Helping you choose the right jacket.

It will surprise no one that jackets and coats come in a very wide variety for you to choose from. At Bill’s we can boil it down to 3 categories, WARM, WARMER and WARMEST.

WARM

We have a large selection of soft shell jackets from Marmot, The Northface, Mountain Hardwear, and Columbia. These jackets are just what the name implies, soft supple outer shells with a variety of linings. Some are simply “shells” no lining at all, that give you the equivalent of an extra layer of clothing. Some of these “shells” may be waterproof, but most are water resistant (still a good value for most typical New Jersey weather patterns). Many are simply a polar fleece fabric, turned inside out, in essence, putting the pile side close to your body and the laminated backing outside, facing the weather. The main benefit is increased warmth and very light weight, with possible weatherproofing, depending on the brand.

WARMER

Taking it up a notch, we have a large selection of “component” jackets, the traditional pieces where you can zip in, and out, the linings. There are a variety of linings, some warmer than others (Primaloft linings, for example, are exceptionally warm, where as polyester or polar fleece linings are just average). These are warmer jackets than the soft shell pieces, warmer by a great deal, making them good for what ever winter has thrown at you. The outer shells of the ones we purchase are waterproof,so one can also zip out the lining and wear it as a rain coat in the spring and fall, making it a truly versatile piece. We sell these coats and jackets from The Northface primarily, but also Columbia, and White Sierra.

Fixed insulation jackets are also considered “warmer”. As the name implies, these are pieces where the insulation is attached to the body of the jacket and can not be removed. This provides the wearer with similar amounts warmth. You can find jackets and coats from Carhartt, Columbia, and some pieces from The Northface constructed in this fashion. Of particular interest this year have been hybrid soft shell jackets, like those described above, but with fixed insulation. Some are also waterproof. W expect these lined soft shell jackets to be the best sellers this season, if results so far continue the rest of the season

Old school, army navy store staples such as Pea coats would fall into this category also. We sell pea coats made from 32 ounce Melton wool, the heaviest and warmest stuff going. Our supplier contracts with the military and we buy the same exact thing the armed forces get. You will get twice the coat for half the price at an army navy store, rather than buying some fashionable piece that looks sort of like a pea coat, from a department store, all the wile having an iconic piece of sportswear that will serves its purposes for a long time. They are so popular we sell them all year long.

WARMEST

We are constantly asked “What’s the warmest jacket or coat you sell?. The real answer of course depends on how active you are. A hunter sitting in a duck blind, not moving much, needs a completely different jacket to stay warm, than a skier, for example. Why? Because one is very active, burning calories and generating a lot of body heat, while the other is sedentary, and most likely consuming a lot of calories, waiting for his prey. In either example, remember, you are the heater, the jackets are only trapping your body heat, and they do that in various fashions. That being said, Down parkas and “bubble” jackets are they ones that have the best thermal abilities. Jackets like the Nuptse, or McMurdo Down Parka from The Northface, or the Sub Zero from Mountain Hardwear, are coats with cold weather heritage. Designed for maximum warmth, and with you layered properly underneath, you will undoubtedly be warmer with these options. A very close jacket to those would also be the Paradigm Insulated jacket from The Northface, as it is filled with a “synthetic” down, called Primaloft. It is remarkably warm for its weight, much lighter and much les lofty than down, yet equally warm. And any hint your body gives that its creating any warmth will be trapped and reflected back to keep you warm. Marry that with a waterproof outer shell and you have the most weatherproof and warm item in the store.

In all three classes from above, we can help outfit, men, women, and especially kids, for the coming seasons. Whether you out for a fun winter adventure or simply walking the dog after dark in January, we will keep you warm. Just let us help you with our knowledge on the fabrics and uses for each of the hundreds of jackets and coats we sell.