How warm is a down jacket?

Where can I find a non-puffy jacket for riding?

• I just started horseback riding in April, and I have been thinking about how the winter will soon be coming up, and I won't really have a warm coat for that. Where I go riding, I have no heating in the indoor arena, so I will obviously have to wear something really warm to stand the cold. All I have is a big puffy coat, but that will just get in the way of my riding. So I'm trying to find a non-puffy jacket that is really warm in the inside, that all I'll have to wear is a hoodie and the jacket. I know this might be impossible to have a jacket like that. I'm also not a very big fan of layering up, so as I said before, I would like to have a jacket that is super warm in this inside. I most prefer a website link to a really good jacket, but if not, I'd be glad to have the extra advice, anyway. :) Thanks!!!

• Answer:

  Where are you, is it really super cold, like will you be riding in the snow? I used to ride in South Carolina, and it's cold, but once you get riding, you warm up considerably. I would go with a polarfleece pullover, or a fleece jacket, like a Northface. Also wear a turtleneck under it, so your neck doesn't get cold. I liked to use a "turtle fur" on my neck in the winter, it really helped to keep me warm. It's like a loop of fleece that goes around your neck. A lot of people like to ride in vests. They keep you warm without the bulk of a jacket. But I would start with a coolmax shirt, then a turtleneck shirt, or a long sleeve t-shirt and a turtle fur, or a fleece jacket or pullover. A Barbour coat is really the best coat for horseback riding. It's pricey, but worth it. It is able to take a snap in liner that keeps you toasty, and it has vents in the back for keeping your saddle dry. It is made from a waxed cotton, and so water proof. Here is a link to their website: http://www.barbour.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=products.view&ProductID=20017&RangeID=2&PCategoryID=1&PSubCategoryID=19 This jacket can also take a hood that snaps on incase it rains. When I was riding, I thought this was the best coat ever. It is a little heavy, and it take a little getting used to. Good Luck!