In our on-going 7-year mission to find the best winter jacket for women, we’ve tested nearly 40 models ranging from faux fur-lined luxury jackets to coats that wrap you in a lofty down cloud.
Forwe put 18 of the top models side-by-side for comprehensive testing.
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While looking good is crucial for your around-town winter coat, our team of testers doesn’t shy away from dawning these coats for all manner of winter scenarios, from chopping wood to shoveling snow on bluebird days or in the harshest winter conditions.
We mixed things up with every combination of layers to figure out the best use for each model and stood out in the rain or in the shower to test each jacket’s weather resistance.
21.02.2020 – Her background in design and wildlife management gives her knowledge of the practical needs of outerwear in cold environments as well as the more functional and style considerations of day-to-day use around town. Everyone has their own preference, but what stood out the most concerning style was a jacket’s fit. What we like: Super warm: the most down fill on this list. Economic, warm, highly water-resistant and durable, this jacket represents a killer value for a versatile and stylish winter coat.
The North Face Outer Boroughs Parka is a classic winter parka that will last you years to come without breaking the bank. Insulated with fill goose down and reaching just above our knee, this parka kept us warm when temperatures hit freezing.
Besides being waterproof, windproof and breathable, this jacket is loaded with features. These features are practical as well as stylish.
Unlike any other jackets, the Outer Boroughs Parka has internal cuffs that actually turn into mittens. This small, but awesome feature actually came in handy when the weather turned cold or stormy on us.
There is a cinched waist on the exterior of the jacket that allowed us to tailor the look of the coat. Despite having six exterior pockets, the Outer Boroughs has a streamlined appearance.
The double-sided zipper is heavy-duty and zips all the way to the bottom of the jacket.
Winter jackets are an expensive bunch, but budget-oriented brand Columbia offers some interesting options in this category. It certainly keeps us dry in the snowy conditions it was designed for and effectively blocks harsh winds thanks to its thick down. North face womens winter jackets canada Helly Hansen is a Norwegian brand known for great coats and jackets made for the mountains and the ocean, so you can bet the company knows how to keep wearers dry and toasty.
The collar is somewhat stiff around the face, but after we wore it for a while it wasn’t as bad. The hood isn’t detachable, but we didn’t mind.
The faux fur ruff around the hood is beautiful.
The fur is also removable which is great for the weather was very wet. Who says winter has to be miserable? Why not look fabulous and stay warm?
The Marmot Montreaux kept us looking stylish and incredibly warm all winter long. Insulated with plush Down Defender fill power down, this jacket is thicker and loftier than any other model we tested.
We kept comfortable when standing around in degree weather.
Treated with a durable water repellent DWR coating, the polyester fabric is water-resistant, but not waterproof. It certainly keeps us dry in the snowy conditions it was designed for and effectively blocks harsh winds thanks to its thick down.
Besides being incredibly warm, the Montreaux is also very stylish. Keep in mind that this jacket is not waterproof, only water-resistant. Water initially beads up and rolls off, but the fabric saturates in heavy rain.
Unfortunately, wet down doesn’t do much to hold warmth. And, if you tend to live an on the go lifestyle — running errands, picking up kids — this jacket’s heft and length could get it the way, despite its double zipper.
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It’s not light and can be annoying to cart around. Still, if you’re in the market for a knee-length parka with a form-fitting look and sleek faux fur hood, this is the jacket for you.
Read review: Marmot Montreaux. It’s highly water-resistant, stylish and warm. We are impressed by how well rounded this jacket is at a budget-friendly price.
It wins our best buy on a budget award as a result. Insulated with fill down, it kept us toasty on cold morning walks and while running errands around town.
This jacket’s shorter length is also practical and functional for someone with an active lifestyle, who doesn’t want to be held back by a longer jacket.
The fabric is only water-resistant, but it holds up surprisingly well in stormy weather, and the outer shell is durable. We didn’t notice any feather loss during testing.
The removal faux fur hood helps keep our faces warm in windy weather and helps to dress this jacket up for a night out. The Sun Valley is water-resistant but not waterproof, and it saturates if exposed to rain for very long.
This jacket is form-fitting and it runs small. The shoulders are tight and the sleeves are short, exposing our wrist easily. We recommend sizing up, especially if you want more room to fit another layer underneath.
Unlike any other jackets, the Outer Boroughs Parka has internal cuffs that actually turn into mittens. Women’s Vests Find a great selection of vests women’s Top quality North Face fleece styles are made of ultra-soft plush that have a bit of a sheen to their finish.
The hood is also snug, almost too small. There isn’t any room to fit a beanie underneath. Despite not nailing the sizing, we really appreciate this jacket’s classic looks, warmth, weather resistance, and price.
