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11 Best Winter Parka Jackets for Men
Your checklist of winter style essentials should almost be like a way to fight back against seasonal cold. You watch news reports from afar about intense winter storms, so why not gear up accordingly when a blizzard or a frosty evening rolls into town? And the best way to do that? With one of the best winter parkas, naturally.
In my experience, there’s a right way and a wrong way to go about selecting a parka. Paying attention to warmth and fill power is vital, of course.
And you’ve also got options that are well-suited to both city life and the great outdoors in terms of sleek style.
What I’ve found is that it’s possible to get a parka in a modern, stylish cut, without sacrificing any performance features. When in doubt, avoid looking too bulky – or dressed like you’re visiting the planet Hoth, at least in my opinion.
- The parka is a winter essential: This long coat is outfitted with warm insulation, useful pockets and often, a helpful hood for extreme cold weather (or everyday winter pursuits).
- Insulation makes the difference: Choose carefully between feather down or synthetic insulation, and look for a higher fill power for more warmth.
- Look for added features: Parkas boast details like ribbed cuffs for a snug fit, and the best parkas offer room to add base layers or cozy extras like a flannel shirt.
Consider a parka a true must-have as brisk weather hits your neck of the woods. After all, a fleece jacket or even a puffer jacket sometimes don’t provide quite enough coverage or warmth. In those instances, a parka is built to go the distance.
Parkas were originally worn by explorers in locales with intense Arctic conditions, but there are styles now more suited to modern life – with sleek designs and plenty of warmth built right in.
The North Face is nearly unmatched when it comes to modern performance gear designed to scale great heights, literally. For your own adventures far afield, this recycled waterfowl down parka boasts a faux fur-trimmed hood and plenty of EDC pockets. It could be the warmest winter coat you buy.
The North Face McMurdo Parka
It’s hard to go wrong with a classic when it comes to one of the best men’s parkas for winter, and the McMurdo Parka is undoubtedly a classic.
From the removable faux-fur trim hood to the simple, subtle design featuring colors like “TNF Black,” it’s as reliable a winter coat as it gets – and it’s even more reliable and warm when you consider the 600-fill recycled waterfowl down.
Oversized front patch pockets provide crucial space for your everyday carry essentials when on the move this winter. A nice bonus? You can extend coverage past your wrists with hook-and-loop cuff tabs for both mobility and comfort in cold, blustery weather.
Insulation: recycled feather down
Columbia Penn Creek II Parka
There’s a fine line to walk when layering up one of the best winter parkas – overdo it, and you might overheat.
Columbia takes on that problem with this dynamic parka, utilizing Omni-Heat technology to adapt to your own body heat on the fly. The result? A winter jacket that’s neither too flimsy nor too warm, but just right.
Insulation: recycled polyester
Canada Goose Langford Parka Heritage
It seems like Canada Goose parkas have been positively everywhere as of late, but the heritage retailer is certainly more than just a trendy option for your winter parka. They’re a pioneer in the category, after all, with the specs and history to prove it.
The Langford Parka in particular is cut longer for extra protection and lined with a warm, real fur hood that also looks pretty cool. Made with responsibly sourced 625-fill power duck down, Canada Goose says this parka is built for extreme conditions – it’s tough not to take them at their word on that.
Insulation: feather down
Carhartt Montana Loose-Fit Insulated Jacket
You likely know Carhartt for its tough-as-nails canvas work jackets, but even the most fierce winter weather requires a few extra tools in your arsenal.
In this case, that means a tough nylon exterior and an insulated interior, plus a fit that allows plenty of room for layering thermal shirts and even a Carhartt sweatshirt in especially frigid conditions.
Insulation: synthetic down
Arc'teryx Therme Parka
Arc’teryx has taken the parka from the Arctic Circle into the modern age with a seriously streamlined design at home in the city or a winter cabin retreat.
The key is durable, weather-ready GORE-TEX fabric designed to resist water and wind, and they’ve filed this sleek winter parka with 750-fill power down for plenty of warmth. They’ve also blended that down with synthetic insulation in areas prone to moisture, a nice and highly functional touch for performance pursuits.
Insulation: feather down with synthetic added in a few spots
Patagonia Jackson Glacier Parka
Looking for as much coverage as you can possibly get from a winter parka? Patagonia checks off that box quite nicely with a thigh-length parka that happens to be plenty eco-friendly. That means you can feel good about wearing this parka (it’s sewn to Fair Trade Certified specifications) inside and out – note the use of toasty 700-fill power 100 percent recycled duck and goose down).
Note the hidden inner zip chest pocket to store your phone and other EDC picks, along with the oversized hood for even more coverage from fast-falling winter snow.
Insulation: recycled duck and goose down
Alpha Industries N-3B Parka
Alpha Industries was contracted by the government to supply the U.S. military with the hardest-working jackets on the planet, an effort they certainly didn’t take lightly. Today, much of that same utility and performance holds true, whether with the brand’s famed field coats or the highly useful, sturdily built N-3B Parka.
The N-3B was designed for the U.S. Air Force, with the specs to prove it: Note the front storm flap for plentiful weather protection, plus the durable nylon outer shell and authentic sleeve zip pocket.
Insulation: polyester
Filson Down Cruiser Parka
You absolutely know the difference between a subpar jacket and a Filson jacket from the moment you put it on.
Sturdy, well-built but not overly so, and made to last and last, Filson’s Down Cruiser Parka harnesses the brand’s legendary water-resistant waxed cotton, plus goose down insulation, for maximum warmth out in the field.
Insulation: goose down
Lands’ End Squall Insulated Waterproof Parka
This Lands’ End parka packs a ton of features into a subtle, functional design, including a cinchable waist for a secure fit and large front flap pockets for daily carry storage.
It gives you all this while topping things off with a durable nylon hood and warm polyester insulation. The mid-thigh length is crucial for coverage on blustery days.
Insulation: polyester
Everlane ReNew Long Parka
Affordability isn’t the only thing Everlane has going for it as you scour the market for one of the best winter parkas, but it’s quite the added bonus. For under $250, get yourself a crisply designed, effective winter parka filled with PrimaLoft insulation and made from recycled materials every step of the way.
The ReNew Parka surely lives up to its name (it’s made with material from 64 plastic bottles), and yet it also delivers in terms of performance. The storm hood is exceptionally useful in windy winter weather, and oversized front hip and side-zip chest pockets deliver helpful storage space on the go. Plus, cool colors like India Ink make this wearable with every winter piece in your wardrobe.
Insulation: recycled PrimaLoft insulation
Black Diamond Vision Down Parka
If you’re hitting the slopes or the trail on an ice-cold winter day, you need a parka that prioritizes performance above all else.
Style points aren’t a bad thing to have either, and Black Diamond hits the mark with an ultra-lightweight shell, 800-fill goose down and a series of dynamic quilted patterns for an eye-catching look.
Insulation: goose down
What is a Parka?
A parka is an insulated long coat hitting usually well below the waist, with added features like a thick hood to keep out the winter cold, plus front and chest pockets.
The Basics of Parka Insulation
What really counts with a parka is what’s inside that jacket – the insulation is going to provide that all-important warmth, after all, and there are different types of insulation based on jacket style.
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