Customer Reviews Columbia Hillsdale™ Reversible Parka

I wore this coat for 3 straight weeks during a trip to Europe. It was the only coat I brought and needed something that could (ostensibly) repel rain/snow while keeping me warm/stylish. Enter the Hillsdale reversible parka. I REALLY wanted to love this coat. The first one arrived with a stain on it so Zappos so kindly replaced it for me. But I should have taken this stain as a sign of what was to come. The jacket stains easily. So easily, that unless you have laundry in your house it’s not worth getting , because you will need to wash it once a week. There’s no chance in hell that I would wear this jacket on the reverse side, because any oil from your skin stains the quilted side of the fabric. And let’s talk about the smell. The jacket stinks, and I’m not what I would consider a person who is prone to excessive perspiration. I washed it after my trip and a week later it smelled again. I think this has to do with the “waterproof” fabric, which has absolutely no breathability and absorbs any and every liquid that touches it like a sponge. Im either freezing or sweating in it. Which leads me to its waterproofing. Short answer: it’s not waterproof. Sure, it’s water *resistant* but this isn’t the same as waterproof. Drops of water don’t roll off (my peacoat does a better job at repelling moisture) but instead sink in. The benefit is that the coat dries quickly, more quickly than my 10-year-old Eddie Bauer jacket which I was hoping to replace but now wear instead of this one. But my EB jacket looks better after 10 years of wear than this one after only 2 months. Lastly, the fabric pills in high-abrasion areas, like under the hood and armpits. And unlike other fabrics where I can use my trusty pill remover, I wouldn’t try it on here—the fabric doesn’t seem like it would take well to it. Bottom line: unless you are wearing this coat once in a while, don’t live in a city, and have access to a washer/dryer for constant maintenance, don’t get this coat. I’m bummed that I wasted $300 I could have spent on something from Patagonia or another brand whose products have an open return policy and are tested for durability. This is the last time I’ll buy something from Columbia. Two stars for a nice deep hood, easy zippers, and five stars for style. It fits really well without looking like a sleeping bag. But, I think I’d rather be a sleeping bag than stylish in this case.

The look, warmth and size are excellent. I"m 5 foot 3 inches, 125 lbs and ordered a small. There's room to bundle up with a sweater and scarf without looking bulky. However, there are some really uncomfortable aspects to this jacket that I learned during the first wear: when worn with the quilted side in, there is no fabric covering the cold zipper. This also means anything on your face, from lip balm to naturally occurring oil, touches the quilted side there were visible stains within a single wear. I've never had this happen with a jacket before this one! I tried to wear it with the quilted side outward, but then the wrists and hood feel awkward. I wish I could return this jacked, but since I've taken the tags off and it looks dirty, I sadly can't.

Super happy with this parka! I spent a lot of time researching parkas. I'm born and raised in California and moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan. I'm terrified of the cold, so wanted to ensure that I purchased high quality parkas. I ended up going with this Columbia parka because of the slim design, the fill power, and because I've had great experience with Columbia products in the past. Upon arrival and trying it on, I'm super happy! I'm usually a size XS/S (5' 4'', 115 lbs). I ordered a size Small in Black in case I wanted to wear a sweater underneath. I love it!!

Highly recommend. Reversible coat is what I am looking for. Waterproof and great quality. Love it.

I bought this same coat for my daughter last year, she loves it and so do I and decided I want one as well. I am 5'4" and about 124 lbs and got the black one in S which fit just right with room for layering. I have a North Face coat also in S, although looks nice on me but it's a little tight and restrictive which made me decide to give this coat a try. I like the length of this coat and like the tucked away hood. It has been a warm winter here in NY and I have not really used it yet so I cannot comment on the warmth of this coat but according to my daughter who had it for a year this coat is very warm. It's a well made coat and can't wait to really use it next winter.

This parka is everything I hoped for, and more. I'm a very tall lady and finding the perfect fit is very hard to me. This parka has sleeves that are long enough to cover my hands which is a rare find. The hood is big enough to cover my head completely. I cant wait to travel in this winter parka and I will use this parka for years to come!

