Canadians spend more on winter outerwear than almost anyone, and most of it is synthetic fill in a synthetic shell. Shearling - sheepskin with the wool still attached - outperforms nearly all of it, and it has for a few hundred years. Here is what to know before buying.
Why Shearling Works So Well Here
It is one material doing two jobs. The hide side blocks wind completely; the wool side traps warm air and wicks moisture away from your body. That second part matters more than people realise - synthetic insulation loses efficiency the moment you sweat walking to the bus, while wool keeps working damp.
- Warmth per weight: better than most down at equivalent thickness, with no cold spots at seams.
- No shell to fail. Nothing to delaminate, no DWR coating to wear off after twenty washes.
- Decades, not seasons. A well-kept shearling outlives several technical parkas.
Real Shearling vs 'Sherpa' vs Faux
This is where money gets wasted:
- Real shearling - one piece of sheepskin, wool attached. Part the wool and you see hide, not fabric backing. Warmest, heaviest, most durable.
- Sherpa / faux shearling - polyester pile sewn onto fabric. Warm-ish, much cheaper, mats within a season and does not breathe.
- Shearling-trimmed - real wool on collar and cuffs only, with a standard lining elsewhere. A reasonable middle ground for milder cities.
What to Check Before Ordering
- Wool density. Push your fingers in - dense and springy means warm. Thin, flat pile is a cost cut.
- Full coverage. Sleeves lined too, not just the body.
- Metal hardware. Plastic zips turn brittle in Prairie cold.
- Cut and length. Longer coats hold far more heat when you are standing at a bus stop. See the long vs short shearling guide.
Which One for Your Winter
- Milder coastal cities: a shearling-collar aviator is enough - see aviator jackets in Canada.
- Toronto / Montreal / Ottawa: full shearling jacket. Our Brown/Beige and Black/Black are the workhorses.
- Prairies and north: full shearling, longer cut, and layer a knit underneath below -25°C.
Ordering to Canada
We ship free to Canada with 30-day returns; delivery typically takes 10-15 business days. Customs duties or import fees may apply on arrival and are set by CBSA. Order by late October to have it before the first hard freeze - shearling is not a piece you want arriving in January.
Caring for It Through Salt Season
Brush the wool occasionally to keep the pile lofted, wipe salt splash off the hide the same day, and never dry it near a heater. Full routine: leather in snow.
Browse the Shearling & Fur collection - real sheepskin, free shipping to Canada.