seeking active winter parka

Submitted by __jjjjjj__ t3_yc0cdl in BuyItForLife

Crosspost

I am a student living in MN and am looking for a durable winter parka that I can use biking (3 mile commute), ice skating, skiing, hiking, and neighborhood walking in the middle of winter. Three that I have in mind are:

I don't know how to think about the durability and the warmth of each. The first two parkas may just be outer layers? I often wear backpacks, so durability around the shoulders is important too. Any thoughts would be great!

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[deleted] t1_itjmx0j wrote

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oculardrip t1_itk1n3u wrote

+1 for patagonia - I have worn my puffy from them almost every day for the last five years (always chilly in sf). Last winter i got a big gash in it and they repaired it free.

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VindictivePrune t1_itjtlry wrote

I remember there being THE company for parkas/extreme weather clothing that gave you both exceptional warmth and amazing durability but I've forgotten the brand by this point. It may have been Canada Goose but I can't say for sure

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twentytwothumbs t1_itjusla wrote

Canada goose is the ultimate but comes with a Hefty price tag. I have a heavy duty carhartt parka, fifteen years on it and will probably last another fifteen.

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VindictivePrune t1_itjvczl wrote

Yeah carhartt makes some good stuff. Got one of their canvas outer jackets back in 18. Worn it dirt biking when it gets cold or wet ever since and it's still going strong, despite some falls and slides

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Bakom_spegeln t1_itk4ztc wrote

Fjällräven Greenland. Will outlive your grandchildren.

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NoCarmaForMe t1_itlw15o wrote

I’ve got the Nuuk one. A friend of mine bought one used many many years ago, and I just got one a couple years ago when I moved to a place that dips below -25 C during winter months. It’s amazingly warm, the warmest I’ve ever owned, and I love that it’s so durable. I don’t think I’ll have to buy a new parka ever again unless I outgrow it

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RaggaDruida t1_itnd5p7 wrote

This! I was surprised to not see Fjallraven at the top of the recommendations if we talk about BuyItForLife!

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Bakom_spegeln t1_ito7ic4 wrote

Yeah, and for once, I have proof it’s a buy it for life jacket. I wore my grandfathers greenland for years in my late teenage years. My grandfather bought it new in the 70th, then my father had it many years in the early 90th when me and my sibling was growing up, then in the middle of 2000 I wore it everyday for maybe 6-7 years.

I still have it somewhere in a closet. To bad I have accumulated more mass then them, but jt outlived them both.

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Bcruz75 t1_itrtoq4 wrote

I'm going in a different direction and recommend that you use layers to stay warm. Almost Everything you will be doing is active/athletic which requires the ability to add and remove layers as needed. Something with pit zips would be critical because you're going to burn up, sweat, then get cold from the sweat if you wear a parka riding your bike. Same thing with skiing. Sweat is your worst enemy when you're active in cold weather.

I've done fat bike 'fun runs' at night, in the winter at 10,000 ft which typically starts at 20 degrees and ends in single digits. When I finally figured out how to dress, I would wear a baselayer, midlayer shirt, and a light softshell jacket with the pits open the entire time.

I would recommend a merino wool layer, a warm fleece jacket, and a hardshell outer layer for cold days when you're active. Ditch the wool layer or the shell on slightly warmer dry days. Ditch the fleece on much warmer days. Cold non active days are a different story..add layers because you won't be fighting sweat as much.

Don't skimp on gloves and get face covering for super cold commuting in snow or sleet. Your 20 minute commute will double if you have to contend with slick roads, heavier traffic, etc.

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__jjjjjj__ OP t1_itsb7k4 wrote

wow great, thank you!!!

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Bcruz75 t1_itsdxii wrote

I take the wisdom of the best survivalist/bushcraft expert Les Stroud aka Survivorman....his famous line is "if you sweat (dramatic pause) you die".

Ya'all get some brutal cold up there so I might have slightly underestimated the need for warmth when you're less active but I kinda fixated on your biking commute. A three mile commute should be 20-30 minutes depending on things like sitting at traffic lights...pretty sure you'll be warm by mile 2. Casually walking will require significantly more warm layers, or ideally a parka like the ones others are recommending.

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Mightyskull t1_itsu43h wrote

I live in Minnesota. You need 3 jackets for winter. Waterproof Medium to heavy shell that has vents. Medium warm jacket (mine is a hooded Columbia omnitech) . A very warm long jacket that goes to at least mid thigh that is windproof.
The last jacket is for when it is below zero - mine is a Eddie bauer expedition parka.
Throw in some hats, gloves and fleece hoodies and you should be good. Dont forget insulated water proof boots, Columbia makes decent ones or sorel

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DudeFromMiami t1_itk2zo9 wrote

Canada goose is basically par for the course living in Switzerland but IMO they are over rated and over priced.

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chostax- t1_itln4w1 wrote

Overpriced, probably. Overrated, I wouldn't say that.

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DudeFromMiami t1_itn279z wrote

I say over rated because minus city living use they are very sensitive and not very durable.

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chostax- t1_itn4dms wrote

I respectfully disagree, they come with lifetime warranties on all the hardware and linings as well. Paid $1000 CAD for mine 7 years ago and it’s still perfect, and I don’t know what living in a city has to do with it. The city I live in often gets -30 Celsius (-22 F) and I’ve never had a problem.

And if you really are a dude from Miami, I can’t imagine your opinion on winter parkas is very relevant! (Just kidding, lol, opinions always welcome)

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DudeFromMiami t1_itn4x6h wrote

I live in Switzerland at the base of the alps… but yea I mean if yours lasted that long then great but what I mean by city living is that it’s not the outdoors of your just hopping on trains and into the office, I’m talking durability from hiking, climbing, really doing things outdoors.

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chostax- t1_itn5m5m wrote

Fair enough, they do make purpose-specific product lines for more extreme weather/winter activities, though, but I can't speak for those.

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luckystrike_bh t1_itlt06g wrote

feathered friends: down parka (~$725)- This parka you linked has 13.3 oz of 900 fill power down. You will overheat in anything but the most extreme environments.

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Kasyton t1_itl0bez wrote

If you’re willing to spend that kind of money, spring for Arcteryx.

Not only is it extremely warm and durable but you also get the clout and virtue signaling that goes with the brand.

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