Winter jackets and parkas

Parka jackets

Parkas are a popular choice for both city streets and serious cold. The durable outer fabric shrugs off everyday wear, and the hip-length cut helps keep your core warm. On winter trips, a parka works well as a jacket for breaks and evenings at camp. It’s also a favourite with dog owners and anyone heading out with a pulk sled or snowmobile.

Long winter jackets

A long winter jacket reaches down to your knees, sometimes a little further. The longer hem adds noticeable warmth, and it looks smart too.

Packable down jackets

A down jacket with a thinner, packable outer fabric fits easily in your rucksack. The lightest down jackets weigh only around 300 grams, yet they keep you warmer than a 400-gram fleece. In the warmest down jackets, the down lofts into an insulating layer several centimetres thick between you and the cold air. These are the jackets you’d take on a polar expedition.

Synthetic insulation copes with moisture

On longer trips, the down in a down-filled winter jacket can lose some of its insulating ability as it absorbs moisture. If you know you’ll be wearing your jacket in cold, damp conditions with no chance to dry it out along the way, synthetic insulation is the better option.

3-in-1 jackets – three jackets in one

A 3-in-1 jacket is a practical choice for many people. It combines a removable inner jacket with a weatherproof outer shell, which you can wear together or separately.

Bomber jackets

The bomber jacket takes its name from its origins: crews flying at high altitude needed thick, warm clothing. Today’s bomber jackets borrow from those original pilot jackets – they’re warm and cut to waist length. The short hem is handy when a longer jacket would get in the way while sitting, and it’s a stylish look as well.

Lightweight down jackets

Lightweight down jackets took off a few years ago, and it’s easy to see why. They’re warmer than a fleece, block the wind, and you’ll barely notice the weight when you’re out walking or hiking. Many of them pack down small when you’re not wearing them – bring one along as a jacket for breaks and evenings at camp.

Lightweight padded jackets

A lightweight synthetic insulated jacket is the down-free alternative. Not everyone wants to support down production, even from the most responsible suppliers. On the technical side, synthetic insulation also copes with moisture better than down.

Anorak

The anorak is a perennial favourite. In winter, a traditional anorak goes on over base and mid layers chosen to suit the conditions. A winter anorak is a versatile choice with a proper outdoor feel.

Look for a good hood

A hood that keeps out the wind is invaluable: it makes a huge difference to how warm you feel. A hooded winter jacket helps you shut the weather out. Parkas often have a fur-trimmed hood. The trim keeps you even warmer by breaking up the wind and creating a “barrier” in front of your face against the chill.

Ski jacket

A ski or snowboard jacket can be insulated or uninsulated. An uninsulated one works like a hiking shell: all the warmth in your system comes from your base and mid layers. This type of winter jacket is the most popular choice for freeriding. An insulated winter jacket makes it easier to avoid cold spots and is a straightforward choice for everyday skiing at the resort.

An oversized winter jacket makes a statement

Oversized winter jackets are designed to be both generously insulated and eye-catching. An oversized jacket turns heads and keeps you warm.

How to choose the right winter jacket

• Do you need a jacket for everyday wear, or a camp jacket for a winter hike, for example? An everyday jacket won’t face extreme conditions, but it does see a lot of general wear and tear. A winter jacket for the outdoors, on the other hand, should pack down small and protect you in properly freezing temperatures.
• Think about how cold it will get where you’ll be wearing it. Our lightest down and synthetic insulated jackets are roughly as warm as a thick fleece, while our warmest jackets would see you through a polar expedition if needed.
• Choose between down and synthetic insulation. Down packs down small and, with proper care, lasts a very long time. Synthetic insulation handles moisture better.
• Do you need a waterproof winter jacket? Around freezing and in light frost, a waterproof outer fabric is worth having. In properly cold weather, it doesn’t matter.
Long or short winter jacket? A longer hem looks smart and gives you plenty of extra protection. On the other hand, a waist-length jacket is more practical if your winter days involve a lot of sitting down on benches and getting back up again.

Popular brands

The brands we carry include Haglöfs, Rab, Didriksons, Haglöfs, Fjällräven and Jack Wolfskin.

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