Fjallraven Nuuk - Women's Review

The Nuuk is comfortable and works in a broad range of conditions — partially because it's both exceptionally warm and breathable. After years of testing, I haven't found the lower temperature limit of this jacket's 250 grams of synthetic insulation, despite trying it out in temps dropping into the negative double digits (Fahrenheit) with bitter wind chills. And the hood and collar protect almost all of my face and neck. The size small weighs 3.7 pounds, making it a relatively lightweight fortress against winter weather.

One of my favorite features of this jacket is its many excellent pockets. There are five inside and four outside. All of them are useful, but I especially love the hand warmer pockets that tuck my paws into a microfleece refuge at rib level. Their elevated placement keeps my hands warmer than when I have to drop them down to waist level, which reduces blood flow.

Warmth

During a recent round of testing in the winter of 2023, New England experienced the coldest temperatures ever recorded on Earth, and the Nuuk offered plenty of protection on a windy -10°F walk and when playing around in the yard in -30°F wind chills.

I even got a little warm wearing the Nuuk on a brisk downhill stroll wearing fleece-lined pants on a 25°F day. Unzipping the coat and holding it shut with just a few snaps helped. Meanwhile, my base layers stayed nice and dry, suggesting that the jacket breathes well even when working up a sweat. Fjallraven claims the Nuuk breathes well enough to support light aerobic activity (10,000 g/m²/24h), and I haven't seen any evidence to the contrary. Staying dry is crucial to staying warm, so this impeccable balance is much appreciated.

The Nuuk Parka's collar zips up to the nose, which is important to keep you safe from frostbite in truly cold temperatures, especially if there's a wind chill. The most up-to-date version of this jacket also seems to have a roomier cut in the collar. The collar used to feel tight around the face when fully zipped, but now it's much more comfortable. A fleece liner protecting the chin helps.

The insulated hood is lined with soft microfleece and ringed with a faux-fur ruff that you can roll back out of your way or flip down to form a fur-lined tunnel to protect your face. The hood is oversized and very deep. It's definitely big enough to wear a hat underneath. It also has a wire rim to help hold its shape. A velcro tab in the back pulls it up and out of the eye line, and cinches allow you to batten it down around your face.

The ruff is easily removable via a set of buttons. Putting it back on the jacket is a bit of a pain, but it gets easier with practice. The hood itself is not removable, but I always want the safe harbor of a hood in bitter weather anyway. A generous cut with plenty of shoulder room provides plenty of space to layer underneath. A cinch at the waist holds warm air in on the coldest days. There are no wrist gaskets, but you can cinch the openings with a hook-and-loop strap.

The two hand-warming pockets are placed higher than on many other jackets, up by the ribs. We like this because it holds your hands closer to your core, keeping them warmer. Even though these pockets are fleece-lined, they are outside the jacket's main insulation, so you'll still want to have your favorite pair of gloves in frigid temps.

Weather Resistance

The Nuuk has no problem cutting the wind, and we love that it's waterproof. It kept us dry and comfortable in both late fall drizzle and during nuking snowstorms.

This jacket's incredibly protective hood and collar are ideal for dangerously cold temperatures with whipping winds where frostbite is a real possibility. Being able to zip the jacket up to your nose, cinch the hood down, and have the extendable fur ruff slow cross and head winds is crucial. There is also a zipper-protecting flap to keep wind and wet weather out, secured by seven sturdy snaps.

What I do worry about is how much water the face fabric absorbs in our shower tests. Not a drop snuck inside the jacket, but the wet fabric leaves you carrying water weight that doesn't dry quickly. After the shower and washing machine tests, the Nuuk was still damp the following day. So, if you're hanging out in wet weather around the freezing point, you may end up icy. Luckily, when the weather merits a winter jacket, it's rare to end up standing in a shower-like downpour for minutes on end.

