Columbia Storm Parka - Women's - 2008 BCS

This coat has become my new favourite coat. Everyone who sees it wants one and it is so warm and comfortable. Layer it if you need hyper warmth, but it's perfect for Australian winters on its own. I hope Columbia re-issue it for next year with some new colours. Thoroughly recommended. The perfect coat.

At first, I thought the price was a bit much. But I tried it anyway because I wanted a coat this length. I figured Columbia makes great stuff. Well, the quality and the features are well worth the price. It's lightweight but very warm. I've only worn it in above freezing weather but I was toasty and comfortable in windy, rainy 40 degree weather. Looking forward to wearing it in the nasty northeast winter weather. I hope it goes on sale so I can buy another color. :-)

I purchased this in the bark after seeing it in real life and immediately falling in love with the cut, styling and material. My goal was to have something warm and slightly sporty yet still nice enough to wear on dressed up occasions, which this coat represents perfectly. It is thin, lightweight & breathable yet keeps the heat in even in our cold and windy Chicago weather. The hood is unused for me because I have my own hat and I never use the belt (wish it tied rather than actually required threading). The length is really nice as most parkas stop at the waist. I love the double zipper that allows me to unzip the bottom up to my waist when sitting down. I was surprised to find little button hooks at the ends of the sleeves to attach a fleece though there is no inner zipper like the other Columbia coats that have detachable linings. The list of some compatible fleece items from Columbia is as follows:
Waypoint Fleece Jacket (WL6011)
Dynasty Dish Jacket (SL4169)
Addison Jacket (SL4164)
Luxurious Fleece Jacket (WL6015)

So you can add in some extra warmth if you feel you would need it or you can just use those if you already happen to have one. All in all, this has been one the best purchases, well worth the price and the service through Backcountry is excellent!

This coat is a lovely colour (intense red) not to bright, with great detailing. I wanted something stylish that didn't scream 'raincoat' and it certainly looks and feels great. The fabric has a little stretch in it also which means you are not constricted when sitting down (I even ride my bike in it). I brought a medium and it was a generous size. Nice and long in length and I found the sleeves quite long also but good for keeping warm and dry. This is the first cold weather coat I have ever owned as I have just moved to Japan but I think it will be perfect for winter here!

I just received this coat I've finally found a keeper. I had previously tried both the North Face Grace insulated jacket, and the Merrell Luxe...both very similar in their waterproof exteriors paired with a slim layer of synthetic insulation. The North Face Grace was nicely made, but lost points on the stiffness of the outer fabric, sleeves that were too long, and an oversized hood that screamed Cone-head. The Merrell Luxe was also was well made, but again the outer fabric was stiff, and the knit cuffs inside the sleeves too tight. If the zipper and toggles hadn't been so difficult to manage (zipper was hard to get in the track) I might have kept this one. I'm glad I didn't, however, as the Columbia leaves the other two in the dust. This coat is waterproof just like the others, but the outer fabric is still SOFT and comfortable....a very noticeable difference. The hood fits well (and also can zip off if you don't need it) and the fit is perfect.....very slimming...it's also slightly longer than either the North Face or the Merrell...closer to the knee. The "white" color (which is really a very pretty subtle black plaid..like the North Face Grace's "white" coat) makes it suitable for either dress or more sporty activities...so it's very versatile. Kudos to Columbia for getting it right...and producing a coat that's both great looking and high tech.

This is a very versatile rain coat- it looks great with dressy or casual clothes, fits well, is comfortable, and defintely keeps the rain out. It also has a lot of great features like the zips on the ends of the sleeves, the two-way zipper so you can sit down in it, and the fuzzy fleece on the neck. The only negative for me is that you need a fleece under it to be warm in weather about 40 degrees or below (Farenheit). So if you want it for the cold- make sure you get a size big enough to wear something underneath!

I am in northern MN and have worn this in the cold (temps in the teens!). I can't believe how warm it is. Very lightweight and comfortable! I would recomend it. Also, it can be worn dressy or casual. I took the hood off for dressy wear.