Ladies’s Fjallraven Nuuk Parka Assessment

Backside Line

The Fjallraven Nuuk Parka is the last word waterproof cold-weather warrior. The Swedish firm title means arctic fox, and it is smart: they’re no stranger to dwelling and thriving in severely robust circumstances. 

Constructed for the harshest arctic environments, this jacket comes loaded with options that make it a high contender in our checklist of the perfect winter jackets. Whether or not you’re braving the Arctic or simply need a jacket that gained’t betray you while you’re braving excessive publicity, the Nuuk is bound to maintain you protected and heat.

Artificial insulation stored us heat even when it bought moist, whereas the polyamide shell was robust and weather-resistant. The hood is a standout characteristic, with a detachable fake fur ruff and a wire brim to dam out wind and snow.

And, with 11 pockets (sure, you learn that proper!), every part you might need put in a backpack can keep heat in opposition to your physique.

How We Examined

We examined the Fjallraven Nuuk Parka within the mountains and valleys of NW Montana and British Columbia. We relied on this coat to guard us in snowy walks, 40 MPH winds, jaunts in -27 diploma wind chill, and -5 diploma chairlift rides. We additionally lab-tested the waterproofing and insulation capabilities, which the Nuuk handed with flying colours.

Heat

The Nuuk Parka is sort of a private heater—it’s constructed for polar work, sled canine racing, and arctic exploration, so it means critical enterprise. It’s designed for individuals who don’t have respite from the climate and should depend on it to maintain them…alive and properly!

The Microloft insulation is a game-changer, offering heat with out providing you with that “puffy cloud” look that down jackets can typically have. Truthfully, slipping into this parka seems like wrapping your self in a comfy weighted blanket on a freezing winter day. 

Assessments confirmed the Nuuk may give our warmest down parkas a run for his or her cash. It took this jacket a commendable 102 minutes to drop 30 levels and attain ambient temperature. We aren’t stunned, although; artificial heat is delivered by trapping warmth in its fibers, and on this take a look at, there is no such thing as a heat aside from what it left the home with. So with a physique’s heat, this coat can maintain you toasty infinitely lengthy. 

That stated, we did discover chilly air sneaking in on the backside of the jacket. The Nuuk is the shortest jacket we examined, and the hem opening is wider than different similar-length jackets. There’s a tensioner across the waist, nevertheless it didn’t do sufficient to maintain the chilly air from creeping up, particularly when sitting down on a chairlift. A pleasant, cosy mid-layer and bibs did the trick. In excessive chilly, this coat would want insulated snow pants/bibs to stop heat air from escaping.

Climate Resistance

The Nuuk Parka’s shell is supplied with Polyamide, a standard materials used for the outside of jackets. This gives a robust outer that’s tear-resistant, waterproof, and windproof. We took this jacket snowboarding at a resort and bushwhacking via an alder forest. We wore it whereas carrying and stacking firewood, and it held up nice. 

It doesn’t have wrist gaskets and as a substitute has velcro adjustable cuffs, which is perhaps a private design desire. The Nuuk gained’t maintain snow from finally making it to your wrists should you aren’t carrying gloves which have nice cuffs or gauntlets. Just a few tomahawks let snow pack in on the wrists and had us wishing we had gauntlet-style mittens to go along with this coat.

The waterproof claims of this coat maintain as much as our soak-through exams. It took about 20 minutes of sitting in water to saturate the shell, however after an hour, the within of the coat was bone dry. The shell’s weaving beads moisture positive sufficient, nevertheless it doesn’t roll off the floor in addition to others examined. Nevertheless, even when the Polyamide shell absorbs the moisture, it doesn’t permit it to make it via to the insulation or interior lining. 

If issues get soggy, the artificial insulation will maintain you toasty, which is nice if you’re heading into expedition-type climate the place you don’t have a heat home/cabin to dry down coats. We did discover that it took for much longer to dry than the polyester shell coats we examined.

