Very warm coat recommendations

[MavisTheMonkey]

I am on the search for a new winters coat and the top criteria is that it needs to be really warm. I am on chemo and I’ve lost quite a lot of weight so I am feeling the cold more than I ever have before.

I am not worried about waterproofing, and I need the coat to enable me to sit outside for a few hours each week to watch my kids do their sports activities.

I am 5ft and a size 10, so nothing too long and ideally something that looks nice-ish but as I said warmth is the top priority.

Proper wool, double breaster. Otherwise down.

The warmest coat I’ve ever had is a puffy jacket from Zara. It’s so light and cosy

mine is a few years old, but they have this

It seems to be v hard to find proper wool coats now! I know people will suggest Vinted but I find it so tedious trying to even find the right size let alone the right material composition

This is very nice but think I need something a bit longer or my bottom half will be too cold

Yes, mine is a little bit longer, kept me warm with woolly tights on a February trip to New York!

They have puffer long coats too

*not just tights 😳😄

My son plays ice hockey. Many hours sitting by the side of a freezing cold rink. Add to that that I've recently lost a ton of weight, and I am FREEZING.
You needTHIS. Might not be the most stylish, but actually it looks quite good on. And it is WARM.

The warmest coat I have ever owned and used, if not in need of protection from rain is a Gloverall duffle coat. Gloverall duffle coat It is what I would wear to go out and walk in settled snow.

If you also want rain protection, have a look at Seasalt coats and raincoats. I ordered one from them which was too warm so I exchanged it for one with just the waterproof layer.
Failing both of those, dress in layers, a fleece under a raincoat will feel warmer than just the coat.
Best wishes for your recovery.

Marks and Spencer’s do a thermawarmth range which are good quality, relatively affordable and wash well. I have had two over the years and they are light yet warm.

Thank you. These are exactly the type of conditions I need to battle! A little bit more than I had wanted to spend but I might stretch the budget for it

I would go for a coat that is down filled to 650 rating, if you want it to be really warm.

I'm not sure what your budget is @MavisTheMonkey but North Face, Berghaus and Rab are very reputable brands for warm coats. If cost is more of an issue Regatta and Dare2B are good options to try too. Look for real down filling and check the fill rating, as this makes a big difference. A 650 fill should be really toasty.

Hey OP hope you are going through chemo okay.

I have spent years on the sidelines in freezing weather, snow, rain, wind etc and some things from me (speaking also as a Canadian who knows what cold is! )

If you can get an ankle length coat: Superdry do some good ones. Thighs are a large area (for a lot of us) and heat is lost there so covering this is good. It’s good to have one that zips from the bottom in case you want a bit more flexibility. Wool is good but not when it gets wet. Windproof is a must . I have several long coats and like the Superdry longline duvet coat ones best. Also have cuffs to not let wind or water up.

Try a heated vest. Lots of layers. Winter boots. Heated seat. And the usual hat, scarf etc. Fleece lined leggings are so comfy and wear under trousers.

Good luck !

Another option is those hiking style coats (lots of colour choice) with a built in fleece which can also be worn separately. Peter Storm is likely the best value version of that type.

Are you anywhere near Alfreton OP?

Thanks the gloverall coats are very nice,
although I prefer the overcoat style to the duffle. I assume they would be similar warmth.
I watched DD at riding today and wore a t shirt, a sweatshirt, a hoody, a coat and a fabric scarf and was still a bit chilly even though it’s not that cold yet hence the reason to upgrade the coat!

This is really helpful, thanks

I definitely want knee length but think you could be right that ankle length would be best.
My DH mentioned a heated vest earlier but I thought he was joking. I’m going to look into those now as
well

I like the Uniqlo ultralight down. I will layer a gillet under my long coat and it’s lovely and cosy without being heavy and bulky. Their Heattech layers are so effective as well, a thin base layer that stops you getting cold. I won’t go back to wool coats while Uniqlo are selling their ultralight down coats!

I recommend Patagonia if you can afford it (check the sale section too).

The quality is consistently amazing and they rank among the top for fair trade labor and environmental standards. They are a non--profit company.

I personally don't use down (Patagonia has equally warm insulation materials that unlike down still insulates when wet), but some of their products use recycled down, which is quite unique too.

If you are sitting/ standing, then the thing that will make a massive difference is a heated gilet as it’s putting heat into you. I’ve bought a couple of Ororo ones on Vinted recently (to replace ones which are now too big due to weight loss) and the ones without a battery included are much cheaper, but you can use any powerbank with an adapter from Amazon

Hi

I hope your treatment is going well.

I would second a jacket liner from Uniqlo to go under whichever coat you choose and also consider your footware. After years of standing freezing at the side of a pitch i cottoned onto decent thermal knee socks in a pair of thick soled boots and it made a huge difference. I have this regatta coat in black from a couple of years ago and its very toasty. No major style statement but when its cold a life saver. Also 5ft and its close to knee length but there are some longer options in the sale section too on their website.

https://www.regatta.com/ie/RWP498_Z2F/

DH bought me one of these and it’s been a genuine game changer https://uk.ororo.com/collections/heated-gilet?srsltid=AYCX9vJ4oJbUxohDurbRa3E4axt7HRMhfMK6KLiD7E_Jc6i-fI-abXpj

@MavisTheMonkey So sorry you're going through that, I hope the treatment goes well. For sitting still outdoors, length and insulation matter more than anything else. Look for a down or well-padded coat that comes to mid-thigh or knee, with a high collar and a proper hood, as that does more for you than a thicker fabric. A wool coat with a warm lining is lovely but tends to be less warm when you're not moving. A thermal or merino layer underneath, thick socks and a hat make a big difference, and a small foam seat pad or blanket stops the cold coming up from the bench. Hope you find something cosy!

My daughter has one of the long, puffy Superdry ones and it is very cosy.

I bought a Didriksons coat two winters ago on the theory that the Swedes probably know what they're doing, and it's been a revelation. I am someone who's always felt the cold but the Didriksons coats are properly insulated and use your own body heat properly so you warm up while you're wearing it.