THE Winter jacket recommendations

[popeyewhite]

Floptimus Prime said:

Do we have any mountain rescue people on here that can confirm what jackets they really wear?
I've read 2 different accounts on here and a have a go hero at work claims they wear "S.A.S type stuff"

Bolton Mountain Rescue (!) equipment list. It's Paramo, Mountain, Montane and Keela. Keela supplies the most clothing out of the four. Having said that - Rivington Pike and Winter Hill aren't the most extreme

https://www.boltonmrt.org.uk/about-us/membership/

[Tidybeard]

Tidybeard said:

I have a Canada Goose Citadel which is epic for when it's cold (say 5C and below) and windy. Not crazily warm like the Expedition but similarly styled (slimmer cut). The outer fabric is very tough and it's well designed - fits well with lots of pockets. The fur trim comes off if required.

http://www.canada-goose.com/citadel-parka-4567M.ht...

However, CG are quite pricey and I don't think I'd want mine to live in a muddy boot. They are also quite bulky and take up space. Finally though, and I think this kills it for the OP - they're not waterproof (generally designed to be worn when it's too cold to rain) and therefore probably won't work.

The best all-rounder I have is a Barbour Berwick Endurance. Very tough, practical, waterproof and fairly warm (even better with a fleece/jumper/down jacket underneath. It's a cordura/nylon shell rather than heavy/smelly waxed cotton but a similar design to their classic jackets. I find I wear this more than anything in UK Autumn/Winter. Not sure if it's still available but there will be something similar in their "waterproof"range.

Well I sold my Citadel as I had it about 3 years and only managed to wear it a few times - just too warm and I couldn't wear it when there was a chance of rain.

I still have the Barbour but this year I fancied a shell/insulated coat a bit more in line with British weather. I narrowed the choice down to the Arcteryx Therme and the Patagonia Roy's Bay (both very well made fairly conservative parka styles with Gore-tex outers and down lining) and went with the latter because the Therme was a bit too warm and I like the option to take the down liner out of the Roy's Bay and use either bit separately depending on weather.

Therme: http://www.arcteryx.com/product.aspx?country=gb&am...

Roy's Bay (now discontinued it seems): http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/product_Pata...

Both come in a few colour options - having tried them both I can certainly recommend either.

[Mothersruin]

popeyewhite said:

Floptimus Prime said:

Do we have any mountain rescue people on here that can confirm what jackets they really wear?
I've read 2 different accounts on here and a have a go hero at work claims they wear "S.A.S type stuff"

Bolton Mountain Rescue (!) equipment list. It's Paramo, Mountain, Montane and Keela. Keela supplies the most clothing out of the four. Having said that - Rivington Pike and Winter Hill aren't the most extreme

https://www.boltonmrt.org.uk/about-us/membership/

We (Brecon MRT) use a mixture of Keela, Montane, Mountain Equipment, Buffalo & Paramo kit. Keela provide the hard shell jackets and sallopets.

Edited by Mothersruin on Saturday 29th October 15:25

[Prohibiting]

I've read through this entire thread and narrowed it down to a few choices. Last year I bought a Barbour coat which looks great (very fashionable and suits my style) but to be honest it's not warm enough for me. I'm skinny and feel the cold.

Waterproof


or

Waterproof £400



For milder temperatures:
Water resistant



What do you guys think? Are the first two overkill? I get fed up of laying 4 layers in the winter just to try to stay warm. It would be great if I could just wear jeans, a shirt, a light cotton jumper and a coat in Jan/Feb while feeling toasty.

Edited by Prohibiting on Saturday 29th October 18:46

[driver67]

Prohibiting said:

I've read through this entire thread and narrowed it down to a few choices. Last year I bought a Barbour coat which looks great (very fashionable and suits my style) but to be honest it's not warm enough for me. I'm skinny and feel the cold.

For the price difference I'd definitely give the Prism a go first. I feel the cold as well (6ft, 11.5 stone).

Excellent jacket, even if wet - your still toasty inside it.

[ben_h100]

Mountain equipment Liteline jacket - nice and toasty.

When I was on MRT we used a variety of ME, Paramo and Arab.

[Davey S2]

TheJimi said:

Waterproof, windproof and insulated but very very lightweight and it packs down into one of the pockets. More warmth can be gained by wearing layers underneath, which is part of the versatility. The hood is insulated too, and has a visor & drawcord to adjust the hood fitment (fixing Croyde's complaint above about hoods)

There's a reason that these jackets are popular with mountain rescue teams, such is the versatility. I was at a climbing competition a couple of weekends ago, and I had to be careful where I left the jacket - there was so many of them about!

