Customer Reviews The North Face Arctic Parka

I got this coat to wear for my year in Mongolia because I heard the winters were really harsh and cold, sometimes below -40F. The coat was warm until it got around -10F then it starts getting a bit cold on the shoulders and back. Overall it is a pretty good coat, it blocks the wind well, but if you plan on living in a place with truly extreme weather you might be better off with a different coat.

I wanted to love this coat. And you might love it for the same reasons I did not. They changed the cut of this coat to make it more slenderizing. There used to be an elastic belt in the back which was replaced by a more fitted cut. I felt this restricted my movement. They also eliminated as set of pockets I am used to in a parka. I ended up buying an keeping a Northface Shavana Parka which is a more roomy cut with the 4 front pockets I am used to. Overall this is a nice coat with a good hood, just to restrictive for my activity level.

I saw it on the web site and thought it would be perfect. Unfortunately the large looked very boxy when I put it on. There was no accented waist and it was too wide in the hip area. It was a little hard to insert the zipper in. I returned it to the store looking for a size medium. I did preferred the way the medium looked, because it was more tailored in the waist and looked less boxy but was to tight through the chest to wear a thicker sweater under it. So I had to return it. They did not have any other parka styles at the store so I could not see if it was just this style that I was between sizes or all their coats were sized like this.

I got the jacket for mom. She is 5;4" . The jacket is really long on her. She unzips from bottom to be able to walk. Overall really heavy. I wouldn't get it for my self. But there aren't that many options in her size. If Suzzane jacket was available I would rather get her that. It is warm and so much easier to move arms without feeling locked.

This parka offered everything that i was looking for, great quality, perfect length, super warm but after trying it on I was left disappointed and unsure. The size small fit my 5'4 115lb body wonderfully- with a t shirt, but as soon as I layered a thicker sweater underneath it became quite tight. The medium accomodated the heavier layers but looked very boxy and big around the middle. With a belt or waist toggle I would have purchased it on the spot. The two-way zipper was also a bit tricky if not lined up exactly.

I wear a medium jacket. This was very tight. I have returned it for a size large. The zipper was difficult to zip. My daughter has the same jacket and has no problem with the zipper.

Don't get me wrong. This is a great product, but unless you have an hourglass shape, you must purchase the next size larger. Unfortunately, I wear a 2XL and North Face does not make any larger sizes. I highly recommend North Face consider rethinking the outerwear to run true to size with a little extra room to move around in it and add a 3XL to their line like Columbia has done. Actually, I like North Face better, but I will buy the Columbia parka

I keep reading how warm it is and I don't know what went wrong with mine then! Looks great, perfect fit I am 5 ft tall, 110 pounds and XS fits perfect but, it is not warm enough for Chicago winter. I will have to buy something else, unfortunately. I do recommend it if you will be dealing with a milder/kinder winter weather.

I've been looking for a warm winter coat with fur trimmed hood. This coat was so cute in the pictures and overall the reviews were very positive, so I decided to order it online. I am 5'7 and 125 lbs, slim build. The sizing guidelines told me a small, so this is what I ordered in the Weimaraner brown. I tried it on and as hard as I wanted to love it... not so. It was too bulky in the shoulders and hip but snug in the armpit and chest region, also super long on my arms (went past the palms of my hands, not quite to fingertip). So, returned that and ordered the XS. The XS was a more attractive fit in the shoulders/hip and great arm length... but, to be expected, super tight in the chest/armpit area to the point of uncomfortable and limiting what I could wear underneath. The weimaraner brown was more drab brown/olive than the picture shows. I have seen the black ink green in person, and this was a nicer color. Apart from my experience, this is a super cute coat and definitely warm. However, I will be returning the XS and looking elsewhere. Just not satisfied with the sizing of this coat... :(

The online "size recommendation" said I should buy an XS (i'm 5'5' and 115 lbs) but I bought the Small because I wanted to be able to wear a sweater underneath. Even the S is snug and I can manage a thin sweater, but nothing heavier. Unfortunately the M was way too huge, so I'm in a pickle about the fit. The front zipper is also circumspect, it's definitely not easy to get it latched, especially in the cold and dark parking garage. And the hand pockets are at an odd angle that make it tough to slip my keys or cell phone into. It's warm in 30 degree weather, but I'm not sure it will be when the weather in Cleveland dips below 20 with a big wind chill.

I loved the red color and thought this jacket was very warm, but the arms were too short for me. I also ordered a small (even after the site recommended an xs for me), and still thought the coat fit too snug to wear many clothes underneath it. I'm 5'7" and 120 lbs.

The coat is warm and it looks good. Unfortunately, the shoulders are small - I started with a Large, which fit beautifully except at the shoulders, and had to order the XL instead. I tried an XL at the store in a different color. The XL in the dark grey, which I ordered online, seems a size larger than the same size in black. The biggest problem with the larger sizing is that I get a draft up the bottom of the coat. I think I'm going make a belt to add a belt to the ensemble. I'm too tired of returning orders (this is the second coat style I've tried, and the last one was built small in the shoulders as well) to find out if the grey large would fit properly.

I was soo excited to see this offered in my size XXL. I've wanted this style for a couple years now but the price did deter me from purchasing. Finally splurged & got it. For the cost, the arm & shoulder area could be warmer. I think i would have preferred a past season of this coat..it was heavier and longer. I do love the tailored look if it.

