Mountain Hardwear Absolute Zero Down Parka - Men's - 2007 BCS

THE MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR ABSOLUTE ZERO PARKA PROVIDES ULTIMATE WARMTH AND PROTECTION!

REASONS THIS IS THE GREATEST PARKA YOU CAN BUY:
1) Twenty (20) ounces of 800 Fill Down = Great Warmth!!!
2) Baffled Construction- Protects You From Icy Winds!
3) Waterproof! Conduit Laminate Outershell! Sealed Seams!
4) Great Hood: Head Protective and Face Protective.

BOTTOM LINE:
THE ULTIMATE PARKA for the most frigid weather you can possibly encounter - Mountain Climbing or Anywhere Else!

RECOMMENDATIONS:
1) Buy this Great Parka if you are a Mountain Climber or will encounter similar icy weather for extended periods of time.
2) It is The Best Parka Manufactured and The Warmest!!!!!

FOR ALL OTHER ICY CONDITIONS - THE MT. HARDWEAR CHILLWAVE IS THE TOP MT. HARDWEAR PARKA FOR 2011

1) It will protect you down to Zero Degrees Farenheit temperatures and below, and to "Real Feel" Temperatures of - 30 Degrees, due to 20-30 Degree Wind Chills.
2) Has 13 ounces of 650 Fill Down.
3) Is Water Resistant with a DWR Finish
4) Has New Air Resistant Technology!
5) Has A Great Down Filled Hood - with Head and Face Protection.

Whether you know it or not you have probably seen this jacket, or its full suit brother. This has long stood as the professional athletes choice for a high altitude insulated jacket. The 800 fill down is incredibly tight, and welded baffles prevent the cold zones inherent in sewn through baffle construction. In addition to this the fully watertight design is not only breathable but cuts out 100% of windchill. If you are serious about mountaineering you need to own something like this.

im really dissapointed in the new age of parkas coming out of china. the jacket over all is good but not worth 650 dollars. the hood and pockets are great, not fleece lined but are like putting your hands in sleeping bags and will warm cold hands very fast. my biggest complaint is the sleeves, the down always moves to the back of the sleeve and this is the second az that has done that so im guessing china is dropping the ball there. there are also minor cool spots around the welds in the sleeve. my arms dont get very cold from this but is annoying that this happens with such an expensive jacket, luckily i got it on sale so its tolerable for me as the jacket is very warm and has tons of down in the body and does its job for the 450 dollar price i paid, but if you want true quality for the 650 dollar range then go with canada goose they take extreme pride in there parkas. DO NOT BUY THEM ON EBAY THOUGH. 5 out of 10 cg parkas were fake. im 5' 10" and 210lbs and the medium fits great with room for layers. it is a large fit so if you normally wear a large then go medium and so forth. also the jacket is good in 30 degree weather as long as your not exerting yourself. walking the dogs or watching the stars its perfect, ive been in 10 degree windy weather with just a t shirt on and was fine but you will notice the cool spots in the sleeves more so wear a long sleeve shirt.

I just got this parka. It's not cold enough yet for me to comment on the warmth factor (though I understand the AZ has proven itself already in this area) so I'll comment on size.
I am around 5'10 maybe 5'11 and weight around 145lb. I usually wear small. I took a small AZ, following advice I read here and it was the right thing to do. I think I still have enough room for a light down jacket underneath (though most buyers will never need so much insulation) and the sleeves are the right length. The body is shorter than I expected, but I understand that that's how "parkas" are dimensioned these days. That's ok, because I didn't really want a coat that goes down to my knees; to me that's extra weight for little added benefit. This one goes just barely below the butt. Of the two drawstrings (bottom and waist), the waist one felt awkwardly high at first (it's at belly-button level) but it seems to be designed that way to reduce "flopping" of the core, which can otherwise urge air in and out through the extremities. Useful.
Overall small was the right size for me.

also note: I haven't noticed the poor down distribution around the arms yet (perhaps that will come in time?) but the TNF Himalayan I tried on at the store had major down distribution problems around the arms, there was nothing in front of the forearms.

Strong and built to last many seasons - no cold spots here!!

Just received. It appears to be all that is advertised. Size large is just right. I'm 6'3", and around 210 pounds. The coat is roomy but not too big, and the sleeves aren't too short, a nice suprise.

