Customer Reviews The North Face Arctic Parka II

For years and years I've been searching for the perfect winter jacket, that's super warm, long enough, and stylish. I live in Finland, where temperatures of -25C (ca -15 F) and upwards plus strong winds are not uncommon. So a warm winter jacket is a must. I had VERY high hopes for the Arctic Parka, since I had read a lot of positive reviews. The online size advisor told me to get a Large, and it fit like a glove. Tight around the shoulders and chest though, should probably have gotten a size larger. The length was perfect for me, since I'm tall. Overall it looked really stylish, long and slim. The only disappointment regarding the outlook was the fake fur hood trimming, I'd have preferred real fur. The jacket was very warm! Didn't get to test it in the most extreme Finnish conditions, but I could immediately tell it was going to keep the cold out. And it was indeed waterproof, excellent! So far mostly positive! So what didn't I like then? The material! It was literally a MAGNET for hair and dust and dirt, it drove me crazy! I have a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, and I couldn't even go near the dog wearing the jacket. The amount of tape rollers... And after riding my car for the first time wearing the jacket I got a shock when taking it off: The upholstery material had left huge grey marks on the back of the black jacket, it looked really dusty and dirty and I had to wash the jacket after wearing it only once. In short, the jacket didn't fit my lifestyle at all, and I had to get rid of it. So very sad...

As other reviews have mentioned, this coat runs small in the chest and shoulders. I'm pretty small framed (5'4, 120#, 34B) and usually wear a small or occasionally medium (general brands, I don't have much experience with North Face), but I have average-to-chubby arms and I guess a somewhat fuller chest than some smalls out there. I saw the reviews but after doing the Size Advisor quiz which advised a small, I decided to go with a small anyway. Bad idea. Had to return it for a medium. And the medium is just right in the shoulders/chest but there are at least a few extra inches in the waist and hips. The waist is especially a problem because I like it tighter to keep the cold out (I used to have a coat that had an internal waist snap that was so great at keeping my torso toasty). Oh well, it's still a really well made coat, but I just wish the proportions were more suited to my body type. I think the cut would be perfect for pear-shaped women who had slim upper bodies.

I've had the jacket for a bit over a year and its a nice casual coat thats warm and made well, but the pockets have no insulation, so no good to keep your hands warm and the HOOD is way to small to be useful. I don't have a huge head, or super huge hair, but with a ponytail or bun in my hair the hood just does not meet the standards i've come to expect from North Face design. Usually the hood is just falls back to far when you're not standing still and for it to be useful keeping the rain off ones head this is just not ideal. Great for dry,cold weather when I'm wearing a scarf and toque, but relying on it to keep your head toasty warm isn't something I do anymore.

I live in the arctic tundra of the USA (upper Midwest). This coat is amazingly warm and I was thrilled with it overall until my B.O. set in after owning the coat nearly 2 years. washing it was necessary for the sake of everyone around me. Keep in mind I wore this coat to and from the gym, work, dog walking and daily life errands. So yeah it was pretty ripe after all of that! I followed the washing instructions using my front loader washing machine. Then I gently dried on no heat (per instructions). Normally I only dry things like sheets, towels, socks, etc. so that's I'm sure what destroyed it. Zipper was 100% ruined and the sleeves are now about an inch too short all around. I'm 5ft 7in 134 lbs with a smaller frame and have this in size med. Before washing it was a perfect snug med on me. Now it's like a petite size on a tall person! I tend to wear things a size larger because I need room to maneuver and don't want be that lady squeezed into something too small. On the other hand my friends and family joke that my clothes are too big but I'm just trying to take it with a grain of salt, I'm in the market for a new parka. I won't buy another north face until quality improves. I ordered a Canada Goose parka. Big jump from this but hoping it'll be worth the investment! It says to dry clean which I will do as needed. Fingers crossed the CG parka is a winner.

Way to tight for me

I just wore this about 3 times and the feathers are already coming out.

very disappointed in the sizing! I know I am a bigger person, I know there is more I could do, but for a 3xl to fit so differently between styles is sad. my denali fits GREAT! this parka feels almost 2 sizes small from how the denali fits. couldn't even get the zipper zipped. I would give it more stars, the jacket itself is good quality, well made, warm and wieghty, but somethings needs to be done about women's sizing!

This was my first North Face coat. I wore it last winter and now this winter. The coat is super warm and has a flattering fit for something with bulk. (It's not a packable kind of coat.) Unfortunately, this coat sheds tons of tiny feathers all the time- some from the inside shell of the coat, but most from the pockets. Anything that goes in my pockets comes out with feathers- my gloves get covered. I have to check and de-feather my clothes every time I wear it. Sending it back through warranty means I'll be without the coat for a long time so I'd have to wait until after winter, but I'm also sure they won't be able to fix this, so eventually I'll end up without a coat anyway. I wouldn't mind the occasional feather, but this is excessive and I'm really disappointed.

