Customer Reviews The North Face Outer Boroughs Parka

I did a lot of research, and narrowed it down to Outer Boroughs Parka or Arctic Parka II. Outer Boroughs Parka - longer than Arctic Parka II - tighter fit than Arctic Parka II - material of the parka is tougher than Arctic Parka II - feels like more down feather in Parka - has internal fleece cuffs - has more pockets than Arctic Parka II - It feels warmer than Arctic Parka II (did not feel coldness or wind in -30 C (-22 F) wind chill today with just a long sleeve shirt underneath) - when you put your hoodie bottom of hoodie comes closer to your mouth (perfect for windy day) - tighter hoodie, but warmer. Arctic parka's hoodie is bigger, but as warm as Outer Boroughs Parka's I tried on both Outer Boroughs Parka and Arctic Parka II before I purchased Outer Boroughs Parka, and they are both very nice warm jackets. I chose Outer Boroughs Parka because I live in very cold windy area in Canada, and I have to walk to a bus stop very day for 15 minutes each way. Like some reviewers commented, it feels tighter. I wear a Small size Thermoball Jacket and Parka have a lot of room to layer. I don't have much room with Outer Boroughs Parka with a size small. I tried a Medium size at the store, but it was way too big, and I looked like a kid wearing mom's jacket. It is a very warm jacket, so I figured I don't need to have a lot of layers underneath this jacket, and purchased a small. If you have a larger chests, you might want to go a size up.

My husband bought this for me because my old parka was not in very cold weather. I love this parka especially in very cold and windy mornings of DC. Size fits perfectly and feels very warm even when temperature is in single digit.

Love that this jacket is cut slimly with the snap waistband. Very warm parka. Am loving this so far!

I didn't realize until I made this purchase the difference a sturdy coat can make during harsh winter cold. I would absolutely recommend this one, it doesn't look bulky at all and keeps me very warm in the cold NY weather.

Overall, this is a really great jacket. The material is high quality, the fur on the hood is soft and full, and the lining is really warm. The makeshift gloves attached to the sleeves are a plus. However, this jacket is not made with all body types in mind. It fits best for someone tall and slim. I have a petite frame and an hourglass shape. The torso of the jacket fits perfectly, even without the adjustments at the waist. The sleeves are absurdly long which is a bummer because it's hard to have a down jacket tailored and you can't roll up sleeves on a jacket like this. I wish North Face offered different sizes: petite, tall, curvy, etc. Other companies do and this seriously leaves an otherwise exceptional brand in the dust. I wouldn't recommend this jacket unless you are 5'9 or above and slim.

I was hesitant to splurge on this but it is absolutely worth the $$. This jacket is perfect for the cold weather months in Minnesota. I was wearing it out on a sub-zero day and was so warm and comfortable I tried convincing my friends to go on a longer walk with me. The jacket is a form hugging fit, which for me is great. I have a petite body shape and most jackets are too big in the chest area but this one is a perfect fit with just enough room for a thick sweater/light jacket underneath. It is a bit heavy but that doesn't bother me much, if I'm warm I feel it's worth it.

I live in northwestern Minnesota, where our cold stretches (our high today is expected to be 9F) are long and the wind is fierce. I was looking for a coat to keep me warm and comfortable for daily dog romps and other outings, and this one offered temperature ratings I looked for, extended length to cover my butt, and extended sizing to cover the rest of me. Unfortunately for me, North Face also seem to be striving for a coat that flatters as much as warms, and I *hate* the shaping on this. I have long since lost my waist, and rather than wishing for additional snaps on the belt to draw it in, I wish it didn't have any belt. The bottom of the coat flares to the point that it admits cold air when you stride; I'd have preferred an interior drawstring at the waist and maybe the bottom. The placement of both sets of pockets is awkward--the lower, patch pockets are down at thigh-level, and the top entry is weirdly tight, while the upper set are too high. The pocket linings feel skeevy, and the "mitten cuffs" are pretty silly. I do appreciate that the cuffs extend past the sleeve of the coat, but the sleeves already extend to my knuckles, and as other users remarked, the seam placement results in a sleeve that cuts into your armpit when you reach forward (although it offers good range of movement when lifting your arm above your head, if that's crucial). I don't care WHAT I would look like while standing on a subway platform, and I wish this coat were a little less concerned with that.

I didn't expect this jacket to be as lightweight and warm as it is. I live in upstate NY and the weather has been considerably cold this winter season, with windchill factors dropping below 20 degrees fahrenheit. This coat has kept me warm without me having to add additional layers. It even has an adjustable belt. I am very happy with this product.