This is an awesome piece of gear; it lofts so high it's hard to believe. It is very highly water resistant, that is, virtually waterproof. The cut, the workmanship, the overall design are unsurpassed. This is a parka I'd bet my life on. It has replaced my Marmot 8000m parka as my go-to piece for serious, killing cold (neg. 30 F, neg. 40F; that kind of cold.) If you think it's too expensive, take it out in that kind of weather; you will no longer think it's too expensive. You need to wear this coat for a while, to get used to how huge it is. I did, and I'm more than ok with it. If you have the experience with really extreme cold, and use your head, this coat will get you there and, above all, get you back.

Five star rating for the Absolute Zero Parka. For comparison purposes, this year I purchased, from Backcountry.com, the North North Face Blackhawk Down Jacket, the North Face Agaency Jacket, Canada Goose Expedition Arctic-Tech Parka, and the North Face McMurdo Down Parka. The Absolute Zero Parka was definitely the warmest, with minimal layering, in Northern Michigan sub-zero weather.
I have to admit that I will not be wearing the Absolute Zero as ofter as some of the other jackets; however, when it is needed, it is nice to have it in my arsenal.

This parka is the ultimate puffy jacket. When you put this thing on, it envelops you in soft down and you immediately get warm. I slept outside in -20 degree weather with this parka on and stayed toasty warm...that's right, slept...I had no sleeping bag and this thing kept me as warm as my -40 Darkstar sleeping bag. It's very warm. There is one design flaw in this parka however. It only shows up when it's extremely cold and very windy. You may be able to feel the chill come through the zipper area when it below zero and very windy like on many summits, especially if you don't have many layers on underneath.

I have been wearing the Absolute Zero Parka for about 1 month now and I really love it. I wear it outside for work and I have had it out in -10 F with strong wind and it was still very warm even though I was out for more than 1 hour. If you have the hood up and your back to the wind you dont even know that you are outside. If you have to face the wind or walk into the wind then you can just pull the zipper all of the way up and it will go up over your nose to keep your whole face warm. I have also worn it up to about 20 F and it is not too warm. If you get warm you can just pull the zipper half way down and control your comfort that way. The pockets are extremely warm also. I normally wear the black/white Hestra Heli 3 finger gloves with this coat and they are ok when you are walking but if I stand around for a while then I find that it is warmer to just put my hands in the pockets. I expect to have it out in -30 to -40 F degree conditions this winter and from what I know so far I expect that it will still keep me plenty warm.

the size does seem to run a little big. I am 6'2" and 240 lbs and I ordered the XL. It is perfect for me. I can wear several layers under it and the coat is still plenty loose to move around in. I do not wear it in the car though, I think that it would be too bulky and warm to wear in a warm car. So I just keep it at my office and put it on when I need to spend more than a few minutes outside.

WARMEST COAT ON THE MARKET!!! I live in the mid-latitude prairies of Canada where temperatures tend to hover around -20 Celsius and can frequently plunge to -40 to -50 Celsius during the 4 months of winter. I spend a lot of time outside in these frigid temperatures and this more than keeps me warm - moving or stationary. I walk 4 kms daily outside. I used to wear 2-layers of clothing under my old 'warm' winter coat(s), along with mitts, toque and even balaclava just to stay warm...until I purchased the Absolute Zero Parka.
Now, I put on a light t-shirt and then my AZ. By the time I get to half-way to school - I have to take my hood off and unzip the front zipper because I overheat!!! I no longer wear gloves or a toque - the pockets are set into the down-insulated body of the coat which allows for unsurpassed hand-warmth, and the hood is insulated enough to keep my head warm without the need for a hat(s). The down seems to be staying in place, and I don't find that certain areas of my body get cold - like shoulders or forearms.
I had considered other Brands, like Marmot, Canada Goose and Patagonia. After trying them all on, what sold me on this coat is that its 800 fill goose down, fully waterproof, ripstop (conduit SL) fabric, with sealed seams. I don't regret my decision at all.
However, be warned in advance that if you decide on this coat you will need some room to store it - ITS NOT SMALL! And you may be called names like marshmallow or michelin man.

