REI Co-op Stormhenge Down Hybrid Parka Review

This extra-length parka uses hybrid insulation to keep you warm and is loaded with high-quality fabrics and design features that help it perform as well as more expensive competitors while being lighter and lower cost.

Warmth

As its name suggests, the REI Co-op Stormhenge Down Hybrid Parka is stuffed with a blend of synthetic insulation and 850-fill goose down. This combo insulation maintains its loft and provides decent warmth. It also packs the one-two punch of being lightweight (thanks to the mostly down fill) and able to keep you warm even when wet (with strategically placed synthetic insulation).

Although warm enough for most winter days, the Stormhenge certainly isn't the toastiest on our list, so during the coldest snaps, you'll want a little more warmth in the form of your favorite base layer or a thick sweater. We took front and back thermal images of our jacket and found it to have above-average insulative properties, especially when directly compared against products in the same lane.

The Stormhenge hybrid insulation is much more than a simple mix of down and synthetic fill. When it comes to engineering their products, REI has a knack for details, and this jacket's insulation is strategically mapped for maximum performance. For example, the cuffs and lower part of the sleeves (more likely to get wet) are filled with 180g synthetic insulation, which does a better job than down at retaining heat when wet. This insulation mapping process is applied throughout the jacket with the aim of keeping you drier and warmer. That said, the Stormhenge is certainly not our first choice for a polar expedition, but during our day-to-day testing, we did notice the benefits of this hybrid insulation concept.

At first glance, we assumed the Stormhenge was not going to be the warmest jacket in our testing group, and our side-by-side warmth tests confirmed our assumptions. During our standing test, we stood for 20 minutes in 18°F nighttime temps. The Bluetooth thermometer near our chest maxed out at 73.5°F, which was on the lower end when compared to the rest of the heavier products we tested.

Our attire for the warmth test was normal street clothes, consisting of jeans, running shoes, and a long sleeve T-shirt. Although we stayed warm enough, our upper body was tense and noticeably chilled, with defined cold spots on our back and shoulders. Overall, we feel the Stormhenge does not insulate well enough for extreme cold (any temperature below 20°F), especially prolonged exposure with limited movement. However, its performance increased during more rigorous activities such as shoveling heavy snow, sledding, skating, or hiking.

Also worth noting are this jacket's breathable fabrics. During our warmth test, its interior maintained 23.8% humidity, which is one of the lower readings of the bunch. These results show that this jacket allows sweat to escape more effectively, keeping you drier and warmer and decreasing the chances of chilling.

The hood is roomy enough to keep the entire head warm and fit a beanie underneath. Since it is helmet-compatible, it runs a little large and requires a bit of cinching in order to stay in place. We appreciated the Stormhenge's more detailed features, including fleece-lined hand warmer pockets, an insulated neck rib, and even a separate insulated shoulder baffle, similar to those found in sleeping bags. This baffle is quite unique and helps prevent warm air inside the coat from escaping.

Another impressive but often forgotten feature is an adjustable hem. The Stormhenge has a great one that is effective and easy to use. Two exterior drawstrings allow the hem to be cinched tightly around the waist. This reduces airflow and keeps warmer air trapped against the body's core.

Weather Resistance

Parkas are relied upon to provide all the weather resistance needed during brutal winter storms that can be windy, snowy, and wet. The Stormhenge uses a proprietary waterproof and breathable nylon shell that does an excellent job at keeping water out, earning it top marks for weather resistance.

Down insulation is warm, light, and very packable, but it can lose its loft and warmth when wet, which, again, makes this jacket's hybrid insulation desirable. During our water tests, we exposed the Stormhenge to more moisture than we probably should have by standing under a pouring shower head for nearly three minutes. To our surprise, this jacket showed more water resistance than just about any jacket we examined. The outer shell and hood completely rejected even the smallest drop of water, and the front zipper was entirely waterproof.

Coincidentally, we were lucky enough to conduct our wind tests on a windy day in January when wind speeds reached an eye-watering 30 mph. While standing in the cold, we were impressed at the ability of the Stormhenge to effectively block the wind. This jacket's tight-fitting elastic inner cuffs, drawstring hem and hood, and reverse-stitched (and seam-taped) nylon shell worked in unison to keep the wind in its place. During the tests, we didn't notice any air leaks. However, the Stormhenge is simply thinner than heavy-duty parkas, so it definitely would have its limits in the worst wind storms. For this reason, we held back on giving it our best scores for this metric.

Comfort

The Stormhenge is a moderately comfortable jacket to wear. The thin inner lining fabric is made of nylon, which gives the garment a technical feel, and the insulated neck rib is cozy. We also like the stretchy wrist gaiters and fleece-lined handwarmer pockets.

