How to identify the best downcoat for your climate zone

Everyone needs outerwear who doesn’t live in the Tropics

Most people feel most comfortable in the temperature range of (9^oC to 24^oC). When wearing the right outerwear, i.e. the right insulation, one can stay outside for an extended amount of time feeling comfortable, i.e. not having the feeling of freezing to hypothermia.

Go for the insulation you need, not more

Down coats are a great way to create insulation when they are well done. The thin air layers between the downs and the pieces of a down hinder the exchange of your body heat with the cold ambient air. This is because air is a bad conductor for heat or in other words, a thin air layer is a good insulator. More downs packed loosely mean a thicker insolation than few down. Like with houses, this insulation should be chosen with the climate of your region in mind. You won’t add the insulation needed for a 5 star energy rated house in Fairbanks, when in your house is in Athen, Georgia, for instance!

But what is the right insulation you need for a downcoat in your region?

Best insulation depends on more than just temperature

Whether you will feel comfortable or uncomfortable outside depends on more factors than just the temperature. Relative humidity, the wind and the clothing you wear also affect your thermal comfort level. This means when investing in a downcoat for staying warm in winter you shouldn’t just buy any downcoat, but the right one for the typical winter weather of your region.

In winter, wind can make the air feel much colder than it actually is. This phenomenon is called wind chill. To stay comfortable you need outerwear that is chosen with the typical wind chill of your region in mind, instead of just the typical temperature range. You can use the wind chill table below to find what the air in your region feels like for the typical temperature and wind speed range of your region. When you just moved there, just call your local National Weather Service office and ask.

Like high relative humidity makes hot summer days to uncomfortable dog days, high relative humidity makes you feel uncomfortable at the lower temperature range too.

In other words, a fashionista in northern California is best served with a light downcoat suitable for temperatures down to 30F in the midst of winter, while a fashionista up in the Great Lakes area would wear this piece in fall prior to the first snow. This fact doesn’t mean that when the Great Lake area fashionista shouldn’t buy a 30F rated coat. She just must be aware that it’s a perfect fall coat for her, and she needs another one or has to apply layering to stay warm when the Polar Vortex hits. Actually, she needs both coats.

Wearing outerwear that provides too much insolation, namely leads to sweating and hence cooling. She is lucky when she only catches a cold when wearing the wrong coat. Thus, having another jacket with less insulation in addition to that one for the very frigid weather, is in her advantage regarding her health.

Note that local topography can lead to wind channeling; close-by lakes may lead to a milder climate in fall than areas farther away.

… before I forget. At 40 below freezing the weather isn’t great for a bikini look.

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