Not sure if you’ve noticed or not, but it’s gone cold. Properly, properly cold. Baltic. Frabs. Brick. Brass, whatever you want to call it, the temperature has seriously plummeted. The BBC are referring to the whole thing as a ‘cold snap‘ – not entirely sure what that means, but we’re assuming it’s referencing the sudden drop.
And this ‘cold snap‘ has certainly separated the men from the boys. Walking down the frozen High Street, you’ll currently see two types of people – the prepared, with their nice big coats and sturdy boots, and the not-prepared, who have bundled on four jumpers and three hoodies in an attempt not to catch hypothermia.
Everyone in the Proper office sits firmly in the first camp – our chairs look like they could be in a ski chalet, given the amount of foul-weather garments currently hung on them – but we do have a small amount of sympathy for that second group of people. So as a gesture of goodwill, we’ve quickly compiled a list of six jackets to help the ill-prepared beat the big freeze.
Montbell 50th Anniversary Mont Blanc Jacket
For Montbell’s 50th anniversary, they’re reimagining a load of retro garments, and this Mont Blanc Jacket is one of them. We’re decidedly big fans of the heritage styling, especially the beautifully wide baffles, detachable hood, ribbed cuffs and billowed front patch pockets. A near-perfect piece of outerwear in our eyes.
Stan Ray Rainproof Down Jacket
This Stan Ray jacket was directly influenced by the garb worn for the shooting of The Deer Hunter. And if you know anything about the film, you’ll know that this adds a wealth of foul-weather credibility. Cinematic references aside, this is a beautiful coat, and the alpine green colour is sublime.
KHAKIS Camper Hooded Down Jacket
Everything on this KHAKIS down jacket is choice. The colour. The sheen. The metal press stud buttons on the cuffs. Quite possibly one of the classiest-looking down jackets we’ve seen in a hot minute. The only issue is, you’ll want to continue wearing it long after the temperatures have ‘snapped’ back to normal.
TAION Packable Down Volume Hooded Jacket
If you want a down jacket to reach for year after year, make your way over to Taion. They’re masters of the craft, and you couldn’t be in safer hands when it comes to quality down outerwear. This version of their classic down jacket has everything you need, and nothing you don’t. Lovely square baffles, spacious pockets and a hood.
Montane Anti Freeze Down Jacket
What better way is there to beat the big freeze than by suiting up in Montane’s Anti Freeze jacket? That name isn’t just marketing, either; this jacket’s 800FP down insulation delivers serious warmth, even when the temperature is set to plummet way past freezing.
Rab’s Kinder smock has been keeping climbers warm for decades, and this Gramicci collab version looks absolutely mustard. Heritage notes, a deep blue colour, big pockets and that classic smock construction we can never get enough of.
