 This Product
Paka Apu Parka | |||||
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| Awards |  Best Overall Men's Winter Jacket |  Best Value for Wetter Winters | |||
| Price | $399 List Check Price at REI | $535 List Check Price at REI | $299 List Check Price at REI | $240 List Check Price at REI | $189 List |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A unique blend of alpaca wool and synthetic fill gives this jacket's insulation a decent boost in warmth, but we wouldn't count on it in the coldest of temps | A cold weather parka that can meet nearly any winter climate head-on | A bargain from every angle, this parka offers a ton of features and quality for its price — it's just not as warm as our heavyweight options | It isn't the warmest of the entire bunch, but it's still a legitimate contender for general winter use | Not a bad option if you're looking to save some dough |
| Rating Categories | Paka Apu Parka | Fjallraven Nuuk Parka | REI Co-op Stormhenge... | Columbia Landroamer II | Decathlon Quechua NH... |
| Warmth (30%) | |||||
| Weather Resistance (25%) | |||||
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Construction Quality (10%) | |||||
| Versatility and Style (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Paka Apu Parka | Fjallraven Nuuk Parka | REI Co-op Stormhenge... | Columbia Landroamer II | Decathlon Quechua NH... |
| Insulation and Fill Power | PAKAFILL (50% Alpaca, 50% Recycled Polyester) | 100% recycled polyester | 850-fill-power goose down, polyester (98% recycled) | Synthetic | 100% polyester |
| Fill Weight | 130 g/sqm body, 110 g/sqm arms and hood | 250 grams/ sq meter | 180 g hood, upper sleeves and lower back body, 80 g in side panels and underarms | 200 grams | 200 g/sqm body and 150 g/sqm arms |
| Weather Resistant Features | PFAS-free DWR, adjustable hood | Faux fur lined hood, cinchable hood and waist, adjustable cuffs, heavy exterior shell, rugged front zipper flap, water-resistant shell, | Water resistent down, HydroWall 2-layer, PFAS-free DWR, fully sealed seams, adustable hood and hem, waterproof zip | Drawstring hood and hem, main zipper storm flap, adjustable cuffs, sealed seams, Omni-Heat Infinity lining, | Waterproof membrane 15,000mm H2O (Schmerbers). 100% taped seams |
| Hood | Adjustable, helmet-compatible | Cinchable, insulated with removable faux fur ruff | Insulated, helmet-friendly, 3-way adjustable, sleeping-bag-style draft tube | Removable, insulated, cinchable | Detachahable, adjustable |
| Shell Fabric | 100% Recycled Polyester | Polyamide | HydroWall 2-layer 94% recycled ripstop nylon/3% nylon/3% polyester, PFAS-free DWR | 100% polyester | 100% polyester |
| 2-Way Zipper | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Pockets | 2 exterior hand, 1 exterior zip chest, 2 internal drop in | 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 mesh stash drop-in pockets | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered exterior chest, 2 internal drop-in pockets | 2 exterior top-loading chest, 2 exterior top-loading waist, 1 zippered chest, 2 zippered waist, | 2 zippered hand, 1 interior zippered chest, 1 interior mesh stash drop-in pocket |
| Measured Internal Temperature | 73.1 °F | 80.2 °F | 73.0 °F | 75 °F | 73.2 °F |
| Weight | 2..2 lb (XXL) | 4.6 lb (2XL) | 2.1 lb (XL) | 3.2 lb (XLT) | 2.9 lb (2XL) |
| Available Sizes | S - XXL | XS - 3XL | S - 3XL | S - 3XL | S - 3XL |
| Social or Environmental Certifications | bluesign Certified Material, recycled shell material, 50% recycled insulation. | Shell, lining, and filling made from 100% recycled polyester | Fair Trade Certified Factory, Contains recycled materials, Contains materials that meet the bluesign criteria, from a Climate Label Certified brand | None specified | None specified |
The real question: is there anything we didn't like about this jacket? One of our favorite features was its four-way stretch shell. It accommodated all of our movements with ease. So, whether you're squatting down to attach a trailer hitch, launching snow off the shovel, or shredding the slopes, the Apu Parka lets you move.
We loved this parka's many extra features… thumbhole wrist gaiters, extended rear hem, waterproof zippers, and a helmet-compatible hood to name a few.
The pièce de résistance is this parka's insulation. It's a unique 50/50 blend of Peruvian alpaca wool and recycled polyester. In addition to being more sustainable and environmentally friendly, this amazing insulation kept us warmer than similar lightweight jackets, and it continued to insulate when wet (something feathers can't do).
Additional features that gave the Apu Parka a serious edge in style and versatility were its large pit zips, two-way zipper, soft collar, and classy hidden-seam stitching. We loved the convenience of unzipping this jacket's underarms or opening its bottom zipper. Both were very effective at releasing heat on warmer autumn days, and they really came in handy during more intense activities like hiking or shoveling snow. The Apu Parka's fleece-lined collar sat comfortably against our face and chin. This may not sound like a big deal, but trust us, this simple feature is a game-changer on a wind-chapped chin. Lastly, reversed-stitched seams easily go unnoticed; however, they give any jacket a smoother, polished look. They also wear much better over time and are less likely to snag or tear open.
We left our Apu Parka out in the rain — literally. During a late autumn rainstorm, we decided to put ours to the test, and it didn't wow us as much as we hoped. After 20 minutes in moderate rain, the Paka's shell showed definite signs of water absorption. Luckily, this moisture never made it to the inside of the jacket, but it still left us feeling a little less impressed. This jacket's hood also needs a bill (the rigid flap that sticks out over the forehead, like a visor on a baseball cap). We feel a more rigid brim would more effectively protect the head and face from rain, wind, and snow.
Make no bones about it, the Paka Apu Parka acts more like a lightweight ski parka than a heavy winter coat — BUT — the cool thing about it is, it doesn't necessarily look like one. So yes, we would buy it. We strictly wore ours for running errands, commuting, raking leaves, going out to dinner, and a slew of other general-purpose activities. We feel the Paka's style and performance easily cross over into daily wear. Even better, it offers a tailored fit that sculpts the upper body and looks great. It's also warmer than similar jackets (though not as warm as our top picks in this review). So, if you're in the market for a lightweight coat that wears well, is made for movement, and keeps you warm even when wet, the Apu Parka is no joke. We think it's worth the money.
The REI Co-op Stormhenge 850 Down Hybrid Parka has a style and function similar to the Paka. However, its insulation is a hybrid mix of synthetic fibers and down. We also think the Cotopaxi Calidez Down Parka compares well against the Paka. If you're looking to save money and stick with synthetic fibers, the Decathlon Quechua NH500 Parka is a decent choice for the price.
None of the jackets listed above are meant for truly frigid winter weather, and if that's what you're facing, you'll want to upgrade to something like the Fjallraven Nuuk or The North Face McMurdo Parka, both of which will keep you snug as a bug in a rug, even when temps drop into the single digits.
