Best Winter Jackets for Men

The Best Overall

Arc'teryx Camosun Parka

Weight and fill power: 2.14 lbs, 750 | Number of pockets: 3

The Arc'teryx Camosun Parka beat out the competition for the third year in a row to earn our top honor. From hard sleet to snow, with assaulting winds or bitter cold, this model can keep you well-protected. Our testers liked its stylish looks for chilly jaunts around town and felt prepared for whatever harsh weather conditions might come their way. Arc'teryx stuffs this jacket full of high-quality goose down in critical areas where warmth is paramount. Meanwhile, synthetic insulation is strategically placed where exposure to precipitation and sweat is expected, like the hood, neck, shoulders, and cuffs. Although it isn't the absolute warmest and won't turn any heads with its style, it provides reliable performance in all of our test metrics, making it the jacket we reached for the most.

The Camosun is an expensive piece of equipment, and that's probably its biggest drawback. In the absolute coldest of temps, this model could also be outmatched. In those conditions, and if money is no object, check out the Canada Goose Expedition or the Feathered Friends Khumbu Parka.

Read review: Arc'teryx Camosun Parka

Best Bang for the Buck

Columbia Boundary Bay Long

Weight and fill power: 2.86 lbs, synthetic | Number of pockets: 5

The Columbia Boundary Bay Long insulated jacket is a warm trench coat with a waterproof shell and a removable hood and comes in at a very attractive price. It is warm enough and weatherproof enough for most winter days and provides full-body coverage from the head down to the mid-thigh. The shell fabric contains a waterproof/breathable membrane that does a good job of keeping moisture from penetrating. The jacket's synthetic insulation keeps its insulating properties even if it gets wet. It does all of this at a fraction of the price of other jackets in our review.

Still, we wish this jacket was a little warmer. When temperatures drop into the teens or single digits on frigid days, users will need to wear an additional warm layer underneath. The jacket has ample pockets, but we wish the upper handwarmer pockets fully closed instead of being fastened shut by only one button. The design allows some moisture to enter the chest area through these pockets. Despite these shortcomings, the Boundary Bay is a good winter jacket for most users at an excellent price.

Read review: Columbia Boundary Bay Long

Excellent Value for Frigid Conditions

The North Face McMurdo Parka III

Weight and fill power: 3.62 lbs, 550 | Number of pockets: 8

We can't all afford the Canada Goose Expedition Parka, but the The North Face McMurdo III is a reasonable alternative. At a third of the cost of the Canada Goose, but still incredibly insulating, this is a great value. For extreme latitudes and the coldest days, the McMurdo's down insulation, long cut, and generous hood combine to protect you all day long. This review covers the latest, greatest, and subtly updated McMurdo III. This newest iteration makes improvements that have their pros and cons but don't alter the overall scoring or ranking.

The fabrics and construction of the McMurdo are a little stiff and confining compared to the Canada Goose Expedition, something you'd expect on a budget piece of equipment. The McMurdo, while warmer than many jackets in our review, isn't nearly as insulating as the Expedition or the Feathered Friends Khumbu Parka. Again, this is what you'd expect at a budget price point. For the bitter cold, when every dollar counts, we highly recommend the McMurdo III.

Read review: The North Face McMurdo III

Best for Extreme Cold

Canada Goose Expedition Parka

Fill power: 625 | Number of pockets: 11

While bitter cold, feet of snow, and icy sidewalks do not describe cold conditions for everyone, for those living in extreme latitudes or at high elevation, a winter jacket that protects you from prolonged sub-freezing temperatures makes a lot of sense. Enter the Canada Goose Expedition Parka. This model is the pinnacle of warmth, with an abundance of features, and it's the coziest jacket reviewed. The Expedition Parka is a comfortable parka for the coldest weather, designed with Arctic and Antarctic applications in mind. On that note, a special Polar Bears International (PBI) edition is available. This version comes in a royal blue color, with a polar bear patch on the shoulder, and lists at a slightly higher price. A portion of the sales goes to PBI and their mission to save polar bears and their habitats.

