Cold weather is in the air here in the UK and a good winter coat can be one of the key ways to fend off the chill when it arrives. With the summer firmly in the rear-view-mirror, it’s a good time to get prepared – and a winter coat is a great way to start.

Fortunately, there are loads of superb winter coats currently available for a variety of budgets and we’ve picked out some of our favourites. Let’s dive in. 

North Face RMST Sierra Parka

£720 – northface.co.uk

North Face is one of the biggest players in the game when it comes to statement cold-weather gear and it’s the RMST Sierra Parka which has really caught our eye when it comes to winter coats. At £720 it does command a premium, but this high-quality jacket – available in eye-catching yellow or more subdued blue shades – is the kind of jacket to invest in and wear for years to come. 

It’s got that iconic boxy 60s style of the original but uses full 700-fill recycled waterfowl down to help keep things toasty warm when the temperatures fall. A detachable hood is a handy addition, too, while the integrated hand-warmer pockets are a nice touch. 

Barbour Beaconsfield Jacket

£379 – barbour.com

Taking a more traditional spin on things is the Barbour Beaconsfield jacket. While Barbour is probably best known for its waxed jackets, it’s the Beaconsfield we’d be picking up on a chillier day as it’s got a fully insulated lining from specialists Thermore. If keeping toasty is what you’re wanting to do, then the Beaconsfield is an excellent choice. 

Huge bellow pockets at each side boast loads of space for all your odds and ends while this jacket also has a detachable hood for when the heavens open. We’re big fans of the cosy hand-warmer pockets which are lined with soft material too. 

Fjallraven Expedition Down Lite Jacket

£550 – fjallraven.com

Forged in the harsh Swedish winters, Fjallraven knows a thing or two about keeping the cold at bay. We’re big fans of the new Expedition Down Lite Jacket, which has all of those much-wanted down jacket features wrapped up in a cool, subdued design. Designed for ‘mild winter weather’ is an ideal mid-temperature jacket but, knowing Fjallraven, it’ll probably cope with far chillier days too. 

With a chunky hood and full adjustment cords the Expedition Down Jacket is great for securing around you, while the well-sized pockets are great for tucking your hands away in. You can get it in a variety of colours, too, and we’re fond of the new-for-2024 Dark Oak shade.

ThruDark Breach

Currently £470 – thrudark.com

ThruDark calls its Breach jacket a ‘heavy duty jacket’ for use in ‘sub zero temperatures’ and we’d have to agree. It’s got a particularly stealthy design – like all of ThruDark’s equipment – but it’s the technical aspects which hit hard here. It’s got 750-fill premium down packed across the jacket while we like the zip design which goes slightly higher than your chin to ensure that the wind doesn’t impact your face too much. 

There are sections of the jacket – most noticeably the shoulders, where you might be carrying a rucksack – that are reinforced with a more durable material called Cordura. The hood gets adjustable cords to get a snug fit, too. 

Arc’teryx Thorium Xlong Parka – £600

£600 – arcteryx.com

If you’re after full cold-weather protection then the Thorium Xlong parka is about as good as they come. In usual Arc’teryx thoroughness, it’s a long-length parka with 750-fil goose down insulation which is both lightweight and heat-boosting. 

There’s some Coreloft synthetic insulation placed in those areas which are often prone to moisture, while the full nylon shell has been given a PFAS water-repellent treatment to stop the odd rain shower from ruining the fun. Plus, there are loads of pockets both inside and out to ensure you’re able to bring everything you need with you in this very practical winter coat.

Jack Wolfskin Winterlager Parka

 Currently £160 – jackwolfskin.co.uk

Of course, winter in the UK isn’t all crunchy leaves and bone-dry days – the rain does, at times, come in. That’s when this winter coat – the Winterlager Parka from Jack Wolfskin – could come into its own. It’s a waterproof winter coat cut in that iconic parka form, with its Texapore shell exterior helping to bring a high level of protection from the rain. 

But there are some more technical touches, too, including the Texatherm insulation and adjustable hood, hem and cuffs.