What type of parka do you need? (+ brand recommendations) – CDL#37

As soon as the cold sets in, we receive a lot of questions about winter parkas:

• Which parka to choose?
• Is this or that parka sufficiently warm, breathable, waterproof?

When reading all your questions, we sometimes discern a certain confusion:

In this article, I list the different types of parkas that meet different needs and budgets .

And in this article , I help you decipher the technical information on parkas to fully understand what you are buying: we will therefore talk about waterproof membrane, padding or 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 small hips and mid-thigh
• A turndown collar and a hood
• A set of patch or cut pockets

1. THE MID-SEASON PARKA

A mid-season parka is equipped with a fine outer material, often water-repellent, possibly with a lining... and that's it.

This is not a garment thick enough to brave the winter .

For what ? Because it lacks a thick lining ( "waterproof and light"

On the other hand, by choosing this option, you sometimes have to ignore:

• Style: the warmer a parka is, the more it will lose style 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 possible product for the most chilly among you whose main criterion is heat.

Just be careful not to take a parka that's too warm either, which doesn't necessarily make sense in temperatures around 0 or -5° (the garment risks being too hot).

You need to count 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
• Arc'Teryx

  A technical parka emphasizes weather resistance (waterproof, windproof). It is also breathable and functional (numerous zipped pockets, also potentially waterproof).

  This garment can be moderately warm or very hot.

  The most polarizing thing about a technical parka is the style: you love it or you hate it. The outer material is often entirely synthetic and the style bias is either very weak at the entry level (for a look that is sometimes a little too outdoor, hiking), or strong and divisive at the top of the range (see the parkas from the Arc'Teryx Veillance range for example)

  A technical parka is suitable for people wanting maximum technical properties and adhering to this style. Count between 400 and 1500€ for such a product.

  Brand Recommendations:

  • Aether Apparel, including the pretty Aim Experience model for a rather technical, functional, not too hot and fairly accessible parka
  • Mission Workshop which offers rather technical parkas but which has a Schoeller technical wool model with a more urban look
  • Ten-C

    Such a parka brings together the best of three worlds and is intended both aesthetic , warm + , but also technical because it is waterproof and very breathable.

    Expect 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 nice style work

THE FINAL WORD

Although the boundary between certain categories may sometimes be tenuous , 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: