Customer Reviews The North Face Defdown Parka GTX

This has the potential to be great but it ran really big, I was drowning in it. It would be perfect for someone who commutes via public transportation because it's super warm and weather proof. Too warm for car commuting IMO. Size down!

For hockey rink and cold weather in New England

I have a red one. Magnets get annoying, they get dirty fast because they stick to everything! Specially my car

I like this coat a lot! the outside material is actually pretty soft, it isn't that shell material that's standard for winter jackets. It is a little bulky and I think it runs a little large. I wish I could've tried the outer boroughs parka to see if it was a better fit since it stated that was a more fitted jacket

This is my new favorite coat, very comfortable and warm.

I needed something warm and versatile that fits my body shape (pear). This jacket fits the bill. It's not very fancy, but I have received multiple compliments from strangers. I love the magnet closure, and the fleece cuffs that can fold over your fingers are convenient for quick trips outside or when I've forgotten my gloves. I also like the various zippers around the bottom. While I rarely unzip them during my day-to-day life, I think they'll be convenient for more active outdoor activities, like hiking or snow tubing. I have no trouble sitting and driving in this jacket when it is fully zipped. The hood is very warm and fits over my head well. If you have a larger than average head, the hood may be tight for you. I like the large fur around the hood. So far, I've only had the chance to wear this jacket in temperatures down to the low 20s. Everything covered by the jacket stayed warm. It does well against wind. I have not had an opportunity to test out the water resistance. The front pockets are very large and will accommodate hands with thick mittens/gloves. The jacket fit as expected. There are a few things I wish were different about this jacket. First, I wish the fabric inside the hood was fleece or some other soft fabric. The polyester taffeta lining is kinda loud (though otherwise comfortable) when I move while the hood is up. Second, the hood is heavy, and it pulls the front of the jacket into my neck when the hood isn't up. It's a little uncomfortable, but I'm getting used to it. Third, it'd be great if the entire hood was removable. That would help with the second issue I mentioned, and it would reduce weight on days I don't need a hood. Fourth, there is very little shape to the middle of this jacket, so I feel a little like I'm wearing a sleeping bag. Maybe the next version of this jacket could include an interior drawstring?

I wear it daily to and from work and during the weekend. The side zippers make a clink noise at every movement and the mittens sleeves are too tight. But overall-the jacket was a great investment. Very warm, light weight and the hood with or without the fur is amazing at wind proofing and it dries very quickly. The shape is great too. Being it that I am only 5'1-the length is perfect. I have more positive comments than negative.

I use this product in Seattle winter. Protects from rain, winds and low temperatures. It is bulky so it is difficult in situations where you can any to put it on or off often while travelling within the city. Zippers were slightly hard to work. But overall very comfortable and super warm!

I LOVE THIS COAT. I wanted a long warm coat for the Chicago winter, and this coat has lived up to expectations. It feels like I'm wearing a blanket to work each day, but it looks sleek and doesn't feel bulky. It is exceptionally comfortable and I like the materials on the inside and outside. The gortex feels almost soft while still causing moisture to bead up. You can just brush off water in the snow and rain. I also think the mat finish makes it look high quality. I really like the magnetic snaps - I would never bother to button up the entire front by hand, and I can use the magnets to quickly close my coat without zipping when walking briefly between buildings at work. As others mentioned, it is pretty light and doesn't feel heavy to carry in your arms. All of that being said, it is exceptionally warm. I haven't felt cold at all yet this winter. I do think the bottom is slightly too A-line, because I do feel a draft when it's particularly windy (but a narrower fit would probably make my zipper problem worse, see rest of review) That said, I've been very warm regardless so far, but I'm curious to see how it does later in the season. My only complaint is the zipper. It is a bit annoying to zip up as others have mentioned, though not enough to cause me any significant problems. My issue has been that it sometimes splits from the bottom if I bend over or put too much strain on it. This is a two way zipper, so I normally unzip the bottom when I sit down, but if I don't, instead of pushing the bottom zipper up, the zipper will split and I have to unzip from the top, forcing the zipper open. It hasn't gotten too stuck yet, but it is annoying to have to unzip all the way (especially the one time I was outside in 10 degree weather) and I'm worried one of these times the zipper will break. I researched coats online extensively before going into the store to try on a few. The woman in the store told me this is the one all the employees bought for themselves. I can see why!

Love the magnet feature wasn't expecting it

I'm athletic. There is no traditional size chart with measurements to base my size decision upon. Based on the true fit recommendation, I ordered a medium, despite the fact that I always wear a small. A medium is frumpy on me, and I would have preferred a small. I havent had a chance to test the coat out yet because I live in the deep South. Our worst weather is rain in the 30's so I needed something warm and waterproof that I could also use when I travel to the North East. The new taupe color is gorgeous and the pictures dont do it justice. I wish the fur ruff was brown, but it still looks nice.

