As soon as the cold weather sets in, we get a lot of questions about winter parkas:
- Which parka to choose?
- Is this or that parka warm, breathable and waterproof enough?
Reading all your questions, we sometimes discern a certain confusion:
© "I'm a little lost with all the possible choices."
In this article, I list the different types of parkas that suit different needs and budgets .
And in this article , I will help you decipher the technical information on parkas to fully understand what you are buying: we will therefore talk about waterproof membrane, padding and even breathability index.
I also invite you to read our article on " how to wear a parka? " which tells you the history of the parka and gives you lots of style advice.
WHAT IS A PARKA?
To begin, here is the definition of the parka, from the book "Clothing from A to Z":
Straight jacket with the following characteristics:
- A waterproof material
- A length varying between the small hips and mid-thigh
- A turn-down collar and a hood
- A set of patch or cut pockets
© The parka is originally an Inuit garment.
1. THE MID-SEASON PARKA
A mid-season parka is equipped with a thin, often water-repellent outer material, possibly a lining... and that's it.
This is not a thick enough garment to brave the winter .
Why? Because it lacks a thick lining ( "waterproof and lightweight")
The main advantage of these parkas is that they are very warm .
In an extreme version, we speak of a “very cold” parka.
They can be recognized by:
- Their rather visible padded appearance
- Sometimes the indication of the temperature up to which the parka can be worn
- The mention of a certain technicality, ranging from light to very high depending on the product. Waterproofing in particular may or may not be present.
© The Dunderdon J25 sales page clearly states that the product can go down to -20°.
On the other hand, by choosing this option, you sometimes have to overlook:
- Style: The warmer a parka is, the more style it will lose in favor of the thickness of the padding.
- Breathability: The warmer and cheaper a parka is, the less breathable it will be.
It is therefore a product that can be considered for those of you who are more sensitive to the cold, whose main criterion is warmth.
Just be careful not to take a parka that is too warm either, which does not necessarily make sense in temperatures around 0 or -5° (the garment risks being too warm).
You should expect to pay between €300 and €800 for such a parka.
Selection of brands:
- Dunderdon , with models J65 (hot) and J25 (very hot)
- Kanuk , which offers a range of warm and very warm parkas
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Arc'Teryx
A technical parka emphasizes weather resistance (waterproof, windproof). It is also breathable and functional (presence of numerous zipped pockets, potentially also waterproof).
This garment can be moderately warm or very warm.
The most polarizing thing about a technical parka is the style: you either love it or you hate it. The outer material is often entirely synthetic and the style bias is either very weak on the entry-level (for a sometimes slightly too outdoor, hiking look), or strong and divisive on the high-end (see the parkas in the Arc'Teryx Veillance range for example)
A technical parka is suitable for people who want maximum technical properties and adhere to this style. Expect to pay between €400 and €1500 for such a product.
Brand recommendations:
- Aether Apparel, with in particular the pretty Aim Experience model for a rather technical, functional, not too warm and quite accessible parka
- Mission Workshop which offers rather technical parkas but which has a model in Schoeller technical wool with a more urban look
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Ten-C
Such a parka combines the best of three worlds and is intended to be both aesthetic , warm , and technical because it is waterproof and highly breathable.
Expect to pay around €500 for an all-terrain parka , and up to more than €1000.
Selection of brands:
- Alchemy Equipment , a New Zealand brand which notably offers Primaloft/down blend padding
- Aspesi , Italian brand Rokkvi )
- Norwegian Rain with its Moscow parka
- Ten-C , with highly technical parkas and beautiful styling work
THE FINAL WORD
Although the line between certain categories can sometimes be thin , I think that this separation by type of parka will help you see more clearly when faced with an abundant offer on this product.
Finally, I offer you a table summarizing the data mentioned in this article:
