We Tested Dozens of Women's Winter Coats and Jackets — These Are the 13 Best - PEOPLE

Winter jackets are a must-have item in your wardrobe. But, unlike sweaters and sweatshirts, you typically don't have dozens of them hanging up in your coat closet, so you want to ensure the ones that are hanging up are the crème de la crème of outerwear, or at least ultra-warm and durable enough to last you several seasons. And, of course, style is also key, since it's typically the most visible item in a winter ensemble. 

"Whether dressed up or down, a winter coat can be the perfect fashion finishing piece," says Christina Petry, a stylist and owner of Red Carpet Ready Personal Styling. "No matter what your lifestyle is, a great winter coat is essential," she adds, noting that a stylish coat can tie together an entire look. That said, winter coats are also about so much more than style — they need to be ultra-functional, too. With that in mind, we set out to find the best women's winter coats and tested dozens of styles so that you don't have to. 

Since winter coats require a layer (or two) of functionality, we were ultra-picky about the overall quality of the jackets and coats we tested, and carefully looked at comfort, fit, durability (especially in the zippers and hardware), and how easy they are to layer since many of us wear multiple layers underneath our winter coats. As a result, we curated a list of the 13 best women's winter jackets and coats, ranging from budget-friendly to investment-worthy, and everything in between.

Amazon

Pros

• The long, thick coat is super warm, with a fleece-lined hood for extra warmth.

• It's one of the least expensive coats on our list.

• It has lots of internal and external pockets that can hold our phone, keys, wallet, and more.

• It features a great size range of up to 5X.

Cons

• This coat hits at around mid-thigh, so if you prefer a shorter cut then you may not like this style.

• It runs small, so size up if you plan to layer underneath.

Our top pick for the best women's winter coat is the Orolay Thickened Down Coat, which has a huge fan base on social media (and is also one of Oprah's favorites). The viral Amazon jacket is most loved for its style, fit, warmth, and price tag — and we couldn't agree more. The jacket is ultra-comfortable and can withstand cold winters, keeping you just as warm as its luxury counterparts. The jacket is on the longer side, so if you prefer short winter jackets, it might not be the best option for you, but it's not super long making it a good in-between style. In addition to its extreme warmth, we are obsessed with all of the pockets, which make it a very convenient piece of outerwear, considering it can keep us warm and hold all of our essentials.

While we adore every aspect of this jacket, we do recommend sizing up as it can fit a bit snugly, especially when layered over chunky knit sweaters. For less restriction or a more oversized look, going up a size makes this jacket even better. 

Size Range: XXS-5X | Material: Polyester | Colors: Black, beige, gray, green, green with fur trim, navy, navy with fur trim, yellow, red, and more

Amazon

Pros

• It's one of the warmest coats we tried, thanks to a fluffy down-filling, yet controls temperatures inside so we didn't break a sweat.

• It's very reasonably priced for a real down jacket compared to others on the market.

• It's versatile with lots of color options available.

Cons

• The thick, long coat is slightly slim in cut, so it's not as easy to layer over chunky sweaters.

• It's not the most fashion-forward option on our list.

You don't need to spend a lot of money to score an amazing (and ultra-warm) winter coat. The Lands' End Women's Down Winter Coat — which is conveniently available on Amazon — costs around $100 and is one of the warmest coats on our list. While it's not the most fashion-forward jacket, we found that it is the most versatile, and is easy to wear and incredibly functional, thanks to how well it keeps the body warm. During testing, we wore this coat in a frigid, wet climate and were pleasantly surprised by how well it held up and protected us from the cold. But, more than that, we were impressed by its temperature control, keeping us nice and warm outside without making us feel sweaty and overheated once stepping back inside away from the cold.

Since the jacket is on the fitted side of the spectrum, we don't recommend it as a layering piece when wearing chunky knit sweaters; however, it works well when worn over a turtleneck shirt.

Size Range: XS-3X, petite sizes available | Material: Polyester | Colors: Forest moss, rubellite, royal cobalt, rich red, spotted leopard, deep sea navy, verbena, dark stone heather, black

Vuori

Winter coats don't need to be bulky to keep you warm and toasty — and the Vuori Meysan Down Jacket is proof. The unisex jacket is lightweight and sleek, padded with responsibly sourced down-fill. The fit of the jacket is oversized enough to fit layers under it, but we actually found it so shockingly warm that we didn't need to wear anything under it, even while walking the dog in freezing temperatures. 

