Hi, winter is coming up (well, not quite yet but anyway...)

I'm wondering if I should get myself a classic navy pea coat. I happen to be tall and slim and the double breast feature would flatter this (making me appear broader). It seems it's very warm for winter while being more dressy than a nylon sport coat such as The North Face. Should I go with a fashion pea coat or an authentic military surplus 30oz melton wool? What should I know about pea coats before buying one? What are the best manufacturers? Any other interesting facts about pea coats?

Thanks
Frankie

USGI pea coats wear well and are warm, even when damp. Perhaps a plus if I understand the Montreal climate, cool to cold and damp with occasional patches of scary cold.

Down side is they require dry cleaning, at least the last one I used did. Also moths, particularly Florida moths, love to eat them, which explains why I don't have one now.

If your going for warmth I would get something a bit longer. Perhaps I'm less a fashion maven but I always thought the North face coats to be something of a rough and ready, verging on snooty for the upper end, fashion statement.

I've had but no longer have a peacoat. I got mine while in a maritime academy, when it was part of the uniform. Simply put, a fashion or designed anything seem to me to be a little effeminate, while a classic peacoat something for a sailor. I'd recommend one that was a little roomy. As far as brands, the coats we had never had a brand, as far as I recall. I'd think that the best way to get a decently inexpensive coat would be to buy from someone selling surplus. In which case, you might not know the brand. However, the real article is likely to be warmer because it is likely to be made with heavier wool.

See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pea_coat

http://www.armynavysuperstores.com/peacoat.htm

I've got my fathers, but I've long since outgrown it.
I don't really have anything to add to the topic :p

Yeah, I do have an old pea coat, but these days, if it doesn't have Gore-Tex, I usually don't wear it.

Wool is a great insulator when wet but I prefer to stay dry.

Several years ago my wife, the former swabbie, wanted one, so I bought it for her. She loves it! She seems to be cold all the time, worse in the winter of course, and it keeps her toasty. Her son's girlfriend, who weights about 98 pounds soaking wet, liked the looks of one, so I got her one too, and she also loves it. But be careful to get the real thing, not one of the generic ripoffs that you find everywhere, including Costco...

I have a vintage GI one,it's from 1968. It's very well made & very very warm.

Yes exaclty, the humid continental climate can be a real roller coaster. Fortunately I don't seem to have problems with moths.

Frankie

I vote yes on the peacoat. It'll keep you warm and is fashionable for the winters. I have a "civilian-style" red peacoat from Brooks Brothers that I love. It cost a mint but was so worth it: I wear it for nearly half the year!

Which is the reason I left Minnesota for Texas.

Um, not because of Christina, because of the cold weather!

-Blast

My Dad's official USN pea coat is still at my Mom's house somewhere.

It was issued to him in 1944 just before he shipped out for the south Pacific during WWII!

Evidently those islands in the Pacific get really cold at night or some other time of the year.

Unfortunately, he was a 42 back then and I have pretty much always been at least a 52 long. It's a good thing the KaBar he gave me wasn't issued in different sizes.

US issue peacoats are available on EBAY. There is a dealer in Norfolk who is quiete good at recommending the best fit. If you are patient and lucky, look for older ones. They are in a 'kersey blue' vs today's black. This is a very deep navy almost black colour. There are also a few styling details in the collar that are superior.You may want to look for a canadian issue coat up there, given the sometimes bizaar shipping problems and duties from the US to Canada. Once you get it, have it dry cleaned regardless of appearance. Modern cleaning will disinfect against wool moths. After that simple hygiene will dissuade the critters. They are superb coats when layered and vent very well. I came home with 3, one a rare USCG CPO's with gold buttons and upgraded pocket corderoy liners. They must be good- all were borrowed and never returned.

Thanks Chris. Useful information as usual. BTW I found a post from a certain Kav at the askandyaboutclothes forum. Is it you by any chance?

If you would be so kind as to post the URL of the ebay dealer I would appreciate. Also, how old should the Kersey blue be? From the Vietnam era or older? When did they stop producing the superior ones?

I'll try to find Canadian issue peacoats here.

Thanks
Frankie

I use a so-called Bridge Coat purchased a few years ago from one of the military/government contractors available on the web. The really nice thing about the Bridge Coat is that it is a Pea Coat, only it is longer, about knee length. Sorry I cannot recall which contractor though, of course, a swift web search for "Bridge Coat" should reveal all. Good Luck!

IIRC, from my days when I had uniforms, a Bridge Coat is something for one of the more formal uniforms. It went along with "Service Dress Blues," which is the uniform with the white shirt, tie and jacket (like one for a suit). Pea coats went with the uniform like the one on top: http://buperscd.technology.navy.mil/bup_updt/508/unireg/Chapter3/Enlisted/em_13_Wk_WinterBlue.htm

"Sleeves are to reach about three-quarters of distance from the wrist to the knuckles when arms hang naturally at the sides." I guess I will have to choose the long version. It's not so obvious to order online.

Thanks for the link.

Frankie

As an Army guy, I wouldn't be caught dead in a pea coat, opting for the OD green field jacket or some shiny nylon reversible thing with pen slots on the upper sleeve and lots of "I've-been-here" patches.

But..the pea coat is a versatile, durable, trend defying jacket.

IMHO I would go with a genuine Navy pea coat and not a designer one. No biased but think the original would again bust trends and seem more vintage and inexpensive an option.

I should have added to my previous post about the Bridge Coat: when I received it I changed mine for my intended purpose for street wear by removing the epaulets and brass buttons put there originally for officer use, obviously. I also replaced the largish-sized brass buttons with the classic "anchor" black (plastic) buttons for my use; a much more comfortable look for me.

What I owned (and have since given to my daughter) is the USCG dress version of a peacoat. It is very warm in winter but it is NOT a PEACOAT by any means.

If it's a straight pea coat the above are good ideas. If it's just a tough, classic wool coat you want, here is what I have used for the last 5 years: http://www.filson.com/product/index.jsp?...rentPage=family