The Stormhenge is lightweight and rests effortlessly on the body. In fact, sometimes we didn't feel we were wearing a winter jacket at all. It's roomy, which allows for turns and twists, and the interior lining feels silky and inviting, like a down sleeping bag. This jacket's roominess nicely accommodates several additional layers without feeling cramped. Its collar and hood are comfortable, and the sleeves are long and wide enough that they don't catch under the armpits or crawl up the wrists when extending the arms overhead.

The one consistent complaint we received from testers centered on this jacket's odd shape — it's somewhat wide and boxy. The result is a garment that doesn't always match the contours of the human body. While this is a common fit pattern for winter jackets, the dimensions of the Stormhenge are noticeably exaggerated through the midsection, giving it a flared, pear-shaped fit. We didn't like the feel of how this jacket loosely draped over our bodies, and when sitting down, the excess fabric bunched up around our stomach and chest. That said, this more generous cut allows the jacket to accommodate a large variety of body types. It just doesn't look very tailored on thinner frames.

Versatility and Style

The Stormhenge Parka has an unremarkable style due to its boxy, straight cut. Sometimes, loose-fitting garments can be stylish, but they have to be overtly urban-focused. This jacket looks more like a technical piece, with puffy insulation and a waterproof shell, but its flared cut is more reminiscent of a rain poncho. The result is a garment whose style doesn't perfectly fit into any situation.

However, some users will like an understated style. This jacket blends in with the crowd and probably won't win any fashion contests, but it won't lose either. If you're looking for a coat that you can wear in a wide variety of situations, or if you don't want to take any fashion risks, this is a good option.

Construction Quality

We had no serious problems with durability during our testing period for the Stormhenge. The nylon outer shell is thick enough to brush up against abrasive objects without being torn, and the rest of the jacket is well-made. REI seems to hold its products to a high standard, so we weren't overly worried about the quality of this jacket. Our tests backed up these assumptions. We didn't offer the Stormhenge our highest marks simply because it's designed to be a lightweight jacket, so it just doesn't have the same clout as the more substantial parkas in our lineup. We test our products side by side, so by default, we couldn't offer it our top scores.

The Stormhenge has great zippers. We tested them all. The larger main zipper and the smaller pocket zippers are made from quality plastic and are built to withstand years of use. We rarely had a snag, and each zipper is reinforced and protected so that it's reasonably waterproof. We had no problem keeping our phones or wallets safe and dry on rainy days.

The entire exterior of the Stormhenge is reverse stitched, and all seams are taped and sealed (like the seams of a tent). The result is a smoother shell with greater resistance to tearing, snagging, leaking, or popping a seam. The shell is also laminated with REI's HydroWall 2L membrane, which allows it to be waterproof but breathable. All said, the Stormhenge's shell is lightweight, durable, and built to do battle with serious weather. At its core, it's an outdoors jacket — made for hiking or snowshoeing through the forest — so it simply performs at a higher level. With these kinds of credentials, the Stormhenge can certainly provide you with more basic winter protection as you run the daily hamster wheel.

When we compared it against jackets of similar weight and design, we felt the Stormhenge had a little more brawn. That said, it's designed to be a lightweight parka, so its thinner fabrics could break down over time. Both the shell and the liner are made from durable nylon and performed rather well during our snag tests. We also noticed this jacket's top-notch stitching. We counted 12 stitches per linear inch along every seam. This stitch pattern is on par with other high-quality jackets.

Should You Buy the REI Co-op Stormhenge Down Hybrid Parka?

The REI Co-op Stormhenge Down Hybrid Parka offers outstanding weather resistance, but its lightweight design produces only average warmth. It's expertly engineered, offering the design features of high-end jackets but at a much more attractive price. If you're looking for a very solid jacket that will keep you comfortable down to about 25°F, this parka is an excellent option. Likewise, if you want a multipurpose winter coat engineered for outdoor recreation but basic enough for routine daily use, the Stormhenge is a very reasonable option — unless you prefer a sporty, slim fit.

What Other Winter Jackets Should You Consider?

The Stormhenge Parka performs well across the board, often swinging well above its weight. However, it is not the most stylish or the warmest. If both of those characteristics are important to you, you may have better luck with the The North Face McMurdo. If you're on a super tight budget, check out the Wantdo Snow Jacket. It offers the same versatility as the Stormhenge at a fraction of the cost. However, it ranks lower in construction quality. Another affordable option is the L.L. Bean Rugged Ridge, with slightly lower weather resistance but arguably a more stylish jacket.