The North Face Arctic Down Parka IIPrice: $299 Show
4.2 Many winter jackets are made to withstand cold temperatures, but without a waterproof or windproof shell, they often suffer in wet snow, rain, or heavy winds. Enter The North Face’s Arctic Parka II, a jacket that combines the warmth of down insulation on the inside with a robust weather-protective shell on the outside. We wore the Arctic Parka II throughout a winter in Bend, Oregon, and came away impressed with its performance despite hesitations regarding the fit and styling. To see how it measures up to the competition, see our article on the best winter jackets. Editor’s
note: The Arctic Down Parka II has been replaced with the Arctic Parka for fall 2020. The newest version of the Arctic has the same price, weight, shell materials, and down fill as the Arctic II reviewed
here, but features an updated style. Changes include the addition of 150-g Heatseeker Eco synthetic insulation to the side panels to reduce bulk, a 2-inch shorter length, a new fit and design at the waistline, and a Velcro flap closure (rather than snaps). Table of Contents
PerformanceWarmthThe North Face Arctic Parka II is a down jacket designed for winter conditions. Stuffed with 550-fill-power down and wrapped in a waterproof shell, it traps your body heat well and keeps moisture and cold gusts out. And with a faux-fur brimmed hood, a fleece-lined collar and chin guard, and a mid-thigh-length hem for added coverage, the jacket provides good protection in the cold overall. In use, we donned the Arctic on many winter days and nights in central Oregon, and it reliably kept us warm when temperatures hovered at or above freezing. However, in sub-freezing temperatures, we found that it wasn’t quite enough jacket without adding layers underneath. One issue with warmth is the down itself. The North Face doesn't provide fill weight, or the amount of down in the jacket, making it difficult to provide accurate comparisons. But the 550-fill-power is on the lower end of the spectrum in terms of warmth-to-weight ratio. Jackets with higher quality down, such as the Patagonia Down With It Parka (600-fill power) or the similarly waterproof Arc’teryx Patera Parka (750-fill power), provide more warmth when the mercury drops. The Arctic II also lacks insulation in the pockets, which was noticeable even in above-freezing temperatures. Lastly, length is an important consideration when it comes to warmth. The Arctic measures 37.75 inches down the center back—just over a half-inch less than TNF’s knee-length Metropolis (38.38 in.)—but this number is a bit deceiving. On the front, the Arctic falls only a few inches above the knees and does not offer full thigh protection. That said, we do appreciate the Arctic’s drop hem, which provides additional coverage in the back and extends underneath you while seated. Water and Wind ProtectionThe external baffling of many down jackets might be a sought-after style, but it almost always comes at the price of a non-waterproof or windproof outer shell. The Arctic Down Parka, on the other hand, is designed with a cotton and nylon shell with a waterproof DryVent membrane, and seam-sealed for additional protection against the elements. For climates with wet snow or rain, this provides much more assurance than the simple DWR finish found on many down parkas. Furthermore, a storm flap over the front zipper and a tall collar keep gusts and moisture from entering. On a particularly blustery day in Bend when the wind chill dropped below freezing, we found that the Arctic resisted wind extremely well.
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Jacket | Price | Fill | Length | Weight | Waterproof |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The North Face Arctic Parka | $299 | 550-fill down & synthetic | 35.75 in. | 2 lbs. 13.5 oz. | Yes |
Marmot Chelsea Down Coat | $380 | 700-fill down | 38 in. | 2 lbs. 9 oz. | Yes |
Arc'teryx Patera Parka | $649 | 750-fill down & synthetic | 37 in. | 1 lb. 15.9 oz. | Yes |
Patagonia Down With It Parka | $299 | 8.3 oz. of 600-fill down | 40 in. | 2 lbs. 5.8 oz. | No |
Marmot Montreal Down Coat | $285 | 7.1 oz. of 700-fill down | 33 in. | 2 lbs. 2 oz. | No |
The Competition
The North Face’s Arctic Down Parka II is a robust winter jacket that offers the warmth of down insulation alongside the protection of a waterproof, windproof shell. Within its class, the Marmot Chelsea is another interesting option. At $380, the Chelsea is more of an investment than the $299 Arctic, but you get 700-fill down instead of 550-fill in a 5-ounce lighter package (read: more warmth without the bulk). The Chelsea also has a removable, fur-brimmed hood, but it’s even smaller than that of the Arctic, rendering it almost useless. Fit-wise, compared to the boxy and at times misshapen Arctic, the Chelsea fits a larger variety of body types and is roomy enough to accommodate a layer or two underneath. If the Arctic fits, it’s a fantastic jacket, but if it doesn’t work with your body type, the Chelsea is a great alternative.
In the outdoor clothing world, Arc’teryx regularly takes the cake for the best designed and constructed jackets. Their Patera Parka is an impressive waterproof and windproof jacket with both down and synthetic insulation inside. At times we feel that Arc’teryx’s casual wear retains too much of a technical look, but the Patera has an elegant, refined design that skillfully merges performance with style. In fact, without sacrificing warmth or weather protection, it has a much lighter and flowier feel than the Arctic. The hood is not removable, but cinches down with a sleek adjustment system that includes a rear pull-tab for even more customization. At $649, you’ll pay a pretty penny for the Patera, but not one seam, stitch, or feather is out of place—the parka exudes premium quality.
If winter in your neck of the woods is more cold than wet or if you don’t foresee pushing the limits of your jacket in inclement conditions, a down-insulated parka with a DWR-finish shell could be your best bet. Within the Arctic’s price range, the Patagonia Down With It Parka is a strong contender. The Down With It manages to pack more warmth into a lighter build, thanks to lightweight fabrics and higher quality 600-fill down. Notably, the Patagonia is also made with both a 100-percent recycled shell and insulation, which is a big step towards sustainability and a huge selling point for us.
Similar to the Patagonia Down With It, the Marmot Montreal is a great-looking winter jacket built for cold and dry conditions. With 700-fill-power down, a much lighter build, and a 33-inch hem, the Montreal allows for more freedom of movement and packs down significantly smaller than the Arctic II. Parka length is a matter of personal preference, but we’ve found the shorter Marmot to be much more suitable for activities like bike riding and snowshoeing. The Montreal does come with the added protection of a DWR finish and hydrophobic down, but it still falls far short of the wet-weather protection you get from jackets like the Arctic II or Arc’teryx Patera.