The primary drawbacks of the Canada Goose Expedition are weight, bulk, and price. This is a large jacket, in every way. The quality and performance are impeccable, but such specialized performance comes at a cost. This is likely not your everyday winter jacket — only those exposed to the truly bitter cold should accept the drawbacks. If you need a truly warm and durable jacket, you won't do better than the Expedition Parka. It's the gold standard among polar researchers and adventurers for a good reason.

Read review: Canada Goose Expedition Parka

Best for Expeditions

Feathered Friends Khumbu Down Parka

Weight and fill power: 2.11 lbs, 900+ | Number of pockets: 5

The Feathered Friends Khumbu Parka boasts the highest warmth-to-weight ratio of all the winter jackets in our review. It weighs only 2.11 pounds, yet it provides more warmth than any other jacket in our view except the Canada Goose Expedition Parka, which is equally warm but weighs more than twice as much. Purpose-built for technical expeditions to the world's highest peaks, the Khumbu Parka is packed full of features for expedition climbing like a seamless hood that's designed to fit over a helmet, insulated handwarmer pockets, secure velcro cuff closures, and adjustable drawcords to keep the warm air in and the cold air out. This jacket is meant to be unnoticeable in a pack and to provide life-saving warmth when needed.

In general, this jacket is overkill for all but the most extreme conditions. We tested this parka on mountaineering trips all over the United States and actually found that it's uncomfortably warm above 15 degrees Fahrenheit, even with no other insulating clothing worn underneath the parka. This jacket is designed for the coldest conditions on earth and would be a good winter jacket for those living in arctic climates. The Pertex Shield exterior fabric is not as durable as other options, nor as water-resistant, and will allow water to penetrate during a soaking rain. That said, this jacket is not meant to be worn in temperatures anywhere close to the freezing point. Rather, it's the ideal choice for the coldest conditions and tallest mountains, places where snow and ice rarely melt.

Read review: Feathered Friends Khumbu Down Parka

Why You Should Trust Us

Our test team is led by full-time Jackson, Wyoming resident, and IFMGA licensed Mountain Guide Jeff Dobronyi. He leads backcountry skiing and mountaineering trips in the Tetons and all over the globe in the winter and spends his summers leading alpine climbs and expeditions. Jediah Porter also contributed to this review. Jed is also an IFMGA Mountain Guide and Jackson Hole resident. Between the two of them, they have ventured on a total of six expeditions to Denali, as well as many trips to the Andes, Canadian Rockies, and Alaskan mountains. They know what it means to brave the worst weather on earth, whether climbing and skiing the biggest mountains around the world or shoveling the driveway during a blizzard. They have the expertise and experience to evaluate each jacket and determine how it stands up to real-world use.

We've tested winter jackets for eight years in a row and have refined our testing process and scoring metrics to a rigorous and thorough standard. We have used these jackets during blizzards in Jackson Hole, wet and slushy storms on the streets of New York City, arctic temperature blasts in Calgary, and while skiing and vacationing at mountain destinations across the country. We have put these jackets through the wringer and have emerged with a great idea of how they compare.

Related: How We Tested Winter Jackets

Analysis and Test Results

We rated each jacket's performance in key areas, including warmth, weather resistance, comfort, style, durability, and features. Read on for specifics about how the jackets fared in the individual metrics that comprise the overall scores.

Related: Buying Advice for Winter Jackets

Value

Winter jackets can be pricey and might be the most expensive piece of clothing that many users own. When choosing between the options, consider how much warmth you'll need, how much moisture or precipitation you expect, and your personal style. This review has something for everyone, from lightweight insulating layers for very warm winter climates to expedition parkas for the coldest conditions on earth. In general, the more protection a jacket offers, the more it costs. The best values are jackets that perform well in our assessment categories and also are priced near the bottom of the pack.

