Weird question, can down coats make me sweaty??

[Wonderingwhyme]

I always get a down coat for winter as I really feel the cold and have to stand watching dc play football through the winter. When I walk into town or to school, which isn’t that far, my body gets quite sweaty yet my hands and face will be cold? Is it ju at me or could it be the fact I wear a down coat? Thinking about buying just a padded version of what I have but then worry I’ll get cold?!

They really can make you sweat OP, definitely not just you! I have the same problem, though it's just my underarms that get soaked, despite being freezing everywhere else

Is it because it's not breathable? Or it could be the lining material used.
I haven't had a down coat but I've got a Regatta jacket that makes me sweat as it seems to hold the heat and moisture in too much.

Yep. I bought a quite pricey breathable one that was much better. North face.

Phew glad it’s not just me! So what am I looking for? Trouble is I want it to look nice, not just functional so not sure I will find something!! I need something that covers my bum, I like a belt (I’m a short arse so itherwise I look like I’m wearing a duvet) plus a good hood. I don’t need a Mac, an actual coat.

I find I really need different coats for standing at football and walking around, any coat that is warm enough for standing at football is usually too hot for walking more than a very short distance in. If I end up walking in my football coat I have to leave it undone, unless there is a bitter wind.

Please don't wear down, it's insanely cruel :(

outdoor clothing manager here.

If you want a breathable down jacket you need to be prepared to pay good money for it. There is a big difference between a £40 Peter Storm coat (for example) and a £250 North Face or Colombia one. The cheaper options are cheap for a reason.

Ideally for a UK climate you want one that contains Hydrophobic down so that it dries much quicker than regular down. Hydrophobic down comes with a special coating on it that means it repels more water than the regular stuff - but it's not cheap. Alternatively, you can go for an artificial filling - insuloft and primaloft are great examples of artificial fillings that dry quicker and are more breathable than traditional down jackets.

For a down jacket that will breathe and keep you warm, you want to go to a proper outdoor shop, not a fashion retailer. You want good quality fabric on the outside (NOT cotton or any derivative of it) - man made fabrics are much more breathable. Mountain Warehouse sell some decent brands, or you could try Decathlon. Both normally have sales on so you won't have to pay full-price if you can't afford to.

Hope that helps a little :)

Wow what knowledge! I don’t mind spending money on coats as they last longer. The one I have was form an outdoors shop, can’t remember the one. I don’t particularly want a down one (I do agree it’s cruel) however I always just thought it would be best for me to keep me warm as I feel the cold! Maybe I should keep the one I have just for football and then buy a non down one for every day. I’ll have a look at the outdoorsy shops.... I have just always found from those it’s more functional over what looks nice! Maybe I’m too vain

Have a look at rab cirrus flex jacket. It looks like down but is artificial and ridiculously warm without being hugely padded. It’s slightly waterproof too so will fair well in an odd shower which is better than down. They are more fitted too so warmer in my opinion. Just need a light waterproof over the top and you’re sorted for winter. Not cheap but have lifetime guarantee on them for mechanical problems. I work in the outdoors all year round and swear by rab. It also doesn’t look too ‘outdoorsy’ and can be worn with jeans. Well I do anyway!

In addition make sure you buy from a reputable retailer. Eg rab direct or go outdoors. If you see it for less than £100 It’s probably a fake

OK I am going against the grain - I have good quality coats and get too hot generally (Menopausal if nothing else I think) but I just got a cheaper one from Sainsburies. I got a size bigger than I am so I can also layer but its a short puffy jacket with hood - they also did full length with and without belts. If I am on a dog walk (March) I get a bit warm towards the end - nothing pulling the zipper part way down doesn't solve. I like the pockets as they go to the inside lining - so hands covered by the filling and body warmth utilised to keep hands warm. I generally HAVE to wear gloves but this has meant I don't

It was 35 quid and I really like it

It's generally one or the other, very few retailers do both, though it is possible if you look hard enough

While down can be warmer than artificial alternatives, you don't really need a down jacket in the UK as our weather is generally wet and cool as opposed to dry and bitterly cold. Down jackets are ideal for things like seeing the Northern Lights or visiting Lapland but in the UK, you really want something warm and waterproof.

Personally for the UK climate I would avoid down altogether, as a truly waterproof down jacket is going to cost you around £400, which is far more than you need to spend if you're just going to wear it for casual use. In winter I wear artificially insulated jackets - I do own a down coat but I wouldn't wear it unless I knew it wasn't going to rain and I was going to be doing lots of standing around! Eventually down jackets will soak through and if you get wet, you're going to be cold and miserable no matter what jacket you have on!

The link below is a good "learners guide" for waterproof ratings in the UK. I don't own a jacket that has less than a 20/20 rating as I simply don't trust the others to be truly waterproof when I'm out with the dog in the pouring rain!

www.evo.com/guides/outerwear-waterproof-ratings-and-breathability

I've got a uniqlo down vest thing, like a small body warmer. I wear it under a coat if I need extra warmth as I otherwise get sweaty walking. It's super light - weighs nothing - and doesn't add bulk at all.

What are landsend like for sizing? It goes size 8 then 10-12..... I wear generally 8-10..... I’m thinking 10-12 be too big or do they come up small?

@adaline I thought cotton was breathable, hence why it's better for summer clothing rather than man made fabrics? Or is it different for coats? I always imagined a cotton coat to get heavy when wet and take ages to dry.

Cotton doesn't dry quickly and therefore in damp climates it's one of the most unbreathable fabrics there is. I love cotton and it has it's advantages but for a base layer under a warm coat or as an outer fabric for a jacket it's an incredibly poor choice.

You're right that it takes ages to dry and therefore you'll just feel cold. It's like that damp feeling of sweat on your skin after you've been active - cotton won't dry quickly so that damp feeling will hang around for longer, breeding bacteria and making you smell.

Landsend are fab. Breathable, hydrophobic, toasty warm. Sizing is generous. I have a gilet and a long coat. In very cold weather I wear them both.

In other words, cotton is great in the summer when you're out in hot weather and therefore the sun will dry you off quickly when you sweat, but in winter under layers, something like merino is going to be much more breathable and will dry much quicker too.

Cotton as an outer layer on a jacket is again fine in summer weather, but as soon as it rains, it will trap the water and take forever to dry, so in winter weather it's a poor choice as you'll just stay damp (and therefore chilly).

Yes I've just bought a very expensive Barbour one. I've had to wash it twice already as the armpits stink.

How about this?

[https://www.landsend.co.uk/Womens_Thermoplume_Fleece_Lined_Coat/pp/P_40841.html?cgid=11299

Not sure how to make it a link you can click on...

I think the main problem in the UK is we have a very damp climate. What works in dry hot summers won't work here. Similarly, what works in Iceland where it's a dry cold, won't work in the damp temperate climate of the UK.

Yes what we think is cold really isn’t!

Anyone able to have a look at that link to see how that sounds?

Looks fine to me!

Sheepskin is good in the UK climate if you don't mind the weight.

I’m allergic to wool so don’t fancy that but thanks. Good saving on the landsend!