers, but I feel the cold a lot.
I don't wear anything special to avoid being hit by cars, unless I'm walking on country lanes in the dark or unless I'm cycling.
posted by kadia_a at 11:20 PM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
Basically, layers. The fleece + waterproof combo is popular, and whatever you do, make sure your outerwear includes a hood. It rains a LOT. It's also frequently very windy, so make sure any outerwear fastens securely, like velcro cuffs on the sleeves.
My rain jacket is similar to this, although mine is an older Berghaus. It layers well over thick jumpers and fleeces. I can roll it up and stuff it in my backpack when it's not needed.
When cycling in the dark, I just wear one of those dorky reflective sashes over the rest of my outerwear.
posted by skybluepink at 1:25 AM on November 19, 2014
My rain jacket is similar to this, although mine is an older Berghaus. It layers well over thick jumpers and fleeces. I can roll it up and stuff it in my backpack when it's not needed.
When cycling in the dark, I just wear one of those dorky reflective sashes over the rest of my outerwear.
posted by skybluepink at 1:25 AM on November 19, 2014
Where will you be in the UK? I personally would not wear some of the suggested combos in London or other cities, certainly not to work, but would (and do) when in the country.
posted by tavegyl at 3:36 AM on November 19, 2014
posted by tavegyl at 3:36 AM on November 19, 2014
Response by poster: Thanks! I'll be mostly in London.
posted by stillmoving at 6:49 AM on November 19, 2014
posted by stillmoving at 6:49 AM on November 19, 2014
I have a North Face Thermoball jacket similar to this one and it fits nicely under a rain shell, fancy rain coat, heavy wool coat, and it's nice by itself. Patagonia has a similar line called Nano Puff, and I'm sure there are off-brands/store brands - I'm not sure exactly what the generic term would be - I often see them called "puffies" (specify synthetic, since the default puffy is down), and they are sometimes called sweaters and sometimes called jackets.
I was given this jacket for Christmas last year and it has been life-changing! I'm never cold now.
(And from what I understand/have noticed as a cyclist/driver/pedestrian, if you're not going full-on reflective, you're not much more visible in neon than you are in black. I sometimes wear a reflective sash/vest thing if I'm cycling at night but more often just ankle thingies.
posted by mskyle at 6:51 AM on November 19, 2014
I was given this jacket for Christmas last year and it has been life-changing! I'm never cold now.
(And from what I understand/have noticed as a cyclist/driver/pedestrian, if you're not going full-on reflective, you're not much more visible in neon than you are in black. I sometimes wear a reflective sash/vest thing if I'm cycling at night but more often just ankle thingies.
posted by mskyle at 6:51 AM on November 19, 2014
I have a coat like this Eddie Bauer insulated trench coat. It works well for me. I do layers in any case, since temps can vary a lot between day and night, and when it gets really cold (i.e. in the 20's or below) I will wear an unlined polar fleece vest, pullover, or wool sweater under it. If you are worried about visibility in the dark, get light colored accessories or women's runners gloves with reflective properties, example.
posted by gudrun at 9:04 AM on November 19, 2014
posted by gudrun at 9:04 AM on November 19, 2014
The UK is both very rainy and frequently windy, so you'll want things that work for both of those.
If you're cycling, you'll probably want a high-visibility (yellow) jacket, but that really isn't an issue for pedestrians.
By some standards, the winters are fairly mild. It very seldom gets below freezing. The winter months (December through February) in London will tend to average a high of around 9 Celsius and a low of around 5 Celsius. Compared to some places I've lived (Michigan, Massachusetts), that's incredibly mild. Compared to others (Hawaii, Arizona), it's extremely cold.
posted by kyrademon at 4:59 PM on November 19, 2014
If you're cycling, you'll probably want a high-visibility (yellow) jacket, but that really isn't an issue for pedestrians.
