Need coat advice for Amsterdam in October

Stay with packin light, something water proof (the rain shell), and a sweater as needed underneath it is the way I go.

Yes, layers is the way to go. The down coat is OK if it compresses small. My wife has a Patagonia fiber-filled jacket that stuffs into a small sack that works great as an added layer. I tend to pack a fleece (besides my rain shell) then supplement with thermal shirts or a sweater.

Unless you typically wear that down coat around Seattle in October, I'd stick with more versatile indoor-outdoor layers such as a sweater and a scarf.

Thanks! I've just heard the winds can get really cold. We were in Russia last March and I got very cold, even with several layers.

It can also be warm. We were there the first week of October and were walking around in t-shirts. So be prepared with layers, including a lightweight fleece (such as the LLBean Performance Fleece) that you can wear alone or under your rain shell.

I was there in April and it never got above 48 in the day time, with very cold winds and sometimes rain. I did layers--though I rarely removed any of them!--long sleeve T with a mid-weight cashmere or merino sweater, always a cloth scarf fluffed up under my chin and my Michael Kors lined anorak really was the perfect outer layer. Stylish and flattering (because that matters to me), not so thick that it was cumbersome to carry or pack, repelled rain, had a removable hood, interior slip pocket and nice zipped double layer outer ones that allowed me to put a camera or sunglasses in one layer and put my hands in the other.

Becky - It CAN get very cold if a cold front comes through, but I would prepare for warmer temps and plan to layer if it gets cold. The majority of our weather in Amsterdam early Oct. 2015 was in the 60's and maybe high 50's. It was perfect! Mostly sunny days, fall colors, and lovely walks along the canals. When the cold front came through it dropped into the high 30's/low 40's and the wind was biting. I am returning this Oct. and early November. What am I taking for warmth? Marmot precip rain jacket, sweater, and fleece vest. Or maybe just a fleece jacket, but I hate to pack it because it takes up so much room. I always carry my cap (which covers my ears), gloves, and I can pick up a scarf there if I need it. I will also throw a set of thermaskins in my luggage as it is lightweight and doesn't take up hardly any space. The thermaskins may be a little on the side of overkill, but I know how miserable I was in that wind. Do not take a heavier coat. The raincoat I took for last Dec/Jan in the Netherlands has a built in (nonremovable) fleece lining and I would burn up in that coat if I needed a rain jacket in warmer temps. Layer, layer, layer, like described by other posters is the key. I would only take that down coat if it packs up into nothing. I think you would probably get more use out of a sweater and fleece vest or jacket. Check out Sierra Trading Post. I got my Columbia fleece vest from there for $25USD.

Have a marvelous trip!

A poncho to keep wind and rain out , keep your handbag/backpack dry and can fold up in a small package . For warmth , as already mentioned , layers , layers , layers .

Thanks again to all for your suggestions. I will definitelyplan to layer and take a rain jacket, a poncho, gloves, a hat and a scarf. One issue is that I ride in a wheelchair for all distances, so I really feel the wind. Plus my husband , who pushes, really gets going, which kicks up more wind. Of course, he gets pretty warm🙂.

As Laura notes, Amsterdam October means are similar to Seattle means:

Month / Normal Temp / High Temp / Low Temp / Days Precip

https://www.yr.no/place/Nederland/Nord-Holland/Amsterdam/statistics.html

October 10.6°C 14.1°C 7.0°C 12

https://www.yr.no/place/United_States/Washington/Seattle/statistics.html

October 11.9°C 15.6°C 8.3°C 10

Definitely pack a knit hat and gloves. I was there during a particularly windy, rainy May and although I regularly wore layers, the damp conditions and wind made it feel pretty cold. I had brought gloves, but neglected to pack a hat thinking I wouldn't need it in May so I ended up buying one and it made a big difference keeping me warm. I'm going back mid to late November so will be going with a wool pea coat I can layer tees and sweaters underneath. I'm just not a rain shell/rain poncho type of person - the waterproof fabric of a shell tends to make me overheat and start feeling sweaty, and the hoods usually on those shells/ponchos typically block some of my peripheral vision, so I use a compact umbrella rated for very high winds to keep the rain off my coat.