It's mid-February and *now* you want to buy a winter coat?

February 12, 2019 11:16 AM

My anti-shopping SO has finally admitted that he might need outerwear heavier than a Patagonia fleece, even for a mild northern CA winter. Complications: it's the tail end of winter shopping season and he's an uncommon size...

The SO is approximately 6'4" and 160 lbs. He basically lives in size M American Apparel tri-blend tees and 33x34 Banana Republic Traveler jeans, if that gives you an idea. Usually wears size M with fingers crossed that it won't be too short in the sleeves or torso.

So, I've been tasked with finding him a medium-weight winter coat. He already has a serious Montana-winter-tested down jacket, but it's way too warm for SF Bay Area winters. I'm hoping to get away with a regular size Medium or Large (for layering) that runs long.

The wishlist:
- hip-length for easier bike commuting
- not "swishy" sounding (so probably wool over lightweight down)
- not super dressy or super casual, although outdoorsy-casual is fine
- price point under $200

I was thinking something like a wool duffel coat, but February pickings are seriously slim. Have you seen anything that's still available and fits (some of) the bill?

posted by serelliya to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (13 answers total)

Everything at Eddie Bauer is on sale. The Atlas jacket is always nice.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:21 AM on February 12, 2019 [2 favorites]

Costco is still selling jackets I think. You'll definately find something in the price point and likely in his size if you have one close by.
posted by AlexiaSky at 11:22 AM on February 12, 2019

can you get to a Sports Basement somewhere near you and try on a bunch? they tend to skew towards the atheletic rather than fashion but the selection (at least at the Potrero and Chrissy Field locations) has always been pretty broad.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 11:47 AM on February 12, 2019

Uniqlo has a pretty large selection of very moderately priced outerwear. So many different styles! My husband and I both have their ultra light down jacket that works great on its own on a lightly chilly day but I've also used it as a lining of sorts under other jackets that i want to wear during very cold winter days when I'm not in the mood to wear my heavy duty parka.
posted by tealeaf522 at 11:55 AM on February 12, 2019

Best answer: Hi there. I am your SO's exact size, at 6'5" and about 165. I bet he also can't buy off-the rack suits because he's something like a 36L and they just don't sell those in America, right? And every long-sleeve anything he's ever bought in his whole adult life has either been way too blousy through the chest, or two or three inches too short in the sleeves, right?

Ignore any advice in this thread that comes from anyone who isn't in the same predicament your SO and I are in. I've gone down all these roads before, they're all dead ends. Eddie Bauer makes clothes for people who are way thicker than we are, and Uniqlo's sleeves are hilariously short.

I have found exactly one company that sells jackets in the United States that actually fit our weird bodies. It is Fjallraven. They make jackets for lanky Swedes. I have one, and after 10+ years of living in NYC without a jacket that fit me properly, they are an absolute revelation. Your SO should take a medium in any jacket they sell, although if he's really wiry he might even try a small. I've got one whose name escapes me at the moment, but it's hooded, water-proof, and has a zip-out liner that can double as a fleece jacket on its own (and the shell can be worn as a rain-coat without the liner). It rules.
posted by saladin at 12:17 PM on February 12, 2019 [16 favorites]

REI is having their Winter Clearance Sale right now, if he'd be open to something a little more athletic/outdoorsy.
posted by zachlipton at 12:51 PM on February 12, 2019 [2 favorites]

I've found a lot of good deals on winter/outdoor gear at Sportsman's Guide.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 3:36 PM on February 12, 2019

If you have reason to be in the East Bay, there are a couple of outerwear company outlets that usually have *something* of all sorts. North Face and Royal Robbins are near each other and near-ish an REI store.

There's also a gear exchange shop near Berkeley that I can't remember the name of; you might be able to snag a coat someone has upgraded from.
posted by clew at 4:10 PM on February 12, 2019

My mother-in-law just got me a XXL North Face puffy jacket at Costco that is soooo warm, sometimes too warm for this year's SoCal winter... so it might be perfect for this year's Bay Area winter.
posted by infinitewindow at 5:33 PM on February 12, 2019

Best answer: My 6’4” 155lbs husband recently realized he needs to shop for cycling underlayers and sweaters since they are made long in the arms and torso to compensate for the hunching mode of cycling, he has a merino wool hoodie from Chrome that he wears a lot. (He does not cycle!) He did ok at Uniqlo for a puffy coat/parka and has several puffy vests from lands end. He has skipped a medium weight coat by going merino wool layers and puffy vests. We are in the North Bay Area.
posted by Swisstine at 6:44 PM on February 12, 2019

Best answer: Lands End might be another place to check... their stuff tends to be cut for taller people / longer arms at any given size point.
posted by somanyamys at 6:32 AM on February 13, 2019

Patagonia's sale starts this Friday, too, in case you want to look there.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 6:43 AM on February 13, 2019

I just TODAY got an email flier from REI about their past-season North Face clearance sale. You might check them out, because REI has in the past been very willing to discount deeply.
posted by uberchet at 3:06 PM on February 13, 2019