How to Buy An Extreme Cold Weather Parka

Here's how to buy a coat so warm you could survive in Antarctica, literally.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Forget saving money on your purchase. Expect to pay $300 to $900 for a durable parka that can survive arctic climates of -60 F.

2. Only look at the top of the line Parkas made by lesser retailers. Look at the heaviest, thickest, most expensive jackets made by North Face, Columbia, Burton, etc. Examine the lining, the hood, the strength of the zippers, and the ease with which they could be used in extreme cold. Find a coat with down or duck filled insulation.

3. You'll probably find that those coats won't cut it if you are working hard manual labor outdoors in subzero temperatures.

4. For a whole other level of high price and performance, check out the high end Canada Goose line of parkas. These cost between $600 -$900 and are actually used at the South Pole and in Northern Alaska and Canada. Canada Goose Parkas are amazingly durable and simple. They aren't very stylish, but can take years of cold weather abuse.

5. Remember, a jacket isn't going to save your life with zippers and style. Look for sturdy, long parkas that cover the entire core of the body and are heavily, heavily insulated.

[MizGreenJeans]

on 9/16/2008 Good info here. We learned how important a good parka was when we lived in western Canada and northern Minnesota.