User Review: Canada Goose Men's Expedition Parka

I like fairly cold weather (-20 to -40 F). If you don't dress carefully, those temps can kill you, but the Expedition parka makes being outside a pleasure. Yes, it's down-filled, so if you fall through the ice and get wet you'd better think fast about how to stay warm (wet down won't do it), but other than that it's a superb coat--tough, lots of features and pockets, and warm as all get-out. A good parka keeps your core warm, which makes it much easier to keep your extremities warm.

When the weather's warm, say 20F, all I need is one thermal layer underneath, and I will frequently unzip the parka all the way open and use only a pair of liner gloves. With good boots and mittens, snowpants, longjohns, and fleece, I've actually slept outside in this parka at 15F on a pool lounge chair by cinching the snowskirt to keep the wind out and pulling the big snorkel hood down over my face.

Sometimes you really do get what you pay for--genuine Canada Goose parkas are expensive, but they deliver on their slogan "Ask anyone who knows." The Expedition's not much good above 25 degrees F, but for sub-zero weather it's by far the best investment I've ever made and worth every penny. The generous hood ruff is real fur, which works much better than fake fur for cutting wind and resisting icing. Plus, it irritates the veggie crowd.