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I finally found my dream sustainable puffer — and it's on sale right now

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Is the Frank And Oak Long Highland Puffer in Dark Olive worth the price tag? Check out our honest review.
Is the Frank And Oak Long Highland Puffer in Dark Olive worth the price tag? Check out our honest review.

I can’t deal with cold weather.

Once it’s under 0 C, I need to be bundled up to an almost laughable level to leave the house. Snow boots, a giant coat, toque, mittens — you get the picture.

For several years, I’ve been dependent on a Canada Goose parka I received as a Christmas gift in 2013 — but my changing style and concerns over the ethics of the outerwear I sport has meant for the past couple of seasons, I’ve been looking for a new coat. But I’m picky, and have a lengthy list of requirements. My perfect coat has to be long yet allow for easy movement, toasty (but not too bulky) and have a hood. While that’s not very hard to find, I’ve also been committed to buying sustainably-made and cruelty-free whenever possible, which is definitely more difficult — especially at an affordable price.

ALSO SEE: Best sustainable activewear to shop right now: Leggings, sports bras, bike shorts, shoes and more

Enter Frank And Oak. When the Montreal-based, sustainable brand introduced their new collection of sustainable outerwear this year, I knew I had to try them.

This year’s outerwear collection features ultra-cozy coats (with selections that keep you warm in -30 C and beyond) that are made with recycled polyester and feather-free lining, which means they’re also outerwear you can feel good about. If you’re interested to read more about how Frank And Oak makes their coats, you can read about it here.

While the coats usually ranged from $299-$749, all winter outerwear is currently on sale for $100 off (plus free shipping!) with code OUTERWEAR100.

I opted for something in the middle of the price range, the Long Highland Puffer. Check out my review below, and browse the full selection of Frank And Oak’s sustainable outerwear here.

The Long Highland Puffer in Dark Olive

The Frank And Oak Long Highland Puffer comes in both Black and Dark Olive (pictured).
The Frank And Oak Long Highland Puffer comes in both Black and Dark Olive (pictured).

SHOP IT: Frank And Oak, $299 (originally $399)

First impressions

When my Frank And Oak puffer arrived (on a Sunday, two days after the order was placed!), I was immediately impressed by how lightweight it was — I actually thought my delivery must have been mislabelled because there was no way such a light package could be holding a long, sleeping bag-esque coat.

I was also impressed by how soft and smooth the coat felt. I find that with many other sustainable coats I’ve tried, the fabric just feels cheap — especially if it’s billed as water resistant, which the Highland Puffer is. But I have no complaints at all about the feel of this coat — it feels like it will hold up for years to come.

Fit, style and quality

What I love about this coat is it’s basically the giant sleeping bag I’ve always wanted - but it actually looks good. I decided to switch things up from my usual all black outerwear wardrobe and go for the Dark Olive colour, which is a gorgeous army green that’s totally neutral without being boring.

I find that a lot of ankle-length coats give me a serious Michelin Man vibe. But the lightweight material of this one makes it ultra-flattering — it follows the shape of your body without being too close-cut, but also without being super bulky. The front zipper is complemented by magnetic buttons and side snaps allow for extra movement if you feel constricted.

The Frank And Oak Highland Puffer was just above my ankles - exactly where I wanted it to fall. Excuse the lack of shoes and tag still on - I had to try it immediately.
The Frank And Oak Highland Puffer was just above my ankles - exactly where I wanted it to fall. Excuse the lack of shoes and tag still on - I had to try it immediately.

The fit is generous. I went with my usual size (a small) and there’s plenty of room for a big sweater on extra-chilly days, if I ever need one. I could have definitely sized down if I wanted something more formfitting, but I’m glad I stuck with my traditional size.

ALSO SEE: 13 of the best winter jackets to help you stay warm and stylish - no matter how cold it is

This coat is really, really warm. I was initially worried because despite the length, the coat is very lightweight — but the feather-free fill really does its job. While I haven’t yet put this coat to the test on the coldest of cold days (I’ll update you in a few months, so stay tuned!) it’s definitely held up on the coldest days of the year so far in Toronto — I’ve even had to unzip it a few times while walking (which never happens for me).

My only complaint is that I wish the hood was bigger — I find that it’s a bit hard to wear the hood up when I have a toque on, which is definitely something I want to be able to do on the coldest of cold days.

I’ll also keep you posted on the quality over time — but as I said above, this feels like it will hold up well for a long time. For the past couple of years I’ve worn a long puffer from another sustainable brand, and my biggest complaint is that the insulation started poking out through the coat almost immediately. I haven’t noticed any quality issues with this coat over the past couple weeks of wear.

Photo via Frank And Oak
Photo via Frank And Oak

The price

The Long Highland Parka retails for $399, but is currently on sale for $299 with code OUTERWEAR100 — but hurry, the sale ends on Dec. 14.

Is it worth it?

While the price, even on sale, may be more than you’re used to paying for outerwear, if you’re looking for a sustainable, ethically-made coat that still checks off quality and warmth boxes, I think this jacket is absolutely worth the investment. And if you’re looking for something at slightly lower price point than the Highland Puffer, there are a few other options available from Frank And Oak.

ALSO SEE: The best Christmas and holiday-inspired pyjamas for every member of your family

If you’re looking to upgrade your current coat to something you can feel better about wearing, while still keeping you warm, you can shop the coats here.

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and sign up for our newsletter.