Mountain Hardwear Exposure Parka

Used this jacket this past winter season for everything. The parka offers all the features, and I'm very happy with it. It's a little on the heavy side but much more durable. The polyester shell is quiet and more pliable than nylon. The inner mesh lining works great from blistering cold to those warmer days of snowboarding.

The features on this jacket are incredible.. it takes those "If I designed a jacket..." comments into reality. First off the hood fits well with or without a helmet thanks to the inner liner with elastic to cradle the head. The hood is rolled out of the way and secured with a patch of fabric. Another innovative feature is the lift ticket/accessory attachment point (plastic hoop) inside the left handwarmer pocket and also a glove attachment point (clip-on ring) on the right side. There's a napolean pocket, a nalgene (1-liter) mesh pocket on the right inside, and a zippered security pocket across from it on the left. The jacket also uses their "Welded Waistcord" technology.. (see their website) to reduce abrasions. And probably their best idea.. "Simplex Zippers" which are waterproofed and approved by Gore to eliminate velcro'd flaps to easily access pit-zips. Also the jacket has a slew of the regular features.. D-rings on the sleeves for gloves, powder skirt, articulated elbows, waist and hem drawcords with one-handed toggle pulls.

As you can see I'm fanatical with this jacket.. it's the best I've ever owned: from the TNF Mountain Jacket to the Lowe Alpine Flash Jacket. It fits well, has great features, and very durable. Although I'm alittle embarrassed when I go to the local ski-area.. their ski patrol uses the same jacket as well as the same color I have. :)

I have to say I am a big Mountain Hardwear fan. Having owned the Vertigo Parka for two years, I upgraded to the Exposure Parka because it's a tougher jacket, which I believe would better stand the abuse of snowboarding.

The Exposure has a shorter cut than the Vertigo for some reason, probably to cut the bulk down and to increase mobility when climbing. It is fitted with a powder skirt, so the extra length is not needed for snow protection. The detailing on all of Mountain Hardwear products are excellent, as is the design of all features. All parts of the parka are accessible with mittens on, which is great for extreme conditions.

One of the best features of the parka is the hood design, which fits much better than Marmot or TNF hoods, with or without a helmet on. It provides good visibility and protection from rain.

The color scheme is also the best I've seen. I opted for the moss green parka because I don't like loud colors. But if visibility is a concern, they also make a nice apricot colored parka. Overall I am extremely happy with this product.

I got this jacket on sale during the fall and have been wearing it since. Easily made comfortable from 0 to -20C. And the waterproofness has yet to fail. Two things that bother me:

I seem to get the fleece lined chin flap caught on the main zipper of the jacket a little too easily, (really annoying when it's getting cold and you're wearing big gloves - I fix it by ironing the flap once in a while) and, I find the water bottle pocket too big. I mean I don't really feel like lugging a 1 litre nalgene with me - anything smaller just floats around the fidgity pocket.

BUT: I love the gargantuan wrist velcro straps, super easy to tighten and ease up, and the hood is really manageable. And to those who complained about weight, well, it feels good knowing you're wearing a heavy duty jacket. TNF Mountain Light jackets seemed waaay to flimsy when I was looking for jackets. This Hardwear feels rough, and you know it'll take a beating. I treat it like sh*t and it keeps on looking good.

Highly recommend this baby...Hardwear RULEZ.

This is by far the best parka I have owned. Previous to this one I had a Marmot parka which lasted for about 8 years. By the end it wouldn't keep the water out or itself dry. I have had the Mountain Hardwear parka in wet snow for three days on an ascent of the north side of Mt. Rainier in wet snow and although my partners were soaked after the first 1/2 day I remained dry for the entire period of time. Much to my friends' dismay. I have also had the parka on the summit of Mt. Rainier in -40 F weather and it performed flawlessly.

The only drawback, if it could be called that, is that the parka is heavy. I have found that the pockets are very well designed complete with attachments inside to lash the contents right to the coat. Thus preventing articles such as compass and sunblock from completing their own personal desent. I would recommend this parka to anyone who is giong to climb, no matter what the conditions, within reason of course.

If you are currently considering this jacket, buy it! I cannot even express to you how nice it feels to be on an expedition where you have the only dry jacket out of the entire group. When I got home I actually wrote a letter to Hardwear congratulating them for a job VERY well done. The Gore-Tex shell worked flawlessly, as did the hood and powder skirt.

First, it went through a 6 hour rainstorm in 40 degree weather. Then as the temperature dropped, snow poured upon it. Under the jacket, I only wore a Mountain Hardwear Tweed Fleece Pullover, and was pleasantly surprised when I realized that even this was too much clothing- I was hot! This jacket has accompanied me skiing, snowboarding, climbing, and just chillin in temperatures as low as 20 below; not once have I wanted anything else. As you probably know, Mountain Hardwear is among the best, if not the best brand out there. Save an extra week's pay if you need to, because this is nothing less than 100 percent worth it.

I am an avid MHW fan, but I have to say these jackets leave a little room for desire. I work ski patrol in the Cascades and do waterice climbing and alpine style ascents, just to give you an idea of my range of use. I found that the shoulder yokes tend to absorb water more than the rest of the jacket. The zippers are neither welded nor housed very well. The snow skirt isn't too adjustable... Pretty much I didn't like this jacket. I bought it, wore it for a week on three summits and took it back. If you're counting on wet conditions I'd go another route. It would be great for dry, snowy condtions, but here in the Northwest that's just a dream we get every now and again.

I have been wearing my exposure parka for the last three months up here in Fairbanks, and I love it. I am never restricted in any way, and I have full mobility of my arms. I have used this jacket as a shell and as a cold temperature deterrant. Often, the temperature can drop to negative 40 and with a wind chill, the temp is unbearable, but with this coat, my worries are cut in half, and with capilene beneath the coat, both expedition weight and mid weight, I am fine in cold weather. Mountain Hardwear design many outstanding features into their products, and this coat is definately worth a second consideration. PEACE

This is the jacket to buy, everything is there: pit zips, easy-accessible pockets (even with harness on), waterbottles. If you want a jacket with a great cap this is the one, it might look crazy to other people, but it works well. Only disadventages of the jacket are the end of the sleeves, the seem to wear out pretty fast (little rips, after 1 and a half year. The normal price is certainly a bit high (well anyway in the Netherlands) but than again you certainly got a great jacket.

This jacket is loaded with details that make life easier like key rings in both outside handwarmer pockets, one-handed drawcords for the hood, a "Napoleon" pocket, and a scuff-free chin lining. Oddly enough, many of these details found their way to The North Face's Mountain Light Parka the next year. The fit of the jacket is excellent, with articulated elbows that never let your cuffs slide up and a hood that offers great peripheral vision when worn.

I got this jacket from my wife for Christmas, I gave her some very strong hints. I recently used the jacket snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in Glacier National Park. It was fantastic. Mountain Hardwear is a quality company. I give this jacket 5 stars. I also just bought my wife a Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Vest.

The best jacket out there period. Great for backpacking, skiing, snowboarding and anything you do outdoors. I have done it all in this jacket. I was in a 90 mph hurricane and it kept me dry.