I’m looking for a super warm winter coat that will last me forever. Something that will keep me warm around -30 C. I’m thinking military surplus, because it should theoretically be more durable (right?).
Price isn’t a huge issue if the quality is worth it.
I think you have an overly optimistic view of military gear. The stuff I had when I was in the army in the eighties was absolutely atrocious. I’ve heard they’re doing better these days but I’d always go for quality civilian gear if i had the choice.
Military gear just needs to keep you alive and able to fight.
Civilian gear needs to keep you comfy, else no one would buy it.US military used to have a really good coat. Apparently one of the best, but they don’t make it anymore.
And my Estonian military boots are amazing
#eestimentioned
To the hiis!
Do you mean the field jacket or an actual big coat? Generally everyone recommends having multiple good layers rather than a big coat that can make you sweat.
I had this idea of buying an army coat from a typically cold country as they’d theoretically be designed to be durable and warm.
I found a Polish army jacket in my local army shop. In the mad off chance you live near Madrid, it’s in Argüelles.
It’s quilt lined and it also has a quilted removable lining. It’s very warm, I used it for work at a job in October/November last year and I didn’t feel the cold at all.
I also waxed it myself to make it waterproof, which might have helped keep some heat in?
So yeah, long story short. Buy one from a colder country
As someone who once believed the same as you, military surplus can really be hit and miss. It will either be the best that you have ever seen and built like a tank or the worst flimsy, rubbish bag with arms and legs that you have seen.
Edit: typo.
I don’t have any direct experience with stuff designed for weather that cold, but I have been looking to get some proper winter gear for myself for future use. For military style (not necessarily surplus, but looks to be very 'made for militaryish situations) I’ve found two brands.
There’s Military.eu which has a huge array of clothing, and lists the brand/company of each piece on the item page so you can specifically get EU owned products. Military.EU is also itself HQ’d in Poland.
Another one I came across is the finnish site Varusteleka. Smaller site, only seems to sell its own branded stuff, but being from Finland they probably know what they’re on about with regards to handling the cold.
varusteleka also sells army surplus when they can get their hands on it.
Varusteleka is offering free shipment to Greenland 🇬🇱 and Denmark🇩🇰
They’re not just their own brand. They sell various brands. A lot are Finnish though.
I myself enjoyed the drylock version of the boots I had in the military. Unfortunately the drylock membrane made their care harder / more expensive and I was a lazy cunt and they got ruined much before they should’ve.
Idk if Hedgren brand does clothing, they do backpacks at least, and idk about their quality nowadays, but the Hedgrem backpack my mom bought me in the early 90’s is still serving me extremely well. It doesn’t look outdated either, and I’ve not been careful with it in the slightest in the past 30 years or so.
Varusteleka actually started as a surplus store and is now producing their own brands (Sämär/ Sämär TST). They have the same manufacturing as Savotta, which is top notch.
Well last time I bought anything was in like 2011 and just knew they rocked the brands FDF uses as well. Jalas Phantom Drylock are the boots I talked about.
look at mammut “eiger” range of coat https://www.mammut.com/ch/de/eiger-extreme can be repaired and is built like a tank for civilians in extreme conditions
the best is its class https://www.mammut.com/ch/de/products/1013-04080-2291/eiger-nordwand-pro-down-in-hooded-parka-men can be resold and keep its value too, it is an investment…
But you should get something lighter if you are constantly moving, this is for artic conditions :-)
Fjällräven used to make some pretty good winter coats in the 70s. Don’t know if they’ve managed to maintain that quality though. Not quite military grade, but high quality anyway.
They do, but you will pay for it.
Fair enough. If it keeps you warm, it’s worth it.
Yeah I bought their parka what, 15 years ago? Maybe more. I wear it every winter, it’s awesome. Lot of pockets, high quality fabrics. Without doubts BIFL quality. I wouldn’t recommend it for rainy winters though, when wet it’s quite heavy.
Take a look at the US Army ECWS layering concept. Layer 7 is a winter insulation layer with primaloft.
Surplus does often just mean lowest bidder, but you can find some civilian brands like Helikon-Tex (Poland). They take an adapt (and improve) on gear.
The Dutch military used an insulation jacket made by Snugpak. When it comes to real good stuff, I would always recommend Snugpak and Carinthia 🤑(especially the LIG/MIG/HIG or ECIG series). The later is just superb (rated for -30˚C)
+1 for Helikon, got lots of their stuff and love it, great value
I imagine that military gear is really built around layers because it could be used for guard duty or a march, which have very different thermal needs. They might have zip out liners which I’m a big fan of for varying conditions.
Military gear is pretty variable in quality. It’s an exercise in cost engineering usually.
As noted, fjallraven makes decent gear. Down is a good material because it compacts well and puffs back. Fur lined hoods are good because it cuts wind exposure. Some furs are less likely to trap moisture and get frosty. Faux furs are no good for actual arctic use.
Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood wore comfy winter coats in Where Eagles Dare, so best to contact 20th century fox for more info on the outlet.
A navy peacoat is the closest to what you’re describing - warm, durable, quality. Suitable for -30, may need a sweater depends how hot you run
They’re really not for cold climates.
This is interesting. Could you suggest one or provide a link? I just want to compare specs when I shop around
https://www.schottnyc.com/products/navy-peacoat.htm
That’s one of the classics, just try to find an EU equivalent
I have that exact coat and can tell you that it really isn’t particularly warm. Even with three layers below it isn’t good below about -5c and is particularly bad in the wind.
I have a similar one with an extra button high up, so you can flip the folds over and get an extra layer and much closer to your neck. Otherwise use a scarf, because it is actually quite good (also against the wind, I live in Scandinavia) but closed as in the pictures with nothing covering your neck and stopping the air from getting inside you’ll get cold in no time. But yeah I also would say that below -5 you need something more padded, but these are nice exactly because they’re not that bulky. No way you can survive -20 in this
a ski jacket from decathlon, warm, weather and wind proof. and layers ofc.
Americana pipedream have a few greatcoats available and change stock semi regularly
If you’re getting into -30 on the regular then a Canada Goose arctic expedition coat is about the only thing that’ll keep you genuinely warm
At that temperature, you want to be layering properly if you’re going to be outside for a long period. If you’re just going out briefly, any field jacket or parka with a padded liner will probably do well enough.
Yeah. I’m stubborn and specifically looking for something I don’t need to layer with. Problem is anywhere I go is hot indoors, so I have to completely unlayer. I kind of wanted something that is a single piece
Layering is the answer. Sorry. I don’t mean to repeat everyone else, but I spent years living in Alaska.
Once you’re used to layering, you’ll look back at your past self as so foolish!
That’s a cool idea, but I think a single coat just doesn’t work at those temps. Layering isn’t just for variety of temps you can adjust for, the layers themselves and the air they trap at each layer are part of the solution.
Hm, I’d suggest a heavy winter jacket with some sort of soft lining because it acts as an insulation layer and outer layer. Army jackets are good but they’re generally also meant to be layered. High quality commercial stuff will probably be better overall.
I bought a coat from a mountain sports type site called Surfanic, and it’s very cosy.
I don’t know what I’m talking about but I wouldn’t imagine military gear lasting forever.
That said I’d buy one.
