The Fjallraven Nuuk Parka is an urban, trench-style winter parka with a thick outer shell, synthetic insulation, and a removable fur-lined hood. It is warm enough for most urban winter climates, but it likely won't be enough if you live somewhere with genuinely frigid temperatures. The nylon shell effectively keeps out water, but it is far from the most waterproof jacket on the market. It has plenty of features, boasting an incredible 15 pockets, a two-way front zipper, and a removable, fur-lined hood. This jacket is an excellent option if you are looking for a relatively warm and weather-resistant parka with plenty of style points. But if you need the warmest and most protective jacket on the market or can't stand the weight of this bulky garment, you might be better off with a different jacket.
Editor's Note: The Fjallraven Nuuk Parka review was updated on February 23, 2022, with extra tips on what we would buy and additional sections to help better compare products.Fjallraven Nuuk Parka Review
Compare prices at 3 resellers Pros: Tons of pockets, sharp urban style, durable, cozy
Cons: Bulky, zipper is hard to start, could be warmer
Manufacturer: Fjallraven
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
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Fjallraven Nuuk Parka | |||||
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Price | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $649 List $649.00 at Amazon | $350 List $244.96 at Backcountry | $374.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $300 List $148.83 at REI |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Tons of pockets, sharp urban style, durable, cozy | Durable, clean looking, warm, weather resistant | Warm, long hem, comfortable hood, great features | Warm, lightweight, comfortable | Warm, weather resistant, durable |
Cons | Bulky, zipper is hard to start, could be warmer | “Crinkly” shell fabric | Bulky, faux fur hood is polarizing | Not that durable, minimal features | Not very breathable, limited color options |
Bottom Line | A durable and heavily featured parka with sharp style and a removable fur hood | This stylish jacket is the closest thing to perfection we have tested | A warm, stylish, and budget-conscious jacket for those in the coldest regions | A warm, comfortable, and lightweight down parka that is ideal for winter hiking and outdoor activities | A versatile and high-performance winter jacket with plenty of warmth and weather protection, at a great price |
Rating Categories | Fjallraven Nuuk Parka | Arc'teryx Camosun P... | The North Face McMu... | Rab Neutrino Pro | REI Co-op Stormheng... |
Warmth (25%) | |||||
Weather Resistance (20%) | |||||
Comfort (20%) | |||||
Style (20%) | |||||
Features (10%) | |||||
Durability (5%) | |||||
Specs | Fjallraven Nuuk Parka | Arc'teryx Camosun P... | The North Face McMu... | Rab Neutrino Pro | REI Co-op Stormheng... |
Down Fill Power | Synthetic | 750 | 550 | 800 | 850 |
Total Weight | 4.47 lbs. | 2.14 lbs. | 3.55 lbs. | 1.38 lbs. | 1.94 lbs. |
Pockets | 2 zippered breast pockets; 2 buttoned breast pockets; 2 top-loading bellow pockets; 2 fleece-lined handwarmer pockets; 1 media pocket on sleeve, 2 internal zippered chest pockets, 2 internal button-closure stash pockets, 2 internal mesh stash pockets. | 2 zippered hand, 1 internal security | 2 chest height, zippered handwarmers, 2 exterior top-entry Velcro flap pockets, 1 sleeve, 1 interior media pocket, and 2 side-entry waist handwarmers | 2 zippered hand, 1 internal chest | 5 (2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest, 2 internal) |
Hood | Yes | Yes (removable) | Yes (removable) | Yes | Yes |
Hood Adjustments | 2 side drawcords, rear velcro | 3 adjustable drawcords | Rear drawcord | 2 side drawcords, rear velcro | 3-way adjustable |
Baffle Type | Discontinuous quilting | Sewn-through under an outer shell fabric | Sewn-through under an outer shell fabric | Twisted arm baffle | Sewn-through under an outer shell fabric |
Main Fabric | Polyamide | N150p-x Gore-Tex 2L | DryVent 2L 100% nylon | Pertex Quantum | HydroWall 2L |
Our Analysis and Test Results
This jacket is one of the best-looking options on the market and has an astounding number of pockets and several high-end features. It falls a little short of the warmth provided by our highest-rated jackets but would be a great, stylish choice for chilly urban environments.
