Duffel coats - Is it necessary to buy one?

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DD school uniform mentions that they can wear a duffel coat, this is optional. Most of the mums I have talked to have said that they were not going to bother buying one, as they felt a dress, jumper and blazer were sufficient to keep the children warm in the winter. Has anyone bought one and found it to be useful?

My boys have duffel coats. We walk to school though, about 20 mins each way, and in the winter, just a blazer and jumper etc wouldn't be warm enough. They look lovely too. I got them in H&M the winter before last, I think it was, I bought them big, so the boys didn't wear them until the following winter. They were buy one get one free so I paid £19.99 for both of them! I don't think they've got any in at the moment, but should have a bit later in the year.

Oh glad to know that you use them mummypenguin. I don't think a blazer and jumper are enough if it gets really cold, but I was starting to doubt myself as everyone I spoke to was saying that they felt it was and a duffle would be a waste.

You don't see many kis wear them, but I'm a bit of a traditionalist with things like that, and think they always look nice and smart as well as being good, warm robust coats.

Zara often has nice bargain duffles too, especially for girls. And I found one for ds in a Gap sale which had a fleece lining.

Mine had to have duffles as part of uniform, but we used them constantly (far more often than blazers, which are just a hassle I think). When it was really cold though we used parkas (ski jackets, ie) - if you are allowed those (or a 3-in-1 type jacket) I would get that rather than a duffle.

.. what I meant was, if you want to buy only one cold-weather item, go for the 3-in-1 (if that's allowed) rather than a duffle ...

I think duffel coats look really smart and nice but my sister spent quite a lot of money on one for her ds who was 8 or 9 at the time and he never wanted to wear it.

This developed in to a bit of a daily battle until he finally piped up that it was too heavy to run around in (particularly for kicking around a football before and after school)and particularly in the rain. (This may not apply to your dd of course!!) In the end my sister bought him a really smart navy-blue Puffa-type jacket (light and warm at same time) which was several sizes too big so it would last!! So many parents did this that the school changed their policy.

Ours have reversible fleeces as compulsory winter uniform. The blazers are thick wool but they are not enough when it gets cold.

Blazer is NOT sufficient for outside winter play!

I adore duffel coats and would choose one ayway, but certainly something is required

I do think they are a bit heavy and it wouldn't be my first choice. They can wear cagoules for wet weather, however I think duffles coats are the specified winter coat. What surprised me was that many people were not thinking of buying them at all. Some with older children were saying that they found the blazer was enough and they didn't find the need for a coat. I guess it would be if we had a mild winter, but if it gets really cold I would think that they would need a coat.

The problem with them is that they are very heavy and I can understand boys finding them cumbersome to run around in. Also, they aren't waterproof so when wet, they absorb the rain and get heavier!! It may be that the other mums are going on their expereinces with previous children - also consider whether dd would feel like the odd one out if none of her friends have a similar coat.