Living in Scotland, and spending a lot of time up the hills, I have a lot of outdoor kit, and more expensive jackets than my Prism, but I love it and is the most versatile jacket I've ever had. I'd argue that the Prism and similar are the only jacket you need in lowland, urban Britain.

It was £100 quid when I bought mine, but they can now be had for circa 60-80 quid, which IMO, makes it an absolute no-brainer.

But the question is, is it versatile? You don't seem to mention this.

[TheJimi]

Davey S2 said:

TheJimi said:

Waterproof, windproof and insulated but very very lightweight and it packs down into one of the pockets. More warmth can be gained by wearing layers underneath, which is part of the versatility. The hood is insulated too, and has a visor & drawcord to adjust the hood fitment (fixing Croyde's complaint above about hoods)

There's a reason that these jackets are popular with mountain rescue teams, such is the versatility. I was at a climbing competition a couple of weekends ago, and I had to be careful where I left the jacket - there was so many of them about!

Living in Scotland, and spending a lot of time up the hills, I have a lot of outdoor kit, and more expensive jackets than my Prism, but I love it and is the most versatile jacket I've ever had. I'd argue that the Prism and similar are the only jacket you need in lowland, urban Britain.

It was £100 quid when I bought mine, but they can now be had for circa 60-80 quid, which IMO, makes it an absolute no-brainer.

But the question is, is it versatile? You don't seem to mention this.

It was Flasher, I think, who coined the term "gushing fool"

Does that apply to outdoors geeks?! There's a certain versatility to the term...

[Meridius]

Id quite like one of these but cant bring myself to spend £1000 on a coat I dont need

http://www.stoneisland.com/it/stone-island/giaccon...

[DoctorX]

Meridius said:

Id quite like one of these but cant bring myself to spend £1000 on a coat I dont need

http://www.stoneisland.com/it/stone-island/giaccon...

Please buy it and post a picture.

[freshkid]

I have a wool duffle coat/parka with a thick fur rimmed hood. Beats pretty much anything on the coldest days. It's made by Maharishi but any duffle coat is good. Crap in heavy rain though and it weighs a ton.

[Greendubber]

Mothersruin said:

popeyewhite said:

Floptimus Prime said:

Do we have any mountain rescue people on here that can confirm what jackets they really wear?
I've read 2 different accounts on here and a have a go hero at work claims they wear "S.A.S type stuff"

Bolton Mountain Rescue (!) equipment list. It's Paramo, Mountain, Montane and Keela. Keela supplies the most clothing out of the four. Having said that - Rivington Pike and Winter Hill aren't the most extreme

https://www.boltonmrt.org.uk/about-us/membership/

We (Brecon MRT) use a mixture of Keela, Montane, Mountain Equipment, Buffalo & Paramo kit. Keela provide the hard shell jackets and sallopets.

Edited by Mothersruin on Saturday 29th October 15:25

Im not mountain rescue but a police search officer so spend hours looking for missing people and we have Keela gear. Its brilliant, I spent months looking for April Jones in awful weather and difficult terrain and it kept me warm and dry.

I really rate it.

[Rawwr]

Meridius said:

Id quite like one of these but cant bring myself to spend £1000 on a coat I dont need

http://www.stoneisland.com/it/stone-island/giaccon...

I wonder how long it'd stay that colour...

[Rawwr]

Really want to get this. I've put it in my basket and gone to the checkout so many times now without proceeding.

[Mothersruin]

Greendubber said:

Im not mountain rescue but a police search officer so spend hours looking for missing people and we have Keela gear. Its brilliant, I spent months looking for April Jones in awful weather and difficult terrain and it kept me warm and dry.

I really rate it.

That's one search that sticks hard with the guys. Before my time with the Team (thankfully).

[bitchstewie]

Rawwr said:

Really want to get this. I've put it in my basket and gone to the checkout so many times now without proceeding.

What is it?

[Rawwr]

bhstewie said:

What is it?

CG Macmillan Black Label.

[nigelpugh7]

DoctorX said:

Please buy it and post a picture.

ISTR I got ridiculed and castigated on this thread for sharing my CP Company down jacket purchases ?

That stone Island one looks just like one of my CP ones,!

And yes I know they are the same company!

[wombleh]

A mate in the marines had a discount deal for bulk ordering with keela, so they seem to rate them too. Had my munro nicked (from a so called secure office) and replaced it with an sdp prosport which is a bit smaller, very happy with it so far.

[Joey Ramone]

Floptimus Prime said:

Do we have any mountain rescue people on here that can confirm what jackets they really wear?
I've read 2 different accounts on here and a have a go hero at work claims they wear "S.A.S type stuff"

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team up at Ft William wear Jottnar. As do Cockermouth, Keswick, Penrith and the RAF search and rescue team.