Need Jacket Help...

jefroman

jefroman

Gold Member
Joined
May 17, 2001
Messages
774
I need help finding a jacket. I don't want a huge winter coat, but I don't want a thin flimsy jacket, either. I guess I want something that is midweight. Waterproof is preferred, but not absolutely necessary. Doesn't matter either way if it has hood or not.
I just need something to keep me warm.
It needs to be under 80 dollars

Thanks,

Jeff
 
If you can afford to spend an extra $20 LL Bean has a nice Gortex jacket. I just got it about a month ago and love it. Its not a heavy jacket at all, it is not lined but being Gortex it cuts through wind well and is 100% waterproof. It has 2 zippered hand pockets with storm flaps and a zippered inside pocket. It has a hood, with a drawstring. Front zip with a snap and velcro storm flap. Seems to be well made and comfortable.

It has kept me plenty warm in the Virginia fall (40-55 degrees F). Moving to Blaine, WA on Sunday, hopefully it will keep me dry and warm up there.

-Wick
 
Pacific Trails is a division of London Fog, the great old trenchcoat manufacturer. Pacific trails makes a whole line of jackets and I have a couple,the one I wear most (and fits your description best) is a model that has a waterproof Micropore (like Goretex) outer nylon shell and a thermo-fleece like liner.

I have been out in the rain for over an hour and never got wet. The jacket is comfortable, warm and dry. It's also light weight and has a good number of sensibly placed pockets. There's also a rudimentary hood that folds into a pocket in the collar. The hood is good for keeping rain out, but has no real insulation.

If your bank account can afford it, get a North Face system. Their better jackets are built on a layering system where you get a water/wind proof outer shell and then add a fleece or down zip in liner for insulation depending on what climates you expect to encounter (rated to -zero on their better stuff). By wearing/ packing both liners and the shell you are prepared for almost any conditions. The sleeves are cut long to allow for full arm extension even if you are climbing and still not allow the cold/wet in (assuming that you're wearing gloves).

I really want to buy a North Face coat and even have an outlet store accessible (two hour drive) but even at 30% off, they're still a lot of money ($200.00 - $500.00). If I didn't live in southern California I'd probably already own one because I can't think of a better cold weather outfit. Our temperate climate has let me get by with the Pacific Trails even during a couple trips to some prettty cold out of state areas (20-30 degrees F). All I need is a t-shirt and that jacket when the temps are in the low 40s. With a little layering I'm sure this jacket would keep me warm and dry down to below feeezing.

The waterproof Pacific Trails jackets are really well made (mine has a pretty tough ballistic nylon outer shell). They're durable and top out at about $120.00. If you can find one on sale you should be able to meet your $80.00 goal. I think that's about what I paid for my current coat (2 1/2 years so far) and it's the best I've ever owned.

jmx
 
The Land's End Squall is an awesome bargain for the money.
I think it's still under $80 and comes in a million different colors. It's your basic Polar Fleece with heavy nylon shell jacket. But it's made extremely well, is warm for everything but sub zero temps, and is very water resistent. For a few bucks more you can get the hooded version like I did. LL Bean also makes a similar jacket.
Can't go wrong with either.
Lenny
 
I would think that your best bet would be a pertex shell with a fibre pile lining.

I am sure that manufacturers in the states must make jackets like these.

I have jackets made by Buffalo and Montane (http://www.montane.co.uk/ US stockist www.libertymountain.com) on this principle and they are the best warmth to weight ration without going to down (not a good idea if you are going to get wet) that I have come across.

They have the benefit of being very water resistant as the pertex spreads the watrer over a large area to evaporate and much more breathable that any true waterproof eg gortex.

I have out in persistant rain in my Buffalo shirt for an hour or so and only got wet around the zips.

My wife is a PE teacher and she pinches one of my buffalo jackets whenever she has to go out in foul weather that does not involve constant rain.
 
I have owned an LL Bean Mountain Classic thinsulate anorak for years. I wear it from fall through spring, with an additional layer, such as a wool vest or primaloft liner, underneath during the winter. Very durable and comfortable. I like it because it is a little longer than a waist-length jacket, but not as long as a parka. It also allows good freedom of movement.

The front kangeroo pouch is a gear guy's dream. Just be sure that the zipper is shut before turning the anorak upside to pull over your head. I once dumped my daily carry in the middle of a theater lobby after a movie. Nothing like picking up a pile of knives and stuff off the floor, while a gaggle of people stand around staring. Nothing to see here, folks, move along...

