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Parka shopping

Rubygirl

I am on the hunt for a parka to keep warm on the days I walk to and from work. I do need a relaxed fit style as the fitted ones currently are too sing at my hips.

I have three brand choices so far. They are all black.

First up is a Canada Goose Dawson, nice jacket and still have room. It is 100% down. Price is $845.00 I had this on today at A1 Clothing in Kingston.

Second is a another Canadian Made Coat. It is a Quartz-Nature Laura.
It is not down and the price point is $649.99. I found this at Trailhead in Kingston.

Third is a McGinley parka. It is 50/50 down and price is $229.99. This one is from Sportchek.

I have attached pictures of all 3. I was talking to my brother in law who lives in Yellowknife and he was saying that the Dawson is a really nice jacket and I would be able to wear it with just a light sweater underneath it.

Does anyone own any of these parkas and if so pro's and cons please?

Help I am so confused.

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Shopping

16 replies

Latest reply was from Rubygirl

Anonymous

The Canada Goose Dawson is great parka, but it is heavy. It's a big coat, with a lot going on. North Face makes a similar one with a higher grade and amount of goose down (as opposed to feathers) and has superior waterproofing qualities . The North Face parkas are slightly less expensive and use certified natural down - where Canada Goose does not (geese are farmed) . CG also uses real fur - if that matters to you, and NF uses a washable, beautiful synthetic. Anyways -the lower ratio of down means a higher chance of feather ends poking through - which is really annoying . All this said - think about how you are going to use it , and how long you are outside for. Are you walking , or commuting ? Comfort and waterproofing and breathability are as important as how warm it will be. CG's can almost be too warm in most southern Canadian climates.

Rubygirl

Thank you Lisap, I had forgotten about the North Face parka I had looked at at near the end of last winter.

I did not see the North Face line in any of the stores I shopped at yesterday. Keeping fingers crossed that there is one I can go look at.
I have contacted North Face to find out where the jacket is sold so that I may try it on for size.

I do walk to and from work each day, mind you it is not a real long walk as it is just 3km each way. However on windy days, we certainly feel the cold chill from Lake Ontario.

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kkards

Veteran

sorry i can't offer any insight to the coats you've already tried (expect to say that from the pictures, the middle one is my fav), but wanted to put in a plug for LLbean….

Glory

Veteran

These are some great items you have selected. When you try them on do any feel better, meet your needs more fully?
The Dawson is a bit shorter than the others so that might factor into a decision if you are walking. For me the coat is also a bit heavy.
I just purchased this Calvin Klein performance parka from The Bay. It is also Down (although the website has it is fiber, that is incorrect). It has a waterproof exterior and is not quite as warm as the Canada Goose. For me the Canada Goose is a bit too warm. I am a bit further North than you.
http://www.thebay.com/webapp/w.....-0060-cwp1...

Tania

Veteran

I own a CG trillium not a Dawson. I think the Dawson might be constructed for a click more extreme weather than mine (tek4 vs tek 5?).

Looks like I wore it 65 times since I bought it in mid-November last year and I expect it will get similar use for years to come. I live in NH, run cold, spend a fair amount of time with my kids outside in slow/low movement conditions and in sometimes brushy conditions, and I walk daily. We went out even when the windchill was -30F. I love the coat and have no regrets other than I might have gone with a different color. I have found the construction to be very helpful in keeping the cold out (for example, the long wrist cuffs prevent wind from going inside, the zippers are covered and well protected plus I can undo from the bottom to regulate my temp, and the ruff was extremely useful in blustery conditions).

After searching for a few years and considering my needs (which were less fashion related and more my-daily-life related), the main contenders were an LLBean parka and this CG trillium. I've tried on other parkas through the years too. I wore both the CG and the LL Bean parkas inside my house for a 1/2 hour to check how warm I'd be with typical fall clothing. I started to overheat in the CG almost immediately, but I was fine in the LLBean for almost the whole time. It was clear to me that the CF worked better for me.

I would think about what conditions you need it for and the amount of time you'll spend in them, plus your need to layer for your daily life. For example, I often layer heavily in the wintertime at home and wearing the CG on top for a typical winter day would be too much (but great on a frigid day). But if just have light layers, like a buttondown and light sweater, it works just fine in regular winter weather.

I would also think about the length of the jacket. Even with the CG I need to think about my legs in super cold conditions.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ruby, are you in Kingston? That is where I live!

If you want to try North Face, they have those at Trailhead. Or at least they used to.

My own parka is by Lole (got it at Trailhead) but it is a bit on the snug side in the hip area -- would not work on a pear shape.

I would consider looking at LLBean and/or Land's End as well as Eddie Bauer. Eddie Bauer is in Belleville and has a sale on right now.

