What temperature do you wear a winter coat?

[TamponSupport]

What temperature does it have to be before you choose a winter coat over a windproof, soft shell jacket?

Does anyone seriously do this? Make a decision on an arbitrary temp and then wear clothes accordingly?

I wear one when I feel cold. Which can be anything from temp to wind chill to how tired I am.

Don't you look at the forecast for the day before going out?

We're going on a day trip and I can't decide if the DC will be warm enough in a soft shell. On the other hand, I don't want to be carrying winter coats for the best part of the day!

@TamponSupport

Don't you look at the forecast for the day before going out?

We're going on a day trip and I can't decide if the DC will be warm enough in a soft shell. On the other hand, I don't want to be carrying winter coats for the best part of the day!

Yes but that’s not what you asked. You asked what actual temp people wear a coat v a wind proof jacket.

When it's cold enough. Kids usually have a fleece and a waterproof rather than big winter coats so no carrying big coats around in their backpacks.

When it's cold enough
Which is what temp?

Under 10 degrees for winter coat. Under 8 for gloves. There.

I'm a runner - it's good to know these things. By the way running makes you feel 10 degrees hotter.

I'd say anything less than 5 degrees I will get my long winter duvet coat out, I hate to be cold.

It kind of depends what you’re doing outside. For me on the way to work it has to be under 5C for me to wear winter coat as I’m either walking (fast, so I’m not late!) or on train so I get too hot if I wear winter coat when it’s not practically freezing. For the kids I’d say anything under about 10C at 11am and I’d put the winter coat on. Mine have blazers though so an extra layer already.

It's currently 4, will be 10 at 11am and high of 13 in the afternoon!

Depends on what I'm doing. Standing watching kids play football, I wore my winter coat the other week.
Walking to the shop at lunchtime, I went out in just my jumper. It was probably around 13C in both cases. But it was windy for football, and I was standing still. The sun was out at lunchtime, and I was walking fast.

If the kids are moving, I dont think you'll need a winter coat for those temperatures.

I don't look at temperatures, I I just go by how cold it feels when I'm about to go out. I thought everyone did this?

It varies between how people tolerate the cold, I don't really own a thick winter coat as I'm comfortable in a fleece type coat most of the year round, layered up with an extra jumper on very cold days or a waterproof on wet days. But some people feel the cold a lot more and need to wear full length down coats at 10 degrees.
In your situation, I would just take a couple of light layers.

it would depend on the activity and how bothered id be by having to carry it instead of wearing it. I dont think 13 degrees is big winter coat weather yet though.

It depends what I'm doing, how long I'll be out for, whether I might have to carry the coat much and mostly what the actual weather conditions are. Wet and windy will feel much colder than the same temperature dry and bright.

It's just I'm going out with MIL and she'll be super annoyed if she thinks the DC are cold

The kids are never still, so no winter coat then!

I go by how cold I feel rather then checking temps. As a pp said, go for layers and rain coats that can roll up into a bag so easier to carry, and jumpers underneath

It's 9 degrees with a light breeze here at the moment and I'm walking the dog in a winter coat.

Sea breeze makes it feel colder at the beach, don't forget. Just layer the kids up instead.