The Complex Guide To Essential Winter Brands

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Classics never die. If a brand has been around for 50 years or more, that means they're doing something right. If your primary products are cold weather clothes, that means you have to have the goods that maintain the balance between maximum warmth and casual style.

Face it: lots of newer brands aren't creating new items for us to ogle over. They're imitating the L.L. Beans, Pendletons, Red Wings, Filsons and Woolriches of the world. These sorts of companies have been making the same thing for years and are pretty damn good at it. There's also some under-the-radar brands that are innovating winter gear through newer fabrications and modern cuts. We're bringing you the best of both worlds. Here's  the Complex Guide To Essential Winter Brands.

Patagonia 

If you're into warm, stylish, and enviromentally-friendly outerwear, then you need not look any further than Patagonia. Established in 1972, the company is known for making some of the best outdoor gear money can buy, Patagonia has stood the test of time and remains of the coolest winter brands around — their quilted down vests and jackets are wardrobe staples that any dude can rock.

Men's Down Sweater, $200

M's Nano Puff Vest, $129 

Men's Torrentshell Jacket, $119

Moncler 

The creme de la creme of down outerwear — when money is not an issue (or it is but you've been saving up), the unmistakable look and irrefutable warmth of this French brand's products have been aped by mall brands for years. Their expensive price range is due to the fact that they've managed to mix the cachet of a luxury brand with clothing that actually does a great job of keeping you warm. They also enlisted American designer Thom Browne to infuse an avant-garde aesthetic to their Gamme Bleu line, where you'll find fashionable yet functional items like quilted sportcoats.

The Tib Vest, $525  

The Moncler Hat, $195 

The Collo Alto Knit, $370

Fox River 

Socks are usually an afterthought when it comes to your cold weather wardrobe. That is, unless you have a pair of Fox River socks in your possession. This Iowa brand has kept hands and feet warm for over 110 years, and with winter socks being all the hubbub these days, the Red Heel Monkey Sock and Ragglers have never been more necessary. 

Original Red Heel Monkey Socks, $14/2 pair 

Ragg and Leather Glove, $27 

Raggler Socks, $14/2 pair

Filson 

114 years is a hell of a long time to be making some of the marquee items every grown-ass man should own. With rugged outerwear like the Mackinaw Cruiser and their tough twill bags leading the charge through the years, this brand has gone above and beyond to establish itself as the go-to purveyor of high-quality outdoor clothing for men who figure they "might as well have the best."

Mackinaw Cruiser, $290 

Tan Rucksack, $260 

Mackinaw Field Pants, $200

Red Wing 

Often imitated, but never duplicated, Red Wing is probably one of those heritage brands that have made the biggest strides the past few years. And why wouldn't they? Undoubtedly, the de facto boot of the heritage set is the 6" Moc. They've also made appearances on runways like designer Patrik Ervell, who kitted out his male models in the low-cut Postman shoe. The fact that they've gone from functional to fashionable without changing a thing shows this Minnesota brand hasn't lost a step since it's inception in 1905. 

6" Olive Mohave 8881 Boot, $350 

Suede/Nubuck Cleaner Set, $11 

Antique Cigar Beckman Moc 9030, $440

Woolrich 

The "Original Outdoors Company" has been around for over 180 years and has set a standard for the Americana crowd. Woolrich is the brand your grand pappy wore proudly, and now it's got two up-market off-shoots designed to appease even the most fashion forward dudes: Woolrich Woolen Mills, a modern take on the brand's expansive archive designed by Mark McNairy, and the decidedly more European Woolrich John Rich & Bros, which takes familiar staples and gives them an Italian-infused sartorial twist.

Mountain Parka, $169 

Westview Shawl Collar Sweater, $69 

Arctic Trooper Hat, $39

The North Face 

The North Face is one of the few winter brands that's also a household name. Seriously, your grandma knows what it is. The outdoors have never seen a brand as universally cool from the streets to the slopes. And for a brand that's been around for 45 years, they stick with the staples that got them to where they are, adding in new technology and innovative designs to keep them on top, while doing strategic collaborations with cool brands like Supreme, and nobody's complaining about that. 

Denali Hoodie, $180 

Etip Glove, $40 

McMurdo Parka, $300

Burton 

When it comes to hitting the slopes, there's only one brand out that shows you know what you're doing out there, whether you actually do or not. Founded in 1977 in Vermont, Burton has established themselves as the frontrunner for all your cold weather snowboarding goods. Even though the brand is relatively young, they're learning some new tricks from the old dogs: pairing up with companies like Carharrt and Red Wing for some unequivocally cool heritage-inspired collaborations. With snow board icons like Shawn White and Jeremy Jones rocking your brand on their backs, it's clear to see why Burton's the king of the slopes.

Heritage Camo Outland Parka, $260 

Acid Wash Print Board Sack, $65 

Astro Turf Dot Matrix Cargo Pant, $150

Pendleton Woolen Mills 

With tradition dating all the way back to 1863 in Portland, Pendleton is the quintessential brand for staying warm and stylish at the same time. Known for their penchant for Navajo-inspired prints, their blankets put them on the map for being both warm and stylish, while their plaid wool overshirts were pretty ubiquitous at flea markets and vintage stores. Now they've expanded their brand with the Portland collection, a line of slim-fitting goods designed in their hometown, as well as collaborations with companies like Levi's, Stussy, and Kith.

Denim Jacket, $144 

Chief Joseph Cherrywood Sunglasses, $210 

Merino Wool Knit Muffler, $40

L.L. Bean 

This New England company has been around for almost 100 years making their trademark duck boots, handsewn moccasins and soft-ass chamois shirts. Recently they enlisted Rogues Gallery founder Alex Carleton to reinvent some of their wardrobe staples with the L.L. Bean Signature line, and while there are some great, well-fitting clothes you can cop from that collection, sometimes you just can't beat the classics. Every other white person most likely has a pair of Bean Boots in their closet, and other rugged footwear like their Katahdin Iron Works boots aren't going out of style anytime soon either.

Classic Wool Travel Blazer, $175 

Rubber Moc Bean Boots, $69 

Norwegian Sweater, $129