There are a few downsides to the anorak, but they are very minor to me. It is not waterproof if drenched for an extended period of time, without additional treatment. It is also not as windproof as I would like. And, sometimes the pullover format can be a little awkward. Overall, I would definitely buy another if this one would ever wear out.
 
Nothing wrong with a M-65 and they are under $80.
Click to expand...

...except for the fact that they are extremely cold without the liner, and bulky with the liner, and have a tendency to soak up water. But, if one doesn't mind all that, they will last a good while.

JK
 
I like my usual, and LL Bean Mountain Classic Anorak with a LL Bean fleece under it. That is good for most of the year. If it gets realy bad then it is the fleece under the US Gore-tex parka. I am all about layers. I am hot all the time.
 
Check out Carhartt.

They wear like Iron, very comfortable, and any style to suit your taste. Standard issue in the Antarctic.

Made in the USA

Cheers,

Hal:)
 
...except for the fact that they are extremely cold without the liner, and bulky with the liner, and have a tendency to soak up water. But, if one doesn't mind all that, they will last a good while.
Click to expand...



What climate do you live in where you consider it cold without the liner? here in Southern B.C. i just put the liner in mine 2 weeks ago, and it will stay probably till feb. or march. The liner does add a little bulk but not much and the liner weighs almost nothing. I have no idea what you mean about soaking up water, my surplus one is NYCO(50% cotton, 50% nylon) and i think has some kind of waterproof coating as water does run off of it. It has served me well in the field when hunting/camping even it a total downpour. My black one which i just got a few weeks ago is 100% cotton and has the Quarpel treatment which makes it VERY water reppelant and it sheads water better than my surplus one. Granted they are not for everyone but they are worm, water reppelant and about the only jacket i would trust to hold up to anything i can throw at it, i have rolled around in a pricklebush(long story) and the jacket was fine, a few scrapes but nothing that will effect its performance, its one tough jacket.
 
Originally posted by willyfield
Check out Carhartt.

They wear like Iron, very comfortable, and any style to suit your taste. Standard issue in the Antarctic.

Made in the USA

Cheers,

Hal:)
Click to expand...
And you can get them at Sears.
 
I didn't realize one had so many options for outerwear for under 80 dollars! Am I wrong in assuming Jeff was referring to US dollars? It sounds as if Gore-tex is becoming more affordable.

JK
 
Don't forget to shop for good quality leather. It is highly wind resistant, water repellent when cared for, offers classic styles (aviators are always ok) and come with insulation.
Don't get me started on Goretex. In military applications it has come up short for wear resistance, waterproofness, or warmth, as layering is the norm. The issue GI Goretex jacket has pitvents, a hung liner, and few seams, all of which greatly add to the garment's performance. Few coated rainjackets offer the same, so comparisons are difficult.
Wool is still a remarkable fabric in winter weights, too.
 
probly don't want to hear this, but now is a bad time to buy a coat.

if you wait till the end of the winter season you will be able to buy a nice coat on close out for a fraction of the price. I got a nice $199 dollar L.L. Bean shell and liner for like 70 dollars. They only had the tan and blue on left in stock but that suits me just fine.
 
Before you make a decision, check out www.cabelas.com . Especially try the bargain basement. You can categorize by insulated or uninsulated and they usually have 20 or more styles available. I shop them because many of the styles come in tall sizes(I'm 6'3"). Service is good too.

Mith.
 
I'll add to the Carhartt masses. Carhartts last forever and are reasonably waterproof. Best of all, you can get them in colors now, instead of the standard diarrhea brown. I gave mine away to a friend years ago, and held off on getting a new one. I just couldn't stand that color of brown. I was pleasantly surprised this weekend, to find my favorite coat in a navy blue. I bought it in a heartbeat.
 
Another Carhartt fan here.

Tough, warm (depending on conditions and which one you're wearing), made 15 miles away from me in Dearborn, MI. They hang together for a long time.

They have so many different models/styles now, it's hard not to find one that you'll like.

Like Buzz, I'd been waiting to replace a given-away jacket. One in a new reddish-brown "chestnut" color caught my eye, and now I'm trying to track one down locally in my size. This hunt will be well worthwhile.
 
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