Feathered Friends Khumbu Parka Review

Likes

Warmth and comfort were the two things we loved the most about the Khumbu. It's rare to find a jacket this warm that doesn't make you feel stiff as a board. Chock full of 900+-fill, this parka is relentless at trapping body heat, even when the mercury is well below zero. We were never cold. In fact, we're fairly certain that if the Khumbu could talk, words like cool, cold, and chilly would not be part of its vocabulary. We tested it in the Utah Rocky Mountains at 9,000 feet above sea level. It kept us warm and toasty. Additionally, we absolutely loved the comfort of this parka's interior down baffles. They sat nicely against our bodies, swallowing us whole like a down comforter. We also loved the Khumbu's massive, deep hand pockets. They were large enough to accommodate our gloved hands or an extra beanie.

The hood is massive and fully insulated. What we loved the most was its field of vision. It flares out on both sides, so you can even keep most of your peripheral view.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

The manufacturer claims that its pockets are big enough to use while wearing gloves, so we brought ours to test it out.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

Yup...easy peasy.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

We hung a Bluetooth temperature gauge around our neck and zipped up this Parka to see how it insulated... No further questions, your honor. This jacket is the real deal.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

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Initially, we gave the Khumbu the side eye when it came to wind and rain protection. Specifically, we were doubtful of its lightweight Pertex Shield Laminate shell fabric. It's pretty thin. This is great for cutting weight, but we weren't so sure about it when it came to wind or rain. In the end, this jacket proved us wrong. On stormy days, the Khumbu shielded us from rain and wind as well as any jacket we've tested. That said, we still worry a little bit about how well this jacket could fend off several hours of rain. And, although basic in design, it offers key features common to true expedition parkas. The ones we liked the most were its double main zipper, drawstring hem, and cinchable hood.

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Dislikes

There's a lot to like about this jacket, but we cannot truthfully describe it as stylish or versatile. It's super bulky and mostly designed for frigid temps. Its puffy design makes simple movements, like tying a bootlace, hopping into a vehicle, or walking through a busy convenience store, a bit of a pain. Likewise, we don't recommend wearing it during heavy exertion. Things like shoveling deep snow, hiking, skating, or snowshoeing are just out of the question; we would start sweating immediately. The Khumbu simply insulates too well, and it's super bulky to allow for full freedom of movement (even if it's more flexible than other expedition parkas). So if you're looking for a jacket for active winter activities, we suggest looking elsewhere.

If you need a virtual force field that will keep you toasty and protected while spending long periods of time in frigid temps, this jacket has your back. As for its function, the only thing we couldn't stand was the main zipper — it snags, A LOT. Every other attempt ended with the fabric near the upper chest becoming snagged in the zipper teeth. Yes, a simple problem, but it was constant and quite annoying.

Should You Buy the Feathered Friends Khumbu Parka?

Perhaps. If you're simply looking for a solid coat to get you through average winter conditions, we don't think the Khumbu Parka is worth your money. It's just not made for moderate winter conditions — that's weak sauce. But if you live where frigid winter weather (well below zero) sticks around for months, we definitely feel the Khumbu is a smart buy. It's made for prolonged exposure to harsh conditions. However, keep in mind that it's not particularly rugged. Yes, it's certainly made from top-tier materials, but is it super tough? No. This isn't a go-for-summit parka. Rather, at its core, we feel the Khumbu is made to keep climbers cozy while living at basecamp for long periods of time (kind of like a daily-wear jacket for the extreme outdoors). It's not made for all-out winter sports or activities. What does this mean for you? This translates perfectly to everyday buyers who need a really warm, lightweight jacket that allows them to stay outside in sub-zero temps for hours at a time.

What Other Winter Jackets Should You Consider?