Posted by Depending on the conditions in which you’ll be wearing your parka, it might be better to opt for a different type of jacket. For example, if you plan to hike in the snow, consider purchasing a cagoule jacket with an insulation weight and shell fabric that suit your needs.
For work-related activities, look for a safety parka that complies with compliance standards and regulations. This helps ensure you are covered in case of an accident or emergency.
Hooded Parkas
If you want a Heavyweight Parka Jacket that can stand up to snow and freezing temperatures, look for one with fur trim on the hood. The ruff helps break up the wind to prevent frostbite by circulating turbulent warm air around your face. It’s also a fashionable and functional detail—it looks good on both men’s and women’s jackets. Wolverine fur is the traditional choice, but coyote or fox fur can also do the trick.
Another type of parka that can stand up to freezing temps is one made from recycled materials, like this one by Patagonia. It’s insulated with 600-fill-power ethically sourced, 100 percent recycled duck and goose down and has special hand-warmer pockets that help you stay toasty while you hike or ski. Plus, it’s machine-washable, which is always a bonus with performance outerwear.
Hybrid down-synthetic parkas like this one from Arc’teryx combine the warmth of down with the water resistance of synthetic insulation. They typically have a higher warmth-to-weight ratio than down jackets, and they’re usually less expensive than Arc’teryx’s top-rated Patera parka (which has a denier of 7).
Many experts I talked to recommended this full-length parka from Uniqlo as a good place to start for cold, dry climates. Its long, relaxed fit gives you room for layers and a streetwear-inspired style, while the hood is high in the front to protect from cold weather. A zip-up front and multiple zippered pockets give this jacket plenty of versatility, and it’s available in both gender-neutral and men’s sizes.
Zip-Up Parkas
This jacket is made from the same fabric as Patagonia’s AlpLoft down parka, which has been the toast of mountaineers for years. It features a slightly slimmer silhouette and minimal features, which are perfectly suited for mountaineers who want to stay warm but don’t need the full feature set that most other parkas have.
It has a fur-trimmed hood, ribbed cuffs and waistband and the brand tab on the hem. It’s also lightweight for a parka, weighing just 11 oz in a medium size. And it’s surprisingly warm.
The 550 fill power white duck down is rated TEI 3 by the manufacturer, so it’s plenty warm for ice climbing and other high alpine activities. It’s also a great jacket for city dwellers who spend much of their time outdoors and need a versatile and durable parka that will keep them warm when temps drop.
Another thing that sets it apart is its box wall construction. More traditional down jackets use stitch-through construction, which creates cold spots and can lead to leaks and durability issues. The baffles in this jacket are sewn into a grid pattern that minimizes these problems and makes it more comfortable and durable than other jackets. And the thick, visible yarns give the fabric a unique texture that’s hard to describe — almost rubbery but not slippery like you might expect from synthetic fabrics.
Fishtail Parkas
Originally designed for the US Army in 1951, the M-51 fishtail parka was created to protect soldiers from extremely cold weather conditions. The outer shell is a standard olive drab green and can be matched with the detachable quilted parka liner for additional warmth. The M-51 parka also has a permanently attached hood that forms part of the outer shell. The hood can be buttoned-in (like the ones worn by Jimmy in the film Quadrophenia) or left unbuttoned for a more casual look.
The real innovation in the fishtail parka is found in its split back, with drawstrings at each hem that can be tied to trap additional heat and block the wind. This feature earned the parka its name, as it resembles the tail of a fish. The fishtail design allowed the wearer to move freely while preventing drafts from entering the jacket.
The M-51 parka quickly gained popularity in the UK due to its practicality and availability at military surplus shops. The coat was adopted by the Mod culture, a 1960s youth subculture that preferred modern jazz music, slim-cut suits, Vespa scooters and fishtail parkas. The parka’s nylon / polyester lining sits close to the skin and provides excellent insulation against extreme cold conditions. It is also very waterproof, which helped the Mods preserve their expensive Italian cut suits from grease and dirt while riding their Vespas through London streets.
Military Parkas
Military parkas are among the most durable and warm coats on the market, a testament to their heritage as cold-weather gear for troops in all corners of the globe. These styles of puffer jackets in canada feature a tight weave that allows it to trap more heat but still permits moisture in the form of perspiration to escape. This helps prevent the jacket from feeling bulky and clammy while still keeping it as toasty as possible. The hood can also be zippered shut, granting the wearer an almost cocoon-like experience. This feature is what gives this type of parka its common name, the snorkel parka, although it does limit the wearer’s field of vision and hearing.
The N-3B parka, which was issued to military pilots in the late 1940s, is one of the best-known examples of this design. It combines a weatherproof shell with a thick insulated liner, which can be either down or synthetic. Its other distinguishing feature is its fishtail extension at the back, which can be snapped in place for extra warmth or folded out of the way when a soldier needs to move around.
When it comes to finding the right parka for you, it depends on what sort of activities you’ll be doing. A general purpose parka can be great for surviving a Northeastern winter or year-round use in mild climates, while flight parkas are ideal for cold-weather air travel.
Conclusion
Choosing the right parka jacket depends on your specific needs and personal style preferences. Whether you’re looking for warmth, durability, or a fashionable statement piece, there’s a parka jacket type for everyone. Understanding the different types of parkas available will help you make an informed decision and ensure that you stay cozy and stylish in any weather condition. So, explore your options and find the perfect parka jacket to suit your lifestyle.