Best men's winter jackets

Top pick: Patagonia Jackson Glacier. Recycled 700-fill down in a tough recycled-polyester shell — genuinely warm, light enough to wear all day, and the most balanced cold-weather coat here for city winters and weekend walks.

Who the others suit:

• Fjällräven Nuuk Parka — long, thigh-covering and rated to a 10,000 mm water column: the one for wet, windy, properly freezing days.
• Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka — a down liner and shell that zip apart, so it covers fall through deep winter and works as a rain jacket alone.
• The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse — the lightest and most packable, best for milder winters or layering under something else.
• 686 Hydra Thermagraph — fully waterproof and breathable, built for snow and resort days rather than the commute.
• Mountain Hardwear First Tracks — a lighter synthetic insulated jacket for active use and shoulder seasons.

Skip the no-name fleece-lined bargains: thin insulation, weak ratings, and shipping that eats the saving.