By some standards, the winters are fairly mild. It very seldom gets below freezing. The winter months (December through February) in London will tend to average a high of around 9 Celsius and a low of around 5 Celsius. Compared to some places I've lived (Michigan, Massachusetts), that's incredibly mild. Compared to others (Hawaii, Arizona), it's extremely cold.
posted by kyrademon at 4:59 PM on November 19, 2014
Some good looking cycling specific options. I like trench coat style coats for riding in, and they're good for layering under. Buy a size up and a warm cardi or two.
posted by kjs4 at 7:26 PM on November 19, 2014
posted by kjs4 at 7:26 PM on November 19, 2014
It isn't cold here objectively speaking. But the damp makes it feel cold. I wear a good wool 3/4 length coat in winter and an unlined trench coat in summer but you could try a lined trench coat for both. The main thing is to keep out the rain.
posted by plonkee at 12:44 PM on November 20, 2014
posted by plonkee at 12:44 PM on November 20, 2014
Remember that public transport is hot as well. I have a fleece-lined parka - I can't wear it on the Tube. It's mid-November and I've just stopped wearing my thin cotton mac in favour of a coat.
posted by mippy at 8:13 AM on November 26, 2014
posted by mippy at 8:13 AM on November 26, 2014
When I lived in the UK I had a weatherproof outdoor type coat to wear outside work. When I travelled for work it was mainly by car. So I normally opted for a much lighter coat to wear to move between buildings/car/nip out for lunch to buy a sandwich, mainly to stay dry and slightly protected from wind not so much to stay warm. That was all that was required and I took that cot off getting into the car because it'd be too warm in the car.
If I'd been commuting by train I'd have invested into a smartish winter coat, at least mid thigh length, to keep me warm on drafty train platforms waiting for trains that are invariably delayed by the wrong kind of leaves on the tracks....it'd have to be easy to open/close and not bulky though so as not to get much too warm/be easy to take off and store whilst on the train. The same would be true if I was going to spend a lot of time on the tube/on and off busses. As others have said public transport is very well heated and very crowded too. You'll be walking round wearing your coat open most of the time because you'll get too hot.
Whilst great for a walk along the beach on Christmas day my weatherproof coat would have been too casual for work in most places and certainly in London. Business casual is interpreted very differently in London than elsewhere in the UK and even outside London it's interpreted differently to how some of my US colleagues appear to interpret it.
In the winter, if you're travelling during typical commuting hrs, it will often be (semi)dark. So if you plan to cycle a lot I'd recommend a reflective belt or vest to wear over your normal coat, not a neon coloured coat, which will look ridiculous when you're not cycling. If you plan to cycle to/from work please get a black (not coloured, smart end of spectrum) outdoor type coat unless your workplace is jeans and t-shirt level casual.
posted by koahiatamadl at 3:21 AM on December 6, 2014
If I'd been commuting by train I'd have invested into a smartish winter coat, at least mid thigh length, to keep me warm on drafty train platforms waiting for trains that are invariably delayed by the wrong kind of leaves on the tracks....it'd have to be easy to open/close and not bulky though so as not to get much too warm/be easy to take off and store whilst on the train. The same would be true if I was going to spend a lot of time on the tube/on and off busses. As others have said public transport is very well heated and very crowded too. You'll be walking round wearing your coat open most of the time because you'll get too hot.
Whilst great for a walk along the beach on Christmas day my weatherproof coat would have been too casual for work in most places and certainly in London. Business casual is interpreted very differently in London than elsewhere in the UK and even outside London it's interpreted differently to how some of my US colleagues appear to interpret it.
In the winter, if you're travelling during typical commuting hrs, it will often be (semi)dark. So if you plan to cycle a lot I'd recommend a reflective belt or vest to wear over your normal coat, not a neon coloured coat, which will look ridiculous when you're not cycling. If you plan to cycle to/from work please get a black (not coloured, smart end of spectrum) outdoor type coat unless your workplace is jeans and t-shirt level casual.
posted by koahiatamadl at 3:21 AM on December 6, 2014
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posted by WeekendJen at 7:00 PM on November 18, 2014