After realizing I was not enjoying the fit of neither my DKNY knee-length winter jacket nor my OROS weatherproof parka, I decided it was time to branch out.

I turned to one of my favorite tried-and-true brands, The North Face. After all, I’ve had the Denali fleece jacket since high school (literally) and a heap of North Face gear and backpacks through the years. I had a shorter-length North Face puffer jacket in college (I sadly can’t find it, which is perplexing), and loved the quality on that coat.

As my first foray into the North Face’s warmest coats, though, I chose the best-selling North Face Women’s Arctic Parka. It’s known for being a heavyweight waterproof winter parka for life, with a price to match that claim.

In this review, find out my real experience about this parka: the good, the criticisms and the overall verdict.

What I got

I got the North Face Women’s Arctic Parka in a size XS, in the color Midnight Petrol, a bold teal.

To put what you’ll see in the photos in perspective, I’m 5’2,” around 108 lbs. and I run kind of narrow.

What to know: The North Face Women’s Arctic Parka

If I had to tell you just a few things about this parka, it would be these:

  • Its best attributes are the level of waterproofing ability, and “weight” (according to TNF’s website). I might beg to differ (find out below).
  • I think the fit and style are some of the best parts about it, and these are the reasons I’ll wear it all season.
  • As for features, I think this is the shortcoming and I feel there’s room for improvement in the number of pockets.
  • Comes in inclusive sizing (XS-XXL) as well as seven very “cool” colors, currently.
  • It is very, very popular for women’s warm and weatherproof outerwear from the brand.

First impressions

The look: I like the matte texture on the outside of the parka. It’s North Face’s “DryVent” shell, which has a water-repellent exterior. I like this because the coat can double as a rain jacket even for when it’s super cold out.

Second, I like the design with the “storm flap.” This is the coverage that goes over the zipper, and I’m one of those people who uses the snap closures on these quite frequently on all my winter jackets.

Lastly, one thing you won’t really find on a men’s coat that separates this one from any men’s versions is the seam at the waist in the back. It adds a feminine touch to an otherwise unisex-looking style (parkas in general, I mean).

And when I first put it on: Hm, it wasn’t all too heavy. I wore it in my house until I got hot. It’s surprisingly not bulky.

Best benefits of the North Face Women’s Arctic Parka

There are a few highlights about this parka that I’ll tell you about. Keep in mind that I was most excited about the fit.

The fit

This parka is designed to be a “relaxed silhouette” that hits above the knee. Given that I’m 5’2,” I’ve had parkas look a bit oversized on me in the past. That has irked me, and made me feel like I’m wearing my big sister’s clothes or something like that.

I immediately felt good in the sizing and style with the Arctic Parka, though. I don’t drown in it, and that is good news for short women everywhere. If you’re average height, it will be more flattering on you than it is on me (and I think I look just OK).

I also liked that with the XS, it ran basically true to size (YAY!). This wasn’t an oversized XS, or a roomy XS. It’s appropriately sized for me to wear two layers underneath and feel snug. This means I could wear a wool sweater, or a hoodie with a T-shirt underneath (and this is my winter uniform from about November to March).

I’ve worn other outerwear brands, like discussions I’ve noted in articles like my Finisterre outerwear review, for which I’ve had to size down to XXS. The North Face doesn’t make XXS in this parka, so I rolled the dice and went with the smallest size (which worked out great).

In essence, I’m kind of disagreeing with the 6,000+ customers who have reviewed this parka for “fit” on the product page, saying the sleeves are a dab too short, the fit runs slightly small and the chest even feels too small. Nope, I didn’t experience any of this. I’m finally happy to see a company sizing a winter parka properly!

Cuffs, closures and pockets

Let’s get into the details with the things that I really “use” on this parka.

  • Cuffs: They have an inner sleeve with a thumb hole. I find that I use these out of habit when I’m not wearing gloves.
  • Pockets: There’s one inside pocket (good for keys, or a phone, if you don’t need it easily accessible), and two exterior slash pockets with nice zippers.
  • Closures: I like the double zipper that lets you air out from either the top or bottom, as well as the “storm flap,” which in the Arctic Parka, has snaps (not Velcro).

Hood (and removable faux fur)

I like the snugness of the hood. I’ve worn other parkas on which the hood is too spacious and looks silly. This one cozies up on my head just right.

Also, the faux fur is removable, but I’m going to keep it on because I like the fuzzy look that I think completes any winter jacket overall (though I do appreciate that it can be removed for rainy weather and for washing the jacket.)

