Mountain Hardwear

Absolute Zero Down Parka - Men's

Andrew Babi

Familiarity:

I returned this product before using it

Great Parka, exceptional quality, but .... at least 1 size bigger. I am 6.2", 210 pounds and size XL is wear XL, however even L size is too big on me. Down Parka shoul be tight on your body to avoid empty volumes to keep air, which you need to spent extra body heat to heat it My recommendation is: purchase 2 sizes down if you wish to wear it on shirt and 1 size down if you plan to wear 2-3 layers at least under it.

not for women!

I am a woman and need this jacket to fit a woman's body.

Some good things some bad

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

I live where in February it can easily get to -35 C at night before windchill. Unfortunately, I'm a good judge of cold and how to be outside in it. My second Mountain Hardware (MH) Jacket, first was a Nielist I believe and it lasted over 10 years, a great jacket. Pros It's warm I'm fine at -35 C Light, amazing such a big jacket is so light Thumbholes in the wrist cuff if you want to use them or not, nice touch Cons I'm not sure why Mountain Hardware can't insulate the arms of their jackets properly? As soon as I'm outside I can feel the cold biting into the crook of my arm at the elbow. It's a new jacket and it's already screwed up with the insulation. Last MH jacket was bad in the arms too. I wouldn't have bought if I'd know I'd be a billboard for MH.....A big logo on left front chest, left arm, and to finalize the giant branding buffet a big on the centre of the back. Some people appreciate a tasteful jacket that isn't branded like a 16-year-old girls Canada Goose jacket. I really wish they hadn't made me a billboard, I know they don't pay me to be a walking billboard. Heads up MH, tasteful quality stuff isn't branded like that.......bugs me a lot.

Unbelievable Insulation to Weight Ratio

This parka is extremely warm - everything that it is billed as. What is more astonishing is that it weighs less than 3 pounds. Very well made, and the styling was not over the top. I generally take a Large size for coats and this one in Large fit me well.

Great down jacket - ultimate warmth

(This review was collected as part of a promotion.) I felt it was appropriate to write a review for this jacket because I wasn't able to see it or try it on locally, and based my purchase entirely off of other reviews. This jacket is insanely warm. I've only worn it with a t-shirt underneath, up to -10 (so far). I have no doubt that when I head up to northern BC and AB, it will withstand big negative temps. Great construction - zipper does not get stuck on the material, as is a problem with some of my other jackets. So far it has repelled water without any problem. Pockets are large, cuffs are good and warm, hood covers my head with extra protection. Hood flaps will block most of the elements with only minimal exposure to the rest of your face. Sizing - I am 6'1", 230lbs, athletic build, with broad shoulders. I have been an Arcteryx & Patagonia guy most of my life, and have always been an XL with those brands. After reading other reviews, I hesitantly went with a Large, but when I arrived I was pleased to find that as others have noted, it fits quite large. I have plenty room to layer underneath. I assume that I would have been swimming in an XL. All in all I am very satisfied with this jacket.

Awesome Jacket

I live in Fort McMurray Alberta, Canada. I bought this jacked to wear for a fund raising event we call "The Ride For Hope". Two or Three of us will ride our ATV's over 420 Km's, north, on a winter/ice road from Alberta to the North West Territories in hopes of raising money for our communities homeless drop in center. Most winters this ride is done in -40° weather, a couple years it was -42° plus a wind chill...very cold out... This jacket kept me warm for the entire 10 hours I was outside, not to mention the windproof of this jacket, at times I am traveling upwards of 70 km/h, and I wasn't feeling a draft through this jacket. When I put it on I look super huge, it is a very thick loft, but very comfortable. Highly recommend it in extreme weather conditions