Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Rugged Ridge Parka

This coat's velcro enclosures have ruined several pairs of knit gloves and knit hats over the past 4 years since I purchased it. Just purchased a new pair of LL Bean Primaloft Therma-Stretch Fleece Gloves and with just one wearing with this coat I discovered the coat's velcro already caught and made abbrasions on the back of one of the gloves. LL Bean needs to nix the velcro enclosures!

I had an older version of this jacket for 10+ years and loved it. That jacket wore out so I bought the newer model which took away about half the pockets from the older model. Most importantly, they took away the upper pockets that you put your hand in. The newer model is a cold-weather jacket that doesn't have pockets to put your hands in! As a minor clarification, I don't consider this a 1-star jacket. I consider this a 1-star change fro the older model of the jacket.

We bought this coat and within 2 months the zipper teeth at the bottom and at the top separated causing the zipper pull to come off the zipper. The zipper is plastic and cheap. Very disappointing for a cold climate coat not able to zip up. For a 'rugged coat', the zipper is not rugged. Don't waste your money.

Very nice jacket but for a double zipper design that keeps jamming if I pull the drawstring either at the hem (bottom) or at the midriff (waist). Buyers should be offered an option of having or not having a double zipper.

I returned it and arranged nan exchange. It was waterproof as claimed but felt like wearing a plastic bag.

The zipper broke not long after the return period expired. To LL Beans credit, they exchanged the parka. Happy ending right? Nope. The zipper on the new parka broke the first time I wore it. I just gave up after that.

I am 51 and have successfully managed the zippers on many jackets, backpacks, suitcases, etc. Not this parka. The zipper catches all the time. Most recently the zipper caught and I couldn't un-catch it--had to pull the coat off like a sweater. Expected better from LL Bean!

(IMO) Low Quality Zipper Makes Jacket Useless We bought the Rugged Ridge Parka for my son for a ski trip late in January and it started to break after just two days. We thought the zipper was suspect when the coat arrived from LLBean as the cheap plastic feel seemed out of line with the quality build of the rest of the coat. But for us, LLBean was synonymous with quality, and I figured they knew how to build a coat. After just two days the zipper stopped functioning as normal as it started to separate from the bottom when zipped. Soon after that, it started to separate from the top too. Finally, it jammed and would zip neither up nor down, preferring to stay stuck in the middle. After reading reviews I've learned that other customers have had this same problem and raised it with LL Bean before they sold coat. I think LLBean can and should do better and I will be seeking a full refund for this product.

This is very oversized. I'm a medium. I ordered a medium and it fit like a large or even bigger, allowing cold air inside. It was too long and too big. The zippers on the pockets are also flimsy and hard to zip with one hand. Very disappointing product.

Too big.. bought for my 17 yr old and he was swimming in it.

Parka is thin and not warm. When I wear parka in 40-degree weather, I am chilled.

It's easily three sizes larger than expected, it's not a relaxed fit, it's unusable. I double checked the size chart and couldn't believe I received the size I ordered.

The parka is warm and comfortable, but it has WORST ZIPPER EVER! I did not have the time to return it and try another,so I had the zipper replaced and am quite happy with it. I can only recommend that you Not use the Internet and try it out in a store. I have been a Bean costumer for more than 30 years but if quality does not return neither will I !!!

I've had my eye on the Rugged Ridge Parka for a couple of years now. I finally decided to pull the trigger and order one. I was dismayed when I tried it on and realized that the relaxed fit was designed in a very pear-shaped way. Well the parka fit well through the shoulders, from the middle of the chest down the parka ballooned out in a very tent like manner. While this may work for some men with a large belly, it looked comical in an Alfred Hitchcock sort of way on me. Sadly I had to return it. If you are more fit than fat, find a slightly tailored or fitted parka instead.

The jacket was great in terms of fit and insulation. Unfortunately, the cheap plastic zipper broke after a mere two seasons.

I purchased this same product 7 years ago was an amazing coat! after 7 Michigan winters I had mentioned to my mother I needed a new coat she surprised me with a new one for an early Christmas gift. I was very happy because the coat I bought 7 years ago was the best ever! after 5 days of the new coat and temps in and around 30 degrees I was freezing!!!! had to get the old coat back out this coat is NOT A WINTER COAT FOR MICHIGAN maybe Florida. Why did you ruin this coat L.L.Bean your products are always the best but you guys really messed up this coat.

My wife bought this jacket for me to take the dog out. It is a cold jacket. I wear a sweatshirt and the jacket and in a short time my arms are getting cold . For the cost not worth IT.

This coat should not be called a parka.How Bean comes up with this was made for very cold weather and people saying how warm it is is just wrong.It was 40 degrees in middle ga and I got cold with this coat on.I put on my 15 year old $40 off brand parka and was at times too warm. I see why with all the pre xmas sales this coat did not sell out like years before.I hope Bean is not cost cutting because it will ruin a very trusted name.may return.

This was my first winter coat purchase in seventeen years. I love my LL Bean boots and thought if anyone made a warm jacket, it would be them. I am sad to report that is not the case at all. I tried several jackets on in store, but not was not able to get my size in the coat I wanted online so I decided to give the rugged ridge parka a try. It is a bestseller and thought since it was rated very warm it would work nicely. I am extremely disappointed. I live in Maryland just outside of DC so it does get cold here, but I don't live in the Arctic by any means. I am also a pretty big guy I am six feet, 250 lbs. I am not cold natured, but I don't want to freeze while I shovel snow either. So I went with the rugged ridge, to stay warm when the cold weather hits. I walked outside both last night and this morning with it being above 40 degrees and I felt the wind big time. I was pretty cold even with this allegedly super warm jacket on. When the coat I arrived I was skeptical of how thin it was, but thought maybe the new insulation would keep me warm, it didn't. I guess I will have to keep using my old Walmart special starter jacket from college to stay warm. I thought LL Bean was a great company and made a good product. I will be returning this coat and shopping elsewhere from now on. What a ripoff.

I have been an LL Bean customer for 30 years. I have bought many winter parka's and jackets in that time period. I have 2 rugged ridge parka's. This newer jacket to me is disappointing, My previous jacket had more amenities such as side hand warmer pockets, this jacket is in need or hand warmer mid pockets, larger side zip pockets and heftier insulation. This jacket lacks- maybe a cost savings move by LL Bean? I took this newer jacket downhill skiing In New Hampshire on a 24 degree day this winter. I found myself needing to back and put on my fleece vest as my chest got cold as the jackets insulation did not work well on that normal winter day (not much wind either) except when skiing downhill. I was wearing layers as well as an insulated ski bib too. This jacket is fine for commuting or shopping or general walking the dog but not in extreme cold as its advertised. I am disappointed to say the least. I would have bought the Baxter State Parka but LL Bean was out of them this winter. I still miss the side hand warmer pockets! LL Bean says - Light activity: to 10 Moderate activity: to -40 = No IMO. Its a lighter jacket but to me not warmer.

Bought this coat last year looking for something updated and warm. Bean claims this coat is good til about -20 degrees. Where I live it rarely if ever gets that cold but I live on a significant hill so it does get windy. As stated here by others the cold goes thru the back of the jacket and the arms. On some of the really cold nights while walking the dog I would have a sweatshirt, semi-light fleece and scarf on along with this coat and I could still feel the cold wind penetrate the jacket. It's useful to about 20 degrees - that's it. If you need something for the cold winter don't get this coat. Will be returning it soon to be ready for this winter but reading some of the same comments on other Bean jackets as well. May just get my money back and find another brand.