Long coat for walking in freezing temperatures

February 8, 2019 1:58 PM

Walkers in the winter, lend me your coats! If you were walking around a city in temperatures just below freezing, what coat would you choose?

We're going to central Europe in winter, the lows will be -3C / 26F. Normally at that temperature I would be putting on snow pants and a winter jacket with significant insulation if I were planning to be outside for an extended period. But if I wanted to wear regular chino pants and not look like I was going on an Artic expedition, what jacket would I get? Most of the longer coats seem to be either trench coats with a profusion of flaps 'n straps, or more along the lines of activewear. I'd prefer something that could go in the wash on general principle, but that's not a hard requirement, so down or wool would be acceptable. I'd like to keep the cost under $250, but if you have something truly durable to recommend, go right ahead. Mainly looking for something plain that will keep my body warm even while standing around. The previous asks link to LL Bean and Land's End styles that are no longer offered.

posted by wnissen to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (20 answers total)

In that sort of temperature, especially if you are moving around, going in and out of buildings, &c., you will want to layer rather than rely on a single garment. I'd get a medium-weight jacket something like this one for wind- and water-proofing and some insulation, and wear a thick wool sweater underneath it.

Bonus: I'd also get a woolen Buff, as it is one of the more versatile pieces of winterwear I know of. I wear mine around my neck instead of a scarf, but it easily comes up over my ears and face in especially chilly weather.
posted by gauche at 2:15 PM on February 8, 2019 [1 favorite]

Uniqlo puffy coat and some Uniqlo Heattech leggings under your pants. I live in New York and regularly walk miles in much lower temps and my Uniqlo winter wear never fails me.
posted by greta simone at 2:18 PM on February 8, 2019 [3 favorites]

Not a specific recommendation but REI just happens to be having a big clearance sale right now for your scrolling pleasure. I was just looking at the OR Whitefish myself.

I like the "3 in 1" type jacket that's a waterproof shell and zip-in liner that's usually fleece or a lightweight down coat, either of which can be worn separately.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 2:29 PM on February 8, 2019

Maybe something like this LL Bean 3-in-1 jacket?
posted by current resident at 2:35 PM on February 8, 2019

I think you need to keep not only the body core warm, but also the glutes and thighs. I've got a long tweed topcoat that has served me well for years and years. Something like this.
posted by at at 2:45 PM on February 8, 2019 [1 favorite]

I feel like I'm overlooking something. It's 26F. You get a knee-length down coat. No?
posted by praemunire at 2:58 PM on February 8, 2019 [2 favorites]

Much depends on your personal cold tolerance, but for city walking in ~0F-32F temperatures I have a knee-length wool overcoat in charcoal grey. Looks a bit like this. It does have to be dry-cleaned but the dark colored wool fabric is forgiving of light soiling. It's cut loose enough that I can layer a jacket or sweater underneath, which is handy when moving between indoors and out. Wear wool trousers instead of cotton or get long underwear to go under your chinos.
posted by 4rtemis at 3:13 PM on February 8, 2019 [1 favorite]

My current winter coat is a Uniqlo ultralight down long coat and has served me well in Toronto and Ottawa. My previous winter coat was a regular Uniqlo down coat which was good enough for 3 winters in Winnipeg. Each of them cost less than $100.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 3:13 PM on February 8, 2019

Long military dress coat with liner.
posted by 445supermag at 3:53 PM on February 8, 2019

Eh that's not that cold. I'd get a light weight quilted and washable coat that was trench length and not bulky. If it was a windy place I'd get one with a smooth windproof shell, otherwise I'd get a puffer. One of the Eddie Bauer insulated trenches is where I'd start because they are acceptably stylish, wind proof and water resistant. Warm snow is wet snow. Expect to spend around $100-200.

I would not buy down unless you're spending enough to ensure its cruelty free. And I say this as a person who lives in a cold place. Cheap down is not usually cruelty free.
posted by fshgrl at 4:20 PM on February 8, 2019 [1 favorite]

I think some more details about what you’ll be doing in this weather would be relevant, since snow pants in 26-degree weather just to do tourist things sounds like major overkill to me.

I see a lot of long puffer coats like this one for all-purpose coverage that doesn't make you look like you’re leading a dog sled team.

One of those and some long johns under your pants would be more than enough, I should think.
posted by Autumnheart at 4:21 PM on February 8, 2019

What sort of climate are you used to?