Overall weight and bulk

This parka in particular is NOT very bulky. I’m not sure how or why. It’s filled with 600 Fill 100% Recycled Waterfowl Down, according to the North Face website. If this doesn’t mean anything to you, don’t worry. It’s the insulation material inside the jacket that keeps you warm while wearing it.

And to that end, it doesn’t feel very thick, which is surprising. I’ve worn winter jackets — puffer styles — that really feel like wearing sleeping bags. And in the end, I don’t mind that, if it’s keeping me warm.

The times when a non-bulky yet warm parka is helpful is if you’re walking around for hours, or hiking, or simply driving in the car and don’t want to feel like you are wearing an entire sleeping bag. That is how I see it.

Where it falls short (criticisms)

This parka is not perfect. I want to be transparent about why.

It could use more pockets

It’s simple: I like jackets with pockets, and I think a lot of women do. I was very surprised that the jacket does not have chest pockets, let alone two of them (one on either side), nor dual internal pockets on the inside.

Maybe it’s to complete the hyper-minimalist design, which I agree is attractive and aesthetic. The entire exterior of the coat is streamlined and simple.

But I’m used to stashing my phone in a zippered chest pocket, or having dual-access front pockets so that I can get my gloves AND my keys in there when I’m walking around doing errands in the winter.

I think this is the main downfall of the coat, especially if you compare it to similar models in the men’s parkas from the North Face, like the Men’s McMurdo Parka that Dan reviewed.

Is it really that warm?

For a parka at this price tier, shouldn’t it be the warmest ever? The North Face rates the warmth on this parka as “2” out of “3,” with “2” being “Warmer” and “3” being “Warmest.” The Men’s McMurdo Parka, which is equally popular and a best-seller in TNF’s winter jackets, is marginally more expensive yet rated “3” for “Warmest.” It also has a 600 Waterfowl Down fill.

I started out wearing this jacket in 38-ish degrees (F). There was snow on the ground, a slight wind in the air (nothing extreme) and I was wearing only a thin long-sleeve shirt underneath.

Maybe that was my issue, that I wasn’t pairing the parka with a winter sweater or a two-layer sweatshirt and tee underneath? You be the judge. I guess I’m saying that I’m surprised that this jacket didn’t nearly make me sweat.

Hood does not come off

I thought that the hood on this jacket would be entirely removable; I was wrong. The faux fur piece comes off, and that’s cool, for people who prefer a fur-less hood.

I’m accustomed to removable hoods on my winter coats. I suppose I’ve had years of experiencing this feature on jackets from various brands.

In any case, the hood does not come off, neither by snap nor zipper. I think this is important to know if you were looking specifically for a parka with a removable hood.

Worth the price tag?

I’ll tell you what: parkas don’t come cheap. Other parkas I’ve owned, like my OROS Orion Parka were over $100 more.

Every parka will claim to have exceptional thermal technology as well as capabilities for protecting against the elements. I think most parkas will do a good job, and it also depends what you plan to DO in your parka (take quick walks and stay outside for short periods of time versus go hiking for hours in one).

For the Women’s Arctic Parka, I think the value comes in the design, the fit, the technology and the comfort. I think it is a very comfortable parka to wear, and that is valuable. It’s not too bulky and it’s not too heavy. I just think that if you plan to purchase one, you should know about my opinion on the shortfalls I wrote about, above.

Alternatives to the Arctic Parka

I did more research, and I really wanted to find women’s winter jackets from The North Face that fell into the “super warmest” category. If you want a parka that The North Face rates “3” for “Warmest,” check out the following coats that are parka-adjacent:

  • Women’s Hydrenalite™ Down Parka: It’s somehow rated “midweight” yet “warmest.” (It’s a puffer, so it’s not very water-repellent, differentiating it from the Arctic Parka.)
  • Women’s Triple C Parka: It’s meant to hit well below the knee, so that’s a different look altogether. It’s both “warmest’ AND “heavyweight.”
  • Women’s Summit Series Pumori Down Parka: I saw this parka, and thought that this one would literally be for if I wanted to climb Everest. The average consumer doesn’t need a jacket this technical (nor at this cost). It’s outrageously lightweight for how warm it is, which is “warmest.”

Where to buy The North Face Women’s Arctic Parka

The following sites are the best places to get TNF women’s parkas, whether you’d like to try out the Arctic Parka for winter, or any of the other warm and well-rated insulated coats the brand makes.

Thank you to The North Face for generously gifting me the women’s Arctic Parka; this review is not sponsored by the brand, and all photos, opinions and thoughts are entirely my own.