Performance Comparison
Warmth
The Fjallraven Nuuk Parka uses tons of quilted synthetic insulation to provide warmth on cold winter days. This insulation isn't as warm as down, and despite the heavy weight of the jacket (over 4 pounds), it doesn't provide as much warmth as some lighter jackets that use down insulation. The trench-style coat has a slightly extended cut and provides heat to the lower body, and the removable hood features a faux-fur lining that keeps the wind off the sensitive skin of the face. This jacket is relatively warm, but if you live in a cold climate, it won't keep you warm on truly frigid days. To stay protected, you will definitely need to layer up.
Weather Resistance
Designed for cold and wet Scandinavian winters, the Nuuk does a good job at keeping out the worst winter weather. The nylon exterior shell fabric is waterproof, and its synthetic insulation stays warm and lofty even if it gets wet. The long hem, deep handwarmer pockets, and huge, fur-lined hood help keep the elements at bay. However, the shell fabric loses its DWR coating over time and wets out during the fiercest deluges. Although this water doesn't penetrate the shell material, it feels heavy and uncomfortable when the jacket is saturated.
Comfort
The Fjallraven Nuuk is a moderately comfortable garment to wear. The soft interior nylon liner fabric lays gently against the skin, and a woven neck rib provides a cozy seal around the upper torso. The collar and hood both have fleece liners for comfort, and the faux-fur hood effectively creates a micro-climate of calm around the face while still allowing enough room for a beanie underneath. The major downside to the jacket's comfort is its weight. We measured our size large at 4.47 pounds, making it one of the heaviest pieces of clothing we've ever tested, which takes a toll on the user if you are doing anything relatively active. It feels bulky, encumbering, and limiting, which is likely due to the use of synthetic insulation instead of down. The sheer amount of materials used to create its 15 pockets also contributes to the weight.
Style
Style is the Nuuk's strong point. It features a trench-style design, tons of external cargo pockets, a long, straight cut, and a roomy fur-lined hood. It is a fashion-forward jacket and helps the user stand out in a crowd during winter weather. It will draw some looks, and usually of jealousy. In achieving high style points, the jacket lacks some practical designs, and it might come off as flashy in specific contexts. That said, we think this jacket looks great. It also comes in a wide variety of color options.
Features
The Fjallraven Nuuk Parka has an astounding number of pockets, 15! — and efficiently delivers on any storage needs you could have. On the outside of the jacket, each side of the body has a handwarmer pocket with a side opening, a bellow (cargo) pocket on top of the handwarmer pocket, a zippered chest pocket, and a button-closure chest pocket. There is also a small buttoned pocket on the left sleeve. Inside the jacket, each side has a zippered media pocket with a headphone port, a button-closed chest pocket, and a mesh drop-in pocket that is good for items like goggles or extra gloves. The hood is removable, which allows the user to customize their style and ditch some bulk if storms aren't in the forecast.
Durability
The Nuuk's nylon shell fabric feels thick and canvas-like, sliding easily over rough surfaces and helping to prevent snagging on sharp objects. The velcro straps on the wrists and front zipper flap may eventually wear out over time, but we didn't use these features much during our test period. The zippers are large and burly compared to the lightweight and skinny zippers of other jackets. The insulation is synthetic, which eventually loses its loft faster than down over time. Overall, this is a moderately durable jacket, and the insulation is our biggest concern.
Should You Buy the Fjallraven Nuuk Parka?
The Nuuk is a relatively expensive winter parka for the warmth and weather protection that it delivers. Other jackets on the market are warmer and better suited for stormy weather, and that also cost less. However, this jacket puts style and features over pure weather protection, and we find that better-looking jackets usually come with a higher price tag. This jacket features excellent tailoring, tons of pockets, and a faux-fur hood, all of which cost more to make, driving the price up. But if you want to look your best while battling the winter chill, this may be your top pick.
What Other Winter Jackets Should You Consider?
The Fjallraven Nuuk Parka is a stylish and heavily-featured trench-style parka with great full-body coverage. It skimps a bit on the best materials for keeping users warm and dry. If you like all your jackets to be fashion-forward and don't mind the sacrifices in weather protection or warmth, this is a great option. But if you are looking for the most high-performing winter jacket for extreme winter conditions, look elsewhere. We would point you in the direction of the The North Face McMurdo Down Parka which has a similar style, is warmer, and is more affordable.
— Jeff Dobronyi
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