Warm parka - Arc'teryx Dually Belay Parka - Men's

One of the warmest synthetic insulated parkas in the world. Wiggy's Antarctic parka is warmer, but much heavier. And if you're into down you will need to look at something like the MH Absolute Zero to get significantly more warmth. So here's what this parka really is: 1.1 oz sq yd ripstop nylon and 5.4 oz sq yd Climashield Prism in a super lightweight, highly refined package. Arcteryx glues the Climashield to the shell material and has given it the trade name ThermaTek. There is no quilting to flatten the insulation which really helps this parka loft up. The fit is roomy but not huge- about 1 size large i.e. medium = large. The fit and finish is world class. I have no doubt that this parka will perform as a great belay jacket- or just about the best general use winter jacket you could ever want to own. In my experience it feels MUCH warmer than your typical 133g Primaloft jacket. But I can still use it in sedentary situations when temps are in the 40's with no problem. Downsides are a crinkly sounding shell material and the occasional poke of an insulation fiber thru the seams. I am curious about the long term durability. Arcteryx recommends hand washing, which seems odd considering this thing should be made tough enough to survive a front load washing machine. Still, very pleased with this unique parka.

This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.