Fjallraven Nuuk Parka Review

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.