Warm winter coat, are brands like northface worth the hype?

[TopangaD]

Hello, I need a new winter coat and live in Scotland so it needs to be warm and pref water proof.. I've been looking on eBay at north face and Montclair and even second hand the they are pricy but would invest if worth the hype.. or are there any good cheaper ones anyone has seen? Would love some advice, thanks mumsnetters

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Hello, this thread is a little old now and some of the links are out of date. Take a look at this handy page for a round up of Mumsnetters' favourite winter coats.

There's a bit difference between 'fashion' Northface and their proper mountaineering gear so be very careful when choosing! Other brands to look at- Montane and Berghaus :)

I got a North face parka coat half price (165.00) from the big Tiso at Perth a couple of years ago. It has been he best thing I ever bought for the winter.
You could try there, they always seem to have a sale bit.

Have you thought about French brand Aigle? I have a couple of their coats. One is a Goretex rain jacket with a detachable fleece. I've had it for over seven years and it has been very practical and versatile. It's not that stylish though but it's toasty warm for cold weather. Totally waterproof too. More expensive than say Trespass but cheaper than the likes of Canada Goose!

Canada goose

They use coyote fur and their method of trapping is horrific. They can suffer for days. Most people here won't touch them with a barge pole.

I absolutely love my North Face Thermoball jacket, it's thin but very warm and well worth the price (just over £100 in the sale so not loads). yes it is worth the hype!!

Glad to have read this thread as have just treated myself to a NF puffa - £50 on ebay. I tried it on and seriously had to take it straight off as I was overheating!

I spent £200 on a Northface coat on sale (£400 originally) and it is truly the best coat I have ever had and well worth the money.

I bought Jack Wolfskin 3 in 1 parka a few years ago and it is lovely. Even at half price it was still £130 but for four years use worth it.

This Regatta caught my eye over the weekend.

My north face rain jacket is crap.

My berghaus cortex is still going I bought it 16 years ago. For serious outdoor pursuits I would by the very best brand (not north face) I could with the best waterproofing technology.

TNF has some 'serious' functional gear that is ok but their mass-market stuff isn't anywhere near as good as the likes of Arc'teryx, Mountain Equipment, Rab, Montane or Patagonia. If you're going to spend £300+ on a down or GoreTex coat look at any of those before TNF.

Agree with beasts

Is a thermoball as warm as a metropolis?

anybody heard of the make RAB

Fortunately it never gets cold enough down south to warrant a Canadian Goose, how much
However if I lived somewhere like Minnesota in the US I might consider one . I have a lovely snuggly duvet coat I haven't worn for a few years because I just boil in it, but it is toasty on the rare occasion it snows.
I'm quite happy with my North face tri climate, its lasted me years although I have a selection of coats because I have being too hot or cold so actually the NF tri Climate is pretty versatile in that respect.

Fiacla yes, Rab is a very good quality British brand. Less mass market than TNF and technically superior gear.

I love my north face arctic parka almost as much as my children.

**17/09/2017 22:10 FiaclaBui

It's not necessary to buy a coat designed for sub zero arctic exploration when you have an 8 minute walk to the station. You'll end up fainting from the heat.**

But often in this country we get down to zero, below zero and 1/2/3 degrees in winter.

So a coat designed for sub zero temps seems perfectly sensible to me.

It's not necessary to buy a coat designed for sub zero arctic exploration when you have an 8 minute walk to the station. You'll end up fainting from the heat.

Clearly you've never done the school run in Scotland in December I've read this thread with interest because I'm biting the bullet and forking out for a cosy coat that needs to be fully waterproof (wtf is shower resistant???) for school/nursery runs this year.

I got my DH a NF at Cotswolds and it's been fab. I believe it was the prior year's model so nearly 50 % discount. Have a look around their website, they have a great offer on now.

I have a Berghaus long puffer coat, which is pretty well waterproof, and a Goretex Berghaus waterproof which I put a North Face fleece under. My BIL, who mountaineers, swears by Rab. They are bloody expensive though.

For a decent alternative, Uniqlo rain jackets are really good. I'm chuffed with mine and it withstands Cumbrian weather.

Oh, if you're a National Trust member, or NHS, you get 15% off in Cotswold.

When I moved to the States dh was horrified that I didn't have a 'proper' winter coat.

He bought me a big Patagonia down coat and I think realised I've never owned a good enough winter coat in all my 37 years!

He pointed out that although London and the SW doesn't get stupidly cold it's damp and that's the none chiller.

I now have 15 different coats for different things. (Rain when cold, rain when warm, damp days, -40 days, chilly days, windy cool days, windy freezing days etc etc). And use them all!