Help choosing a jacket.

I've worn lots of cold-weather gear over the years, and my top two have been Lands' End Squall and various flavors of North Face, and both offer hooded and hoodless styles. I'm all about the value, so Jack Wolfskin, Canada Goose, Arc'teryx and Patagonia don't appeal to me, though I do find myself drawn to Patagonia for its social commitments and values.

I personally find fleece insulation preferable to down. Down tends to lose much of its insulating power when it's smushed down (technical term), as when you have a backpack. Or at least that's my experience.

Having lived and traveled in cold and wet climates, my suggestion is a hooded (or not) jacket plus a shell. The combination allows easy adjustments when addressing rain, wind and snow. For years, the Patagonia Nano Puff is my jacket of choice. Bonus: it compresses fairly well and recovers from that state when needed. You can source a jacket to fit over the shell to shed rain, snow and wind, with suitable ventilation characteristics.

How close does this come to fitting your wish list?

https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_us/coastal-30-parka-53995?color=290548

No personal experience with this coat, but my wife had a Helly-Hansen coat she really liked when she had recess duty during her time as a teacher.

Thanks Joe...but that's similar in size and thickness to what I currently own. Exceot my hood isn't as "furry."

I added a link to a photo of the model jacket I currently have in my question.

Both my husband and I swear by our Arcteryx jackets. We take them to Iceland even in the winter and with the proper layers we stay perfectly warm. I hate bulk so can't do anything with built in layers. These are waterproof/windproof and pretty much bulletproof. The hood are great and are adjustable, and pit zips which of course are mandatory. They are not cheap, but so worth the money! One of mine is 8 years old and still looks absolutely brand new.

Columbia makes some coats that having a special lining (it’s silver colored) that are supposed to keep you warm without adding so much bulk. I had one and thought it was quite warm. Might be worth scoping out.

We also use Arc'teryx jackets. Sometimes with a thin fleece zip up jacket underneath. Thin, packable, warm, breathable.......

If you are near an REI store, they will have some good choices to try on.

Datapoint of one: Merino base layer + merino midweight top + Columbia fleece vest + North Face 600-700 down puffer + North Face waterproof shell (1 size up from the puffer so as not to overcompress the down). My shell has a hood, but I carry a wool stocking-hat as well. Minimal weight + maximal packing compressability makes it easy to mix and match combinations of layers and stow the unused ones in a Civita daypack on the fly whilst out and about.

IMO being too hot is just as uncomfortable as being too cold, so I prioritise being able to regulate in-between.

GPB...way too much stuff to carry in my bags. I handle the cold fairly well so I don't need all that.

Base layer+ sweater+ coat is my goal. It's worked so far.