For anyone who lives in an area where winters get cold, you know the importance of a good insulated coat. Maybe you don't live where it snows and gets cold, but you plan on visiting soon. Either way, choosing the right insulated outerwear doesn't have to be a daunting task. From choosing the right insulation type to knowing what features you'll want to look for, we've got you covered! 

The main factors you should examine when shopping for insulated jackets, coats, or bibs are the type of insulation and the jacket features. The insulation type is important and will determine how well the piece will retain warmth and handle wet conditions ... and how well it will pack. What you are planning on doing outdoors should also factor into what type of insulated outer wear you look for. Features that are important in a winter coat include a hood, vents, pockets, and adjustments.

Don't rely on a temperature rating to choose a piece of outerwear. A jacket rated to be warm at a given temperature in dry, still air isn't likely to keep you warm at that same temperature in howling wind or wet conditions. It's impossible to account for variables like wind, rain, humidity, exertion level, and personal metabolism; all of this makes temperature ratings on jackets incorrect most of the time.

Weight and packability may factor into your decision depending on your needs or plans, meaning you are looking for one that is as light as possible. For backpackers, ski tourers, bike-packers, and others these needs can often come ahead of any other feature of a jacket. Down jackets with 800+ fill are the most compressible, making them a good match for those trying to travel fast and light. If you need a coat or jacket for every-day wear or more casual outings, this is less of a concern.

Which Insulation Type Is For Me?

The overriding principle at work in insulated jackets, sleeping bags, gloves, or any other insulated apparel is the same: air is trapped in the small spaces between the filaments of down or strands of polyester, providing warmth in cold conditions. Loftier/puffier materials contain more air and offer a greater warmth-to-weight ratio. 

Overall, down insulation is lighter, more compressible, and longer-lasting, but comes at a higher price point. On the other side of the (insulated) coin, synthetic insulation materials are slightly heavier, slightly less compressible, and wear out a bit quicker...but they tend to be less expensive than down and will insulate you better if you get wet.

Down & Water-Resistant Down

Made from the plumules, or down feathers of ducks, geese, or other waterfowl, down insulation provides the most warmth for the least weight and bulk, as long as you keep it dry! 

Facts About Down Insulation

• Ultralight, ultrawarm & ultra-packable
• Won't insulate when damp & dries slowly
• Quality is determined by the fill power, which ranges from 450-900; fill power is the volume in cubic inches that 1 ounce of the down fills up; higher quality down lofts to a higher volume
• Best for mild (read, non-sweaty) exertion or casual wear

Facts About Water-Resistant Down

• Treated with polymer to allow down to handle dampness while staying as light as regular down, this hydrophobic coating is applied at a micro-scale which means it adds virtually 0 weight to the insulation & doesn't affect the ability of the feathers to loft, so no lost warmth either
• Ultralight, ultrawarm & ultra-packable
• Pricy & wet performance lags behind synthetics
• Fine for moderate exertion levels

Synthetic Insulation

At their core, all synthetics use some form of compressible, water-repellent fibers...past that, there is a vast range of branded technologies. Innovations are rapid and the performance gap with down is shrinking. One thing to remember is just because the clothing item is puffier, doesn't mean it is warmer; superfine fibers in the insulation can create slim-yet-warm jackets.

Facts About Synthetic Insulation

• Performs when damp, dries fast & tends to be more moderately priced when compared to down
• A little heavier, less packable & a little less durable than down
• Numbers like 40g or 60g for synthetic fill are the weight in grams of a square meter of that insulation. A higher number tells you whether it's a thicker (& warmer) application. Note, that this spec is only useful in comparing warmth between identical types of insulation
• Can handle strenuous exertion
• 50-100g jackets are great for spring or fall when you're going to be wearing multiple layers, while 100-200g jackets are better suited to frigid conditions - newer technologies don't necessarily follow these rules, as they are engineered to more closely resemble down insulation

Hybrid Insulation

Facts About Down/Synthetic Insulation

• Offers a mix of the performance benefits of each type of insulation
• Some designs will put down in the core of the clothing piece, then synthetic in the arms or hood
• Price point tends to be less than a full down jacket
• Can handle strenuous exertion

Facts About Wool/Synthetic Insulation

• Can handle strenuous exertion
• Wool combined with synthetic insulation to create sheets of insulating fill
• This blend gives you wool's ability to insulate when damp & it's resistance to odor

Which Features Do I Need?

From different hoods to types of pockets or maybe just how the coat is closed up, the sheer amount of features can be more daunting than choosing how much or what kind of insulation you need or want.

3-in-1 Design

Typically found in coats or jackets, this feature has an integrated mid-layer and an outer shell that zips together or attaches via a few tabs. It allows you to wear the mid-layer alone, the outer shell alone, or both pieces together. The insulation in the mid-layer will vary from the insulations we've already talked about, to a fleece or wool liner jacket. The outer shell is where the bulk of the warmth will lie and will be water-resistant, or offer full-blown waterproof/breathable coverage

Waterproof Construction

Anyone who has worked or played in the snow can tell you how much getting wet can slow things down, making a water-resistant or waterproof/breathable fabric important. This type of shell is more expensive but means you won't have to have (and/or pack) both a coat and a separate rain shell. 

Hood

While some people prefer a hoodless jacket for the weight savings and ease of packing and just take a winter stocking cap along, sometimes having a built-in "hat" is better. Some hoods are detachable or will zip inside the collar of the coat or jacket. Some hoods are insulated for extra warmth. 

Adjustment Features

• Hood Adjusters are usually on the sides, with another one in the back. Some use elasticized trim instead for a sleek (& less precise) fit
• Drawcords are typically at the bottom hem & block wind & cold air. Some jackets have a drawcord at the waist instead
• Front zippers tend to have a chin guard on the top& a storm flap in the front. Some jackets use a water-resistant zipper instead of a storm flap, while others may feature a 2-way zipper to allow for adjustments from the bottom for walking or sitting
• Cuffs will have Velcro tabs to make it easy to adjust the wrist fit while sealing out wind & cold air. Some jackets will use elastic trim instead, which offers less bother & bulk, but a less precise fit

Pockets

• More pockets = more storage, but also adds bulk & weight (and can increase the cost of the piece)
• Zip, snap, or Velcro closures offer more secure storage, while open pockets allow for easier access to your stuff
• Zipper Protection: For added rain protection, exposed pockets on some jackets might have flaps; other jackets use water-resistant zippers
• Hipbelt Compatibility: Pockets set slightly higher ensure you access while wearing a pack hip belt
• Music Pockets: A port inside the jacket for routing headphone cords
• Security Pockets: Found inside the jacket, these pockets often have a hidden zipper opening along a seam or under a flap
• Drop-in Pockets: Handy for quickly stashing a hat or gloves, these large open pockets are inside the jacket, directly behind the side pockets

Vents

Primarily found on rain jackets, some insulated coats include underarm vents and/or core vents that help when your exertion levels rise. You'll find vents more often when the piece of insulated clothing has a waterproof/breathable shell.

Hopefully, we've helped make your decision a little easier. From coats and jackets to bibs and overalls and even gloves and hats, the number of choices, features, and types can make this choice feel overwhelming to even the most experienced shopper. Find our selection of insulated outerwear here.

Did we miss anything? Got some tips of your own to share, or personal experiences that may make someone else's decision a little easier? Leave them here below in the comments section.