We love the value of the Columbia Boundary Bay, which provides full-body coverage, a waterproof membrane, lots of comfort, and decent features and warmth performance. Plus, it is well-constructed and durable for a range of uses. The North Face McMurdo III is another great value, performing nearly as well as the best jackets on the market, at a much lower price. However, if you truly need warmth and weather resistance to resist the toughest winter climates, the more expensive jackets are worth the investment. Refined design characteristics, down insulation, effective waterproofing, and comfortable tailoring require time, effort, and money on the part of the manufacturer. This drives up the sticker price, but in the long run, a well-designed winter jacket made from durable materials will prove its worth, especially in brutal winter climates. In more temperate or tropical areas, users might be able to get away with less.

Warmth

Warmth is the most important metric we used to rank each model. It directly corresponds to how much insulation is used in a jacket, whether it's down or synthetic insulation. The more insulation a jacket contains, the warmer it is. We looked at the insulation quality (fill power) and quantity (fill weight) of each jacket and then compared it to the jacket's cut and length to gauge how the insulation is distributed. If two jackets have an equal fill weight of 10 ounces, but one has a waist-length hem while the other has a mid-thigh length hem, they won't feel equally warm. The most useful measurement for warmth is, of course, comparative testing in actual conditions. We spent a lot of time outside side-by-side testing, swapping jackets between the test team, and comparing notes.

The Arc'teryx Camosun features lofty down, which keeps the jacket lightweight and highly packable. Most of the down-insulated parkas feature down below 750 fill power, all the way to the 550 in The North Face McMurdo III Jacket. However, this low fill-power number should not dissuade shoppers. Heavier, lower quality down drops the cost, and a casual winter parka doesn't need to be as light or compressible as a technical jacket for overnight wilderness trips. On the other side of the spectrum, the Feathered Friends Khumbu Parka uses 900+ fill power down for maximum warmth and packability at a fraction of the weight.

The Canada Goose Expedition Parka is filled with average quality 625-fill down, but it has so much of it that it's the warmest model reviewed. (It's also pretty bulky.) Not far behind is the Feathered Friends Khumbu Down Parka. It's nearly as warm and much lighter than the Canada Goose Expedition Parka. The North Face McMurdo II is nearly an expedition parka, with the price tag of a casual jacket, earning it the best value in our test.

The Patagonia Jackson Glacier and the Patagonia Frozen Range Parka also kept us warm in most wintry conditions. The Arc'teryx Camosun Parka falls between the Jackson Glacier and the Frozen Range Parka. We were also very impressed by the warmth of the Arc'teryx Thorsen Parka, which features lots of 750-fill down from the bottom of the hem to the top of the hood. The Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 was the most versatile in the warmth category, offering a thin raincoat and a medium-weight down sweater that combine to produce a surprisingly warm winter jacket.

Overall, jackets with synthetic insulation are not as warm as the down models. For example, the Haglofs Torsang is warm enough for the average cold, especially in milder climates, but isn't warm enough for true frigid conditions in much of North America. Down insulated jackets provide much more warmth for the same weight.

Weather Resistance

Cold winter weather and storms are almost synonymous. In general, winter jackets need to be proficient at keeping wind, snow, rain, and sleet outside the jacket. Furthermore, down insulation loses its ability to keep the user warm when the feathers get wet, so down jackets need to be excellent at keeping moisture from penetrating the outer shell. Other attributes like jacket length, hood size and shape, pocket design, and sleeve cuff openings can contribute to how well a jacket keeps the elements out.

