The best technical outerwear. Whether ice climbing on slopes in the Alps or just driving to work in the rain, knowing that your jacket was made for the first will give you peace of mind. Every man should have some specialized outerwear, and there are more than ever these days.
Classic clothing may look good, but what would you rather wear, a suede jacket or a Gore-Tex hardshell on your morning run when it rains? These performance clothes are carefully made to keep out water, wind, and cold temps. Because of this, they don’t usually come cheap. That’s why it’s essential to pick a name you can trust before spending any money.
Here’s everything you need to know about parkas that are good for the Arctic and fancy rain gear.
WHAT DOES TECHNICAL OUTERWEAR MEAN?
“Technical outerwear” doesn’t mean that light-up jacket David Hasselhoff wore when he appeared at the fall of the Berlin Wall for no apparent reason. In this case, we’re talking about outerwear made with new fabrics and simple building methods to do a specific job.
These clothes are made with textile science to get the job done and put efficiency above all else. A down-filled parka, a waterproof windbreaker, and an insulating fleece. This kind of gear is made in a lab, not a design shop.
However, this stuff is excellent at getting rid of sweat, protecting you from high temperatures, and keeping you dry, but until recently, it wasn’t made with style in mind. This makes me wonder why a man who cares about style would buy one.
Technical clothing has been climbing out of the mountains and into the fashion spotlight over the past few years, so the answer is clear. People have a newfound love for design that’s not just about looks and a focus on utility gear.
At some point, clothes for being outside became cool. What this means is that a technical jacket will not only keep you warm and dry, but it will also protect your style.
IMPORTANT STYLES OF TECHNICAL OUTERWEAR
HARDSHELL JACKET
A hardshell jacket keeps you dry on the outside. The idea behind it is to keep rain out without keeping water inside. The fabric of a technical hardshell makes it work, while some coats do this with ventilation zips.
Many people think Gore-Tex is the best, but most outdoor brands have material that works just as well. It’s light, breathable, and waterproof, and the best models from almost every brand are made from it.
SOFTSHELL JACKET
Softshell clothing is warm, comfortable, and stretchy. It won’t completely block out the rain but will keep the wind at bay.
Softshell material wicks sweat away from the skin and lets it breathe. It’s popular with mountain climbers, bikers, and others who like being outside. This means it’s not waterproof, but many softshell jackets have a DWR layer that makes light rain less likely to get through.
TECHNICAL DOWN PARKA
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Polar travelers have worn down parkas since the first time they set foot on the polar ice caps for a reason. Things have changed a lot since then, though.
This is the natural “big coat.” The best parka will keep you warm in -30 °C weather with just a T-shirt underneath. You can take it wherever you go; newer versions have been improved to be more waterproof. We’re talking about everything from waterproof membranes to avalanche rescue trackers.
It’s nice to know that everything is there in case you need it, even if you just want to pick up some food.
THE BEST BRANDS FOR TECHNICAL OUTERWEAR
THE NORTH FACE
The North Face, based in California, is the most famous outdoor brand in the world. Since the 1960s, it has outfitted mountain climbers, explorers, and, more lately, many people in east London. TNF has everything from Gore-Tex hard shells to down parkas that are good for Everest.
For people who like their technical clothing with a streetwear twist, they’ve even worked with brands like Supreme and Nanamica for a long time.
ARC’TERYX
Many think the Canadian outdoor brand Arc’teryx is the best and most expensive. It’s okay because the name is built better than any other. For example, Arc’teryx’s lamination technology is light years ahead. It lets fabrics stick together without any stitches, making it completely smooth.
It’s also the source of some of the most critical innovations in the business, like waterproof buttons.
HAGLÖFS
You can say what you want about the Swedes, but they know how to wear a heavy coat. Still not sure? Look at the creative sewing and razor-sharp cuts that Haglofs is known for.
The shell jackets even have their PROOF technology, which works better than most other brands and are made from recycled or Bluesign-approved materials. That sounds like a great way to stay dry and help the environment.
C.P. COMPANY
C.P. Company is one of the best-known names if you want to buy technical outerwear. There are modern takes on parkas, like the famous Mille Miglia jacket, with goggles built into the hood. The brand’s many jackets and coats also have military-inspired details.
STONE ISLAND
Around the same time C.P. Company did, Stone Island became popular among football casuals in the U.K. in the 1990s and gained a cult following. Massimo Osti started both brands, so it makes sense that some of their designs and use of technical fabric, which has become a trademark for both, are similar.
PATAGONIA
Patagonia is the brand of choice for those skinny spider people you see doing weird stretches at the local gym. They make durable, good-looking gear. If you buy your coat here, it might even last longer than you do, thanks to the brand’s Worn Wear project, which fixes up and reuses old clothes to cut down on waste.
Pay less for Patagonia’s H2No fabric instead of the normal waterproof options. It has a funny name, but it will save you some money.
BERGHAUS
Plenty of people think that Geordies don’t like to wear coats. The people who sign up for it probably haven’t heard of Berghaus. This outdoor brand’s technical outerwear has made the northeast of England famous for climbing for over 50 years. You can count on rugged construction, lots of Gore-Tex, and a lifetime warranty.
FJÄLLRÄVEN
Fjallraven is known for its boxy backpacks, but the G-1000 fabric they’re made from makes them stand out. This is more proof that Sweden loves raincoats. Most of the brand’s clothing is made of this breathable cotton material, which can be waxed at home to make it less likely to get wet.
The gear style is classic, with retro leather details and old-school hardware leading over cutting-edge tech. If it’s not broken…
CANADA GOOSE
And when it comes to down parkas, Canada Goose is the best. These winter-proof technical jackets are the coats of choice for people who live and work in the Arctic. They can keep the heat and cold out in the worst conditions.
If you want to know more about the brand’s use of fur, you might want to read up on that before you spend over a thousand dollars on one.
WOOLRICH
For parkas and down coats that will last a lifetime, Woolrich is the brand to go to. It is known for using technical fabrics in classic designs. You can expect new details and coats that can be worn in different ways, like the 3-in-1 parka, which has a long jacket and a gilet that zips into it and can be worn alone or together.
