Is a leather jacket + layers good enough for an European winter? (Back packing)
In a question a bit related to Winter apparel for Europe (November-December), would a leather jacket (thinner lamb jacket) be okay for traveling Spain/France/Italy during November/December?
I also plan to take a SmartWool longsleeve base layer + (t)shirt + hoodie. Would that be enough layers? I also have a not too thick down puffy jacket but I guess it is way brighter (brightish green).. and for some reason I wanna look "good" in Europe :). It would probably be warmer though.
I'm currently living in San Diego, to give an idea of what I'm used to now, though I did lived in Seattle for a bit, and the puffy/down one kept me warm enough by itself during winter, the leather one was a bit chilly if worn by itself, but I never tried with a proper base layer and warm middle.
Thanks!
EDIT:
I'm planning mostly to visit cities and towns, not snowboarding or so. For France (which I believe is the coldest of those 3 countries) pretty much just Paris and nearby towns. Italy is where I'll spend most of my time, and my plan is to start in the north and move south all the way down to Sicily, where I would be ending my trip and coming back home.
As an aside, are rain jackets really needed/recommended? Or would a simple expandable umbrella be enough?
Best Answer
Understand that having properly shaped clothe is MUCH more important than the quality.
In cold weather, a jacket must protect you from the top of your throat to the bottom of your hip. A basic rain coat matching this rule is better than a $1000 fur coat 5 cm too short.
Your wool and Tshirt should also go as low as possible.
Seriously, 3 layer of summer clothe matching those rule are OK for mild winter (down to freezing point) (with good gloves and shoes)
That said, December in southern Europe is not too cold. If you keep away from the mountain and eastern France, you shouldn't get below 5°C.
Rain jacket and waterproof shoes highly recommended. A 5°C rain is worse than -5°C snow.
Sorry if I sound like Captain Obvious to some. I assume you've never saw winter
Pictures about "Is a leather jacket + layers good enough for an European winter? (Back packing)"
Is a leather jacket warm enough for winter?
Are leather jackets warm enough for winter? Yes, if you layer things up. Here we've broken down how to wear a leather in winter, for men and women. Look for oversized leather jacket styles \u2013 this means you can squeeze in thicker layers underneath.Can you wear a leather jacket as a winter coat?
Leather Jackets work really well in snow. Many people, however, believe that snow is bad for the leather. It certainly can be if not taken care of properly. A leather jacket can definitely last a lifetime, stand through the harsh weather elements including snow flurries but only with the right kind of aftercare.How should I dress for winter in Europe?
Clothes to Pack for Europe in the WinterWhich leather jacket is best for winter?
Top 8 Stylish Men's Coats You Should Wear In Winter- Shirt Collar Dark Brown Coat. Men's winter coats are a great option for outdoor workers. ...
- Long Coat with Big Lapels. ...
- Brown Leather Coat. ...
- Lambskin Leather Tan Coat. ...
- Shearling Collar Suede Coat. ...
- Standup Collar Brown Coat. ...
- Classical Black Leather Coat.
Winter Layering Guide | 5 Tips for Best Results
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Aejaz Memon, Hurrah suhail, Karolina Grabowska, Mesut çiçen