The main zipper is too small for this coat.The pocket zippers scrape your hands. A bellows pocket like on an army field jacket would be better. The jacket shell and down liner are great.This summer I'll have my tailorreplace the main zipper with a larger zipper and have him remove the pocket zippers.
The appearance, weight and quality of the parka is impressive.
The fact that the jacket includes a removable 650 fill down liner is an amazing value. There is no reason not to wear the liner by it-self all day long. It's warm, and it's attractive as a stand-alone coat.
Paired with the shell, the parka is unstoppable.
I bike and walk to work every day in Northern Maine, and before I purchased this jacket I would put on half a dozen layers and a shell and venture out into the cold day and hope that it doesn't get too cold in the evening that I would need a taxi to get home.
Now as I leave the house I don't feel the need to put on anything over my t-shirt. I just put this parka on and temperature is no longer a factor. If I think I'll be out long after the sun goes down I *may* bring some long underwear with me, but I can then find myself getting too warm!
The technical features on this coat are impressive, the wind skirt, *ample* pockets, plenty of points of adjustment.
There are two things about this coat the I do not like, 1) The hood is uninsulated. I understand that this parka is probably meant for wear with hats and and goggles and helmets or whatever, but the complete lack of insulation just does not seem up to par with the rest of the jacket. This is something that I would really like to see changed, or at least make the hood a zip off so that I can put my boundary jacket hood on this coat.
2)The front pockets are placed in an unfortunate position that makes putting my hands in them awkward, nor do they really function well for putting things in them, since they would fall out. The pocket is also not as insulated as I would have hoped.
These are two small flaws in an otherwise flawless parka. I would highly recommend this parka to anybody who needs a jacket. The liner is great for your average cold weather day, the liner is perfect in the worst rain storm, and together you're properly equipped to do just about anything just about anyplace.
I stopped at the Freeport store after Christmas looking to replace a well worn cotton shell (at least 10 yrs old). I showed it to the associate and she led me to the Warden's Parka. Wow, what a product! Lots of pockets and extremely warm. I've had it for about a week now (had to order by phone as the store was out of my size) and I love it. So far, no problems with the zipper...I'll keep an eye on it.