I'm hoping to get an additional parka this year. My Lole one is 4 years old and still in great shape and there is nothing wrong with it; I'm just tired of always wearing grey so would like a more colourful one or a lighter one as an addition. I did try one of Eddie Bauer's last year in white but the fit wasn't great on me.

ETA: I wear mine in -30 and sometimes -40 weather for long periods outdoors and it keeps me very warm.

Lole Women's Katie L Edition Jacket

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15

Ginger

Veteran

For what it's worth, I have this one from Eddie Bauer and it works quite well for me, as a definite pear shape. I doubt it would be warm enough! But the fit with EB was much better than Lands' End, for example.

Women's Astoria Hooded Down Parka

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1

Rubygirl

Glory, I never thought to look in the The Bay. We are going to Kingston again in the next week or so, I will check them out for sure.

Tania, the CG Trillium looks like a nice jacket as well. I do get cold easy but then if I walk my furnace gets fired up. Trying to get a parka for this semi pear shaped body of mine is proving to be a challenge.

Suz, wow you are in Kingston. I am just west of you in Belleville I had the Eddie Bauer Lodge parka on last year but found it to be tight in the hips.
I will check out LL Bean and Land’s end.
When we were at Trailhead, the gal was leaning us toward the Quartz-Nature parka line. They did not even have a black one in my size. but could order one in. I did not see the North Face parkas when we were there.
We are going to be going up in the next while, so I am going to have a look at Atmosphere and Sportchek when I am there.

unfrumped

Veteran

No good suggestions here for very warm parkas, as I'm way South, but hear you on parkas for pears. When I get good hip fit, the shoulders and arms look huge. So I would try brands that seem pear-friendly as you will want it to cover your seat for cold weather but no do that binding-riding up thing. 2-way zips are also good for that but you want that to be optionally deployed.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ruby, I think (if I'm not mistaken) that if you order Eddie Bauer online, you can return it to the store if necessary, which saves on the whole postage business. My husband has sometimes done that. And I think they have a few new styles this year if I'm not mistaken. It might be worth popping into the store there to see.

I haven't seen those Quartz Nature parkas. I will have to check them out.

There was another store on Princess street that had quite a selection of parkas last winter. I wasn't in the market so didn't look terribly closely, and can't even remember the name of the place, but the next time I'm wandering around downtown I'll take a peek for you if you like.

The Bay is also a really good bet. Not the store, necessarily, but online. Did you know that you can order it online and (you guessed it) return for free to the store? And if your order is over a certain amount it is free delivery? So that means you can try a variety in different sizes in the comfort of your home and return them all to the store if they don't work. The online selection is SO much better than the store's.

Rubygirl

Suz, you are right that you can order online from Eddie Bauer and return to the store. You can also order from another Eddie Bauer store and have it shipped right to you (I have done that one before).
Could it have been A One clothing on King St you are thinking about? If not, I would be interested in what other shops that may be on Princess St.

Unfrumped, I know exactly what you mean about the fit in the shoulders. Hubby says size up, but then the shoulders do not fit correctly. It was not until a sales associate pointed that out to him that he even noticed it.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It wasn't A-1. It was right on Princess Street and was a new store last year. (For all I know it could be gone again by now - half the shops on Princess seem to be empty.) It had other ladies' clothing but in winter gave itself mostly over to parkas and hats. They had some Pajar and another apparently high -end coats plus some more moderately priced "fashion" looking ones.

Glory

Veteran

Sporting life is a new store that just opened a while back in Ottawa. They have free shipping. I know it is so difficult to order a coat online but it might work for you.
Also, the Bay has its Bay Days on this weekend - might be worth a look

Banoffi

Veteran

I've heard great things about Nobis coats (Nobis Meredith coat), but I've never seen one IRL, only online. I think, however, they are quite pricey.

Anonymous

I have a lands end commuter. It is my dog walking and hockey rink coat, and I wear it on really cold days to work (Go train into Toronto, platform gets very windy)

I think it would work for a pear. I am a hourglass that leans to a pear. I believe it is one of the coldest ratings and I have worn it two years, I love it, very warm but too too heavy. I think with duty but on sale, I paid about $180 Canadian. I will replace with whatever current model LandsEnd has.

Rubygirl

Suz - It would be most interesting to try and find the store you are talking about. When we were up this last time or two we did not pay attention to many of the other shops as we were headed to the shops we frequent. If you happen to come across the name I would be very interested.

Glory - I will definitely check out Sporting Life. That does remind me though that I had a parka on at MEC a month or so ago. It was not designed for a pear as the hips were really tight and if I sized up would be huge everywhere else.

Banoffi - I have not heard of Nobis coats. I do see they are quite pricey but if one is looking at a CG then it is only a little more. Off now to take a much closer look.

A - The Land’s end commuter is certainly worth taking a look at.I do need a warm but not real heavy coat.