L.L. Bean, my mother has a bone to pick with you.
After browsing your winter 2014 catalog, she went online to order a nice puffy coat for a family member. However, L.L. Bean’s online database had other plans: The coat in question was backordered until July of 2015.
While my mother still wants to know Why they’d even bother sending out that catalog in the first place?, L.L. Bean customers are sadly already familiar with the brand’s quick-selling stock this season. The leather-and-rubber “Duck” boots, a Bean staple for over 100 years, totally sold out for the winter season this past December. The sturdy boots are currently on backorder, and the website writes that they’re handstitching them as fast as they can; the company has even opened a second factory in order to keep up with future demand.
The sudden sell-out of these outerwear boots can be attested to the surge in popularity among city dwellers and teens. Yes, that’s right: Teens are swapping out their soggy Uggs and pairing their leggings with these all-terrain boots. Who knew?
But now that the wettest and coldest of winter lies ahead of us, where are we to shop to stay warm if not the Bean? We’ve rustled up some of the best-reviewed alternatives for down coats, sturdy boots and more essential winter wear accessible in Boston, and with a wind chill of -25 degrees apparently on deck for Thursday morning, we suggest you not waste any time.
Eddie Bauer
St. Botolph Building, Downtown Crossing (outlet store)
Women’s Down Duffle Coat, $219, 4 stars. If you’re in need of a heavy duty winter coat, this long, down coat from Eddie Bauer will do the trick. Forget the fact that you look like a sleeping bag, you’ll feel amazing when facing the winds, considering the coat was tested in temperatures up to -34 degrees.
Men’s Storm Ops Parka, $349, 5 stars. With a name like ‘Storm Ops,’ you expect to get a sturdy coat, and this lined, waterproof version will keep you protected in both cold and wet conditions.
Men’s Snoqualmie Pass Boot, $150, 5 stars. Eddie Bauer’s warmest weatherproof insulated boot is the closest comparison you’ll find to the L.L. Bean boot, and it’s not backordered until April.
Women’s MicroTherm Boot, $130, 5 stars. Tall, fur lined, insulated and waterproof, this boot will keep you warm all the way up your calves (even if it’s not going to be making a fashion statement, like the Duck boot).
Macy’s
Downtown Crossing, Natick Mall, Burlington Mall, Cambridgeside Galleria
Women’s Jones New York Classic Walker Coat, $114.99, 5 stars. If you want to stay warm without wrapping up in a long sleeping bag, this Jones New York coat is long, heavyweight, lined and majorly on sale. The price is knocked down from $460.
Sporto Women’s Daphne Faux-Fur Boots, $79.99, 4.5 stars. Wanting something that looks similar to the L.L. Bean boots? These fur-lined Sporto boots are a good option for under $100, and they’ve received rave reviews for keeping wearer’s feet warm and dry.
Men’s Hawke & Co Outfitter Coat, $250, 5 stars. Quilt-lined and sturdy, this outfitter coat from Hawke & Co will get the job done this winter. It also comes in four different colors, including “Arabian Spice.”
Men’s Timberland 6″ Premium Waterproof Boots, $178.98, 5 stars. Ditch the Duck boot and go for a similarly classic style: the Timberland boot. This sturdy boot is also waterproof, meaning you’ll stay warm and dry, and look pretty cool in the meantime.
Sears
Cambridgeside Galleria, Burlington Mall
Lands’ End Women’s Down Commuter Coat, $239, 4.5 stars. Lands’ End knows that commuting in the winter is miserable, and to help ease the pain, they’ve crafted this waterproof, 600-fill down, slim fitting long coat, perfect for those miserable treks to the Red Line.
Men’s DeWalt Black Heated Jacket Kit, $195.86-$221.99, 5 stars. Expecting to be really, super cold? Good, this water-resistant jacket is a battery-powered heating machine, warming up in four different zones using an LED controller. You can also charge your phone in it.
Weathermates Women’s Arctic Mid Calf Snow Boot, $49.99, 5 stars. Perfect for those on a budget, these warm, weatherproof boots will help you brave the cold while only costing you $50.
Totes Men’s Glacier 8″ Lace-Up Duck Boot, $50, 4 stars. Again, you’ll be getting an L.L. Bean-esque boot for about half the cost, with rubber soles and leather uppers.
The North Face
Newbury Street
Women’s Parkina Down Jacket, $299, 5 stars. You know you can trust The North Face to keep you warm, but this top-rated down jacket ensures you’re getting the most value for your buck.
Men’s Warrent Bomber, $379, 5 stars. Another top-rated North Face item, this coat is waterproof on the inside and 550-fill goose down on the inside.
Women’s Bridgeton Boot, $190, 5 stars. If you don’t like the rubbery look of classic winter boots, The North Face’s Bridgeton boot is a good alternative. Completely waterproof and insulated for warmth, these boots still manage to look like a stylish footwear choice you can wear even when it’s not snowing.
Men’s Verbera Utility Boot, $150, 4.5 stars. The North Face’s version of the classic waterproof, cold-proof boot, available in brown and black.
Image via Michael G McKinne/Shutterstock
