Outerwear & Layers

Jackets, coats and the layering pieces between them, compared by warmth, weight and how they sit over a shirt.

5 guides

A knee-length wool overcoat shown from the side against a plain wall

Overcoat Length and Proportion: Where the Hem Should Fall and Why

Above the knee, at the knee, below it: what each overcoat length does to a silhouette, how height changes the answer, and where lapels and buttons fit in.

Updated Sep 26, 2026

Three folded jackets of different weights stacked on a bench

A Three-Jacket System for 40 to 70 Degrees: Bands, Sizing, and the Middle Layer

Updated Sep 26, 2026

A waterproof shell jacket hanging against a wet background

How to Layer Under a Rain Shell Without Overheating

Updated Sep 26, 2026

Close view of quilted jacket baffles with insulation visible through the fabric

Down Versus Synthetic Insulation: What Fill Power Measures and What It Doesn't

Updated Sep 24, 2026

A folded waterproof shell jacket beside an open day bag

Packable Rain Jackets: Packed Size, Waterproof Ratings, and the Venting Trade-Off

Updated Sep 25, 2026