so, I want a good winter coat, and I'm going nuts. help meeeeee

**mascarasnake21** · 10-19-2009, 10:55 PM

I'm wearing an old army surplus jacket to tide me over for now, but it's only going to work in the fall for a bit longer...it's getting colder here in Milwaukee by the day. Getting a coat this weekend.

What I'm stumped about is the style. Something like a pea coat would be a bit too fancy for me to want to wear regularly, but something about that length would do wonders. I'm looking for something casual-but-classy that I can wear with a flat cap and easily layer under. (I'd prefer it be semi-lightweight, since I don't like lugging around a heavy coat around campus during the day.)

**gaseousclay** · 10-20-2009, 03:59 AM

I would say go with a North Face jacket. they're a little more on the pricey side but well worth it.

**Kouros** · 10-20-2009, 04:12 AM

Look into a shearling coat. Timberland also has a nice waterproof 3/4 length snorkle jacket with hood. The North Face is nice but wayyyyy too common where I live.

**stobes21** · 10-20-2009, 05:29 AM

I tend to think of pea coats as rather casual and practical. If you want to go more casual I'd say look for a ski coat/jacket. I got one for my wife to walk the dog in the dead of winter and that thing is super warm, waterproof, and has a ton of useful pockets. I got it on sale at a local outdoors store (a local place similar to REI).

**JECIII** · 10-20-2009, 05:53 AM

Originally Posted by gaseousclay

I would say go with a North Face jacket. they're a little more on the pricey side but well worth it.

I have a north face. Very nice.

**mmack66** · 10-20-2009, 06:20 AM

Mountain Hardwear is a good brand to look at as well. Wisconsin winters usually call for something extreme.

**Dennis** · 10-20-2009, 06:23 AM

You will probably be wanting that heavier coat by mid-winter. I have been wearing winter coats from Land's End the last couple of years. They are good quality, lots of varieties, and wear well.

**blackfoot** · 10-20-2009, 06:24 AM

Originally Posted by stobes21

I tend to think of pea coats as rather casual and practical. If you want to go more casual I'd say look for a ski coat/jacket. I got one for my wife to walk the dog in the dead of winter and that thing is super warm, waterproof, and has a ton of useful pockets. I got it on sale at a local outdoors store (a local place similar to REI).

I agree. I wear my pea coat for somewhat dressier things, but it more of an every day coat with style for me.

Sam · 10-20-2009, 06:44 AM

Banana Republic and Gap have some good looking pea coats for casual and dressy situations. You can catch them on sale for a good price, but for brutal stuff, Mountain Hardware, North Face, things like that. They dont work that well with situations needing a dress coat, but they are warm and functional, but pricey.

**r_w** · 10-20-2009, 11:23 AM

If you like the surplus look and are a smaller guy, Sportsmansguide.com and cheaperthandirt.com usually have great real surplus coats.

www.duluthtrading.com has some great functional coats at a good price. More of a midwest barncoat style, which will fit right in. http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/c...outerwear.aspx

**airplanedoc** · 10-20-2009, 01:00 PM

I have several columbia jackets that I wear for winter, You can take out layers in them as the temp goes up and down.

I generally weat my pea coat with jeans and tee shirt just to run around town.

**Amer** · 10-20-2009, 01:54 PM

I know you said you weren't looking for a Pea Coat, but it's my experience that you just have to find the right one. I've tried on the ones from the Gap, Banana Republic, J. Crew, basically anywhere I could find one. They were always either too dressy looking or didn't fit quite right.

Then the other weekend at Kohl's I saw one that fit me perfectly and is really dual purpose. It came with a hood that is made out of polyester and it zips on the lining, not just up at the neck, but all the way down the inside of the jacket, which you can then use to zip up the jacket as well without doing the buttons (although this does look ridiculous) but by zipping it up you basically extend the jacket liner to the area under the buttons.

With the hood attached it really looks more casual. Kind of like wearing the pea coat with a hooded sweatshirt underneath. Looks great with jeans.

However, you take the hood out and and the jacket does look classy enough to wear with more dressy things. I wouldn't wear it with a suit or anything, but it's a nice looking jacket.

Here's a link: http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/mens...ed+Peacoat.jsp

They also had one that looked like an old field jacket but with the same hood setup:
http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/mens...+Wool+Coat.jsp

**Wendy** · 10-21-2009, 06:23 PM

I have to agree on the North Face brand. A little higher in price than many but well worth it.

**DunEdinRanger** · 10-21-2009, 06:47 PM

http://www.allseasonsuniforms.com/up08a.htm

Made In The USA.

**DunEdinRanger** · 10-21-2009, 06:48 PM

Kohl's is also having a massive sale on their winter coats. 50% off plus another 15% if you have their credit card, or so I'm told by friends.

**Emmett** · 10-22-2009, 06:16 AM

Any of the ski/mountaineering brands will do you well. Some models are convertible to a rain jacket by zipping out the liner. Lowe's Alpine, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, Columbia, North Face. Sierra Trading Post has good deals on many of these. They all fit a bit differently; for me Columbia jackets are the best.

**ChrisG** · 10-22-2009, 06:20 AM

Go to Jcrew and check out the peacoats. Can't go wrong with the Thinsualte one , I have it it is good wool not the cheap stuff and is pretty heavy and very fashionable.

http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/Mens...7195/87195.jsp

**gollum83** · 10-22-2009, 06:45 AM

I like Columbia myself.

**jlanger** · 10-23-2009, 07:21 PM

what about a chore coat/jacket? Carhartt and Dickies make several styles in various cuts and materials. Fairly good looking, but not too dressy, very durable and fairly inexpensive too.