The harshest weather of the season is still on the horizon—and coming up quickly—and without the right gear, you’ll find yourself left out in the cold… Literally. Your first and main line of defense against the winter cold is your jacket, and when it comes to selecting the right one, there are a lot of options out there. Whether you’re looking for style, comfort, practicality, or a combination of all three, here are nine winter jackets that’ll keep you warm in even the coldest conditions.
Carhartt Yukon Extremes Coat—Arctic Quilt-Lined
The issue most people encounter when selecting a proper winter getup that they spend so much time focusing on insulation that they don’t consider anything else. Is it water-resistant? Does it offer any kind of wind-proofing? What if those flurries turn into a blizzard? Like all of Carhartt’s other legendary gear, the Yukon Extremes Coat is built to get tough when the tough gets going. It features a heavyweight, water-repellent, 1000-denier Cordura nylon shell, along with a nylon lining, arctic-weight polyester insulation, inner sleeve rib-knit cuffs, and inside pockets for extra storage. $130
The North Face Men’s Atlas Triclimate Jacket
Versatility is the name of the game with the Atlas Triclimate Jacket from The North Face, which utilizes one liner and one shell to trap warmth when you need it most. The shell is North Face’s breathable, waterproof, seam-sealed HyVent 2L, and the removable liner is a heavy-duty 200-weight fleece. The idea is to wear the waterproof shell when it’s wet, to wear the liner when it’s dry and mild, and to wear them both when it’s cold and snowy. It’s simple, it’s classic, and it works. $180
L.L. Bean Men’s Rugged Ridge Parka
One of the most renowned outdoor gear companies in the world, when the team at L.L. Bean sets out to make a winter-weather jacket, you can trust they know what they’re doing. As if its very name wasn’t enough to convince you of the jacket’s functionality, their Rugged Ridge Parka is made with a two-layer TEK2 waterproof, completely breathable nylon shell, as well as Primaloft Silver insulation throughout. It all comes together to create something that’s light, agile, durable, and incredibly warm. In fact, it’s rated for temperatures as cold as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Oh, and it’s also machine wash and dry. $199
Patagonia Men’s Micro Puff Hoody
The folks at Patagonia claims that the Micro Puff Hoody is the “best warmth for weight jacket” they’ve ever built, and frankly, we’re not going to doubt them. The trick to the jacket’s warmth-to-weight ratio is its PlumaFIll insulation, specifically engineered to replicate traditional down, but with a fully synthetic material. It offers all the warmth of traditional down, but with the warm-when-wet performance of modern top-tier synthetic insulation. It also features a tight quilt that stabilizes and maximizes the dispersement of the PlumaFill without much added stitching, along with zippered handwarmer pockets, a Pertex Quantum shell (water resistant, windproof, and treated with a durable water repellent finish), and a center-front zipper with a wicking interior storm flap—all in a package that weighs in at just over nine ounces. $299
Filson Down Cruiser
Filson has spent the last 120 years mastering the balance between form, function, and style, and their classic Down Cruiser is a perfect example. The rugged winter getup features European goose down, an abrasion resistant and water repellent outer shell, a full nylon lining, snap-adjustable outer cuffs over hidden rib-knit inners, two lined handwarmer pockets, and is made to take whatever beating you can manage to throw its way. If you’re looking for something to last a lifetime, this is an excellent investment. $695
Best Made Blanket-Lined Waxed Parka
You can have all the mega-insulated down in the world and it won’t help you if it gets wet. There are a lot of fancy technologies out there designed to keep us warm and dry, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that you can’t beat the classics—and among them, waxed cotton is Old Faithful. The Blanket-Lined Waxed Parka from Best Made features a genuine British Millerain waxed cotton outer with a Faribault wool blanket lining. It also features Thinsulate thermal fill throughout, knit rib cuffs at the wrist, moleskin and melange brushed polyester pocket linings, and heavy-duty hardware to keep you warm, rugged, and handsome in all weather. $698
Woolrich Men’s Gore-Tex Mountain Jacket
If you’re talking about surviving in even the worst winter weather, “Gore-Tex” is a term that’ll be music to your ears. “Woolrich” is another. And when you bring them together, it’s Mozart. The Gore-Tex Mountain Jacket from Woolrich is built specifically for near-unlivable conditions, featuring a breathable Gore-Tex outer that’s both wind and waterproof, and is insulated by a mix of duck down and feathers. It’s certainly not a cheap date, but it is the kind of gear that’ll last a lifetime. $795
Canada Goose Expedition Parka
Of course, there’s no way we could put together a list of the toughest winter coats on the planet without including the baddest of the bad, Canada Goose’s Expedition Parka. It ain’t cheap, but for the price, you’re getting a jacket that has been field tested to survive in even the most extreme temps (-25 degrees Fahrenheit and below), stay dry in antarctic conditions, and make sure that you’re smiling no matter what the thermometer says. More specifically, it features 625 fill power white duck down from North America, a coyote fur ruff, a fleece-lined chin guard for added comfort and warmth, four large handwarmer pockets, adjustable waist draw cords, a nylon elasticized snow skirt, and the care and quality you’ve come to know and love from Canada Goose. This jacket was literally designed for scientists in Antarctica. If it’s good enough for then, it’s good enough for you. $995
Goodwin Hooded Spur Down Coat
If you’re like us, you’re conflicted about picking the right winter coat because you want to stay warm in the thick of it, but you hate all that extra bulk. If such is the case, the Hooded Spur Down Coat from Goodwin is the answer to your prayers. Thanks largely in part to its Kodenshi Down insulation (72% down, 20% viscose rayon, 8% feather and 100% magic) and Gore-Tex 2L nylon shell, along with its built-in handwarmer pockets, down baffle construction, and beautiful design work, the Hooded Spur Down Coat will keep you feeling warm, looking beautiful, and being ready for damn near anything. It’s also waterproof, but moisture permeable, for ideal comfort. We don’t use the word “perfect” lightly, but we’re pretty sure this one is near the top of our wish list—and at 1,300 bucks, it’ll probably stay there. $1,299