The coat features two hand pockets at the side, one breast pocket, and an interior chest pocket that's great for things like keys and cards. The zipper feels super durable and well-made, and it also has elastic cuffs and a toggle hem if you want to wear it more fitted around the waist/hips or trap out any cold that could seep in from underneath. 

This lightweight yet incredibly warm jacket instantly became our go-to coat for walking the dog, hiking, and any other outdoor exercise-oriented activities where we'd need something lightweight and compact. 

Size Range: S-XXL | Material: Recycled polyamide, elastane, down-fill | Colors: Ink, charcoal, balsam

Dick's Sporting Goods

Pros

• The synthetic down-filled coat is soft and warm without being too bulky, thanks to a heat-reflective lining.

• It's lightweight and smushy enough to pack down small, making this a great option to pack for a trip.

• It's reasonably priced for a high-quality long jacket compared to others on the market.

Cons

• We wish this coat had some sort of waist-flattering option, like a belt or adjustable bungee cord around the middle, but that's not a deal breaker for us.

We've tested a lot of down winter coats (upwards of 25), and the Joy Peak jacket from Columbia is one of the very best we've tried. The jacket is surprisingly slim-cut, thanks to a heat-reflective lining that kept us warm and toasty without the extra bulk of a traditional puffer. The jacket goes down to mid-thigh, which helps protect more of your body against the winter elements. 

The down-filled parka is surprisingly lightweight, which was especially helpful when we took off the coat indoors and found it easy to carry around when we weren't wearing it. It runs true-to-size and comes in a slew of neutral and bright colors to compliment anyone's taste. The only thing we'd change about the Joy Peak coat is having a bungee cord around the waist so that we could customize the fit to be tighter on the waistline. Overall, we think this is a great everyday coat for those who live in both cold and mild climates.

Size Range: XS-3X | Material: Nylon, polyester, fleece | Colors: Dark sapphire, aqua, beetroot, black, camel brown, chalk, city grey, dusty pink, marionberry, night wave, stone green, dark nocturnal, malbec, warm copper

Amazon

Pros

• This durable, water-resistant jacket is also machine washable.

• The jacket has extra-long sleeves, making it ideal for anyone with longer arms or someone who prefers a longer-sleeved coat.

• It features an Omni-Heat thermal lining for extra warmth, and synthetic downfill to keep you toasty.

If you're looking for a winter coat that is functional and comes in a good size range, our top pick is the Columbia Women's Suttle Mountain Long-Insulated Jacket. While it might not be ideal for everyone (especially those with petite frames), we found that this jacket has longer sleeves, which we require and have a hard time finding in quality winter coats. In addition to size, the fit of this jacket is amazing and is the perfect mix of thick and thin, making it easier to layer. Whether you want to wear just a simple long sleeve underneath or a chunky knit sweater, you can rest assured knowing you'll stay warm no matter what (and the jacket won't feel too bulky, as so many often do). 

Aside from its fit, the jacket is also impressively warm, thanks to its Omni-Heat thermal reflective lining, which traps in body heat. Because it is constructed with a synthetic down material, it retains its heat even in the rain, which is definitely a plus.

Size Range: XS-3X | Material: Polyester | Colors: Black, city grey, dark nocturnal, dark sapphire, marionberry, marsala red, olive green, peach blossom, red lily, chalk

Amazon

Pros

• This versatile winter coat is very warm and also doubles as a raincoat thanks to a waterproof outer shell.

• It comes with lots of features to ensure extra warmth, like a double zipper, faux-fur hood, and fleece-lined pockets.

After testing dozens of winter jacket styles, our top pick for the best faux-down winter coat is the Columbia Carson Pass Interchange 3-in-1 Jacket, which is available on Amazon. This jacket is supremely comfortable with a cozy interior liner and a faux fur trimmed hood that stays up easily, which is definitely not always true for some winter coat styles. When testing this jacket out, we tried layering it with everything from a t-shirt to a sweatshirt and found that it did a great job of keeping us warm, especially when we remembered to utilize the interior zipper, which is included as extra protection from the cold and works well as a first defense for retaining heat. Best of all, this coat isn't just "water resistant" like most other winter jackets we've tried — this one is waterproof, meaning it'll stay dry through rain or heavy snowfall. 

