Mens Parka with Fur Hood and Zip Off Hood

A parka with a fur hood has a ruff around the hood opening that breaks up wind before it reaches your face, which is a functional feature carried over from Arctic clothing rather than a decorative one. On this parka the faux fur ruff is removable and the entire hood zips off, so the same coat works as a technical winter parka or as a plain collared coat, in sizes XS to 3XL.

The hood does three things, which is unusual

Most parkas give you a hood. This one gives you a hood system, and it is the reason to choose this coat over the others in this category. The fur ruff is removable. Take it off and the hood is a clean technical hood. Leave it on and you get the wind protection. The whole hood zips off. Not popped off, zipped, which leaves a clean finished collar rather than a row of exposed studs. With the hood gone this is a plain collared down coat that works over tailoring. The hood stows. If you do not want to remove it entirely, it packs away into the collar, which means you are not walking around with a hood flapping on your back on a dry day. Three configurations from one coat. That is worth more than almost any single feature at this price. There is also an internal gaiter built into the hood, which pulls down over the lower face in genuinely bad weather. It is the kind of feature that sits unused for two winters and then earns the whole purchase in one storm.

A fair warning about the hood cord locks

Something I want to flag, because it comes up repeatedly in owner feedback on this design and you should know before buying. The cord locks that tighten the hood sit on the inside of the hood opening, positioned close to the face. Several long term owners find them uncomfortable when the hood is cinched down, and one experienced mountaineer described the placement as the main flaw in an otherwise excellent coat. For city use, with the hood loose or the hood removed, most people will never notice. If you plan to wear the hood cinched tight for long periods in wind, this is worth handling in a shop before you commit. I would rather put this on the page than have you find it in week three. A product page that only ever tells you good things is not a product page you should trust.

Waterproof and down, done properly

The shell is a two layer waterproof and breathable laminate with sealed seams. That combination is what allows down insulation to work in wet weather, because it keeps liquid water out while letting body moisture escape. The seams being sealed is the part to check on any coat claiming waterproof status. Every stitch is a hole, and untapped seams leak along the shoulders under a bag strap regardless of how good the fabric is. The water repellent surface treatment is made without fluorinated chemicals, which is a real environmental improvement. The trade off is that it needs reproofing roughly once a season with a spray on treatment, whenever water starts soaking into the outer rather than beading off.

The small comfort details

Brushed collar lining. The inside of the collar is brushed soft rather than left as bare shell fabric, so it does not scratch against your neck and jaw. This is the contact point people complain about most on winter coats and it costs almost nothing to fix. Chin guard. A small fabric flap at the top of the zip so the zip pull does not sit against your chin when the coat is done up fully. Adjustable outer cuffs over elasticated inner cuffs. The elastic seals the wrist, the adjustable outer closes over a glove. Together they cover both cases. Internal media pocket. A zipped internal pocket sized for a phone, which keeps the battery warm. Cold drains a phone battery fast, and an inside pocket roughly doubles how long it lasts outdoors in winter.

Fit

Relaxed fit, cut with room to layer. Take your usual size over a jumper. The centre back length is 33 inches, which puts it at mid thigh on most people. That is the warmest practical length for everyday use, covering the top of the thigh while still letting you sit and climb stairs. Sleeves should reach the wrist bone or slightly past.

Care

Specialist down wash rather than ordinary detergent. Remove the fur ruff first and detach the hood if you prefer. Tumble dry low with clean tennis balls over several cycles until the down is fully lofted and completely dry. A down coat put away damp will mildew from the inside and cannot be recovered. Reproof the outer once a season. Store hanging, never compressed.

Specification table

Garment measurements by size. Measured flat, in inches. These cells stay empty until you send production figures. Publishing a measurement that is wrong causes returns, so I have not guessed.