Making a decision on the right outdoor coats and jackets for your wardrobe can at first sight appear to be slightly daunting. After all, there is a tremendous range of designs, fabrics, and technological features to choose from, never mind is it the right colour and size. While functionality should be your main concern, it is going to be your first line of defence against whatever the elements throw at you, you will still have that personal choice affecting your final choice, just don't make a dog's dinner of it and choose something totally inappropriate like Fido in the picture.

The best approach is to write down some ideas which will influence your choice, such as budget, what the garment is going to be used for (whether its hill walking, day to day use, summer or winter wear), or you might have a favourite brand. You may be looking for a particular feature such as durability, or being waterproof or being lightweight to help make your choice.

Further considerations could be the type of walking you are going to be undertaking. If you are going to undertaking regular day hikes then a light jacket (waterproof) would be ideal as it can be packed away in your rucksack. On longer trips, or autumn/winter trips you will need to consider something that is a bit heavier, such as a 3-in-1 jacket. The durability of the fabric should also be considered, after all you want to get value for money, and you want to be comfortable when you are wearing your coat or jacket. Remember to think about how your pack fits over the jacket, consider the following; will it let you access all your pockets? Remember that all your straps will need to be adjusted.

A softshell jacket or coat may be one consideration as they are wind and water resistant. These tend to be used for more active outdoor pursuits, such as cycling or climbing. They do not need to be fully waterproof or windproof as the activity of the wearer keeps them comfortable.

When you are walking uphill you generate excess heat and all you need is protection from the wind, so a windproof jacket or coat may be the answer, as this would give you the protection you need and help to keep the body temperature down so you would feel more comfortable. Most of this type are normally water resistant to a certain extent, if caught in a light shower, and they tend to dry quickly too.

The good old fleece is a ready stand-by item that we all have and is available in a variety of styles and weights so is a good layer item. When you just need maximum warmth from your clothing and don’t want to mess around with layers, either a “down” garment or insulated hiking jacket can be a good choice.

This is by no means an exhaustive list as you may want to consider but just goes to show that there are as many choices to be made, by each and everyone of us when it comes to choosing outdoor coats and jackets. So why not come up with your own considerations and see what bargains you can find on the website