One of the best things about winter is enjoying your own collection of boots, gloves, and cozy, warm winter coats. However, when you narrow down your options to only cruelty-free, meaning that there’s no wool, leather, fur, down, or fur, it can get tricky.
It doesn’t have to be so difficult when you’re looking in the right places, knowing what you want to find. So, here is our list of the best vegan winter coats for men and women and what to look for when you buy your next coat.
At a Glance
- Patagonia Iron Forge Hemp Canvas Chore Coat – Best for Workwear
- Tanming Winter Warm Coat – Budget Pick
- Little Donkey Andy Packable Puffer Jacket – Best Packable Option
- Patagonia Prairie Dawn Insulated Parka – Best Parka
- QZUnique Slim Trench Coat – Most Stylish
The 3 Best Vegan Winter Coats for Men in 2022
Now that you’ve gotten a general idea, let’s delve into the details of each and every one of the products mentioned above so you can decide which one suits you the most.
1. Patagonia Iron Forge Hemp Canvas Chore Coat – Best for Workwear
Workwear and veganism never seemed to have something in common before, but now they do. Patagonia pride themselves on ethical, vegan workwear, and the Patagonia Iron Forge Hemp Canvas chore coat checks all of our boxes.
In terms of design, this Fair Trade Certified sewn chore coat is handsome just like it’s hard-wearing, and it comes in coriander brown and ink black.
It has a relaxed, loose fit and a bi-swing back that enables you to move freely and wear layers underneath. If you aren’t wearing layers, you can benefit from the adjustable waist tab for a customizable fit. Also, it has long button-sleeve plackets to easily roll them up past the elbow when you get down business.
Since chore coats target farmers, construction workers, and different types of laborers, this one has many pockets to help them carry their tools, such as a left-chest drop-in pocket, two lower-front drop-in pockets, and two hidden side-entry pockets to keep your cold hands warm. Plus, there’s an internal zippered drop-in pocket to stash your phone and personal valuables in.
This environmentally-conscious coat doesn’t disappoint with its materials, as it’s made from Iron Forge Hemp canvas. Thanks to being made up of 55% industrial hemp, 27% recycled polyester, 18% organic cotton canvas, it is 25% more abrasion-resistant than conventional cotton duck canvas.
The material of the coat is also pretty durable, breathable, and comfortable to the point that it doesn’t need break-in like other materials.
In addition, the front-center placket has tough metal shank buttons that are practical to use with work gloves or even when your hands are cold.
One thing that we would change about this coat is that it needed to come in more color options, although the available two are pretty cool. Also, it’s not the most affordable coat out there, but you get your money back in the form of high-quality material and the knowledge that the workers who made this coat were fairly paid.
Pros
Cons
2. Tanming Winter Warm Coat – Budget Pick
Everybody knows how expensive winter coats can get, and sometimes you need to find a budget-friendly option that still meets your needs for warmth and comfort when it gets snowy or foggy. So, we present to you the affordable Tanming winter warm coat.
The classic design of this warm coat will work in every setting, whether you’re working, hiking, or going on a night out, thanks to the four neutral hues that this coat comes in. Despite its low price, it looks much more expensive than it is. Maybe it’s the faux-fur effect.
The hood is removable, buttoned, and adjustable thanks to its drawstring. Also, the hood’s faux fur is removable so that you don’t get too hot when the cold isn’t brutal enough for such a warm hood.
Moreover, this affordable coat doesn’t skimp on pockets, as it has two external buttoned pockets for extra warmth, two zippered chest pockets, and a zippered inner pocket for safe storage. Also, it has both front zip and button closures to seal the warmth in.
Considering the material, this coat is 100% polyester, which is the most budget-friendly yet vegan material that you could ask for. It’s lightweight, wrinkle-resistant, abrasion-resistant, windproof, and machine washable. So, it saves you money and time because you won’t have to pay extra attention to it.
As expected, this coat is not perfect. Unlike many winter coats, it runs small, so you may want to order a size up to have a bit of room. In addition, while it doesn’t look cheap, it won’t last long, and the buttons may start to fall off.
Pros
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3. Little Donkey Andy Packable Puffer Jacket – Best Packable Option
There are many types of winter coats. However, most of them take up a lot of space and are the farthest thing from packable because finding them a place in the closet is a challenge in itself. So, we had to look for a truly packable option and found the Little Donkey Andy packable puffer jacket.
Starting with the design, it looks exactly like most hiking and outdoor puffer jackets, nothing too fancy. This affordable jacket comes in different color options, some more visible than the others when you need visibility, which is practical. The design, of course, is packable, meaning that you can carry the whole jacket compactly in the included pouch for maximum portability.
In addition, it has a zipper closure, and it doesn’t mess around with the pockets; it has two zippered hand warmer pockets, a chest zipper pocket, and two inside deep pockets. So, you’ll be able to safely store your essentials on the go while warming your hands.
For an affordable jacket, we’re seriously impressed with what it has to offer in terms of materials. This quilted puffer jacket has 100 nylon shells and a lining that is coated with a durable water-repellent.
