Outerwear & Layers

Jackets, coats and the layering pieces between them, compared by warmth, weight and how they sit over a shirt.

9 guides

A man in a dark green waxed cotton jacket standing among trees in a field

Waxed Cotton Stiffens in the Cold, and That Is the Point

A waxed jacket is not a rain shell. How the wax finish behaves at 35°F, what it does to fit through the shoulders, and when re-waxing is worth the tin.

Updated Oct 18, 2026

Two people in hooded rain jackets looking out over water in heavy rain

Windproof and Waterproof Are Not the Same Claim

Updated Oct 17, 2026

A rail of jackets in different weights, with a soft fleece hanging at one end

Fleece Is Sold by Weight, and the Number Is in the Name

Updated Oct 16, 2026

A close-up of hands zipping up the front zip of a dark technical outdoor jacket

Zipper Types Explained: Coil, Metal, and What the Number Means

Updated Oct 10, 2026

A knee-length wool overcoat shown from the side against a plain wall

Overcoat Length and Proportion: Where the Hem Should Fall and Why

Updated Sep 26, 2026

Three folded jackets of different weights stacked on a bench

A Three-Jacket System for 40 to 70 Degrees: Bands, Sizing, and the Middle Layer

Updated Sep 26, 2026

A waterproof shell jacket hanging against a wet background

How to Layer Under a Rain Shell Without Overheating

Updated Sep 26, 2026

Close view of quilted jacket baffles with insulation visible through the fabric

Down Versus Synthetic Insulation: What Fill Power Measures and What It Doesn't

Updated Sep 24, 2026

A folded waterproof shell jacket beside an open day bag

Packable Rain Jackets: Packed Size, Waterproof Ratings, and the Venting Trade-Off

Updated Sep 25, 2026