I'm from New York where temperatures are about freezing for a month or two a year. For ambling along, i.e., not relying on the exercise to keep me warm, I'd wear something like this:

- calf-length wool socks and closed shoes
- any kind of long pants: Dickies work pants, dress slacks, chinos, whatever
- wool or synthetic T-shirt, a thin wool or synthetic sweater or hundredweight fleece
- if it was windy, a windproof shell, but usually that stays rolled up in my bag
- scarf or buff, hat, gloves, all in a thin knit or fleece material

Keep a shell in your bag in case it starts raining unexpectedly or the wind picks up. You could keep a thin down jacket, like from Uniqlo, in there as well, but that sounds like overkill.
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 6:55 PM on February 8, 2019

Long underwear bottoms because your legs won't be as covered, and definitely a coat with a HOOD or you will be miserable (esp if you are not used to cold...also cities tend to be windy, so it will make your ears cold). I have a garment that is just a hood (basically a bag with a face-hole in the side) made of polar fleece. It is like my favorite thing...if it gets too warm I just stuff it in a pocket. Also, Nthing Uniqlo down jackets...they are like witchcraft...never cold, but never too hot either.
Oh, and fingerless gloves! I have the thin stretchy kind, basic black. In the city, you'll be going in and out of lots of places, digging money and transit cards and stuff out of your pockets, etc. Taking your gloves on and off constantly is a total drag, and the fingerless ones fit in any pocket without bulging when you do take them off. And if your hands get cold...pockets. Make sure the ones on your jacket are easy and comfortable. (My old winter coat had elastic, um, sphincters(?) in the pockets so they would stay close around your wrists. That was a nice feature.
posted by sexyrobot at 10:20 PM on February 8, 2019 [1 favorite]

How are you built? If you're tall and thin like me Fjallraven is as good as it gets.
posted by saladin at 4:47 AM on February 9, 2019

-3C isn’t “speciality clothing” cold, but more importantly, where are you going to be and what ar you going to be doing? Long walks along the coast? Going from shop to shop in an inland city? Is the country usually cold? For example, -3 in London is much less easy to deal with than -15 in Oslo, you know? Unless you want to bake when you get indoors you are going to want layers and not too much. Good warm underwear, long-johns or tights under regular pants. Decent wool socks and some boots. A vest or warm t-shirt, ideally long sleeved, a jumper over that and a jacket of your choice. Buff for your neck and face and a good warm hat. Put your money on hats, gloves and shows, woolen undies and then your regular clothes.
posted by Iteki at 5:15 AM on February 9, 2019

We bought this coat at Lands End for our daughter, who goes to university in Chicago. She wore it during the recent Polar Vortex and said that with her face covered in a scarf and the hood up, she was able to walk from building to building in the -50F windchill without feeling uncomfortable.

And for the regular winter temps there, she says she feels nice and warm in the coat.
posted by cooker girl at 7:16 AM on February 9, 2019

Response by poster: To elaborate, I visit Cleveland, which has similar temperatures, and wear a winter coat that goes to my waist, knit cap, and insulated gloves, but no special undergarment. But that's for striding briskly 100 meters from the parking lot, or maybe walking a few blocks. But I'd freeze doing my normal touristing thing of standing around looking at stuff.
My cold tolerance is average to above average, e.g. for example yesterday it was 7C / 45F and raining and I elected not to take a jacket to work, just my normal long-sleeved dress clothes, but again, that's because it's only a five-minute walk to the car. The reason I've been leaning away from a thermal base layer is that I feel like I'd need to replace it daily, like underwear. But I'm open to suggestion if y'all say I'm crazy, it just doesn't get cold out here. Thanks everyone for the continuing responses, I am looking at all of them.
posted by wnissen at 8:58 AM on February 9, 2019

I'm going to recommend two products:

1) Land's End Stadium Squall Parka
I actually bought this (on sale for half price, right now it's 25% off) because I was tired of sitting in cold metal benches for late Fall football games. But it has become my favorite winter coat, because of its length.

2) Eddie Bauer Men's Guide Pro Lined Pants
These are fleece lined, and work really nicely to keep your legs warm when walking outside. They are not too warm for inside either, I regularly wear them to work (and then use them for lunch walks).
posted by tuxster at 12:55 PM on February 9, 2019

ll bean has flannel lined chinos.

for me below 34f means long down or shearling coat, wool cloth isn't windproof.
posted by brujita at 1:11 PM on February 9, 2019

I live in Maine, where it is a sunny 27F at the moment. When I go out for a walk later, I will wear wool socks and shoes that have a small amount of insulation, because warm feet make a huge difference. Insulated gloves, wool scarf and fleece hat. All that is easily as important as a warm sweater or fleece, and maybe a puffy jacket. Fleece doesn't deflect wind, so a parka that is cut to the top of your thighs is nice. Unless you expect to spend a lot of time in cold places, a shell that is roomy enough to go over a fleece makes the most sense. That LLBean 3-in-1 looks useful, or this one. Or something like Landsend jacket over a fleece. You will be walking, which will help you stay warm. Layers mean that if you're too warm, you can easily adjust.
posted by theora55 at 9:47 AM on February 10, 2019