Winter can be messy — sleet, snow, freezing rain, the whole nine yards. If you live in a wet climate, having a waterproof winter jacket is crucial.
The Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 is the perfect parka to tackle any weather conditions.
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Its three layers keep you ready for ever-changing conditions. The outer layer is Patagonia’s H2No shell.
Waterproof, windproof, and breathable, this layer is a force to be reckoned with. A great standalone option for clear and cold days, the inner down jacket has a DWR coating and is water-resistant.
When we combine both layers, we feel more protected in sloppy wet weather than in any other winter jacket we tested.
We loved the Tres Down Parka, but keep in mind that it does tend to run small. The shoulders are tight and restrictive. If you like to wear thick winter sweaters underneath your jacket, you should probably size up.
The hood generously sized and we can wear a beanie underneath. That’s good because the hood is uninsulated. It does take time to put all the layers together, but it didn’t really bother us.
The North Face Metropolis Parka 2. We tested these in temps ranging from 50 to degrees Fahrenheit and varying wind conditions. North face womens winter jackets canada We noticed a few down feathers escaping from the Patagonia Tres Parka’s inner layer, not enough to be concerning.
The Tres Down Parka is expensive, but you have to consider that you’re getting three high-quality jackets for the price of one. Read review: Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka – Women’s.
Liz Williamsonour lead tester, has tested winter jackets in Yosemite and around Lake Tahoe since She has tested over jackets in some of the harshest conditions of the High Sierra, the Andes and around Patagonia.
Her background in design and wildlife management gives her knowledge of the practical needs of outerwear in cold environments as well as the more functional and style considerations of day-to-day use around town.
Clark combines a Masters Degree in Environmental Science with a decade of science writing to build our jacket testing plans and ratings.
Clark developed an appreciation for finding the right winter coat over 9 winters in mountain towns ranging from Breckenridge and Durango to Lake Tahoe.
Before joining OutdoorGearLab she spent four years as a freelance outdoor recreation and science journalist. After a dozen hours researching 50 different jackets, we purchased top models for side-by-side tests.
We then spent hours wearing jackets in the same manner to get detailed comparative results. This included over miles of hiking and walking as well as hours of side-by-side lab-style tests.
We tested these in temps ranging from 50 to degrees Fahrenheit and varying wind conditions. We judged these jackets based on their warmth, weather resistance, comfort, style, durability, and value.
Remember to consider your climate and what activities you need the jacket for as you read through the metrics. One aspect of a jacket’s performance may be far more important to you than others.
An important aspect to consider when choosing a winter jacket is its value, and value goes hand-in-hand with durability.
For example, the North Face Outer Boroughs Parkaisn’t going to be in the bargain basement, and there’s a reason for that. It is exceptionally high quality and will keep you warm for many seasons.
The zippers, buttons, luxurious faux fur rough, and cuffs are made to the highest standard, plus it has hidden mittens in the cuffs.
There are also well-made jackets built for less extreme environments that cost a lot less and will still last you many a winter.
Economic, warm, highly water-resistant and durable, this jacket represents a killer value for a versatile and stylish winter coat. We also like the Marmot Montreaux for its warmth to cost ratio, which earned it a Best Buy award.
While it’s fabric is not as burly as many options here, it’s the warmest jacket in the review and yet costs far less than the most expensive options.
When buying a winter jacket, you really want to know that it’s going to be warm enough for your needs. If a jacket has down insulation, its warmth is determined by the down’s loft, or fill-power, and its fill-weight.
While companies always display their fill-power higher numbers mean higher quality down and more warmththey almost never tell you a jacket’s fill weight or how much down is actually in the jacket.
A common misconception is that a higher fill power equals a warmer jacket. But it also matters how much of that high quality down is actually in the jacket.
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Jackets with synthetic insulation can be even harder to gauge by the numbers. Lucky for you, we tested each of these jackets side-by-side in snow, rain, wind, and frigid temperatures — all in our effort to find out which ones are warmest.
We went hiking, braved windy storms, and stood in place for extended periods. The warmest jacket we tested is the best buy award-winning Marmot Montreaux.
Loaded with fill-power down from its hood to its hem, this jacket kept us toasty on some seriously cold days.
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It performed extraordinarily to trap heat and keep the wind out. Knee-length parkas are our favorite option in super cold weather, particularly the Montreaux.
The extra protection makes a difference when it comes to staying warm in frigid weather degrees and below. If you are always cold, or you just like to stay toasty warm, we’d recommend considering a knee-length parka.
The Down With It Parka is incredibly warm thanks to its masses of fill-power recycled down.
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