The double zipper isn't the only feature that impressed us. We also love the fleece-lined pockets, which do a phenomenal job of keeping our hands warm in frigid temperatures. The hood is also noteworthy as it not only stays in place but is also lined with extra cozy fleece fabric that adds a nice additional layer of warmth.

Size Range: XS-3XL | Material: Polyester and nylon | Colors: Beach, chalk, elk, flint grey, malbec, marionberry, mineral pink, olive green, red lily, velvet cove, beet, black cherry, camel brown

People / Maria Rowella

REI

Pros

• This jacket is superbly made with attention to detail, including thoughtful pocket placement and a fleece-lined collar.

• It kept us super warm and comfortable with a longer zipper that zips up to the neck.

Cons

• It's on the shorter side, which might not be ideal for everyone and every climate.

• It's one of the most expensive winter coats on our list.

If made well and from high-quality materials, winter coats can make for a great wardrobe investment. Our top pick for this category is the Fjallraven Nuuk Parka, which truly blew us away. The parka is super comfortable and fantastic for layering all different types of winter materials underneath, including thick sweaters and sweatshirts. While testing, we found that one of the best features of this jacket is the placement of the hand pockets, which are in a comfortable and convenient place that doesn't feel too low or too high. And, while it might not be a favorite for all, we loved the zipper, which zips all the way up the neck to keep the face warm. The collar is also fleece-lined so it feels comfortable even when fully zipped and touching the face. 

While $500 is steep for a winter coat, this jacket is stylish and functional enough to make that price worth it — especially for those who live where temperatures are frigid and a cheaper jacket just isn't going to cut it.

Size Range: XXS-2XL | Material: Recycled polyamide | Colors: Deep forest, black 

• People / Lydia Price

• People / Lydia Price

Uniqlo

Pros

• It's water-repellent and wind-resistant to keep you dry and warm in a multitude of weather conditions.

• It's a great value for a puffer coat compared to others on the market.

• It's lightweight despite being super warm.

With their beloved Heattech gear, Uniqlo knows a thing or two about keeping warm in winter weather. The Seamless Down Short Coat is our top pick for the best water-repellent jacket, because not only is it designed like a puffer coat with a cozy down filling to keep you warm, but it also features water-repellent and wind-resistant technology. After testing this jacket out, we were surprised at how lightweight the jacket felt despite the level of warmth it provides. The shorter length is also great for those who commute by foot, as it's a little easier to move around while keeping the upper body warm.

This jacket is essentially two-in-one, making it a fantastic choice for those who live in cold and rainy climates. We love it because, in addition to its function, it's also super sleek-looking and stylish, which isn't always true for a winter puffer. The jacket is most ideal for anyone looking for a jacket that is warm yet lightweight and can keep you dry in soggy weather.

Size Range: XXS-XXL | Material: Polyester and down | Colors: Black, light gray, blue

Triple F.A.T. Goose

Pros

• It features a stylish and functional design with lots of zippered pockets, including breast pockets.

• The incredibly warm parka is filled with 750-fill power-down insulation to keep you warm even in super-cold temperatures.

• It has a sleeker look compared to some of the others we tested.

If style and function are held equally in your winter coat search, the Triple F.A.T. Goose Fara Women's Puffer Down Jacket is a must-have for frigid temperatures. Although it is super cute for a winter jacket, it's actually highly functional with a down design, comfortable fit, and stylish silhouette. Designed specifically for cold spells, this jacket might actually be a little too warm if you're running errands or between outdoors and indoors regularly (which we would argue isn't necessarily the worst thing). The winter coat features a matte finish in stunning earth tones and features several pockets to keep the hands warm and belongings safe, including some breast pockets. Wearing this jacket felt a lot like wearing a cozy hooded sleeping bag, which we especially love for those horribly chilly days.

In addition to its comfort and warmth, the jacket also has some essential design features that impressed us and certainly contributed to its overall function: a high collar that is even warmer with the hood on, a great length that is not too long but not too s...