If precipitation tends to fall as rain or wet snow rather than dry powder in your neck of the woods, consider a winter jacket with a waterproof outer shell, like the Gore-Tex membrane in the Arc'teryx Thorsen. This waterproof and breathable fabric sheds water faster and for much longer than a DWR treatment alone. (If a jacket has a waterproof membrane, you can be sure the outer face fabric is treated with DWR.) The Arc'teryx Camosun, the Patagonia Frozen Range, the Patagonia Tres 3-in-1, the Marmot Fordham, the Columbia Boundary Bay, and The North Face McMurdo III all have waterproof and breathable membranes as well. The McMurdo III does not have sealed or taped seams like the Arc'teryx jackets, though, which can allow water to seep through, and thus, hurt the jacket's overall rating.

If you wear your jacket in freezing temperatures where it tends to snow instead of rain, and if that snow is relatively dry, then a jacket with DWR treatments, such as the Canada Goose Expedition Parka, the Patagonia Maple Grove, or the Patagonia Jackson Glacier should offer adequate protection. Another jacket that works well in those conditions is the McMurdo III. It's not incredibly water-resistance due to its untaped seams, but it's warm enough to excel in genuinely sub-freezing conditions. Luckily, precipitation is rarely in liquid form at those temperatures, and the limited weather protection isn't a problem. On technical expeditions, where staying warm and dry in sub-zero temps is a matter of life and death, the Feathered Friends Khumbu Parka has you covered with a lightweight waterproof shell to cover its high-quality down.

The long hem of the Columbia Boundary Bay makes this garment more like a trench coat than a traditional parka. But with insulation extending down through the thighs and a waterproof/breathable membrane throughout, this style of jacket provides excellent weather protection. Hoods can also make a big difference. All of the jackets in our review have hoods, but for true protection in a blizzard when the snow is blowing sideways, the hood needs to be large enough to protrude from the user's face and forehead to block the wind and snow.

The Haglofs Torsang Parka features excellent weather protection. It's a fully waterproof rain shell with light insulation. It isn't warm enough to be a go-to winter jacket in most climates. In terms of weather protection, it is similar to the Camosun. The Arc'teryx Thorsen is similarly equipped but with more insulation underneath a burly Gore-Tex membrane. This parka offers a great combination of warmth for the coldest urban conditions, along with the weather protection needed when the snow turns to sleet or rain.

Comfort

Cold weather is uncomfortable enough. Your winter parka doesn't have to be. Most of the models we reviewed make braving the wind and cold less miserable, but some are bulky and heavy, making your journey through a storm seem like even more of a burden.

We found a rough correlation between cost and comfort. More expensive jackets use softer materials and more thoughtful tailoring to achieve better comfort. A parka's cut has a significant impact on its comfort. A meticulously designed jacket like the Arc'teryx Camosun Parka will fit most bodies better than a generic square-cut design. Many of these parkas use a longer hem, which keeps the waist from riding up and exposing you to drafts, but the extra material can also make the jacket feel unwieldy. The Columbia Boundary Bay is one such coat that hangs low around the user's thighs and feels very comfortable to wear due to soft internal fabrics and not too much insulation below the waist. A notable exception to our observations about price is the Marmot Fordham. Despite its bargain price, every tester who tried on the Fordham was impressed to find that it was more comfortable than the competition.

There is also a correlation between comfort and warmth. The biggest jackets we tested are the warmest, but they are also the most confining. Lots of insulation and an extended cut to keep the heat in also make for a larger package. This bulky package limits your range of motion, which can cause discomfort. The Patagonia Maple Grove packs a ton of down insulation underneath its heavy canvas shell but somehow remains relatively comfortable to wear. The best warm jackets on the market use smart designs like smaller baffles and stretchy underarm fabrics to increase mobility without sacrificing warmth.

We love the cozy feel of a fleece lining, especially when it lines pockets and chin covers. The North Face McMurdo parka, and both Canada Goose products feature fur or faux fur hood trim. When cinched tight, it works as intended to hold in warmth, making you feel like you're at home in front of the fire, albeit with a little tickling on your cheeks. The Frozen Range features a brushed jersey lining in the handwarmer pockets, which adds to the cozy factor.

