Customer Reviews The North Face Arctic Parka

I spent a lot of time (months) looking for a new winter jacket. I have a really warm snowboarding jacket, but my main agenda was finding a jacket long enough to cover my butt when I sit down on cold surfaces outside in the winter. Not sure whether to order a small or medium, I read a lot of reviews and decided with the medium. I'm 5'6", 128 lbs and wear a small, sometimes medium, in shirts, fleeces and other jackets. The medium fits me wonderfully. I can wear it over a fleece or thick sweater and it fits just right - not tight and not baggy and still shows the tailored shape through the torso. A few features I really like about the jacket are 1) that it's waterproof on the outside but is still a soft/warm down jacket, 2) the deep outside pockets and 3) the sleeve cuffs are a thick, really soft material and have a snug, wind-blocking fit around the wrist. I wasn't sure I'd like the faux fur on the hood, but it actually looks good. And the hood is super warm - warm enough that I don't have to wear a winter hat under it. The green is pretty dark, but it's a good color to be able to wear with any color pants, tights, boots, etc. This jacket has been keeping me warm in the single digit temperatures. It's so comfy I kind of want to snuggle up and take a nap in it! My one complaint is that I wish it was maybe three inches longer to cover a bit more of the back of my legs when I sit down. Other than that, I'm happy I made the investment.

I needed a serious cold-weather dog walking coat - this does the job. It's bulky and not very female-friendly (shaped like a tube, tight at hips) but I'm more likely to be warm than cold in it. No fashion points, but warm, long but not so long it's hard to walk, and sturdy fabric that has stood up well to muddy paws so far.

I just got this coat, and I love it. It is not the same Michelin Man puff jacket that everyone seems to have on this year. It is not the most stylish jacket, but also not bad looking. It gives you some waist and the fur hood is cute. The down is nicely distributed not chunky like some coats. The sleeves have nice little hand protectors which work perfectly with my North Face gloves. The pockets are also in the sweet spot for me and are large enough to accomodate all the accessories that I need for walking my dogs in the winter. I already knew I took a medium from previous North Face attire. The shoulders are not that snug, and I probably would not have taken much notice if not for other reviewers.

Perfect Parka for cold weather. If you're the type of person who's lazy to wear layered clothes, then this is the perfect one for you. I really like it. The only negative thing I can say is it's a little bulky.

I've had this parka for 2 years. I'm about 5'10", 135 lbs, small chest and the small fits me well. I am one of those ladies who is often cold, and I would say that, for me, this coat is warm, but not as toasty as others describe. I do like that it's not the usual quilted down look but I would not call it stylish; it has pretty much no contour. One thing I have trouble with is zipping all the way up to my neck: when I do that, it kind of chokes me and digs into my skin. Overall, I think this is a good coat for most people, but if you really want style or if you're like me and frequently cold, you could have some issues with it.

Great coat but it runs small in the bust area. 3 stars only because it runs small.

Overall, great coat. I ordered it in a medium, but it was too big and made me look really bulky (especially in the arms). I'm 5'10", 155 pounds and usually wear a size 6. I felt like the goodyear blimp! I'm returning it for a small. I also think the coat could be a little warmer, but overall, it's a nice coat. Nice fit and I'm already getting compliments.

Please bear in mind that "dark navy blue" is indistinguishable from black. So if you want a navy blue coat and do not order this one.