<p>My other thread asking for suggestions for warm winter coats got pretty long, so rather than top it, I thought I’d just start a new thread to ask a couple of questions.</p>
<p>Northface and Columbia seem to have very similar products. The Northface version costs $400 and the Columbia version costs $200. Is this an issue of getting what you pay for, or would I just be paying a premium for the very popular Northface brand?</p>
<p>At the reviews of the Columbia Whirlibird say it runs very small. Does that mean that if I’d normally buy a small I should buy a medium, or should I buy a large?</p>
<p>I think around here in the Northeast, that Northface has “status” & so the younger people desire them! My children seem to desire Northface. We own L.L. Bean, Land’s End, Columbia, Northface outerwear & I really can’t tell the difference in keeping warm.
I will comment however, that when an L.L. Bean jacket or vest gets a broken zipper, I have had it replaced with same or similiar jacket at no cost to us!</p>
<p>If there is a Dick’s Sporting Goods near you, they carry both brands. You can go in and check them out. I can never tell squat from catalog descriptions!</p>
<p>It is for you? If you like the look of the Columbia jacket (color, fabric, etc.) I would go with that and save the $$$. I also think the popularity is more of a status thing rather than a quality issue.</p>
<p>MP, if I was buying the jacket for myself, I’d go with the Columbia. If I was buying it for S or D, I’d go with the Northface. Spending $$ on the Columbia brand for one of them, no matter how high the quality, would simply mean $$ down the drain. It would never be worn. I have learned this lesson the hard way!</p>
<p>Missypie, if you are looking for a down filled coat, my choice is neither. Google Geox coats - they are amazing, and the air vent WORKS. If my iPhone lets me, I will post a link. They cost $270 (without sale).</p>
<p>LOL, my original thread was that I was looking for a warm coat that is not down. Down does nothing for me. I guess down is supposed to trap body heat and since I have none, I can wear a down coat indoors and be freezing.</p>
<p>I would go for Columbia. If you would be looking cloths for the extreme use, Northface would certainly be a better choice (though there are other even better ones) but that difference doesn’t really go to their street cloth lines. There may still be some quality difference between the two but certainly not as much as price suggests.</p>
<p>We have used Columbia here in the bitter cold for years and been very happy with the Columbia brand. They have great customer service and have always replaced jackets that have had broken zippers. H and I both have Columbia but D1 and D2 have switched to North Face due to the “it” factor. ;)</p>
<p>The one complaint that I have about Columbia is that they are made in China. The equivalent North Face items were made in Vietnam and Honduras. We try hard not to purchase items made in China if we can help it. But fit-wise, the Columbia 3-in-1 jacket that I tried on fit the same as a similar North Face 3-in-1. One thing I like better about the Columbia was the sleeves felt a little roomier. Bear in mind that I am in South Florida, so our selection is not very good.</p>
<p>Columbia is the high quality name brand winter and outdoor sportswear brand. North Face is the high quality “designer brand” winter and outdoor sportswear brand. Both make excellent winter and outdoor sportswear. This stuff is all made in the same Chinese factories. It’s like running shoes. They all have their buzzwords and styling, but a Nike is the same as an Adidas and so forth in terms of product quality.</p>
<p>For sizing, I don’t know about where you live, but here in New England, you could walk into any Kohl’s or Macy’s and find Columbia jackets to try on. You could also find them in Marshalls and TJ Maxx. They seem to run pretty much standard size, at least for men. I have two – a heavy 3-in-1 winter parka and a new lighweight cotton casual unlined khaki jacket. Both fit like any other “LARGE” men’s size jacket with enough room to wear them over a sweater or fleece layer (although the parka is so warm, I have to wear it over just a long-sleeve shirt or I roast if I’m doing anything physical like running the snow blower.</p>
<p>I think that is actually correct. I have some of their hiking pants/shorts & they fit really well.
I also have columbia clothes- but TNF fits me better & I think their fleece is denser.
I am thinking of getting a denali hoodie.
( I bought an obermeyer ski jacket last year & it just isn’t very warm- stylish- but not warm & the white accents get dirty 20 min after I take it out of the dryer)</p>
<p>I am a HUGE fan of Columbia (tho I also like North Face & other brands). I had a Columbia parka I bought over 10 years ago. The waterproof lining was starting to shred & shed. I called their toll-free number & they told me that shouldn’t happen, so could I please send it back & they’d replace it with the jacket of my choice. I sent it in a USPS flatrate box & then they helped me select a replacement. They gave me several options for color & style. They also helped me select the correct size. I am delighted with the replacement jacket that keeps me nice & toasty. It has their new thermal shield lining (or whatever it’s called) that helps reflect heat to keep you warmer with less bulk. Mine is a 3-in-1 jacket. If we had stores that carried their products, I could have tried them on, but I couldn’t find any stores that carried the 3-in-1 product I wanted in HI.</p>
<p>My 10 year old jacket was a small & it ran large (I had lots of room for LOTS of layering under it). The current jacket is a medium and more fitted–still have room for some layering.</p>
<p>I highly recommend Columbia, for their customer service alone! I have other Columbia technical jackets & vests and have been very happy with their products.</p>
<p>Okay everyone, I’m going to order from Columbia. (Also found a code for 10% off and free shipping.) If this coat doesn’t keep me warm in Texas I’m going to have to brush up on my Spanish and move to Costa Rica!</p>
<p>I still have my eye on the lovely dress coat from J Crew that someone suggested but I’m hoping for a sale.</p>
<p>Are you getting the one with the thermal/silver lining? It may be my imagination, but it really does seem to keep me warmer than any jacket I’ve had before. Which model are you getting? Good find on the extra discount & free shipping!</p>
<p>After I posted about the J Crew coat I checked their website and they are offering 25% off and free shipping (a savings of $105 on my coat), so I ordered that one, too.</p>
I have some of their hiking pants/shorts & they fit really well.
:</p>