Columbia Suttle Mountain Long Jacket vs Barbour Winter Beadnell Waterproof

The Columbia Suttle Mountain Long is the warmer, more affordable-feeling pick for real cold: synthetic fill, fleece and faux fur lining, a loose fit for layering, and a two-way zip. The Barbour Winter Beadnell is a slimmer, more polished waterproof coat with a breathable membrane and tartan lining, but it is only lightly padded, so it suits mild winters and wet city days better than deep cold. Owners of long Columbia parkas tend to praise warmth for the money and note the loose cut; Barbour owners praise the finish and weatherproofing and warn it runs neat and is not a deep-winter coat.

• Choose the Columbia Suttle Mountain Long if you want a genuinely warm, roomy winter parka for hiking, skiing or cold commutes and you layer underneath.
• Choose the Barbour Winter Beadnell if you want a tailored, breathable waterproof coat for wet, mild winters and you value the tartan lining and clean look.