THE BEST WINTER COAT BRANDS FOR A TOASTY SEASON
The best winter coats have the power to alter the season forever. Here are 20 winter coat brands to trust for a cozy season.
As the skies darken and the temperature drops, winter coats become essential tools in the wardrobe. The wonders of a waterproof, insulated coat cannot be overstated, easing the difficult descent from summer into the depths of winter. It’s this reassurance that makes winter coats the undisputed king of all outerwear: We build deep connections with our winter coats that protect us beyond their technical proficiency—softening the emotional blows of winter, and providing a shining light in the dark evenings.
But, precisely because of how important a good winter coat is, buying one is not an easy decision. The fact that this will be your protective shell throughout the coming months means that it’s worth making an informed decision about the best winter coat brands to trust. With a staggering range of price points and a seemingly endless list of technologies to choose from, it’s useful to have something or someone to guide you to the right choice for you.
You might be in the market for lightweight insulation for daily errands or perhaps expedition-ready waterproofing is more your bag. If rain’s a regular in your neck of the woods, then hooded jackets are the only choice, but if blue skies and snow underfoot are your home conditions, consider light ski jackets. Each of these considerations will alter the final decision from affordable winter coats to some of the most expensive winter coat brands on the market. Use this guide to the best winter coat brands to find the right balance.
Featured In This Image: ACRONYM jacket.
Founded: 2002
City: Berlin, Germany
Instagram: @acronym.gmbh
SSENSE says: With years of experience in consulting—even reviving Nike’s ACG sublabel—ACRONYM founders Michaela Sachenbacher and Errolson Hugh started the label from a place of expertise. This expertise shines through in every heavily engineered garment that bears the ACRONYM logo. From advanced GORE-TEX shells as standard to built-in magnetic AirPods holders, ACRONYM facilitates everyday life in the toughest conditions.
Featured In This Image: and wander coat.
Founded: 2011
City: Tokyo, Japan
Instagram: @andwander_official
SSENSE says: Although Japanese label and wander’s archive stretches back to 2011, its high-spec designs have gained a cult following in recent years. With collaborations alongside names like Barbour and Salomon under its belt, and wander has become a central player in the world of technical clothing.
Featured In This Image: C.P. Company jacket.
Founded: 1971
City: Bologna, Italy
Instagram: @cp_company_official
SSENSE says: Founded by one of outerwear’s most revered designers, Massimo Osti, C.P. Company became a place for experimentation inspired by the utility of military uniforms. Balancing stylistic flair in the form of advanced garment-dyeing processes with supreme functionality, C.P. Company offers a rare opportunity for style without sacrificing any substance.
Featured In This Image: Canada Goose jacket.
Founded: 1957
City: Toronto, Canada
Instagram: @canadagoose
SSENSE says: Canada Goose is known by many as the best winter coat brand globally and it’s proven this unofficial title by outfitting countless professional expeditions under the worst conditions that the world has to offer. With that said, Canada Goose parkas ranging from the cropped Chilliwack Jacket to the Expedition Parka fit comfortably into both urban and extreme lifestyles.
Featured In This Image: Engineered Garments coat.
Founded: 1999
City: New York, US
Instagram: @engineered_garments_official
SSENSE says: Part of the much-loved Nepenthes group that also includes cult brands like NEEDLES, South2 West8, and more, Engineered Garments sits at a convenient intersection between on-trend style and utility. Taking as much inspiration from Americana as COMME des GARÇONS, founder Daiki Suzuki presents a unique cocktail each season which always features a handful of high-end winter coats.
Featured In This Image: Goldwin jacket.
Founded: 1950
City: Tokyo, Japan
Instagram: @goldwin_official
SSENSE says: Having seen a considerable profile rise during the gorp explosion, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Goldwin was a newcomer. Actually, it’s been around for over 70 years, honing the perfect technical coats for winter. Waterproof shells cut from fabrics like GORE-TEX and PERTEX® overlay lightweight down fillings for a range of winter coats that have every eventuality under control.
Featured In This Image: Holzweiler jacket.
Founded: 2012
City: Oslo, Norway
Instagram: @holzweiler
SSENSE says: Not all of the best winter coat brands need 50-plus years of experience. For some, simply hailing from Norway is enough. Having been shaped by the cold, Holzweiler’s outerwear department is a cut above most other luxury read-to-wear brands. Offering up the golden combination of waterproof jackets with real down insulation, Holzweiler has proven that it deserves to be taken very seriously in the arena of technical outerwear.
Featured In This Image: Mackage coat.
Founded: 1999
City: Montreal, Canada
Instagram: @mackage
SSENSE says: Mackage is living proof that the “stay in your lane” mentality should be ignored. With an offering that ranges from leather jackets to heavily embellished down waterproofs, Mackage’s view of outerwear is unbridled and high-standard on all sides.
Featured In This Image: Mammut jacket.
Founded: 1862
City: Seon, Switzerland
Instagram: @mammut_swiss1862
SSENSE says: Although the brand has evolved from a ropemaker to a top-tier alpine outfitter, Mammut has been around in some form or another since 1862. That’s enough time spent in the Swiss Alps to build one of the most respected winter coat brands in the world. For Mammut, utility is the sole purpose of a design, and style is implicit in that utility. From heavily padded down jackets to layered GORE-TEX shell coats, Mammut has a specialist option for all conditions.
