This is a very warm jacket that has been marketed to be professional grade, but designed for regular people doing regular things in very cold weather. It is not professional grade, but if you are a regular person, this is more than enough unless you plan on doing something actually life threatening. Remember, a jacket is only one part of the gear that you need for extreme cold, and if you are not fully equipped, dont blame the jacket.

Plusses: Strong durable high denier shell material seems to do well against abrasion, and is extremely waterproof. In the rain, however, the synthetic ruff looks like a wet cat. Plenty of pockets are a plus, and the shoulders are quite flexible and do not impede motion. Dual draw strings ensures that drafts from the bottom are mitigated.

Minuses: Down Baffling is inadequate, keeping this from being a truly great jacket. Insufficient baffling, notably around the shoulders and armpits, causes down to shift, producing cold spots. It's still warm, but the same amount of down could go so much further with intelligent baffling. No internal cuffs, no core venting, low quality zipper pulls, hood too deep, headphone cable management is inadequate, primary zipper is insufficiently durable. Chin guard on the top of the zipper is not plush enough, storm flap on the zipper is not warm enough, using snaps instead of velcro on the storm flap was a bad idea for thermal reasons. Replacement fur ruffs should be sold online, with options of real coyote instead of synthetic. Draw string cuffs and glove clips would have been nice, as well as D-rings for attachments.

This coat is long enough to keep your upper legs covered and warm without hindering movement. A gaggle of goose feathers are packed into the liner keeping warmth in when there is no warmth without (worn down to -30). However, when the wind blows, so does the hood. It stays in place, and does not come off even in gale force torrents, but wind manages to sneak its way into the hood.

One valuable aspect of a parka is a hood that is deep enough to shelter your face from a crosswind. Insulated well but lacking in depth the hood allows air to funnel around your face and down into your parka. A great attribute if you were trying to stay cool, on a cold winter day.

If the wind isn't blowing hard this is a very warm parka, the numerous pockets are great, and the velcro storm flap along the zipper is a life/time saver (especially since the zipper failed on mine after a season).

I read the reviews and was stoked to get this coat. For many reviewers, all they needed was this coat, and they were super warm without layering.

I'm a pretty skinny guy, and I think I get cold more easily than most people.

I purchased this coat after trying the North Face Nova Triclimate down parka and realizing it wasn't warm enough once the temps fell much below 20F.

The McMurdo is much bulkier and not as fashionable, so as I prepared to go outside and test it, I was sure it would be warmer than my Triclimate. I quickly proved wrong.

I walked around the block on a night when the temperature was about 15F and it wasn't too windy. My arms were cold almost instantly. My torso was the last thing to get cold, but it didn't take more than a few minutes. By the end, my whole body was really cold.

Maybe this coat is warm enough for some people if they're using it for a rigorous activity. I just want something that will keep me super warm when I'm walking the dog or standing around pumping gas when the wind is howling.

My Nova Triclimate is actually a little warmer. And it's much better looking. The McMurdo is a huge coat (small was probably too big for my 5'11"-150 lb.-frame), but it didn't restrict movement too much or make me knock things over like George Costanza.

My search for the right coat continues, and the backcountry people have been very helpful.

I've already raved about the wonderful service at Backcountry.com. One of my concerns in buying this parka was that it would simply be too hot to be comfortable here in central Virginia. Last night my son and I attended a lacrosse game and sat in the stands in 35-40 degree weather, without a lot of wind. I wore the parka just to try it out, and it kept me very comfortable as most around me shivered and complained about the cold. Walking across parking lots and up the stairs to our seats I kept the parka unzipped and was very comfortable, but my guess is it would be too hot to wear zipped up doing vigorous physical activity in such weather. But it seems to be very well made, has a ton of pockets, and my 15-year-old son tells me it looks "G," which seems to be a nice thing among his generation. I did not make use of the hood. Bottom line is I am totally satisfied and would recommend this to others without reservation (well, unless you live in Hawaii of Florida).

If it's warm you need to be in the coldest of environments, this is the jacket to have. I was recently in 20degree weather with 40mph winds and any part of my body covered by this jacket was very very warm. Covered everything from my head to the my knees. I got a 4x because i'm a big guy and my only complaint is that I can't drive with the jacket on because of it's size. I've been told others with smaller sizes have the same trouble. I will be buying North Face again and I will be buying from BackCountry.

I purchase this coat for my Son, results it can handle the elements. Great coat and great price.

Great jacket for the cold Utah mornings when the dog needs a walking! No under layers required.

I bought one of these because I needed a XXXL size for those rare Virginia winter days when I really want to keep warm. It is beautifully made, warm as toast, and my 15-year-old son actually approved the look.

But what was truly remarkable to me (besides the fact that Backcountry.Com had it much cheaper than competitors) was the SERVICE I received. I ordered the jacket around midnight one Sunday, at at noon Monday decided to change the color from brown to black. I got through to a customer service rep. without waiting on hold, he spoke ENGLISH, and when he discovered my parka had already been shipped(!) he offered to recall that package at no cost to me and send me the one I wanted. He then discovered that my sale price had ended Sunday at midnight, but volunteered to give me the sale price anyway since it was an exchange. Dealing with him was an absolute delight, and I've become big fan. The parka is GREAT, but the service was even better.

