We're about to hit our 6th winter. I am looking to buy yet another coat, not having found the perfect one yet.
I first bought a Wellenstyn in Winners (yes, I am a Winners fan!) and the zip broke after a year. It was Ok, but bulky.... not that warm when -30 either.
Then I bought an O'Neill winter coat in Sports Experts (on sale, of course).... it looked good, but was heavy and the furry hood got on my nerves. It had a Canada Cold rating of -30.
I am now looking at spending a bit more and getting a coat that is comfortable, light, and keeps you warm when it's -30 and blowing a gale.
I've seen a nice one made by a company called Descente. There's no Canada Cold rating on it though, and it's expensive.
Canada Goose looks functional, but is again expensive.... worth it?
Do any of you have any recommendations? All welcome!

This does the job very nicely, though it's a bit spendy.

I'm replying from Siberia, where we are getting ready for or forty-degree below winters. The trick either to invest in a really good fur coat and hat like a real Russia, or follow cheaper options:
Firstly - wear a number of thin layers of clothing, not one thick garment.
Start with tights over your underclothes, including thin extra vest
One or two thin sweaters,
two pairs of thin socks (not one think pair!)
a light waistcoat or over vest,
boots with fur lining - essential!
mittens, not gloves,
scarf or balaclava (even better)
woolen hat
lined overcoat with hood (not necessarily expensive) - mine cost 1500 rubles - about £30 sterling
trousers.
This appllies below minus 15 I would say. Below minus 30 add overtrousers and grease for the lips, if windy.
Breath through the nose and cover your mouth with the scarf if windy.

Have fun!

Swimming trunks, deck chair, Hawaii !

I have a Canada Goose Lodge Jacket, I got it in the Spring sale for $199 and it is the warmest jacket I have ever owned.

Having said that, any down jacket with a fill rating of 700+ and you will be sweating your balls off when it's plus weather outside.

If you really want to look good you aren't cold enough yet. Layers is the answer. T-shirt, thermals, hoodie, parka, scarf, ushanka or toque, jeans, ski pants, mitts with wool liners or very good thinsulate gloves, and good arctic boots. I have Acton army mukluks and my feet don't get cold in them with 1 pair of cotton socks. Besides the felt liner I have a woven moisture-wicking insole. Army surplus parkas are very warm and light but pricey... and I think they only come in green.

I used to go out (in Edmonton) with a t-shirt, hoody, and regular winter coat and I was fine.

I know -30 sounds scary, but it isn't that bad, and it doesn't last for weeks anyway.

I once had a North Face "McMurdo" parka. Wore it just a few times, and gave the thing away... it was too warm. Even with just a t-shirt on underneath.

It might be better over in QC where it's more humid and penetrating damp cold, but in AB it was unnecessary.

That looks fantastic.... but I can't afford it!!


Thanks... I was hoping to get dressed in less than an hour though!!

I wish....!

Looks like you got a good deal with that.

I'll try and find an army surplus somewhere and have a look.... thanks for the tip.
You're right, -30 isn't as bad as it sounds... until the wind kicks in, then it can be painful!
North Face make some nice stuff. Not cheap, but sounds like good value.

By the way all, as noted in a similar thread about boots.... wool socks make a huge difference for cold tootsies.

Where was the sale?

Wouldn't be right if I didn't plug Eddie Bauer.

Eddie Bauer was the 1st person to patent the down jacket in North America - over 90 years ago. The down is high quality down from Northern Europe (Hungary if I remember right), from mature birds. This results in stronger down with longer filaments to trap your body heat and keep you warm. Each batch is inspected twice which we are told Eddie Bauer is the only manufacturer to do so. Eddie Bauer down ratings are not artificially inflated either, some manufacturers include layering when testing the weather ratings on their jackets, Eddie Bauer does not. Also with the satisfaction guarantee, you have some peace of mind behind the product too, so if your zipper breaks, it doesn't necessarily mean a brand new coat next year.

For the majority of customers a rating of -17 is sufficient as when it gets colder you tend to put warmer layers on anyway - boosting the ratings yourself. There are some jackets/coats rated to -30, I generally recommend those for people that walk their dog all year round, catch the bus or supervise in playgrounds or spend a lot of time in hockey arenas.

For extra warmth then you start with good quality base layers/long underwear, fleece, lined jeans or trousers etc.

I personally own a 365 down jacket (the older model of the downlight sweater), a -6 rated jacket for around now, a -17 longer coat for colder days when I don't want to be stuffed up with clothes and a BC200 microtherm which I love more than I thought I would and can honestly say it's the warmest jacket I have ever had and it's super light.

Have a look at Eddiebauer.com

I was waiting for you to come along so glad you didnt let me down.

I wear a sweatshirt and a $100 coat I bought from Marks Work Wearhouse in a sale a few winters ago; I've worn that while shovelling snow at -44C with 10 degrees of wind chill on top, and if anything it was too warm. Thermal leggings and overtrousers keep my legs warm and my work trousers clean if I'm trudging through snow banks on the way to the bus stop.

Local Sport Chek here in Kamloops. They often flog all their winter jackets at discounted prices in the spring.

North Face jacket. They really do work. But as above, wear thin layers..