Featured In This Image: Moncler coat.
Founded: 1952
City: Milan, Italy
Instagram: @moncler
SSENSE says: Few outerwear brands cater to as many demographics as Moncler. Through its numerous offshoots, from Moncler Grenoble to Moncler Genius, Moncler has translated its professional mountaineering roots into a subcultural superpower fueled by high-profile collaborations. Whether it’s a limited-edition drop or a mainline fan-favorite, every investment-worthy Moncler coat is made to exacting standards.
Featured In This Image: nanamica coat.
Founded: 2003
City: Tokyo, Japan
Instagram: @nanamica
SSENSE says: In the modern day, the phrase “made in Japan” is something to be lauded. It’s labels like nanamica that have contributed to the deification of Japan as a leader in technical garments. Collating inspirations from sport, vintage workwear, and outdoor gear, nanamica’s collections seamlessly mix style and utility. While high-level mountaineering might be a step too far, nanamica coats and jackets are comfortable with anything winter can offer.
Featured In This Image: Norse Projects ARKTISK jacket.
Founded: 2022
City: Copenhagen, Denmark
Instagram: @norseprojects
SSENSE says: Norse Projects added the ARKTISK facet to its business in 2022. Still a fledgling offshoot, the Norse Projects ARKTISK imprint has made a strong first impression with waterproof footwear as well as a range of technically advanced outerwear. The label’s characteristically minimal detailing makes room for fabrics like PERTEX®, 37.5® Technology, GORE-TEX, and even materials from Loro Piana to shine.
Featured In This Image: Parajumpers jacket.
Founded: 2006
City: Veneto, Italy
Instagram: @parajumpers_official
SSENSE says: Italian outerwear specialist Parajumpers takes inspiration from the 210th Rescue Squadron of Anchorage, Alaska. This squadron is known for performing rescue missions in some of the world’s most trying environments. To do so, they need flawless outerwear. Parajumpers looks to technical down paddings and a range of details like expansion panels, cinch straps, and detachable linings to bring unique solutions to its winter coats.
Featured In This Image: POST ARCHIVE FACTION (PAF) jacket.
Founded: 2018
City: Seoul, South Korea
Instagram: @postarchivefaction
SSENSE says: Most brands won’t tackle high-end technical builds until they’ve gained at least a decade of experience. But POST ARCHIVE FACTION’s fearless approach to high-end winter coats has made it one of the most exciting Korean fashion brands of the moment. Blending experimental cuts and deconstructed aesthetics with elite-level down insulation and waterproofing systems, PAF is impossible to ignore and is only getting better.
Featured In This Image: RAINS jacket.
Featured In This Image: ROA jacket.
Founded: 2015
City: Ferrara, Italy
Instagram: @roahiking
SSENSE says: ROA’s winter boots have been the toast of the gorp world for just under a decade already, but it’s only in recent seasons that the Italian label has extended its output to apparel, too. Carrying over the same principles of functionality as well as considered, striking visuals, ROA’s apparel is as lauded as the footwear. While the label’s fleeces and experimental base layers are well-loved, ROA coats are the true highlight.
Featured In This Image: Stone Island jacket.
Founded: 1982
City: Ravarino, Italy
Instagram: @stoneisland_official
SSENSE says: Stone Island’s long-term commitment to remaining at the forefront of both technical development and style has meant that it commands respect within both fashion and high-level performance crowds. Few can claim such a spread in their customer base. Complex dyeing processes coupled with tried-and-tested protection against the elements are a recipe for success, and Stone Island wrote the recipe.
Featured In This Image: Ten c jacket.
Founded: 2010
Instagram: @ten_c_official
SSENSE says: Having met while working together at C.P. Company, Ten c founders Alessandro Pungetti and Paul Harvey know a thing or two about making winter coats. One of Ten c’s most distinctive characteristics is the use of OJJ, or Original Japanese Jersey, which is designed to age like denim, shaping to the wearer over time and gaining a unique patina. This rare, waterproof canvas is cut exclusively in Japan and becomes premium outerwear in Italy.
Featured In This Image: The North Face jacket.
Founded: 1966
City: San Francisco, US
Instagram: @thenorthface
SSENSE says: In every conversation about the best brands for winter coats, The North Face will emerge as an answer. Whether this comes down to its omnipresence in professional expeditions, collaborations with streetwear giants, or its range of affordable winter coats that outperform some of its most expensive counterparts, there’s ample reason whichever way you see it. Icons like the Denali Fleece or Nuptse Jacket are perennial top choices when the mercury drops.
Featured In This Image: White Mountaineering®︎ jacket.
Founded: 2006
City: Tokyo, Japan
Instagram: @whitemountaineering_official
SSENSE says: White Mountaineering®︎ founder Yosuke Aizawa earned his stripes working with Junya Watanabe and it shows. The label offers experimental cuts that take heavy inspiration from traditional Japanese garments such as the kimono as well as top-level technical specifications. The combination of these two elements has come to define White Mountaineering®︎ winter coats, making them easy to pick out of a crowd.
- Date: October 31, 2023