I bought this coat in a Large because that's what other TNF jackets and parkas have fit me, it was huge so I returned it and bought a Medium. It's great, very comfortable and extremely warm. It's a little bulky but when the weather gets worse I am not going to complain one bit. There's a ton of storage, completely waterproof, and the fur makes me look like a pimp. I LOVE it, get one - you won't be disappointed.

This is the classic down jacket for cold city adventures, when you need to stay warm getting from one place to another..! It is not for backcountry activities. The hood is mostly for looks, so remember a beanie as wind will get in..

Let me first say that I love my McMurdo, it is stylisha nd very warm for its thickness. It is not a thin layer down coat, but again it is always a balance between insulation thickness and warmth. I live in New ENgland and it is cold in Maine, not unlike Canada. Certainly below zero almost all winter where I am. I love my Canada Goose Expedition, but I cannot drive my car with it. The coat is huge huge huge. I love Canada Goose but one big big problem, They are Feakin HUGE HUGE HUGE, particularly the SUPER WARM BUT MAMMOTH RESOLUTE model. Loved it when I tried it on and I am positive it is south ole worthy, but unmanagable and damn right hilarious to look at. Ever seen Chevy Chase and Dan A. in "Spies Like Us" in their fur coats in Russia.

So I love the McMurdo as it is also very cold weather worthy and yet it just fits under my steering wheel when driving, and lastly looks killer in Black. Get a small if you were medium for sure.

I have a Alpha SV and a TNF freethinker, but this is for cold stuff. If I were stuck out all night with no cover then the Canada Goose, but otherwise, McMurdo.

I've lived in Chicago for over 7 years and have never really had a proper winter strategy. Now after being sick and tired of coats that are warm but never long enough for me (they end at the waist like most outdoorsy coats) this Parka finally fits the bill.

I tried taking my very old but working Northface shell and then sticking my newish, Mountain Hardware long sleeve puffer coat in it, but it was still never long enough.

Then I tried buying a long wool coat. plenty long and looked great, but sadly not warm enough for 0F weather here in Chicago.

Finally the coat that fits the bill: long, well lined with fill, hardy and totally warm.

This jacket looks great and is very warm...I would reccommend perhaps a smaller size- it fits big

I received this coat last Christmas from my boyfriend for my work in the northwest as a construction superintendent (constantly outside in rain and wind). Bar none, was the very best gift I received last year. Keeps me VERY DRY and VERY WARM. We play alot in the snow on weekends so this coat serves 2 purps....mainly for work, but ease of movement for play was a bonus. I'm sold on North Face for life. Now, my honey wants one and he will get it this Christmas.

This coat is the warmest coat I've ever owned, without a doubt. I stood outside waiting for the train this morning for 25 minutes in -15 F temperature (-35 wind chill). I was toasty warm - not even a hint of cold inside the jacket. I have not had wind or moisture penetrate the coat at any time. This is my second season with this coat.

The temperature has to be 10 F or colder, or I can't wear this jacket when I walk to and from the train to my office (30 minutes) because I sweat too much.

The drawbacks are: the hood is not a snug fit, and the coat is bulky and heavy (to be expected). I am willing to overlook these minor inconveniences, however.

I bought the McMurdo Parka on sale at $271 and it was worth every penny! It is such a warm jacket with plenty of pockets. I wore the jacket with a sweater underneath when the temperature was about 20 degrees outside and I started to sweat. I live in Chicago and it has been pretty cold this winter. I think if the temperature is above 10 degrees, it is better to wear something else unless you want to sweat. The jacket runs very big. I purchased a medium and had to exchange it for a small. The small is still quite large for my athletic frame. I am 5' 8 and 155 lb. The hood is quite large but it does its job. The only minor gripe I have about the jacket is the zipper. It is sometimes difficult to zip up due to its design. Other than the zipper, I have no complaints about the jacket.

I bought this jacket specifically for a trip to Siberia where temperatures are cold enough to freeze your blood. Needless to say, I survived the trip, thanks to McMurdo.

I am currently in Prague and it gets as low as 10 degrees here Fahrenheit. I can wear this beautiful and functional jacket with only a tee-shirt on underneath and stay extremely warm. I highly recommend it.

I'm 6'0", 165lbs, and I usually wear a large jacket. I read that this parka runs big, so I ordered a medium and was concerned about it being to small. It was actually far too big in every respect. I returned it for a small , and it fits great. I'm not sure I've ever worn a small anything as an adult. I even tried it with a sport jacket underneath and it fits perfectly. Otherwise, very nice parka.

it's like wearing a mummy bag. i actually fell asleep in three feet of snow!

I'll start with the not-so-good. The hood tends to flop down over my face and is annoying. I started wearing a Thinsulate cap with a bill on it and that solved the problem. Second, I'm not sure this is an Anarctic capable coat. I was outside for three hours when it was around -24F and could feel the coolness trying to come through. I wasn't cold, but I think if it was -35F I would be feeling it some. I had on a fleece sweater underneath and t-shirt. The good news is the coat is very functional and well built. The pockets are plentiful and well thought out. It may be too warm to wear if it's much above +25F, which is a good thing, I think. I bought it on sale for $270, and I don't think there's anything else in that price range that is as warm. I'm a photographer who likes to photo in South Dakota & Minnesota winters, at night. I stand around in the dark a lot. We get the intense cold AND the wind here. I was satisfied enough to keep it.

Kent in SD