I absolutely love this coat! I was a little wary at first because of the price, but it is well worth the money. I'm a teacher and spend a lot of time outside with my students, before I had this coat I was always shivering. Now I am snug as a bug, I've been outside in the wind, and cold and this coat has kept me completely warm!

Coat looks stylish and is very warm. The top zips up high which can be annoying on the chin.

I am a walk commuter in Cleveland, OH, year round. This coat has been a great purchase for windy, cold, snowy, icy, rainy, etc conditions I deal with. I like the length and the insulated hood.

The coat is fantastic. I like the length, but I do have to unzip the bottom about 5 inches when sitting. I'd like the hood to be removable, and the collar a bit shorter, but it is my personal preference. I will wear this coat for years to come in the cold state of Michigan.

This coat is an excellent choice! Provides warmth without being too bulky. I like that it zips up high so you don't need a scarf. The only thing i would change about it is to make the hood a bit larger.

I wanted a coat to keep me warm outside during the coldest months and this one definitely does! I just wore it outside all day for two consecutive January days that included lots of rain and even some snow and I stayed warm and cozy throughout. It's a little bulky, but not annoyingly so, and the hood has very good coverage (and I have a large head). The zipper goes high so you can even tuck your chin/mouth in for extra warmth. It is waterproof. I'm very happy with it!

Warm and waterproof without being too bulky. Able to sit on the train comfortably and stay warm on windy platforms. I bought a large as I'm 5'4" and 150lbs because I wanted to comfortably wear sweaters underneath and fit comfortably around my hips. It fits perfectly. Love it!

Nice and warm; kept me toasty when teaching an outdoor lab. I am 5'3, bought an xs, and it stops right above my knees, which is the perfect length to me. Is a little longer in the back for extra coverage. Great quality coat!

I bought this as a gift for Christmas and she absolutely loves it. Very nice and sleek looking. Warm and comfortable. I hope it continues to impress us due to the cost. Perfect winter jacket!

Fit and function are perfect. It looks great it's warm and water proof. The only thing she would like different would be a way to fold down the collar, maybe a button or a snap.

This coat was exactly what I was looking for: warm, waterproof, with stow-away hood. It is well made and attractive. I love the India ink color.

Small fit perfectly for my wife! She wears it everywhere.

Love this new coat! Very warm, perfect length and Columbia quality. I am very happy with this coat!

I was looking for a longer and warmer jacket. I have fallen in love with the cut of this jacket, it doesn't make you look wide...it's form fitting and size is correct. I love the warmth and durability of it. I'm extremely happy with my purchase.

The coat is super cute and flattering, I hate wearing puffy jackets in winter and this one does not make me feel huge. So far it has kept me pretty warm. Live in Chicago and we have had a couple cold days (14 feels like 4 degrees) and the coat kept me warm. The only negative is that a few feathers have come out.

I am 5'10" 160 lbs and ordered in a size large. Could have ordered a medium. I live in Minnesota and that means some pretty cold winters and this jacket did not disappoint, very very warm and I love that! One thing you may find annoying is the little feathers from inside the jacket that sneak through the seams, and will sometimes get caught on your shirt! Very glad I spent the money!

I am very happy with this purchase, nice, excellent quality, and warm. I love the under sleeves and they fit perfectly well with my wrist size( I wear medium).

This coat has kept my daughter warm in the NYC winter. She loves the soft cuff inside the sleeves. The outer fabric is doing a great job of repelling the wind and some moisture as it's not truly waterproof.

This is a beautiful coat, and I love that it's reversible. One side is a solid texture and the other is quilted. Very warm coat as well. Sizing is perfect. I'm 5'9" and size 10-12 and the large fit perfect. I can easily fit sweaters and sweatshirts underneath this. I could have comfortably worn a medium but I prefer my jacket to not be so fitted. Jacket and sleeve length is also great! I definitely recommend.