I am a working aging boomer who lives on farm. I've worn all the usual blue collar working gear,some of it new, but most from thrift stores,new and used.
This summer I was given one of these coats.It is now November and I am just doggone flat thrilled with it. I have known Bean quality for decades, often not able to justify the expense in my mind. But quality costs. This is coat I'm gonna have, use,keep until my time runs out. What a great coat.
I put the ID card in the pocket sticking out so you can tell it's there — it fits all the way inside, horizontally or vertically.
I turned to LL Bean to find a fall coat — not too warm, but enough to beat back the chill. The field coat (wool/nylon liner) has done the job wonderfully so far! It looks exactly like the LL Bean picture shows; good on them for accurate lighting/colors. I'm quite small (5'5"), so I was concerned when I ordered about sizing (especially because LL Bean doesn't make this in size extra small). Several reviews here said the coat is extremely large, has long sleeves, useless chest pocket, etc. To my pleasant surprise, I haven't found any of those to be the case (see below).
I usually wear this coat over a long sleeve shirt and a crewneck sweater, and despite my small frame the coat does not engulf me. Sleeves are long, but they fit just fine when I cuff them (which seems to be intended, judging from the corduroy lining on the inside cuff). Some reviews said the "handwarmer" pockets are too low to be natural. They're at the perfect height for me, but perhaps that's just a fortunate consequence of me being short! The chest pocket is indeed small (won't fit a smartphone), but it fits an ID card perfectly, so that's what I use it for. Inside pockets would be nice, but I don't mind. Oh, and the collar stands up just fine, in case I don't have a scarf and the wind is nasty.
The body lining is reminiscent of a flannel blanket and feels like one too, nice and cozy! I love it. Arm lining is some Thinsulate lining like you see in most jackets nowadays. Flannel would have been nice, but the Thinsulate works just fine. The "handwarmer" pockets are unlined. I wish they were, because on cold nights when I don't have gloves on, they're no big help. Of course, I realize the coat wasn't designed for that purpose; the "handwarmer" pockets are essentially flaps to keep the bottom pockets covered (they're not even inside the coat, more like attached to the outside). The canvas-like shell seems tough, probably not going to tear in the brambles or anything.
(Side note: Contrary to the LL Bean "comfort zone" suggestion, I would put the comfort range with lining at 45 to 20 F. Which is right in line with what a fall coat should be. Without the lining, probably more like 65 to 40, although I haven't tested that.)
I would definitely recommend this coat, especially with the wool/nylon lining. As I figured, it's removable — so might as well have it for when you need it. Wonderfully comfy and reliable!
I bought my field coat (with Primasoft liner) in 1995. I've worn it through every winter since. It's sun bleached on the back and it's got stains from its various adventures, but that jacket has lasted nearly 20 years and there's not a stitch out of place...fantastic jacket and I'd recommend it to anyone.
