What kind of coat will keep you the warmest?
While wool and down coats tend to be the warmest, they don’t tend to be waterproof, meaning they’re less ideal for torrential rainstorms or wet weather conditions.
For warm and waterproof jackets and coats, you should look for warm insulation combined with sealed seams, storm flaps, adjustable hoods and cuffs. This traps in body heat to keep you warmer for longer, while waterproof layers repel water and prevent it from soaking through to the lining.
Is any coat 100% waterproof?
In short, no - no coat is 100% waterproof and even the most waterproof jackets and coats can lose effectiveness over time. You should follow the care instructions closely to maintain your coat’s waterproof performance.
It’s also important to differentiate between phrases like ‘water resistant’ and ‘water repellent’ which are not the same as waterproof. Look for specific waterproof ratings, measured by how many mm of H20 (or moisture) they can withstand.
What’s the best warm waterproof coat to buy?
While it’s a close call between this and the Seasalt Janelle, the Lands' End Stadium Squall is our pick for the best warm, waterproof coat due to its warm, cosy fleece lining and lightweight design that’s available in a huge range of sizes.
How we chose our recommendations
Recommendations from real Mumsnet users
There is a lot of debate within the Mumsnet forums on how to keep warm during the winter season, with many users sharing their hints and tips on the best jackets and coats for the job.
First, we sought out the trusted opinions of Mumsnet users, to get their feedback on their favourite jackets and coats, as well as the brands that they rate and would happily recommend to others.
We also looked out for any negative reviews, where Mumsetters highlighted coats and jackets that they felt were poor quality, not warm enough, or simply failed to keep them dry on wet days.
Expert opinions
Next up, we considered reviews and feedback from trusted industry experts. We want to be confident that the products we recommend are fit for purpose, so we looked out for award-winning products or those that were well regarded in the marketplace, including those recommended by fashion and outdoor activity experts.
Authentic consumer reviews
Finally, to bring you our definitive list of the best warm, waterproof jackets on the market, we thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon and John Lewis to get wider consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist.
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help people make confident purchases.
When it comes to winter coats, Lucy may have succumbed to being a DryRobe w*nker - but has absolutely zero regrets.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.