Picking a men's winter jacket for cold and wind

Submitted by kingofallnorway t3_ycpifb in BuyItForLife

I've used the regular old Columbia fleece and a shell/insulated/waterproof Columbia jacket for years, but they don't fit me anymore.

I'd like something with a hood, if possible, wind proof like the shell I had so it's just nice and toasty. I live in a cold climate, often go out in the winter in single digits.

Don't really want a puffer. It's for just walking mainly, occasional snowplowing and shoveling.

Budget possibly up to $300, but less could be nice :)

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papamcb t1_itnoarp wrote

Patagonia makes a great jacket

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Slammed240guy t1_itnkek4 wrote

As a winter sports fan. I love snowboard jackets. Not too bulky, hella pockets and water/wind proof. You can also wear these jackets in fall/spring time as not have vents under the arms.

I like Burton, 686, or Volcom jackets personally. Anything with gore-tex will be excellent at repelling water.

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Crashtag t1_ituanuh wrote

Agreed here 100%, although I think Volcom has the lowest quality of the 3.

Bought an insulated 686 shell last year for a snowboarding trip for about $250 (Black Friday sale). Absolutely love it. I’m in Chicago so I get decent use out of it for snowy days above say 25 too. Can easily layer it when colder though.

Stio is also nice but pretty expensive. Excellent quality though. I got something that’s good in like 30-40 degrees.

My 0 degree jacket is from Merrell. It’s a little bulky but hey it’s for those super cold days.

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Slammed240guy t1_itxg9ag wrote

Agreed. Volcom jackets are mee for style. I personally love my dragon puffer. Its over 12 years old and still warm as ever. Honestly my favorite coat to date.

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hotassnuts t1_itoll0s wrote

If you have an REI go try some on.

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coldsobanoodles t1_itpstnr wrote

If you have the money, the Arc’teryx Therme is fantastic and a real BIFL contender.

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Steelringin t1_itoy7re wrote

Honestly, I'd just buy another from Columbia. In my opinion they're best value in outerwear and always have been. You might lose out on some of the most technical features of the higher end stuff but as long as you're not scaling a frozen waterfall or mushing a team of dogs across the tundra then Columbia will serve anyone just fine. Their Omni-tech hard shell seems to perform just as well as the Gore-Tex hard shell that I have or the Patagonia and Black Diamond hard shells that my wife has. Maybe it doesn't have the same kind of stretch or it's not as nice to the touch or doesn't have the more tailored fit of the premium brands but the performance and durability are there.

I just retired my 3-in-1 (not sure which model exactly, looks a lot like their 'Snow Glide' that's currently on offer) after 10+ years but only because I got a bunch of pine pitch on it that I can't remove and my employer gave me a pretty sweet new 3-in-1. I live in a part of Canada where winter conditions can last up to 6 months of the year and temps will hit -40°. The only thing that's failed after several hundred days of use in those conditions is the stitching on the shock cord used to cinch the hem let go a year or 2 ago. I just sewed back in and it held up fine.

I'd honestly still be using it over the new one I got if it weren't covered in pitch. Since the coat is black it's pretty obvious and unsightly. I'm honestly a little sad because I've had some good adventures while wearing it and I've often thought about just how well it's served me and how grateful I was to have found it, especially for the modest price I paid. If I remember right I picked it up on sale for $160-$170CAD.

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kingofallnorway OP t1_itxynja wrote

Which one though? There's too many.

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Steelringin t1_ityc2i8 wrote

I dunno. Try a few on? I would insist on their Omni-Tech fabric for the shell. That's their waterproof, breathable equivalent to Gore-Tex. For a winter coat I'd want the shell to be lined too.

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regaphysics t1_itqcxp0 wrote

REI stone henge is a great jacket; north face mcmurdo is also if you need a longer parka.

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kfromm65 t1_itrcnoy wrote

Lands end, squall jacket, mybfirst one lasted 15 years

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