How do you choose your men’s winter jacket or parka?

Before venturing into the realm of selection criteria, let’s take a little dictionary break as per Le Petit Robert for just a few seconds (promise). 

So a parka is defined as a "short, waterproof coat with a hood", while a jacket is defined as a "short over-garment (down to the waist or hips), with sleeves and open in front." To sum up, a jacket can be taken everywhere, while a parka is designed to keep you both warm and dry during outdoor activities, especially in the middle of winter.

To shine at a fondue (or raclette) evening, let’s not be jealous... here’s a brief history of the parka. A winter coat par excellence, the parka comes from a country used to the extreme cold: Russia. The name ‘parka’ comes from the term of Samoyed origin “parqaaq”, relating to animal skin. The parka has three simple tasks: but which require a high level of technical performance: keeping you sheltered from the cold, the wind and the rain (or the snow). It reaches down to between the hips and thighs, to keep you warm while not restricting your movements. The parka has gone from being the mainstay of winter military gear to a must-have in men’s (and women’s) wardrobes owing to its clear practicality.

To choose a men’s parka or jacket to face the winter, you’ll need to pay attention to:

• Your level of physical exertion: if you’re going for an intensive snowshoeing or Nordic skiing excursion, for example, you’ll be too hot in a parka! You’d rather need a dual-fabric hybrid jacket. If you’re going to be hiking in the snow in the middle of winter with a medium level of effort, the parka will be your best ally. For daily use, choose a warm jacket.

• The composition of the parka or jacket’s padding: synthetic padding is suitable both for daily use and for colder temperatures depending on its density, while natural padding will be preferred by those who feel the cold or hikers in very cold weather.

• The density of the padding: expressed in g/m², density gives an indication of the thermal retention capacities of the padding. For optimal warmth, this density should be higher around the chest area than at the arms (to protect your precious organs).

• The cut, the sleeves, the presence of a flap under the zips and options to adjust the jacket:: to keep as much warm air in as possible while leaving you free to move.

• The hood: with or without fur (anti-blizzard feature), and preferably lined to keep your head warm.

• The pockets : lined with fleece to keep your hands warm.

• Waterproofing : to not allow melted snow in, wetting you and making you cold. Favour a waterproof jacket over a water-repellent jacket. Also, check that the seams are watertight to prevent any nasty surprises.

The list is long, isn’t it? Luckily at Decathlon, we simplify life for you by providing full product data sheets which indicate at which outdoor temperature the jacket or parka will keep you warm: and by this I mean ‘comfortable’ temperature. But how exactly does a jacket or parka keep you warm? Let’s review the jacket and the parka in detail.

Almost all types of jacket can be designed to offer good thermal insulation. However, certain cuts and materials are more effective in terms of retaining heat. But how do you make the right choice?

Firstly, a jacket is a broad term that covers many different types of coat: waterproof jackets, as well as warm, comfortable jackets, with or without a hood. Quechua offers jackets for almost any outdoor temperature range. In this regard, our Quechua men’s winter jackets keep you warm in outdoor temperatures between -5°C and -10°C.

The various parts of the body do not have the same needs in terms of heat. For example, in cold weather, you need to cover your chest area more than your arm area. That’s why our warmest jackets have different grammage in terms of the lining according to the body part concerned: 150g/m² of wadding on the body and 100g/m² on the arms, to keep you warm up to -10°C.

But the padding isn’t all. There’s heat behind all the small details! Jackets that keep you the warmest will, for example, have an inner flap under the zipper to prevent cold air from entering. A high collar, in addition to a hood with faux fur, will keep your neck warm and protected from cold drafts.

Also pay attention to the smaller details that often escape the eye, but that are nonetheless just as important, when choosing a winter jacket. To keep your hands warm, check that the inside of the pockets are lined with fleece, as well as inside your hood. This detail is important if you consider that we lose a large amount of heat through our head, our hands and our feet. A fleece lining inside your pockets and inside your hood will therefore protect you from both the cold and the rain!

Finally, remember to check that the outside fabric of your jacket presents sufficient resistance to harsh weather conditions. In fact, a water-repellent jacket (surface treatment that causes "water droplets" to roll down the fabric) will not be sufficient in keeping you warm and dry if it’s raining or snowing.

Are you going out into the cold? Get out your parka as well!