Assuming you have long arms, this is a superb coat. The jacket exterior is not plain black; in person, it is actually a textured black made up of little lines. I think it adds a premium look to the coat but some people may want just a plain black instead. The second thing I noticed about it is just how incredibly lightweight it is. The coat weighs much less than how substantial it looks, and once you put it on you realize how warm it is. The jacket is exceptionally warm and should work well for our winter trip to Vermont. The magnetic zipper flap snaps are fun and upscale. I have to say there are only two cons to this coat: The fur is big, but at least it is detachable; and the sleeves are a little too long. My fiance has short arms and they swim in the long sleeves. I tried on the coat and I have long arms, and even for me the sleeves were too long. So that would be my biggest complaint. We may end up exchanging the coat this weekend for that reason. But, if you are a person with long arms, I think this is an incredible cold-weather coat.

I love how warm this coat is. I really dislike being cold. I live in Pennsylvania and we get very cold weather. We often visit Ireland and I'm excited to see how it holds up there. The only thing I do not like is that the zipper splits or sometimes Iit gets stuck . I am planning on exchanging it for the very same one. I really do you love this jacket -it's just the zipper. I think I just got a bad zipper.

Initial impressions (have not yet worn it) are that if I lived in a really cold locale, this would be an awesome option. I am sensitive to the cold but live in an area where the average winter high is 50 so we get maybe 1/3 of the winter days being below 40. So this coat is maybe just a bit more than I need for my climate and I'm not sure I love it enough to keep it. Things I love about it are that the sleeves are long enough (I'm 5'10 and usually struggle with sleeve length), the magnetic buttons (brilliant!), the little built in cuff mittens and that given the heft, it doesn't make me look like a marshmallow. Things I don't love about it are the very fake looking fur (which started shedding immediately), the limited number of pockets, and that it's not a bit more shapely. It doesn't make me look super wide, but they could easily have trimmed in at the waist a bit more to make it more flattering or added some cinching in the back. I also think it was a missed opportunity to add thumbholes to the little mittens so you'd have the option to just use the thumbhole or both. The size is definitely running large. I am a medium in tops but always, always have to size up to a large for outerwear because of broad shoulders and long arms and with the Defdown, the medium was perfect even with a hoodie underneath. If I lived up north and needed a serious winter gear I'd take the ugly fur off and snuggle into this baby for the duration of the winter but for me, I think there are more stylish options (like TNF Arctic Parka) that will fit the bill.

This is the perfect coat for cold weather. I wish there was a little side ventilation but over all great. I love that it is magnet closures on the wind flap.

Love this coat. Perfect bend of fashion and function.

The coat is beautiful and well made. I love it and would give it 5 stars if not for it feeling a bit too big in the body. I usually wear a small in clothes but size up to M for coats to fit sweaters under, and this fits in the arms but is very wide looking from the side.

Loved this parka! I would definitely recommend to people who are looking for a sturdy, animal-friendly winter coat. Well-worth the money!

Im 4ft 11. I got mine XS. The sleeve are a bit too long bit I understand that Im very small. I love the style the way the coat was made is neat compare to other brand you can clearly see that it has sophisticate pattern. The magnetic button seems to be good idea when you are in a rush, however I always got a problem when leaving a house because the magnet pull me in with my front door. The coat is warm and leave up to it price. I still think it a bit pricey. I think of it as a longterm investment because I can not tolerate cold very well. I live in NYC and when it gets below 30F this is the coat I will go to. I can not say it is a perfect coat because wind can enter through your legs. Another disadvantage is that the coat is a bit heavy if you took it off are holding them while in indoor area. Apart from the minor disadvantages, I love my coat.

It is lighter than I thought. I am 5' 6, 143 lbs, the website suggests size M, though it feels too big when I received it and tried it on.

I bought this jacket for my girlfriend for her birthday in size Small. It was either that or XS. The only thing is that the XS was a little too small so she couldn't layer. The small was better but the only thing was that the sleeves were a little too long. She's 5' 1".. not very tall. However, I've never seen her so excited for a jacket before so I had to get it for her. Besides the sleeve length, she loves it!

I'm 5'4" 120lbs. And the sleeves we too long, weight was heavy and it was too big. Maybe get a size down but afraid it'll be too small and not enough space to wear under layers. I think I'll get a different coat. But the magnetic buttons are a win. Also, the faux fur already shed when I opened the package.

I tried this on in the store so I am only giving my review based on that. I tried on the Large size. I am 5'7 228lbs and it fit great. I did the fit finder on the website and it said XXL. This is a beautiful coat and the material feels lovely. I especially love the magnetic closures and the pretend gloves.

This coat is beautiful but the sleeves are WAY to long. I'm 5'7 and the sleeves hit past my fingertips. This has never been an issue for me- sometimes sleeves can be a bit short on me. There isnt a way to adjust the sleeves is around the wrist like some jackets. It's so unfortunate because the coat is perfect in every other way. I will be returning it.

This parka is a little bit too long and bulky for my height. It's a warm parka overall, but I would have to stick with my Morph jacket and Gotham jacket.