Outer coats for the seasons, watcha wearing?

Bill Masen - February 14, 2021

Sooo in the cold weather here in the UK I wear a modified water resistant, fleece lined Regatta professional soft shell with the velcro (hook and loop) removed and replace with elastic or press studs. And extra inside pockets added, plus some 1 inch webbing for guiding cables or clipping radios, flashlights, knives etc to.

In the warmer weather I use either or both Craghopper Nosilife adventure 2 Jacket, And Or a Nosilife adventure 2 multi pocket gilette, again much modified for hanging assorted items of kit off.

All rather drab and unassuming to meet the Grey Man concept I support, So what do you folks like to wear as outerwear?

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Warmer months just a simple generic Fleece. 

This time of year a Peter storm Parka. Utterly bombproof, warm and comfy.

Or if the weather is a bit more clement a Down jacket.

 

This time of year, almost every day I will wear my Carhartt jacket.  Sometimes when a bit colder, I’ll wear a lightweight jacket underneath.  When it gets really cold, like what we are experiencing this week, I’ll wear my Carhartt overalls with the jacket.  Going to 5 degrees tomorrow.  When working outside in the cold, hard to beat Carhartt.

 

I just got my first Carhartt overalls, coveralls, and jacket in the new Yukon Extremes line and can confirm they are incredible in cold weather!  Even with wearing only the jacket I was overheating in 33ºF after walking several city blocks and had to unzip the jacket to ventilate.

 

Canada Goose or my Hydro parka (similar to Canada Goose made for Hydro workers) –

It’s still -52 with the wind chill – All feathers/down – All the time – until April at the rate this Arctic front is lifting.

 

Wearing about the same as above styles.  Many field jackets here manufactured in Middle Kingdom. Varous shades of olive drab and the tan hues.  

I like wool and goose down.  Also have some camel hair. Don’t like any inside silk even though it’s a premier product for insulation.

 

I wear wool in more/fewer layers as needed for the temperature. “Woolies” are a staple in Northern New England, Quebec, and the Maritimes. A waxed canvas anorak goes on top when windy or wet. In early fall or late spring, I swap the anorak for a rain poncho.

For example, today I was checking the trapline with snowshoes and it is warm (-6C/21F), sunny, and there was no wind. I wore a thin long sleeve baselayer top & bottom, wool pants, a wool sweater, lined leather work gloves, and a thin wool hat.

 

I prefer a Gore-Tex parka with removable hood, roomy enough to accommodate a zip in liner plus a fleece or wool jacket or vest.  All this provides plenty of pockets.

Color is no big deal, warmth and keeping dry is….

 

M 65 field jacket, been my go to since ’79. I have tried/used other jackets/coats. I keep coming back to the M 65. You cant beat the durability, they wear like iron. The pockets will hold an amazing amount of stuff.I spray mine annually with a silicone waterproofing spray. As far as warmth goes, layers are your friend.

 

Good evening Ranger John,

For the fashion – conscious preppers among us, like me, My M65 Fidel Castro style M65 has the added storm hood that buttons on to existing buttons on the M65. Officially, it’s “hood, winter”, but works well in non-winter storms. It’s 28% wool with rest of fabric being cotton.

Not for using on patrols when max hearing and vision needed.

My M65 is slightly modified.  The zipper pull is now a neatly coiled ~ 60 ft of 107 lb test braided fabric fishing line. Added a lanyard w/ Foxx whistle attached to front lapel section of garment. The waist and bottom “elastic draw string” replaced with doubled paracord.

My favorite M65 also has the built-in nylon hood below collar zipper. 

The jacket liners – originally terrycloth and later nylon fabric – wrapped stuff replaced by getting a goose down vest. 

Must mention that the storm hood has the hood outlined with white artificial fur.  We aptly nicknamed it “the enemy sniper’s work relief act”.

These M65 field jackets just can’t be worn out. 

 

Good evening, Bob

My fathers M65 had the terry cloth liner. All the ones I have had, had the nylon liner.

Mine has the hood in the collar, which has never been used. I don’t do hoods.

 

Well received, Ranger John.

I wear a hard hat for evacs here in hurricane  alley. Hat is a kit in itself. Storm hood fits over pith helmet for good naps out in rain.

 

Well received, Ranger John.

 

I’m looking forward to trying out my newly DIY waxed jacket that I made this upcoming winter!

 

That jacket looks like it would benefit from a couple of six inch side zippers to allow you easier access to your side arm / knife / multi tool.

 

That would be nice!

 

I got my jacket altered by a local seamstress to put a zipper and press stud on my right hand side that allows me to access my knife and multi tool whilst sat.

 

Good evening Gideon,

I like reading about D-I-Y projects. Jacket looks nice.

……

Had not forgotten; Had asked around DAV chapter on concealed carry arrangements on wheel chair. Complexion of new military has changed so much, not too many even with blisters.

……

Misc; When discussing something else, .. it was giving CERT lanyards / other CERT stuff to new participants, mentioned sending them snail mail. For the official record, I NEVER seek a personal address. If I was sending something to eg Redneck or Bill, I’d ask for an address to a veterans organization they’re affiliated with. Aforesaid is example.  Another is sending snail mailing stuff to professor types. NOTHING goes to a personal address which I don’t want to know. It’s only going to their institute of lower education or event does not happen.

……

If you’re in Colorado, the only jacket that would work for me would be the one on the logo for Yukon Jack. Would need fur and a Canadian Pacific lodge next to tracks and river. Still cold just thinking about chilly weather.

 

Thank you Bob! We shall see how the jacket holds up to the winter here soon. I’ll have to take it for a spin and try some winter camping.

 

I recently wore a thrifted Sean John collection jean jacket over a button up, long poly shirt and a tank top to move around in some 20 or so F temps.

Old surplus trigger finger mittens really sold it though, I was almost over heating before I started moving things.

It blocked the wind decently and I should probably try it out more.

I think plain cotton as an outside layer is fine, there’s not a lot of surface water out here but it can block the wind at least. If it was wet, I do have a rain coat from land’s end but I really need to revisit my layer options and set ups. Gotta get out there too

 

I often travel to very cold climates and I truly wish I had discovered 800-fill down coats earlier. They are SO wonderful and so lightweight.  This time of year I am stalking the after-holiday sales to see if I can find an “extra” one on a very good sale to keep in my vehicle for emergencies.  It is true that they are (usually) not water-resistant but I top mine with a lightweight rain poncho when needed.  Anything less than 800 fill for me just doesn’t cut it (and usually over 800 fill means it’s too pricey).

I love the idea mentioned elsewhere in this thread of having a tailor add pockets and/or hooks to expand the usefulness of a jacket or coat. 

 

I like the idea of down but the inability to just throw it in the wash whenever and let it dry without specialty stuff just makes it less appealing.

Maybe try REI second hand shop? They have reduced prices for moderately used things.

That said, they do have wash in treatments for down puffies that 1: waterproof the exterior of the jacket, and 2, waterproof the down itself so if it does get soaked, they can retain loft and dry faster.

Down jackets, winter boots,, gloves, all waterproof of any sort need to be given a regular application of treatment to retain waterproofing.

If it soaks in,, it probably needs to be refreshed.

 

Ridgeline monsoon II with a soft shell jacket under for the sub zero temperatures, when it’s warmer a single lambswool sweater under it is just fine. 

 

I live in the mild south west of England so dosent normally get that cold, but when it does I wear a lined Combat Jacket, otherwise I am wearing an unlined Para(as in Parachute regiment) jacket, in the warmer weather I wear a hooded fleece(known as a Hoodie here) all camo of course!