The search for a great winter jacket is a personal journey. You’ll have different needs in Montana, Alaska, and Michigan, and different style and feature preferences if you live in New York City or on a Southwestern ranch. Fortunately, we tested winter parkas in all of the above locations—and more—to come up with a list that will serve fashion-minded city dwellers, northerners in frigid climates, and folks who work outside year-round. Whether you’re walking the dog, feeding the horses, or heading to the ski hill, these lifestyle jackets will keep you cozy and protected all winter long.
At a Glance
- Editors’ Choice:
- Best for Frigid Temps:
- Best Value:
- Most Durable:
- Most Versatile:
- Most Stylish:
- How to Choose a Parka
- How We Test
- Meet Our Lead Tester
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Editors’ Choice
Helly Hansen Women’s Aspire Puffy Parka
Sizes: XS-XL
Warmth: 8/10
Weather Protection: 6/10
Pros and Cons
⊕ Excellent warmth-to-weight ratio
⊕ Protective high collar
⊕ Fits over bulky layers
⊗ Boxy cut is not the most flattering
This marshmallow-soft, super puffy parka shines for its balance: It won’t break the bank compared to some other options we tested, offers serious warmth without being wildly heavy or bulky, and has a classic, streamlined look that’s still distinctive. During a windy blizzard in Colorado’s high country, one tester appreciated the high collar, which buttons over itself to offer scarf-like warmth at the neck. A generous cut fits easily over bulky layers—the same tester made a habit of zipping it over her entire ski kit, shell and all, on cold mornings. Helly Hansen’s high-loft synthetic insulation compresses like down, making it surprisingly packable: We were able to squish it down to the size of a beach ball. (Though that’s pretty good for such a big coat, don’t expect to be able to shove it in a backpack for a hike.) Our female testers noted that the warmth did come at the cost of a flattering silhouette, but the boxy cut is a price worth paying in the coldest of winter climes.
Best For Frigid Temps
Norrøna Women’s oslo Duvet Jacket
Sizes: XS-L
Warmth: 10/10
Weather Protection: 8/10
Pros and Cons
⊕ Warmest in the test
⊕ Good wind and moisture protection for a puffy
⊕ Flattering cut
⊗ Expensive
This is a mega jacket for mega weather—the closest thing to a wearable sleeping bag we found while testing. Made with a sturdy, durable, 100-percent recycled polyester outer and insulated with responsibly sourced, RDS-certified down, the oslo Duvet stood up against the coldest winter weather in Canada and Alaska. It’s remarkably windproof thanks to a Gore-Tex coating, and it even provides some protection from precipitation. Don’t be dismayed by the limited size run (which only goes up to a large)—this jacket runs really big. One tester loved that the generous sizing let her layer the oslo Duvet over heavy, oversized wool sweaters without sacrificing mobility or comfort. This jacket is well-built to stand up to the Norwegian concept of friluftsliv, or open-air living, which encourages spending ample time outside no matter the weather. If you’re committed to long hours outdoors in the dead of winter, this piece will help you do so in supreme comfort. On the flip side, you’ll likely find it awfully warm for all but the most frigid of winter weather.
Best Value
Flylow Women’s Truckee Down Parka
Sizes: XS-XL
Warmth: 7/10
Weather Protection: 6/10
Pros and Cons
⊕ Flattering silhouette
⊕ Stylish color options
⊕ Drop hem offers good coverage
⊗ Not very packable
This no-nonsense, stylish 600-fill down jacket became one Denver-based tester’s go-to down all winter long. “It was the one I reached for during everything from chilly dog walks to standing on the sidelines during early-spring kids’ sports spectating,” she said. She liked that the cut of this responsibly sourced down jacket was still form-fitting and feminine while also being cozy and warm, and the drop-hem in the back fully covered her butt. Smart features round out the piece, like a generous hood with an easy cinch for extra protection from wind and snow, and an inner pocket that allows you to secure valuables with a zipper. The available colorways—including a muted forest green, cream, and simple black—are understated yet stylish. The only downsides? It was a little bulky for travel, and some testers found the thumbholes restrictive.
PAID ADVERTISEMENT BY REI
REI Co-op Norseland Down Parka – Women’s ($229)
Stay cozy all winter by wearing our women’s REI Co-op Norseland down parka whenever you venture out in brrr-inducing temps. On cold days, its extra length and 650-fill-power down feel like a warm hug.