However, take note that all coats referred to as "parkas" (especially in the non-sporty, ready-to-wear brands) are only called a parka by name. Under the guise of a trendy parka, these coats unfortunately don’t provide either technical features or warmth. To sum up, all jackets that are a little bulky, which cover the buttocks and have a hood " like a sheepskin jacket" will not necessarily keep you warm in winter or in periods of severe cold.

To remain warm in a parka, it must be a technical parka, with clear advantages and performance features that you need (such as its level of waterproofing, the density of its padding, the tests carried out to claim the various product advantages, etc.). Our Quechua parkas pass laboratory tests and display a comfort temperature at -20°C. For the more adventurous (or those who feel the cold… or both!), our Forclaz 3-in-1 ARCTIC 900 parka will accompany on your icy expeditions up to -33°C.

In terms of the padding (or filling), this can be synthetic (wadding) or natural (feather and down). Down is advised for the iciest temperatures. A wadding filling of high quality should suffice, especially if you’ll be exploring in cityscapes or setting off for a skiing excursion at relatively mild latitudes.

For example, for a parka with wadding, you will remain warm up to -20°C thanks to a double layer of wadding (2 x 200g/m²) on the body and a layer of 200g/m² on the arms.

Remember to also check that your parka will prevent cold air from entering thanks to its sleeves and 
tightening cords at the bottom of the garment.

All of our Quechua parkas are also waterproof. In fact, a parka that is triple padded but allows water to pass through will not keep you warm for long. Don’t forget that a parka will protect you from the rain as well as the snow... basically, it will protect you from almost any form of water. In addition to using a waterproof outer fabric, our parkas all have taped seams to prevent water from passing through.

At Decathlon, we don’t use real fur. The edges of our anti-blizzard hoods are embellished with removable, lifelike faux fur to protect you from the snow and keep your face warm.

For more information about our parkas, discover our general article on how to choose your parka here.

As mentioned above, our men’s parkas (and women’s and kids' parkas too) undergo laboratory tests to verify their level of waterproofing and their ability to keep you warm in wintry outdoor temperatures. A hallmark of quality, this also allows you to easily compare parkas with each other according to their performance.

Did you know...? At Decathlon, we have laboratories fitted with showers to reproduce the various intensities and durations of rain for our tests. We also use climatic test chambers ranging from 40°C to -40°C to test the thermal comfort of our clothing.

When it comes to choosing between a parka and a snow jacket, there are several factors to consider.

Thanks to its length and padding, the parka is more suitable for extremely low temperatures. It offers better protection against the cold and wind, in particular thanks to its hood and sleeves. It is also generally more waterproof, which offers an advantage when it snows.

The lighter jacket is often preferred for more intense physical activities. It generally offers better draw off of heat and perspiration, which is essential to prevent humidity and keep you dry.

Here are a few tips to help you choose:

• Temperature: if you’re planning to be exposed to negative temperatures below -10°C, a parka will probably be a better option. For more daily use in temperatures that are not as low (around 0°C, maximum -10°C), the jacket gets the upper hand.
• Activity: for intense activities, a jacket could be more appropriate thanks to its lightness and its ability to draw off heat.
• Comfort: parkas are generally more comfortable for activities of a high level of intensity, while jackets offer greater freedom of movement.

Before launching into a "parka-versus-down jacket" debate, let’s set some good context: both of these items are essential in men’s wardrobes in countries with cold winters. They are, however, going to meet different needs.

In fact, we can even go as far as to say that the parka and the down jacket work hand in hand! While the down jacket warms you and is water-repellent (making it a good mid-season clothing item), the parka will give you better protection against negative temperatures, the rain and the snow. Remember, it stands out for its rising collar and hood, which is ideal for protecting the head from the cold. What’s more, the parka is generally longer, thus protecting a section of the legs.

You can even wear your down jacket under your parka (if it’s thin, such as the Simond light down jacket, for example) it can add some additional heat.

Although this is the case, rest assured that you can find resistant, durable parkas with technical features at affordable prices! As although technical features and quality come at a price, the name of a brand also sometimes comes with its own price. Rather pay attention to the materials used and how they, as well as the finished product, have been tested. Of course, also take a look at customer reviews. Finally, choose a brand that allows you to repair your parka or even bring it back to the store and have it exchanged if it does not live up to its technical promises.

In addition to the laboratory tests we perform, at Decathlon our products are tested in the field by hiking enthusiasts. This dual test process allows us to control the quality of our products during use, as well as the technical features of the materials we use. We are also open to user feedback worldwide, with a view to continually improving our products.

To sum up, choose a jacket or a parka which has stood up to the test, and that you’re likely to keep for a long time!