The winter coat index: match the coat to the cold

Mild winter: shell plus fleece

For 0–8°C and rain, a waterproof shell over a mid-weight fleece beats a heavy parka. You stay dry and adjust heat by removing a layer.

Check seam sealing and pit vents. A shell without ventilation becomes a sauna on public transport.

Warmth is a system, not a thickness contest.

City cold: mid-length down

A mid-length down jacket with 600–700 fill covers most urban winters. It packs small, handles wind and does not restrict movement.

Ask for fill weight and total garment weight. A puffy jacket with little down is mostly air.

Wet cold: wool or technical parka

Wool handles damp cold better than down, which loses loft when soaked. A technical parka with a synthetic fill is the pragmatic choice for slush.

Check the hood shape and storm flap. Those two details decide whether wind finds a way in.

Deep cold: expedition parka

For sustained sub-zero, you need loft, a fur or faux-fur hood ruff and a long body. Weight is the trade-off.

Check baffle stitching every few centimetres and a two-way zipper. Cheap parkas fail at the baffles first.