The Arc'teryx Thorsen is extremely comfortable, with soft nylon fabric on the inside that slides effortlessly against any fabric worn underneath. The down baffles contoured well to our testers' bodies, and the jackets felt amazingly comfortable, despite the level of warmth and weather resistance that it provides. On the other hand, the thick layers of the Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 are warm and protective, but they rub awkwardly against each other and are very heavy, making the jacket more of a chore to wear. After weeks of testing, the difference in comfort was staggering.

Features

Cold-specific features distinguish these jackets from three-season options. Hoods, multiple hand warmer pockets, two-way zippers, and cuff closures work together to protect you from frigid environments.

Hood

A hood is mandatory during stormy weather, and while it is not a substitute for a warm hat, it certainly makes life a lot nicer. Ideally, hoods would be highly adjustable to allow for a customizable and secure fit. The best hood in our test was found on the incredible Canada Goose Expedition Parka. This hood is warm, large, and can be cinched down securely and comfortably. The stiff brim also kept the hood mostly out of your field of view. The hood on McMurdo III is smaller than previous versions of this product, and warmth and weather protection suffers accordingly. If you leave the removable fur ruff on and don't have to move your head much, the McMurdo's hood effectively seals out the weather. Otherwise, the more sophisticated hoods of the Arc'teryx and Patagonia jackets are at the head of the pack.

Handwarmer Pockets

Insulated handwarmer pockets are an excellent place to keep cold hands or gloves, and most have a fleece-like liner. The Arc'teryx jackets had the best hand warmers among the jackets we tested. The Haglofs Torsang Parka and the Feathered Friends Khumbu Parka also have fully insulated handwarmer pockets that we like. Most of these include a wrap-around fleece lining. This means that your hand is insulated while in the pocket and that there is no draft when the pocket is unzipped.

Like earlier iterations, the latest version of the McMurdo III still has four fleece-lined handwarmer pockets, but the upper, chest-level pockets are now placed further to the sides. This means that you have to chicken-wing your shoulders and elbows to get your hands into them. So much so that these pockets are uncomfortable to use. Nonetheless, the jacket is incredibly worthy.

We wish that the jackets featuring a single layer of fabric protecting the hands in a warming pocket had a more sophisticated design. The Canada Goose models, for instance, both have uninsulated hand pockets.

Two-Way Zipper

In a thigh-length parka, the need for a bottom zipper pull is quickly apparent. The extended length can inhibit stride, and wearing a long coat while seated can be awkward and uncomfortable without this feature. The Haglofs Torsang Parka is a long coat with a separating zipper on the bottom. Getting this zipper started is annoying, but once rigged, it runs smoothly.

Cuff Closures

Cuffs can be simple elastic closures, a snap closure, or velcro, but a good winter parka needs something secure. The cuffs prevent snow and wind from entering through the sleeves and interface with gloves to create a weather-proof system. Open cuffs with internal gaskets, like those on the Arc'teryx Camosun and the Patagonia Frozen Range, combine fashion and function. The Haglofs Torsang has soft inner gaskets with velcro closed outer cuffs. This is perhaps the best of both worlds. Over time, however, well-used velcro straps can wear out, creating a durability concern.

Other Features

Other features that may be important to you might include internal phone pockets with headphone ports, inner skirts to seal out snow, or built-in face warmers. The most notable feature that we came across is the ability for one jacket to be worn in three ways. The Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka is comprised of a burly outer shell, which can be worn separately as a raincoat, and an inner down sweater, which can be worn separately on dry, chilly days in the fall or spring. Together, they combine to produce a formidable winter jacket that can withstand the harshest urban cold.

We liked the feature set on the Canada Goose Expedition Parka. It has almost a dozen pockets, a snow skirt, and a drawcord waist, not to mention a fur-trimmed hood. We also appreciated the features on The North Face McMurdo III Jacket and the Marmot Fordham. Both come with an array of pockets, including an internal Napoleon pocket that has a headphone channel so your electronics stay dry. The McMurdo jacket adds removable fur hood lining and a unique integrated face mask/neck gaiter. The Patagonia Frozen Range Parka features a large button flap that hides the front zipper. While this helps prevent wind from penetrating through to the torso, it also adds an element of style.