We love the choice of nylon because it’s lightweight yet durable, water-resistant, quick-drying, abrasion-resistant, and wrinkle-resistant. So, it’s the perfect material for a winter jacket that’s meant to be packed and unpacked and stay unaffected.
Moreover, the filling is a breathable and ultra-light recycled material that forms air insulation for prolonged warmth, even when the temperature is as low as -4°F. The fact that the material is recycled, not just vegan, earned this jacket a place on our list.
If you have to deal with excessive wind in your trip and need extra protection, you’ll find it in the form of elastic cuffs and hood that fit snugly to keep the wind out.
However, there are a few things that we don’t like about this jacket. Firstly, the placement of the logo everywhere on the jacket is annoying. Secondly, while it is expected for a winter jacket to leave room for extra layers, this one seriously runs large, so consider getting a smaller size than your usual.
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Cons
The 2 Best Vegan Winter Coats for Women in 2022
1. Patagonia Prairie Dawn Insulated Parka – Best Parka
Parkas are a must-have in every woman’s outerwear closet, but finding a cruelty-free, stylish, durable, and warm parka can be strenuous. Yet, we found all of these qualities and more in the Patagonia prairie dawn insulated parka.
You can tell immediately that this coat is workwear-inspired, which equals high-end quality and appearance that we’re used to from Patagonia. The Mid-length ranch coat design is perfect for a slimming look that keeps you warmer and protected from the elements.
The hidden waistband puts in control of how fit or loose the look is going to be, while the hidden hem drawcord and lock let you kick the warmth up a notch if needed. Its slight drop-tail hem adds to the femininity of the look. Plus, it comes in smoldery blue and sage khaki, and both colors look beautiful.
We can’t talk about a parka without mentioning the pocket situation. There are two welted, drop-in handwarmer pockets for storage and warmth, accompanied by two double-needle chest pockets. Also, the fully-lined hood is adjustable so that you can keep warm or enjoy the breeze in your hair.
Just like the Patagonia Iron Forge Hemp Canvas chore coat, this coat has impressive materials. It is made from 100% organic cotton canvas. So, it is not only vegan but also environmentally conscious, as conventional cotton has high environmental costs because it uses a lot of water, synthetic fertilizers, GMO seeds, pesticides, and herbicides.
What else is good about organic cotton? It is soft, breathable, truly hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, incredibly durable, and has natural insulating properties that make it perfect for outerwear.
Besides the main material, the body and the hood of the coat are lined with 70% recycled polyester fleece, which helps you benefit from polyester while reducing the CO2 emissions by 59%. The lining provides the perfect amount of coziness and warmth to the body.
Plus, the sleeves have Thermogreen insulation, which uses 90% recycled polyester so that you can stay warm but not at the expense of animals or the environment. In addition, the sleeves are coated with a durable water-repellent finish to keep the rain off you.
In addition to the impressive materials and linings, this coat utilizes metal-zipper closure at the center-front with a wide placket and metal snaps to lock as much warmth as possible inside.
The coat has its downsides, but they’re not dramatic enough to change our minds about how much we love it. Firstly, the two color options are excellent, but additional color options would have been nice. Secondly, it’s no secret that this coat is a serious splurge. However, when you think about the use of organic cotton and recycled material, the price makes sense.
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2. QZUnique Slim Trench Coat – Most Stylish
One of the reasons why winter enthusiasts love the season is showing off their most attractive clothes because winter definitely wins in the fashion category. Since we understand the importance of fashionable winter coats, we recommend the QZUnique slim trench coat.
The coat’s design is its best feature. This affordable yet stylish coat has a unique lapel collar, undetachable hood, single-breast design, front buttons, wrinkled sleeves, and irregular hemline. So, it’s a long trench coat that you seek for a timeless look that will get you compliments from everyone, especially with its elongating and slimming design.
Plus, it comes with two side pockets for extra warmth and safe storage. In addition, it comes in three different colors, and you can never go wrong with solids like khaki, red, and black.
The coat is made from a polyester-cotton blend, which is the smartest way to get warmth, abrasion resistance, and durability at an affordable price. Also, the materials made it machine washable, so it’s pretty convenient to have. Furthermore, this trench coat is windproof, so it’s perfectly reliable to wear on a windy night out.
However, it has a few flaws. The size runs small. So, if you’ll wear any layers underneath, we recommend going a size up. Also, the buttonholes are a bit too small for the buttons, which makes button and unbuttoning the coat a bit frustrating.
Pros
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How to Pick Vegan Winter Coats
When you’re picking a vegan coat for the winter, there are a couple of important aspects that you have to take into consideration. And in this section, I’ll go over the ones that make all the difference.
Materials
In this article, we’ll discuss cruelty-free materials only. So, there would be no genuine leather, suede, wool, down, or fur. There are many alternatives; some of them are natural, while others are synthetic.
Natural
Natural vegan materials are plant-based and considered better for the environment than synthetic ones.
Cotton is one of the most popular vegan materials in clothing, in general, and winter coats, in particular. It typically substitutes for wool, and we’ll tell you why.