Nonetheless, the Nuuk shields you from killer winds, particularly in case you have the fur hood up and cinched. Add some goggles and nostril cowl, and you may dwell with the empire penguins and polar bears. Climate resistance is the Nuuk’s superpower.

Consolation & Performance

At 3 lb 13.1 oz, the Nuuk Parka is much from light-weight—it’s really the heaviest jacket in our lineup. All that additional materials would possibly add weight, nevertheless it additionally makes this jacket really feel like you might dwell within the Arctic. We have been ditching the coat quicker than lighter jackets however didn’t discover it besides throughout side-by-side comparability walks. The jacket isn’t designed for gentle winters, and carrying it in such climate will make you are feeling like a transportable sauna.

We discovered the Nuuk to be the roomiest parka we examined, which supplied nice consolation and successfully trapped heat air, an actual blessing throughout our newest arctic intrusion. That stated, we’d have sized down for a extra tailor-made, comfy match.

The hood is not any joke. It’s huge and may match over a helmet or your largest beanie. We didn’t have to put on it besides throughout testing, nevertheless it does restrict your imaginative and prescient. Nonetheless, if we wanted safety from excessive winds and snow, we’d need this hood for the job. 

Whereas it’s too cumbersome for a backcountry stroll, this jacket is a complete winner for front-country use and intensely chilly expeditions. Plus, with its robust construct and tons of pockets, it’s useful as workwear or rugged on a regular basis use.

Options

The Nuuk parka takes the crown with regards to options— it has 11 pockets! If we have been on an expedition with sled canine or snowmobiling throughout Minnesota, the place we would like a variety of issues inside attain and heat in opposition to our physique, these pockets can be important. On our winter hikes and restore driving, we solely use a few of the pockets, however boy are they good! One factor, we stored forgetting which pocket we put sure issues in, so that may be a little annoying should you even have a goldfish mind.

With massive, leather-based pull tabs on the zippers and pockets, it’s straightforward to seize every part – even with gloves on. The snap-closure drop-in pockets are tremendous handy, and the fleece-lined collar and hood add that cozy issue all of us love. Plus, the fake fur ruff is detachable, so you possibly can change up the look everytime you really feel prefer it.

Now, right here’s the place we hit a bit of snag. The huge left-handed zipper—frequent with European manufacturers—was a little bit of a problem. Pondering being a lefty would assist, we nonetheless struggled to get the primary zipper began. Plus, the highest two snaps on the storm flap are actually exhausting to safe (unattainable with mittens on). The underside snap pops open if you’re bending over or crouching (strapping right into a snowboard, for instance). These small gripes felt like the value of entry into such a bomber jacket, and general this coat remains to be tremendous useful, trendy, and extremely engineered.

Ought to You Purchase the Fjallraven Nuuk Insulated Parka?

It truly is an unbelievable coat. Positive it’s spendy, however artificial insulation gained’t lose its heat when it will get moist, not like down. It is also constructed to final, so the funding feels worthwhile. If you wish to have a coat that makes you are feeling like you are able to do a polar dog-sled race, that is it. 

Remember that this jacket is cumbersome and heavy and can take up a variety of area in your closet and duffle bag. The ditch coat model physique of the jacket is nice for layering, however you’ll have to dimension down should you’re between sizes or need a much less cumbersome look. The tactical model may not be interesting to some, however those that want the included 11 pockets will love this jacket’s heavy engineering and rugged design.

What Different Winter Jackets Ought to You Take into account?

Try our different greatest winter jackets for ladies to see how the Fjallraven Nuuk stacks in opposition to our different favorites. Beneath are some comparable choices you would possibly like:

The North Face Triple C Assessment: Not planning on getting a lot accomplished in your winter parka moreover conserving heat? That is your coat.

REI Norseland Assessment: If a extra basic down parka is what you’re after with the identical insulating energy because the Nuuk, the Norseland is value a glance.

The North Face Arctic Assessment: This feature can be waterproof however has extra insulation from down. The Arctic’s design is a bit more refined and smooth, with an extended match.