Style

Style is personal. Our personalities show through our clothing choices, winter jackets included. This review includes parkas that could be worn to a nice restaurant and a Broadway show, and others that convey a simpler taste. While technical jackets might be at home in the mountains, they are also worn in urban settings and can let some of your outdoorsy personality show through. For example, many Patagonia products are designed for technical use, but the brand label is often seen in urban cafes and suburban barbecues. Casual urban parkas don't usually work the other way. They are likely missing crucial elements for safe cold adventurings, such as hoods or full waterproofing.

Most of the models reviewed have an extended cut, which adds warmth and weather resistance. It also gives them a different look than the waist-length athletic cuts that most backcountry-inspired jackets have. We liked the style of the Patagonia Jackson Glacier and the Arc'teryx Camosun, which are both stylish enough to dress up but also perform well while snowshoeing or ice skating. We also think that the Patagonia Frozen Range Parka is one of the most fashion-forward jackets in this review and should be considered by anyone who considers style paramount. Just don't expect this jacket to perform in any event more athletic than jogging to catch a train or hustling along a crowded sidewalk.

The Marmot Fordham has a fairly neutral style. Across the board, we tested different "looks" to find something for everyone. One tester did not like the "tubular" look of the Haglofs Torsang. Not all testers disapproved of the Torsang's style, but this opinion was strong enough to be worth noting. Similarly, testers either loved or hated the hood on the Patagonia Frozen Range.

Both the Arc'teryx Thorsen and Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 are well-styled and have a classic urban winter look. The Tres is a bit more center-of-the-road and high class, with large horizontal pocket flaps and a square cut. The Thorsen is a bit edgier, with a sleek, tubular cut and a very long hem, suggesting a hip and young look.

Durability

Purchasing a winter jacket is a major investment, and it stands to reason that users expect five to ten years out of their purchase. Durability is impacted by the quality of materials used in the garment, the jacket's design and construction, and how heavily the jacket is used. More durable materials generally cost more, and durable designs are more refined and expensive to produce. Tight stitching, fabric reinforcements, and metal zippers help increase a jacket's lifespan. Jackets used during activities like skiing or sledding will take more of a beating than jackets used only to get from the office door and into the Uber or onto the subway. And finally, we considered the warranty and repair policies of each manufacturer. A good warranty program is like a free insurance policy on your purchase.

One of the most critical durability considerations is a jacket's outer fabric. Solid, heavy-duty, canvas-like exterior materials can withstand more abuse than a thinner shell. Zippers, snaps, and velcro take a lot of abuse, too, so we examined these closures to see if they were durable enough. We gave our highest score in this category to the Canada Goose Expedition Parka. The large zippers, durable outer material, and quality construction make this jacket last. Similarly, the Canada Goose Chilliwack Bomber is quite rugged. We also like the durability of the canvas-shelled Patagonia Maple Grove Parka.

Among the waterproof/breathable shell options, the Arc'terxy Camosun and Thorsen both have thick, durable outer fabrics that can take a beating without showing signs of wear. They didn't scuff or abraid when loading firewood or tossing skis over the shoulder.

Conclusion

Choosing the right winter jacket for your needs and your budget can be a challenge. Our comparative review has something for everyone, from the warmest and most weather resistant jackets in the world to more utilitarian alternatives that do well in most conditions and won't break the bank. We also have jackets that span the style spectrum, from sleek parkas that feel at home on 5th Avenue to versatile, classic jacket looks that can be worn around town or on the ski hill. Carefully consider the winter climate in which you expect your jacket to perform, because this is the single most important factor that will steer your decision. Take your time, consider all the options, and stay warm out there.