I tried this parka on in black at a North Face store. It had nice definition around the waist, giving it a shape that is much more flattering to a woman's body, which seems rare in parkas. I wanted gray so I ordered the gray online. When the gray parka arrived, it fit nothing like the black. The waist was shapeless and the jacket was bulky all over. I returned it and purchased the original black one I tried in the store. So, be careful if you order this online after trying one on in the store. I believe the ones online are from a different batch, made later this season than what's in the store, and they do not fit the same.

For years and years I've been searching for the perfect winter jacket, that's super warm, long enough, and stylish. I live in Finland, where temperatures of -25C (ca -15 F) and upwards plus strong winds are not uncommon. So a warm winter jacket is a must. I had VERY high hopes for the Arctic Parka, since I had read a lot of positive reviews. The online size advisor told me to get a Large, and it fit like a glove. Tight around the shoulders and chest though, should probably have gotten a size larger. The length was perfect for me, since I'm tall. Overall it looked really stylish, long and slim. The only disappointment regarding the outlook was the fake fur hood trimming, I'd have preferred real fur. The jacket was very warm! Didn't get to test it in the most extreme Finnish conditions, but I could immediately tell it was going to keep the cold out. And it was indeed waterproof, excellent! So far mostly positive! So what didn't I like then? The material! It was literally a MAGNET for hair and dust and dirt, it drove me crazy! I have a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, and I couldn't even go near the dog wearing the jacket. The amount of tape rollers... And after riding my car for the first time wearing the jacket I got a shock when taking it off: The upholstery material had left huge grey marks on the back of the black jacket, it looked really dusty and dirty and I had to wash the jacket after wearing it only once. In short, the jacket didn't fit my lifestyle at all, and I had to get rid of it. So very sad...

As other reviews have mentioned, this coat runs small in the chest and shoulders. I'm pretty small framed (5'4, 120#, 34B) and usually wear a small or occasionally medium (general brands, I don't have much experience with North Face), but I have average-to-chubby arms and I guess a somewhat fuller chest than some smalls out there. I saw the reviews but after doing the Size Advisor quiz which advised a small, I decided to go with a small anyway. Bad idea. Had to return it for a medium. And the medium is just right in the shoulders/chest but there are at least a few extra inches in the waist and hips. The waist is especially a problem because I like it tighter to keep the cold out (I used to have a coat that had an internal waist snap that was so great at keeping my torso toasty). Oh well, it's still a really well made coat, but I just wish the proportions were more suited to my body type. I think the cut would be perfect for pear-shaped women who had slim upper bodies.

I've had the jacket for a bit over a year and its a nice casual coat thats warm and made well, but the pockets have no insulation, so no good to keep your hands warm and the HOOD is way to small to be useful. I don't have a huge head, or super huge hair, but with a ponytail or bun in my hair the hood just does not meet the standards i've come to expect from North Face design. Usually the hood is just falls back to far when you're not standing still and for it to be useful keeping the rain off ones head this is just not ideal. Great for dry,cold weather when I'm wearing a scarf and toque, but relying on it to keep your head toasty warm isn't something I do anymore.

After receiving the coat I noticed how thin it was and would make a mix better summer coat than a winter coat. Quality is just not what it used to be for the 500$ range. You'll need a sweater to survive Canadian winters with these coats.

You need better colors. Black gray and navy blue is old. Get a forest green or a dark red. A baby blue color.

Bought this jacket for my Hokkaido trip in Winter. It was going to be so cold so I needed a good jacket. This jacket surprisingly fits well in my petite frame (5'0 feet, 105 lbs). I love how you can cinch the waist to make it flattering, perfect length that reaches me slightly just below the knees For the price of the jacket, I expected good quality and a product that delivers and this jacket unfortunately falls short in that category. First of all, the zippers are so incredibly frustrating. The zipper keeps getting stuck and does not glide on/off easily, which is a very important feature in a cold climate. My hands were freezing trying to zip up this jacket in the snow/cold lol. I wore this jacket for about two weeks and some of the down feathers are already coming out. Lastly, it is bulky (which I knew buying a parka), but for the amount of bulk it has it deceiving because its not that warm. I wore thick layers underneath the parka. Overall, great looks but performance and quality falls short.

I was really excited for this one. It appeared to be well made and I appreciated the sustainability features, but for any type of weather or wind chill under 20F, I have felt so so cold. I purchased in January of 2024, so I likely have an older model, though I'm not sure how much they have changed. Immediately upon stepping out of the door, I can feel cool air in the coat. I'm not sure if this is a defect or what, but just be aware, especially if you plan on being outside more than 10 minutes in this coat. You will be cold.

This is big for petite women. Huge almost. Not like the older version. Im 5'2

I live in Atlantic Canada I wanted a warm and waterproof parka. The wind goes right through it. Today was -6 with a wind chill of -18 and I was cold on my walks.

I live in New England and bought this jacket for the great reviews. I've worn it on several very cold nights and this jacket does not live up to its expectation. Boxy, not warm. You're paying for the name. Better off getting a Columbia Jacket, wish I had.

I kind of regret buying this coat. I'm 180 lb and 5'6" for reference. To start I was in between sizes, the large is very snug, which is the size I went with, and the extra large was humongous and so unflattering. In my opinion I think the coat is 1 to 2 inches too short and when I wear the coat, it makes this annoying squishing (I don't know how to describe the sound) sound when I'm moving around. If I had the opportunity to go back, I probably wouldn't purchase this coat given the price tag.