- Down insulation
- Weight: 2 lbs 2.2 oz
- Downproof nylon shell fabric is water-resistant, windproof and highly breathable
- Nonfluorinated durable water repellent (DWR) sheds light rain and snow
Most Durable
Filson Men’s Tin Cloth Insulated Packer Coat
Sizes: XS-3XL
Warmth: 7/10
Weather Protection: 9/10
Pros and Cons
⊕ Durable
⊕ Heritage style
⊕ Cozy wool-lined collar and knit cuffs
⊗ Best for moderate conditions
If you’re the type of person who tends to accidentally tear holes in your featherweight down jacket, the Packer Coat has your back. Filson has a long history of using natural fibers and time-tested materials, which is one of the reasons it’s so beloved by ranchers and laborers. This jacket features a waxed cotton that’s incredibly durable and water-resistant, and it’s double-layered at the shoulders for extra protection whether you’re toting a backpack on the trail or shouldering heavy loads at the ranch. A wool-lined collar adds warmth and next-to-skin comfort where it counts. And most importantly, its 100-gram PrimaLoft Gold insulation provides protection from chilly winter temperatures down to the 20s. One tester loved it for working outside through the winter, building trails, operating heavy machinery, and using hand tools—all tasks that can turn a puffy jacket into scrap with remarkable speed. Instead, the Packer Coat stood up to heavy use, abrasion, and bad weather with style.
Most Versatile
Marmot Men’s Stockholm Down Jacket
Sizes: S-XXL
Warmth: 8/10
Weather Protection: 5/10
Pros and Cons
⊕ Packable
⊕ Lightweight
⊕ Fun retro style
⊗ Not waterproof
One of our male testers has a profound aversion to stockpiling jackets and other winter gear, so he was pleased to find a single coat that could do it all. The Stockholm Down Jacket can perform on a chilly hike, on a walk to the après bar, and on the ski hill—though on dry days only, as it’s not waterproof. The tester preferred the jacket’s shorter length because it offered greater versatility, while the oversized cut and 700-fill down still provided plenty of warmth on frigid winter days at high altitude in New Mexico’s Sangre de Cristos. He also appreciated the jacket’s vintage-inspired style, with big baffles and roomy pockets that look equally at home at a ski area tailgate as a city sidewalk. Lightweight, packable, and even a bit breathable compared to similarly warm jackets we tested, the Stockholm is the best option for someone who wants a lifestyle jacket that they can also recreate in.
Most Stylish
Arc’teryx Men’s Therme SV Parka
Sizes: XS-XXL
Warmth: 8/10
Weather Protection: 10/10
Pros and Cons
⊕ Most weatherproof option we tested
⊕ Modern style and long cut
⊗ On the bulky side
⊗ Pricey
Our New York City tester flagged this jacket as his favorite for slogging through slushy East Coast snowstorms and braving frigid, windy city days. He appreciated the sleek cut and the generous length, which meant he could finally stop layering long johns under his work pants. This is a great do-it-all jacket for winters that are equal parts wet, cold, and windy, with a two-layer Gore-Tex outer offering the most water resistance of any jacket in our final lineup. Baffled down insulation on the interior offers ample warmth, and the clever, minimalist design—with a neat zipper overlap and a high collar—doesn’t let on that this jacket is packing a serious technical punch. It is on the bulky side, however, so don’t expect to easily pack it into your backpack during winter travel.
PAID ADVERTISEMENT BY REI
REI Co-op Stormhenge 850 Down Hybrid Parka – Men’s ($299)
Wish your favorite puffy was waterproof—and a bit longer? The men’s REI Co-op Stormhenge 850 Down Hybrid parka combines down and recycled fill in a HydroWall™️ waterproof/breathable shell. Insulation is a down/synthetic blend. Weight is 1 lb. 15 oz
How to Choose a Parka
If you’re in the market for a new winter jacket, ask yourself these questions:
What’s My Local Winter Weather Like?
Each jacket offers a different degree of protection from cold, wind, and rain. Based in Maine? You’ll probably want something with some waterproofing and wind protection, like the Norrona Oslo Duvet or the Arcteryx Therme SV. Looking for a cozy puffy to wear in Colorado’s high country? You might opt for something with a lighter face fabric and more insulation, like the Helly Hansen Aspire.
What Do I Plan to Do in This Jacket?
We’ve highlighted lifestyle jackets in this review. None of them are specifically designed for skiing, winter biking, or any other high-output activity. But some will offer you better mobility and more versatility than others. If you’d like a jacket to bring on a ski trip that could serve as a cold-day layer on-slope but will still look nice when you head to dinner, the Marmot Stockholm Down will serve you just fine in both situations. But that jacket doesn’t offer great durability—if you’re looking for something that will hold up to outdoor chores, the Filson Tin Cloth Insulated Packer Coat might be a better choice.
How We Test
- Number of testers: 12
- Number of products tested: 38
- Testers’ age range: 25 to 65
- States represented: Washington, Montana, Michigan, New York, Utah, New Mexico
Meet Our Lead Tester
Lead tester Abigail Barronian is based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is a senior editor at ϳԹ Magazine. She owns more jackets than anyone else she’s ever met, and has strong opinions about all of them. As an avid skier, flyfisher, backpacker, hiker, mountain biker, and more, she’s always looking for gear that will make it easier to spend more time outdoors.
Barronian’s diverse team of gear testers spans the country: New York City-based artists, newly-minted Michigan moms braving brutal winters, Seattleites and Salt Lake City-dwellers, and ranchers in Northern New Mexico, to name a few. These folks each have different needs and preferences, whether it’s a jacket that can stand up to rope burns or a bomber parka that won’t ruin the lines of their impeccable outfit.