Land’s End, Nautica, LL Bean and Gap – what do these four brands have in common? Each produce winter coats of similar design,but which would stand up to our rigorous quality standards and endure a Chicago winter?
We put each coat through intense testing for the past week in various weather conditions and temperatures ranging in the mid 50’s to high 30’s. Our job was to evaluate design, insulation, hardware (buttons, pulls,zippers, snaps), hood features, warmth, wind resistance, inner lining and bonus features such as wrist cuffs, pockets and stow away areas.
Gap (Retails $99)
Sassy Mom Likes
- Excellent Insulation & Warmth
- Insulated Pockets
Notes: Overall this is a acceptable basic jacket that would serve well paired with denim or yoga pants while on the go in temperatures above 45 degrees. The shorter length and lack of hood would make it difficult for extremely cold weather. The design is simple and understated.
Lands’ End (Retails $179.50)
Sassy Mom Likes
- Superior Insulation & Warmth
- Design (LOVE the tapered waist)
- Insulated Pockets (aka hand warmers)
- Fleece Snow and Wrist Cuffs
- Adjustable Hood (can be tightened and fully covers the face)
- Removable Fur Trim from Hood and Collar
- Superior Inner Lining
- Wind Resistance – extended length
- Interior Pocket (perfect for gadgets)
Notes: We tested this jacket in temps ranging from 54 – 45 degrees and we stayed warm and cozy. The longer length makes a significant difference for a winter coat, especially on windy days. Dress up or down this jacket is extremely versatile and a great value for the price.
LL Bean – (Retail $179.00)
Sassy Mom Likes
- LOVE the Color
- Length
- Removable Hood with removable fur trim (hood can be snapped in place to remain secure)
- Style
- Lightweight – perfect for fall
- Interior pocket
- Fleece Wrist Cuffs
Notes: The green color is the top feature of this coat and we’ve received many compliments wearing around the city. The hardware is average and the belt is not attached and can easily slip out of the belt loops. Insulation is perfect for fall but would require multiple layers to stand up to temperatures dropping below 30 degrees.
Nautica (Retails $199.00)
Sassy Mom Likes
- Color – LOVE
- Adjustable Waist from inside coat– TOP FEATURE
- Superior Insulation & warmth
- Superior Inner Lining
Notes: At first glance it was love at first site! The champagne color is stunning and so chic, not to mention a wonderful change from your basic black jacket. Disappointed in the length, lack of insulated pockets and inability to tighten and adjust the hood. If the coat was just a little bit longer it would have exceeded our expectations from top to bottom.
Conclusion
When considering overall coat quality, Nautica did a fabulous job on the hardware, color, insulation and design. We fell in love with the adjustable waist hide inside the lining. If Land’s End would create a coat using the hardware from Nautica and the adjustable waist – they would have created the perfect winter coat. LL Bean design fell flat and was extremely blah. We loved the color but the overall design was not that flattering or high quality (hardware on the belt needs improvement) and the coat gave the appearance of being a little too puffy. Gap coat was decent but lacked detail when comparing it to the others.
Land’s End really did well overall when it came to quality. There were little details such as the adjustable hood, removable fur trim on collar and hood, interior pocket, lined outer pockets, length and superior insulation that made this coat rate highest in quality.
Rating in the order based on highest QUALITY:
Land’s End – #1
Nautica – #2
LL Bean #3
Gap – #4
Disclosure: The Quality Coat Review was a blind review. In order to give my unbiased opinions, I am unaware of the company that sponsored the coat challenge effort. While the opinions are my own, I am being compensated through Mom Spark Media for my time.