The beauty of cotton is that it’s lightweight, breathable, comfortable, hypoallergenic, and more resistant to rain than wool. Also, it provides natural thermal insulation that protects from the cold. It dyes beautifully, which results in versatility in colors and designs. Finally, it’s durable and long-lasting.
However, there are more sustainable options than cotton, like hemp. Hemp grows much faster and requires half the amount of water that cotton needs to grow. Also, hemp is space-saving, thanks to its tall and thin shape, and enriches its soil. It needs very little pesticides or fertilizers, if any. In addition, it has a much higher yield per acre than cotton and other plants. (Further Read: Hemp vs Cotton)
As a fabric, hemp is one of the strongest on the planet. Plus, it gets softer and more comfortable to wear with time and doesn’t lose its shape like other natural fabrics. Its breathability is superior to cotton’s, and it has better insulation properties, as well. The reason why it’s not as popular as cotton is its high price.
Cork is our favorite natural alternative to leather. It comes from barks of cork oak trees, which makes its harvesting harmless to the trees and environment. In fact, it helps regenerate the trees.
>> Read more: The ultimate guide to vegan leather.
Its water-resistant properties make it the perfect fabric for winter coats, and it doesn’t have to be specially treated or coated, either. Its longevity means that you won’t have to replace your cork winter coat anytime soon.
Synthetic
Synthetic vegan materials are those that are neither animal-based nor plant-based. They tend to be more affordable and available than natural materials. However, they’re less environmentally-friendly, which is why we looked for recycled materials for more ethical consumption.
Fabrics like polyester are highly practical. It’s affordable, lightweight, wrinkle-resistant, fade-resistant, wind-resistant, water-resistant, machine washable, quick-drying, abrasion-resistant, and durable. So, it makes perfect sense as a popular fabric for winter coats.
However, its production process is pretty harmful to the environment, so we recommend wearing clothes made from recycled polyester instead.
Nylon is another popular synthetic fabric because it is pretty affordable, like polyester. It also resists wrinkles and shrinkage. Also, this vegan alternative to silk and cashmere is water-resistant and quick-drying, which is exactly what you need to wear in the rain.
Despite being lightweight, you’ll be impressed with how it resists abrasion. Plus, Its durability is superior to polyester, and its elasticity sets it apart from other materials.
Like polyester, nylon isn’t good for the environment at all. So, we had to find a harmless way to enjoy its advantages, and we found it in the form of regenerated nylon, which is a smart way of benefitting from existent plastic waste.
Fit
The size and fit of winter coats are tricky, especially if you’re not an experienced shopper.
If the cold in your area is mild, you can get away with form-fitting coats to show off your silhouette. Coats with adjustable waist drawstrings are great for accentuating the waist.
However, if the cold is extreme, you need to leave room for layers underneath the coat. Also, remember to leave enough room to move freely because winter coats can feel awkward if they’re overstuffed. If it’s too overwhelming, go for an oversized style.
Style
The variety of ways humans keep themselves warm is truly fascinating, and most of us wait for winter to show off the different styles of jackets and coats that we got. Don’t fret because there’s something for every occasion and person.
Vegans that are looking for dressing up with timeless looks will appreciate the classiness of pea coats. They can be paired with anything in your closet and still look phenomenal.
Another timeless piece for your closet is the trench coat for waterproof protection and slimming designs. They’re not the warmest winter coats, but that makes them more versatile.
Extra cold environments call for puffer jackets or parkas. They’re relaxed and casual. Their fit is loose. If you want something that shows off your silhouette, consider military jackets, wrap coats, and belted coats.
Insulation
Insulated jackets or coats are a must-have for winters because they are the best protectants from the cold. While down is the most popular insulation on the market, the cruelty of the down industry makes us look elsewhere. There are other reasons why synthetic insulation is superior.
Vegan insulation is waterproof, while down doesn’t even stand a chance against damp conditions, let alone wet. Also, synthetic insulation can be machine washed, which is great for people who don’t have time to pamper their jackets. Finally, it is much more affordable than down. So, you’re saving animals and money, who can say no to that?
Weatherproofing
It goes without saying that if winter is rainy where you are, you need a waterproof or water-resistant jacket. Fully waterproof coats are the highest form of protection against the rain, while water-resistant ones can handle light precipitation for limited periods of time.
Also, make sure that the zippers, cuffs, and every exposed part of the coat is waterproof or water-resistant, as well. Look for coats with thumbholes and fleece-lined pockets to keep your hands nice and warm. Snug cuffs and storm flaps will protect you from the wind, as well.
Final Thoughts
We don’t have to rely on leather, down, or wool for warmth in the winter anymore. So, here are our top suggestions from the list of the best vegan winter coats for men and women.
Our top choice for men is the Patagonia Iron Forge Hemp Canvas chore coat because it’s a durable, abrasion-resistant, practical, and ethical choice for the working man. The best choice for women would be the Patagonia prairie dawn insulated parka. It’s stylish, warm, eco-friendly, durable.
