For those of us that live in cold weather climes, winter bring the cold, snow, ice and freezing rain each year. Just the thought of going to the grocery store or the dentist can seem daunting when it’s -20c outside. Each year we re-evaluate our winter wear including gloves, boots, hats, pants, and of course the ever-important jacket.
My philosophy is: Take a lesson from people who live in extremely cold climates. If the clothing they wear is good enough to survive -40c or -50c, then it’s definitely going to keep me warm at -20c. I first learned about extreme cold weather garments on a three week trip to Frobisher Bay on Baffin Island, in the far Canadian North. The native Inuit people (don’t call them Eskimo’s!) wore a thigh length pullover coat with a fur-trimmed hood called a “parka”.
Traditionally, the arctic parka was made from caribou hide, and fox fur. Nowadays, modern materials are used, and the design has been adapted to accommodate a front zip closure. Even the Inuit rarely wear the traditional garb in favor of modern styles.
Many jackets today are called parkas, but you need to understand the defining features of the parka if you’re after the real deal. A parka is always thigh-length, almost to the knee, and features a fur-trimmed (or faux fur) hood. All parkas now feature a front zip closure, some with an outside button flap. And lastly, almost all parkas are down filled, although synthetic fills are perfectly acceptable and can be just as warm.
Now, if you’re looking for some guidance about which parkas are the best quality and value, here are a couple suggestions. At the very top of the list is the Canada Goose Expedition Parka (mens and womens available). Originally developed for Antarctic scientific expeditions, the Expedition Parka is incredibly durable and well made. Expect to pay about $600 for this parka jacket. If you are on a tighter budget, check out the N-3B Snorkel Parka Flight Jacket, an excellent value at under $100.
Evan Shaffhouser review products for several online resources. With winter upon us, Evan went on the hunt for the best parka jacket. After researching hundreds of jackets, the Canada Goose Expedition Parka Jacket emerged as the most excellent in its category. Visit http://www.parkajackets.org for great deals and reviews on parka jackets.
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