If you can't stay warm in this parka anyplace on earth, stay indoors! I purchased it for cold northern Michigan winters and it's a super performer. At 5'9", the medium seems a bit large, but I can live with it. Be warned, this is serious extreme cold weather gear. If your winters are moderate (20-30 degree range) the parka is overkill. But if you need comfort/protection for the absolute toughest winter conditions, you can't go wrong.

Larry

OK, this jacket is for serious mountaineering and sub zero temperatures or extreme conditions. If the temperature gets above 15 degrees, it probably will be more jacket than you need. It is extremely large and puffy. I am 6 feet tall, 160 pounds and usually wear a medium, but in this jacket the small was plenty big. Get this jacket only if you plan to be in extreme conditions. If not, it may just get left on the hanger, and that would be a shame.

First let me say that this parka is ridiculous in a good way. I have never in my life had such a warm jacket. I have yet to test it on any mountains worth noting however, I have used it extensively this winter while outside. I live in Michigan so I'll let you in on the average weather we've been having when I busted this jacket out. It was snowing at least a foot a day as well as peek daily temperatures being below zero with the wind chill added in. Now on to the part you're probably reading for... despite the cold weather all I would wear is a t-shirt and the Absolute Zero Parka and that would be more than enough to stay perfectly warm. This jacket is intense. I once made the mistake of shoveling snow in this Bad Jackson and that was a terrible mistake, by the time I was finished I had the jacket all the way unzipped with sweat collecting on my forehead. I'll say it once again, this jacket is intense. If your looking for the ultimate parka to combat intense cold and wind this is it. Zipper is huge and easy to use when wearing mittens as well as the draw cords at the bottom for blocking out the wind does its job very well.

For once, I received a mountain hardware item that weighs considerably less then the stated weight (my spire 2 tent weighs much more than the advertised weight). My small is the perfect size and fit (I am 510 but very narrow in in the shoulders and waist) and weighs about 2#10ounces confirmed on my digital scale (2#13 ounces with the stuff sack). The medium would have been way to big. The fit and finish is great. The zipper works awesome as does the hood and tightening cords. I love the hem drawcord - a feature not seen on all parkas which is an absolute must IMHO. Seems very warm. Will test on katadhin next winter. This is replacing my MH sub zero parka. The absolute is a superio product and the fabrid around the face is MUCH MORE CONFORMABLE!

I took the Absolute Zero jacket to Alaska for a recent trip on Denali. It is a great jacket to stay warm around camp while cooking. Most of the time, this jacket is too warm for wearing while moving. On days where I climbed in it, it has some nice features. There are two internal water bottle pockets, which kept my bottles from freezing (they would have froze in water bottle insulators). When it gets really cold, you can zip the jacket completely and use the cinch straps to protect most of your face. Excellent jacket, even in -20F temps.

So..I was sick of being cold, and wanted to end it once and for all. This jacket is massive, even if you buy a size small. Don't plan on putting a shell over the top of it to protect it from pointy objects. Also, It is kind of ridiculous to wear around town due to its size. When you sit down it swallows you. Its kind of hard to hear with the hood over your head. I find that its only crazy warm when i am moving around. This thing is perfect for wearing around the house if your house is 56 degrees like mine. But when i go outside to scrape my car in -20, it does its job well. I have never liked mountian hardware clothing but I think they have got THF beat with this jacket.

i returned this in favor of the north face himalyan which has a much better cuff system and an extra interior pocket

There were some questions about the zipper on this jacket.

The zipper IS a two way zipper, so you can both zip it down from the top AND zip it up from the bottom.

Except for problems with the filling material in the arms ending up underneath the arms when you move around a bit, this jacket is perfect for extreme conditions. Tested with good result during extreme conditions in Norwegian mountains.

...is now renamed and goes by the title The Apartment. This due to it's roomy comfort, warmth and overall ability to protect the inhabitant from the cold air in the Spanish mtns.

In other words: Ten thumbs up!

Took a backpacking trip in northern Michigan in December. It was about 15F, somewhat windy with a dusting of snow. As soon as I dropped my pack and put this parka on, I knew I had made the right choice. Unbelievably light weight, it packed well, and felt like being in a walking sleeping bag. Zippers were good, handwarmer pockets worked, the hood was exceptionally warm. I could not find a fault. I just wish I could have found some worse weather to really test it.

i recommend The North Face Himalayan Parka.