Another weather-resistant factor I consider is how well the pockets protect my gadgets by keeping them out of the cold. The Nuuk excels at this, offering four large pockets inside the insulation where my body heat can keep batteries warm and working. A sneaky zippered pocket by the main zipper is outside the insulation but is a great place for your wallet. The external chest and catchall pockets are great spots to keep your gloves and glasses safe and dry.

Comfort

Comfort is a standout feature for the Nuuk. Its relaxed fit and soft fabric never feels restrictive, even when you're bundled up in layers underneath. Though our test jacket weighs 3.7 pounds, the material moves so well that it doesn't feel heavy. There's no crinkling or bunching to fight with, and our shoulders and hips never feel restricted. Even sitting down with the jacket zipped feels fine.

A big bonus of the Nuuk is that it has a roomy collar. That means when you zip the parka all the way up to protect your face, you still have enough room to move and breathe. It's even better when the hood is up and supported by your head. This is a rare achievement in the winter parka realm, and I'm very appreciative.

And, again, those pockets. I find that tucking my hands into the warming pockets by my ribs is far more comfortable than the more common waist placement. The sleeves are too long, though. You can roll them once to fix the issue, but it's less than ideal.

Versatility and Style

The loose-fitting cut that keeps the Nuuk so comfortable also defines its style, which is laid-back and feels classic. It is not trim or figure-flattering, though a cinch in the waist provides a bit more shape while holding in more heat. I use it about half of the time.

Ultimately, the exceptional quality of the Nuuk does the most to define its style. From the lofty faux fur ruff to the leather zipper pull tab, this jacket feels considered. The elbows are articulated but the other fabric panels are quite simple. The many pockets are still impressively streamlined, tucking away nicely to keep the jacket from looking cluttered.

The sturdy and supple fabric, sophisticated color palettes, consistent and tightly stitched seams, and flawlessly executed construction combine to look pretty great. Function beats form here, but I think the jacket strikes a nice balance.

Construction Quality

I expect this jacket to last a very long time. The exterior fabric shows no signs of wear after three seasons of heavy use. And though the lining fabric is thinner, it still seems burly. Both materials and their seams showed no wear and tear when we pulled the pointed end of a paperclip across them with pressure.

When I think about durability, I always worry about zippers. The main zipper on the Nuuk is a two-way and usually works flawlessly. It can be hard to get started, but I haven't had any other issues so far. The other snaps, zippers, and pockets seem built to last. Fjallraven also offers a lifetime of repairs. I've yet to test this claim, but it's promising.

Should You Buy the Fjallraven Nuuk Parka?

The Nuuk is my favorite winter jacket of all time. It's a reliable adventure partner that will keep you covered from cold drizzles to temperatures well below zero. I feel comfortable and stylish when wearing it, and the impeccably designed pockets keep all my sundries safe and secure. I have no hesitation recommending this jacket to anyone who can afford the investment, which is no small feat.

The face fabric and liner are made of 100% recycled polyamide, and Fjallraven has a general sustainability statement as well.

What Other Winter Jackets Should You Consider?

Presuming the Nuuk lasts as long as I think it will, I consider it a good investment. It's waterproof, windproof, breathable, warm, protective, comfortable, and stylish. That said, it is on the heavy side and isn't super fun to cart around a store. The Canada Goose Shelburne weighs about the same in a size medium but offers internal backpack straps to make it easier to carry around indoors. It's just as protective and nearly as warm as the Nuuk, with a streamlined style. It's much, much more expensive, though. The North Face Arctic Parka is a less refined option that offers similar protection from winter weather for less.

If you are looking for a light, warm, and cloud-like puffy jacket to wrap up in, we don't blame you. The Outdoor Research Coze Down Parka or Patagonia Down With It Parka both earn high scores for comfort, warmth, and weather resistance.

All of these these options cost many, many pretty pennies. If you are pinching yours, we recommend the Orolay Thickened Down parka. It's super warm and comfy but is a bit of a style statement. If it's not right for you, try the REI Co-op Norseland Down Parka. It's light, warm, and considerably more budget-friendly, though the collar and hood don't do much to protect your face from the cold, and its seams aren't fully water-resistant.