Something about the hood is awkward. It's not as comfortable to wear as the hoods on other jackets I've owned and it's difficult to get a cross-body bag over it. Other than that, it's a great jacket, although I'm not sure it's worth the extra money compared to the Arctic Parka.

The design and style of this parka is the best I have seen. I bought the S size. Absolutely enjoyed wearing it. It's warm, comfortable and most of all it has a waist adjustment that makes you look more stylish than a regular parka. It also has mittens you can use in case you forgot gloves. And also higher additional pocket to stick your hand in for warmth. Love these features. But but but... after 2-3 days of use, the down feathers started to come out. Not just little, there were 5 big feathers stuck to my sweater which I noticed after taking the jacket off. Thankfully I had the tags still on, I was able to return it with this complaint. For a $500 jacket I will definitely not want the feathers coming off at this rate. Now, for the rest of the winter, I don't have a heavy jacket because I liked the design of the outer boroughs parka so much that I don't seem to like any other jacket. Will wait for North face to improve the quality keeping the same design.

I like this coat for casual cold weather daily use such as running errands, shopping, walking my sweet one-year old Labrador, walking five miles a day, travel by plane, travel by car because it can be sat on or squished if have no place to hang or lay it during travel plus it bounces back rather quickly and neatly. Neatness and cleanliness are a high priority of mine.

I bought this jacket for my fianc for Christmas, she is someone who is always cold, all the time. So we went shopping for what we thought was the best jacket out there, a Canada goose. She tried it on and wasn't thrilled with it and then tried on this jacket and immediately said that this jacket feels warmer and more comfortable than the Canada goose. The only jackets I wear are north face, in my eyes they're the best product out there and that's exactly what I told my fianc before we went shopping

I have worn this jacket everyday since it arrived on my doorstep! I have never worn such a flattering winter jacket. This jacket gives you a nice shape while keeping warm in the winter. It was worth every penny!!

I needed a warm winter jacket and this is absolutely perfect for cold, snowy weather conditions. The parka is nicely insulated and definitely keeps me warm without having to wear a ton of layers underneath. I also like how the sleeves have a long lining inside them. It's comfortable and casual.

What can I say about this jacket IT'S GREAT.. before I have to wear two to three layers of clothing to keep warm which was uncomfortable but with this jacket only one layer and I'm comfortable.... great in the rain and wind.....

I really love this coat. It is warm and cozy especially when I have to take the dog out on the very cold mornings. I stayed warm and cozy! In the wind I didnt feel the cold at all!

This jacket keeps me warm in 10 degree weather and on windy subway platforms in NYC. It's also waterproof and keeps me dry in light showers/ drizzles. The xs is a great fit for petite forms and doesn't look too bulky. My only complaint is that the down feathers pokes through the inner lining and sticks on to whatever you're wearing inside. The feathers are extremely annoying to remove (lint rollers are useless!) and can get quite itchy too. I definitely recommend to wear light colors when wearing this jacket.

I LOVE this coat. Playing outside with the kids or standing in carpool, this coat is amazing!! It has been minus 20 here and I am not cold at all wherever the coat hits! Best purchase ever!!!

I layer beneath this if it's under 40 degrees and with a large, 36C it gets a little tight. The only downfall to this jacket is the zipper. It's not faulty but if it had beyond a basic zipper with fabric added to it, it would zip easier especially towards the neck line. For sure better than the 2 in 1 version of this jacket because it's unibody. Warm, functional, and cute!

This is a great parka choice for any winter weather condition. It is crafted with top quality and is sure to protect from wind, water and cold. Unfortunately this coat was too tight in the chest area in a size large and too big in a size XL. It broke my heart to return it. I exchanged it for the Arctic parka which I found to be a better fit for my figure. The Arctic parka is a bit lighter in weight but gives good protection for upstate winter weather conditions as well!

It's an expensive coat but does keep you warm. The only problem is it seems to be shedding feathers from the insulation, when I wear it the feathers end up on my clothes.

It was more coat than I was looking for...But if I lived in a colder climate I would definitely recommend

I bought this parka to replace my high school north face jacket. I had my previous jacket for over 10 years and after realizing I've grown up and it fit a bit snug, i decided to part with it and buy another one because I love the brand. Before purchasing I read many reviews and took into consideration the comments. My advice: Try the size calculator and if you want to be able to wear a sweater under it, go a size up. I purchased an XL and I'm so happy i did. It's comfy a bit heavy but that's expected since it does a great job at keeping me warm.

Love, love North Face!