The easy answer is to set your intention for the coat (commuting to work and general wear, snow sports, working outside), set a budget and look for some decent coats and try them on in-person. There typically aren’t temperature ratings because temperature is extremely personal. I usually don’t wear a winter coat until it’s well below freezing.

For a climate that is below freezing for multiple days or weeks on end, but not an extremely harsh climate, I’d go for a shell and liner type coat. This is typically a water-resistant outer coat with little or no insulation and a fleece jacket that zips inside. The lowest I’d be willing to go to insure that you still get good use out of it is Columbia. Other brands that will be useful for many years are Obermeyer, Patagonia, or nearly any brand carried by REI. Ski/snowboard equipment like Burton is decent and Lands End or LLBean in the US is also a decent bet. REI and Patagonia have used marketplaces online if you know your size and what you want. I personally would not go to a secondhand store unless it was high end consignment or very well taken care of.

Avoid Canada Goose or luxury brands that don’t specialize in outerwear.

Go for a Barbour wax jacket which will last your whole life. There is a reason it's a favourite for farmers. Warm and waterproof.

I will only say this once. Carhartt has a lifetime warranty.

I’ve been using this review site for years for hiking/camping/winter gear and shoes.

Find yourself a 3-layer jacket. One jacket, three layers and year round use.

Find brands like Columbia, The North Face, Patagonia, ect...

Choose comfort over style. Parkas keep your bum warm, whereas bombers do not. Avoid fashionable brands like Canada Goose, Moose Knuckle etc. They're very warm, but also extremely overpriced.

I like my North Face, but Eddie Bauer and Decathlon also have great options at a fraction of the price.

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Get one that is waterproof and windproof. Slightly bigger than you need. With a hood.

I like an inside pocket for phone and wallet.

Last one I bought was from Costco for $35.

>And why don't companies seem to give temperature ratings for their coats?

Some do, apparently. I've seen a few different manufacturers use the CLO Value, while some have their own proprietary values like Canada Goose's TEI.

>do I need a parka for a place that's sub-freezing for the majority of the winter?

The times I've visited Colorado, Chicago, and Montreal in the winter I brought a North Face parka with me.

Honestly it was more cumbersome than anything else. It was too bulky to wear anything except a shirt underneath, so I was constantly having to take it on and off since all the indoors were aggressively heated.

Nowadays I'm all about layering. I have a bigger waxed canvas jacket I can wear over a sweater or flannel or hoodie. And if I need something snow or waterproof to cover my head I have a Ushanka hat I can wear. I only ever bring my parka if I'm actively going to be in the snow.

Different winter coats are better for different activities. Skiing/snowboarding coats can be warm but will also have a lot of ventilation and may he more expensive due to all the features. If you walk around a lot outside, longer jackets are really nice. Mid thigh length at least will help you keep your core warm. The very long parkas can be inconvenient for a lot of walking for say commuting but may be very cozy for casual dog walking. Wind proof is a must have. Puffy coats tend to be wind proof but not always water proof. This is again where the pirpose of the jacket comes in. I live in the Boston area and have a great knee length Patagonia puffy jacket for commuting. It's super warm and relatively light weight but not very water proof. I also have a ski jacket that is very water proof, perhaps a bit heavier physical weight wise and is shorter for better movement while doing snow sports.

Always try on a jacket with a layer or two. If you want wear a fleece or sweatshirt underneath it's probably too tight. Brand wise, anything carried by REI will serve you well, including their store brand. LL Bean is quality but not as fashionable. Good luck!

This company is amazing. I have one of their jackets and it keeps me so warm in the -30 degree weather. If you get one of their lighter down jackets, you’ll be warm without being too toasty. Their down is also ethically sourced.

I recommend a Canada Goose parka for lifetime value and warmth.

A Patagonia employee told me coats aren’t rated by temperature because people’s sensitivity varies i.e., some people run cold, some hot.

If you are in the US, I’d recommend buying your coat from REI and while you are there signing up for their membership club. Lifetime warranty on everything in the store, if it rips or doesn’t work years later you bring it in, give them your info, and they’ll let you exchange it.

Men's coats have temperature ratings some women's coats have temperature ratings. How cold does it get. If the temperature hovers around 0 that's one thing but if it's weeks at colder than neg 30 that different.

I’m always amazed by how cheap the north face’s Nuptse down puffers are in comparison to other brands. It keeps you warm and super light, packable.

TNF also has a lifetime warranty btw!

north face and columbia are warmer than patagonia if you’re going to look into any of the brands listed in the comments. patagonia is so expensive and legit not even warm, i’ve been so disappointed in my patagonia purchases