I had the Artic parka 1 and loved it for years but unfortunately it got lost during travels. Due to the style being multi functional and waterproof I continued with it's next edition. The Artic parka 2 is different when it comes to the press buttons of hoodie in side collar section>>> they keep coming loose with the littlest movement. It's not pleasant to have to keep trying to fasten them, especially outside in the cold:/ These press buttons are like a cheap version of the ones that are in the front of the coat. Those are pressed closed and stay closed as they should. Next thing is the ongoing little (recycled) down feathers that are on the inside of the goat and cover whatever I'm wearing that day. This seems a a bigger problem, cause the volume is being reduced and the isolation will be less and less. At this pace, it's going to be a outer shell coat:/

I have waited an entire year to write this review to give the coat a fair assessment. Yes, it is warm, but much like others have commented, the constant leaking of feathers everywhere (all over my clothes, my car, you name it) render it unusable. I am so disappointed. I paid over $300 for this.

Very disappointed

This coat is very warm and perfect for Michigan winters when temps are < 0 degrees. The downside to this coat is quality. Within 3 days of having it, the material started to rip by the zipper. I immediately took it back to the store wherein they told me I would need to file a claim, pay to ship my brand new coat to Texas, and wait for it to be evaluated there. At the time, it was -30 wind chill outside and I'd have to go without this coat for 6-10 weeks. I find this to be ridiculous and poor customer service. For the price of this coat, it should not rip or tear at any time during casual wear, especially within just a couple days of buying it. The rip has now spread about 5-6 inches and gets worse every time I sit down. (Note: this coat is not tight on me and I am wearing the correct size, so it is not like I am stretching the material.) Very disappointing. I wanted a warm coat & I thought this would be perfect, especially given the price. I'd rather spend more on a different brand than on another North Face with this quality and hassle of a warranty process.

warm and fits well

Sadly, I received this coat as a Christmas gift last year - it felt a bit snug but as I had already tried on a larger size, I knew going up a size wouldn't work. I generally wear between a small and medium, purchased a medium after trying all sizes on. I am 5'2", 140lb, pear shaped and according to the true fit, I should have been able to wear the medium. What true fit doesn't take into account is hips and I feel like NF jackets are made for women without curves. For those females with a less curvy body, this is a great jacket. The unfortunate thing is that one year later I still haven't been able to wear it because the fit is just too restricting and now it's too late to return. Lesson learned and will pass the jacket on to someone who will wear it.

I was so excited to order this coat and was hoping that it would keep me warm but back it goes. The first thing i noticed was how lightweight it was but as soon as i put it on i knew it wasnt going to be a keeper. The sleeves are tight and so is the band at the waist. I wouldnt even think about sitting down in it for fear of ripping a seam. I ordered a size up and it was just odd fitting. The bust area fit great but the hip area was too big and that hood...they is no way to keep the hood from flopping down and covering your face. Maybe it is just my body but im really sad that this didnt work for me. I have always heard great things about North Face

Strangely the shoulders in this are very cold. I guess they didn't put much insulation in them so they would be feminine and reduce bulk. Mediocre coat. Doesn't breathe. Often come in sweaty from ploughing driveway because this coat doesn't breathe - appears to have pure polyester lining. Not particularly warm the rest of the time, Not particularly waterproof either.

Returning product as it runs a full size smaller. I wear a 0x some 1x but ordered xxl to allow for slightly fitted style. I could barely zip this.

This coat is VERY warm but that's about the only thing I liked about it. It is HUGE. I don't mean the way it fits, I mean the coat itself. When I saw the box on my porch, I thought they must have sent me the wrong thing! The material is very stiff and restrictive. Also, when I zipped it up, I felt like I could not move my arms much at all. It is very slim fitting, which the website said, but you cannot wear anything bulky under it unless you size up. I bought this to take to NYC for a cold weekend but there was no way I was going to tote this giant thing all over town. Bottom line, if you need something to keep you warm and you won't be very active while wearing it, then go for it. Otherwise, skip it. I'm returning.

Sadly, this coat looked awful on me. For reference, I'm 5'6" and weigh 130 lbs. I purchased a Small (online) and the sleeves were SO long on me, I looked like a gorilla! When I returned it to the store, the associate was flabbergasted as to why the sleeves drooped so long! Really surprised as to why unless this was a fluke on this one coat. Super bummed because it would have been a very warm coat. Sadly, do not recommend.

I would have used this coat for walking in the evenings in frigid Minnesota winters, but the flare out at the bottom of the coat was so wide that it let tons of ice cold air in and up my legs and lower back. So I returned it!

I have had this jacket for two months and the zipper completely broke and it unwearable and I am now left without a winter jacket.

This seems like it would be a very good winter parka and I love that it's waterproof, but it just was too big on me. It looked and felt overwhelming, but that wasn't a huge shock. For reference, I'm 5'1", <100 pounds, bust 30C/32B, size 24 jeans, and I have a hard time finding clothing that doesn't look like I'm borrowing it. If this was hypothetically made in XXS petite I think it might have worked, but it's just available in regular sizes, the smallest being XS. If you are around my size and are having a hard time finding a good winter coat that will keep you warm but you can comfortably move in (and feel like an adult in), I strongly recommend looking at anything by Obermeyer (XS regular or 2 petite) and some of Marmot's styles, particularly the Montreal and the Strollbridge (XS regular). Obviously I can't comment on the technical performance or durability, but provided it doesn't shed, I imagine this would be a great ultra warm coat if it fit properly.

The medium was way too tight, but the large was way too big. I am 5'7.5", 140lbs, 32DDD, and an athletic adult female.

For some reason the medium fit me like a small. I ordered a large, and it is a bit too big but fits much better than the medium. I will be keeping the large because I like this jacket, its features, and the brand.

Not for someone 5’4 or shorter.