Short answer: Choose the cut by where you spend the winter day. For driving, cycling and being active, a jacket that comes to the waist or hips is suitable; for walking around town, public transport and waiting at a bus stop, choose a longer cut: a longer jacket, a parka or a winter coat. The names overlap, so look at the length, the hood and the drawcords, and remember that warmth is decided by the insulation and the particular model, not by the label.
Which cut suits driving, public transport, cycling and waiting at a bus stop?
The difference between the cuts shows more in an ordinary day than in the specifications. The ratings in the table are a rough guide and apply to usual lengths.
| Situation | Short jacket | Longer jacket | Parka | Winter coat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driving | comfortable, nothing gets in the way | good | good, smooth the hem out underneath you | less comfortable, the hem bunches up under the seat |
| Public transport and sitting | good, your back is exposed when seated | comfortable, covers your back | comfortable, covers your back and hips | covers your back, but takes up more room |
| Cycling | suitable, does not get in the way when pedalling | usable for a gentle ride | only for a gentle ride | not suitable, the hem gets in the way |
| Waiting at a bus stop | bottom and thighs stay uncovered | covers the bottom | covers the hips, the hood shields you from the wind | the most body coverage |
| Brisk walking and stairs | free stride | free stride | free stride if the hem ends at the thighs | the hem can restrict a long stride |
What matters more than the name is where the hem ends. The longer the cut, the more of the hips and thighs it covers, but the more it gets in the way when sitting and taking long strides.
What is the difference between a coat, a parka and a long jacket?
None of these names has a fixed definition. In practice they are used like this:
- A short jacket comes to the waist or hips. It gives the most freedom and suits anywhere you are on the move or sitting at the wheel.
- A long (extended) winter jacket comes down over the bottom. It is a compromise between warmth and freedom of movement.
- A parka is an insulated cut with a hood that reaches over the hips to the thighs and can often be drawn in at the waist or hem.
- A winter coat is usually the longest, reaching mid-thigh or lower, and need not have a hood.
Most NORDBLANC winter coats have a hood with a drawcord, so most of them come close to a parka. For a long winter jacket or a parka, therefore, look mainly in the collections women’s winter coats and men’s winter coats; shorter cuts tend to be among the women’s winter jackets and men’s winter jackets.
Does a longer cut keep you warmer?
Length alone does not add warmth, but it also covers the hips and thighs, so there is usually less draught when you stand in the wind. Warmth is determined by the particular model. According to the details on NORDBLANC products, the two categories differ as follows:
| Winter jackets | Winter coats | |
|---|---|---|
| Most common warmth rating | down to −10 °C | down to −20 °C |
| Other ratings | some models down to −20 °C, a few down to 0 °C | some models down to −10 °C, a few down models rated to −30 °C or lower |
| Water column | stated for only a smaller proportion of models, 3,000–20,000 mm | stated for most models, 5,000–15,000 mm, most often 10,000 mm |
| Intended use according to the product details | everyday wear, a few models also skiing or hiking | everyday wear |
Treat the warmth scale as a guide for comparing NORDBLANC models with one another. It is not suited to deciding whether down or synthetic insulation is warmer. You will find that in the comparison of down and synthetic jackets. Wind, damp and the layers under the jacket also affect how warm you feel, and above all whether you are standing still or moving. How to read the warmth rating is explained in the guide How to choose a winter jacket.
What about rain and wet snow with longer cuts?
A longer cut presents a larger area to the rain, so the water column in the table above and the finish of the zips and seams carry more weight than on a short jacket.
On coats with a TERATEX® membrane, the number in the name gives the water column. TERATEX® 5000 only repels water; from TERATEX® 10000 up, it is a waterproof material that copes with ordinary rain and wet snow. Down coats state neither a water column nor a membrane, and wet down loses loft, so choose them mainly for dry frost. You will find more about the figures in the guide on water column and breathability.
Which details should you look for in a longer cut?
- A hood with a drawcord. Most winter coats have one, and on some models it detaches. Tightened, it holds in the wind; a detachable hood can be taken off when you do not need it.
- A zip that opens from the bottom. A two-way zip or side zips are found on only some coats. They are handy in the car, when sitting and when taking long strides.
- A drawcord at the waist or hem. A longer cut without one flaps and lets in draughts; a drawcord adapts it to your figure and the wind.
- Inner shoulder straps. Some coats have them. You can sling the coat you have taken off over your back and keep your hands free, which is handy in a shop, a restaurant or on a train.
Features differ from model to model; you will find the list on the product page.
How do you check the right length before buying?
You will misjudge the length from a photograph, because it depends on your height and proportions. Try it in the situations you are buying the jacket for:
- Sit down. The hem must not dig into your thighs and the jacket must not pull across the shoulders.
- Step up on a stair or lean forward. The cut must not restrict your stride, and your back should stay covered.
- Reach into the pockets. They should be within reach even with the zip fastened.
You can work out your size from your chest measurement with the size charts. You can try the jacket on in our stores.
Which cut should you choose?
- Car, bike and lots of movement: a short or longer jacket from the collections women’s winter jackets and men’s winter jackets.
- Public transport, work and waiting outdoors: a longer jacket, parka or coat from the collections women’s winter coats and men’s winter coats.
- Skis, snowboard and sport: a ski jacket, see How to choose a ski jacket.
- Hard frost: add a layer under a longer cut, for example a baselayer.
Frequently asked questions
Can you drive in a winter coat?
You can, but a longer hem gathers under you and digs into your thighs. A zip that opens from the bottom helps, which only some NORDBLANC coats have, as does a cut that ends at the hips. In a bulky winter jacket, also check that the seat belt sits as close to your body as possible.
Is a winter coat or parka suitable for cycling?
For daily commuting, a short jacket to the waist or hips is more practical, as it does not get in the way when pedalling. A hip-length parka can be used for a gentle ride around town. A long winter coat is not suitable for cycling: the hem gets in the way when pedalling and can catch on the saddle.
Which cut is the most comfortable for everyday public transport?
A longer jacket or a parka reaching from the hips to the thighs. It covers your back when seated, shields you from the wind at the stop and does not take up as much room as a long coat. If you choose a coat, a zip that opens from the bottom and inner shoulder straps, which some models have, are useful on a crowded vehicle.
Is a winter coat suitable for hiking or skiing?
No. According to the product details, NORDBLANC winter coats are intended for everyday wear. For skiing, choose a ski jacket, which has a water column of 10,000–30,000 mm and usually a snow skirt and ventilation zips as well; for hiking, a shorter jacket.
What is a two-way zip on a winter coat for?
It can be opened from the top and from the bottom. You open the lower part when sitting, in the car or when taking long strides, and leave the upper part fastened so that there is no draught at the neck. Only some models have one; look for it in the features on the product page.