Happy Monday Friends! It was a fun weekend over here. We went to our friends’ 5th Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Bar Crawl on Friday. And then on Saturday, we got brunch with Chris’s work friends + their significant others at Hutch, drinks at Green Door Tavern, and then pizza and meatballs at Victory Tap. Yesterday, we were going to go look at paint colors for new condo #2, but it was raining (we were going to walk to Home Depot) so we just stayed indoors all day and watched football. I made savory pancakes with flour, water, egg, and olive oil, and topped them with mashed avocado, salt, and garlic powder. They were so good!
Today, I wanted to talk to you guys about Canada Goose coats (not sponsored). Last year, I briefly talked about it in this post. Is a Canada Goose coat worth it? It seems like the city of Chicago thinks so. This morning, I was at a stop light, and every single person waiting with me was wearing a Canada Goose, including myself! I actually own two, this one and this one. You might think I’d automatically say yes, definitely get one! But not necessarily!
Who should consider getting a Canada Goose coat
If you live in the Midwest (or anywhere that is consistently 20 degrees or lower for most of the winter) and need to spend time outdoors, you should consider it. If you drive mostly, you might not need one, but you commute to work on the train, bus, or walk, it’s probably a good idea. Sometimes I see people in the South wearing them, and I think…well you still look cute, but it’s 45 degrees…aren’t you burning up in your coat?
Why I Invested in Canada Goose
I have both a Canada Goose parka, which I’ve had for 4 winters so far, and a Canada Goose puffer coat that I’ve had for 2 winters. My parka is the Whistler, which currently appears to be sold out in most places – no worries, I think they’ll restock soon. I like it because it’s knee-length, and has a belt, which adds a more flattering shape. My puffer is this one…it comes in several colors. I almost wish I got the dark green!
For me, I invested in Canada Goose because I live in downtown Chicago and I walk almost 4 miles to and from work M-F. First, there isn’t a super convenient train/bus that gets me to work. But I can walk in 35-40 minutes. (If I take the bus or train, it’ll take at least 30 minutes). Plus, I’m bad about working out, so at least it’s mandatory exercise for me. But it gets REALLY cold walking outside for 40 minutes…especially when it’s in the negatives! So I definitely thought it would be wise to invest in high quality, warm coats…which have definitely paid for themselves several times over since I don’t need to spend over $100 a month on a CTA (bus/train) pass!
Chris has a Canada Goose parka as well, since he also either walks or bikes 2 miles to and from work everyday. He likes his parka because of the length…so many mens’ coats are pretty short, and he says a few extra inches of length keeps him warmer. When he’s not wearing it, he wears a The North Face coat that goes to his waist.
Why I have two Canada goose coats
To be entirely honest, most people probably don’t need both. And I don’t know that I NEED both either. But I do like having BOTH a parka and a puffer. The parka is WARM. Really really warm. But it’s also heavy. I do love how light and easy-to-wear my puffer is (it weighs practically nothing). Last year, we were in Europe around Christmas/New Year. I brought my puffer since we were going to be outside sightseeing a lot – it was so easy to travel with, and it’s machine washable (the parka is not).
Canada Goose gives each of its coats a Thermal Experience Index (TEI), which tells you what temperature range each coat is good for. As a general “rule,” when it’s under 35 degrees, I wear my puffer with TEI 2 (Canada Goose says it’s good for as low as 5 degrees…I think that would be doable if it was a little longer). When it’s under 20 degrees, I wear my parka with TEI 4 (it’s good for as low as -13 degrees). Or, if I know I’m going to be outside for a extended period of time, I wear my parka. If I’m running a quick errand, I grab my puffer, again because it’s so light and easy to throw on.
So far this season, I’ve been exclusively wearing my puffer. This is mostly because I’ve been feeling warmer than usual due to my pregnancy, and the fact that I already feel heavier and more…sluggish, so it just feels better wearing a coat with barely any weight to it.
Which one you should get
If you’re going to get one, I’d recommend the parka, because there’s nothing else out there like it. I love love love my puffer, but there are other brands that make great puffers.
If you get a parka, I’d highly suggest one that at least covers your butt, ideally your thighs. And look at the TEI rating. Canada Goose makes adorable waist length parkas, but I really don’t think they’re practical. Your upper body will be toasty, but your legs will be FREEZING. Overall, you won’t be all that warm, and you’ve be better off with a longer coat that’s 1/7 of the price.
The most popular parkas that I see on other women are the Shelburne, the Victoria, and the Kensington, and the Rossclair…they all have a TEI 3, which is good until -5 degrees. The Trillium is also popular, and has a TEI 4. I originally order the Mystique, which has a TEI 5 (the warmest rating, and good for -22 degrees) but it goes almost down to your ankles, and I figured it would be too hard to walk in.
If you are just getting one coat, I think a TEI 3 is a good choice. I see people leaving their coats on in stores, but I have to unzip or take mine off immediately (TEI 4) when I go indoors or else I get hot.
So anyways, learn from me and rather than getting two coats, with TEI 2 and TEI 4, get just one coat with TEI 3?
What if Canada Goose is not in my price range?
I don’t have any experience with Patagonia or Columbia, but I’ve had several The North Face coats that I love. I’ve owned both the Metropolis and the ThermoBall. They’re both great winter coats, and I wore them for years prior to getting my Canada Goose coats.
Other thoughts
My friend told me that she’d like a Canada Goose coat, but she doesn’t like that the parkas have a fur lining around the hood. I honestly never thought about that when I purchased my parka, oops, even though I only wear faux furs. But Canada Goose just came out with a bunch of puffers and parkas without fur on the hood.
Do they go on sale?
Rarely…often when retailers have a storewide discount code, Canada Goose is excluded. I think one time, I saw it included in a Shopbop sale. I think your best bet is when Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, or Saks does their gift card program…spend X amount and then get a gift card back X amount on your next purchase. Or when Nordstrom does their extra point days (going on now!). You can also look into places like MooseJaw or Backcountry…they sometimes offer 10% off or so for your first order, and depending on the state you live in, won’t charge tax.
Hope this was informative for you guys! Let me know if you have any questions! You can check out more posts featuring my Canada Goose coats here and here.
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