The North Face McMurdo Down Parka - Men's - 2008 BCS

I have read many of the reviews here and there seems to be something everyone is missing, Further down the page you can read Jon Taulbee's review where he wore this parka in -40 to -45 with a windchill of -115f.
from what john says in his review you can bet he was wearing a layer system unlike a few of the reviews where people have said about wearing this parka with just a shirt on, not only that no two people feel the cold in the same way due to the fact of age, weight blood flow and activity body fat etc.
Not many people know this but the UK is the cold death capital of the world according to some scientists??? anyway picture this a man goes to work and is standing on the train platform waiting for his train as has done for years only on this day he starts to shiver and as he goes to work his blood starts to thicken up because of the cold and later that night he goes home and has a heart attack because his blood has thickend up, The reason for the UK being the cold death capital is because the UK is a small island where you can get all four seasons in one day.
But the reason you start to shiver is because your body is trying to generate heat and as your blood thickens from the cold your heart struggles to force this thickend blood around your system as it directs the blood to all your vital organs as it stops sending the blood to less vital areas,
what we must all do when buying these parkas is find a system that works for usand remember no two people are the same.
A while back i bought some sleeping bags that are rated to -20c to -40c and when i bought them the people who made the said they were tested to -50c so i asked them why was there such a big differance in the ratings and he told me that because people go out fishing/camping in the middle of winter and sleep in just their underwear the complain that they were cold or in the worst case die, so for the reasons of health and safety or the fear of being sued they rate these things at a more conservative figure because alot of people don't bother trying to find a system that works for them, so just bare this in mind when you buy these things these parkas are designed for living in hostile weather as jon Taulbee said in his review, Yes Canada Goose are works of art but one sharp piece of steel can rip a hole in it just as it can in one of these and in the UK Canada Goose parkas start at around $1000/$1100 so thats reason enough for me to buy the Mcmurdo parka because the retailers change the Dollar sign to a pound sign so even when it is in a sale over here i still pay more then you guy/gals pay in the USA. where as i can but 3 Mcmurdo parkas for the cost of the Canada Goose model which is the same rating. so people thanks for taking the time to read this and do you homework that way you will live long enough to enjoy your parkas.

blessins to all, John

I BOUGHT THE NORTH FACE McMURDO PARKA ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO!
IT IS A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!
HERE ARE THE REASONS:
1) IT FEELS VERY HEAVY - FAR FAR TOO HEAVY AND VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.
2) HOOD LOOKS NICE - BUT IS NOT FACE PROTECTIVE.
3) THIS IS A PARKA THAT LOOKS WARM, BUT IS NOT IN THE SAME CALIBRE AS MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR PARKAS WHICH ARE LIGHTER, WARMER AND MORE COMFORTABLE PARKAS!
4) MY ADVICE- DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS PARKA!
IT IS NOT WORTH BUYING!

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).

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..

(I'm cross-posting this review from the boy's version of this coat, which is what I own. I thought the review would be more useful here where there are probably more buyers. But take it with a grain of salt - there are probably some minor differences between the kid's and men's version.)

At 5'9", which is the statistically average height for an adult male, you wouldn't think I'd be able to foray into children's clothing particularly often, and yet, here I am. I'm a fairly slender adult male, normally a men's size small or a 36R jacket. But since I pretty closely match the measurements for a kid's size XL/18-20, and I know TNF products tend to run large, I decided to see if this coat would fit. (The fact that the kid's version is 2/3 the price of the adult's might have figured into the equation....)

Anyway... the kid's XL in the McMurdo fits me surprisingly well. I can't always get away with a kid's XL, but it seems that TNF's tendency to run large is true for their children's stuff as well. The coat is obviously warm, though in comparing it to my old L.L. Bean one, the McMurdo has significantly less loft. The Bean jacket is so stuffed with down that its baffled compartments look like they've been inflated - not so with the McMurdo. It's a warm coat, but not nearly as warm as it might be, with either higher loft down, or simply a larger amount of down. The fake fur ruff is disappointing - not because I'm a big proponent of wearing fur in general, but because in an extreme weather parka, a genuine fur ruff can really make a difference between a warm face and a frostbitten face. Real fur wicks moisture, resists freezing, and retains warmth - fake fur is purely aesthetic. I'm also a little disappointed that the hood is not a true snorkel hood, ie, it doesn't cinch up all the way to form a small tunnel of warmth around your face. The fake fur ruff does at least fold out to offer some protection.

Having said all that, though, I recognize that this parka is designed more as a lifestyle garment than a true extreme weather parka. From that perspective, it's not a bad value for your money. In fact, if you're an adult like me, getting the kid's version is a GREAT value for your money. ;-) The only way to get what I would really want in a parka - high loft down, genuine fur ruff, snorkel hood - would be to plunk down $600 or so for a Canada Goose product. Like most people, I'm simply not in a position to do that for a coat I only need to wear a handful of times each year. For most climates, particularly in the US, this jacket should be more than enough.

I should mention that while I currently live in balmy Colorado, I spent the past five years living in Minnesota, and I grew up in the mountains of western Montana - so I'd like to think I've got a pretty good perspective on what is important in cold-weather gear.

Spent Three Winters at Mcmurdo and two weeks at the South Pole. This coat was Standard Issue for the Contractors and I have to say I miss the one I wore on "The ICE" silly I know but i am From a winter wonderland Michigan and knowing cold makes me apperciate good cold weather clothing. This parka performed well at-115 F wind chill (-40 or -45 ambient ) when all your worried about was your nose frezzing falling off. Just wish they had it in RED.

I love my mcmurdo parka in swamp green (easlily goes with brown or black leather) just go one size down from your normal in this one because they run huge!! Ever heard of standard sizing north face? Geez...

I just got this parka in small. I'm 5'8", 150 lbs, normal build. It fits a bit loose, it looks VERY bulky. It make me look like a big bodybuilder. This parka is warm and perfect for the cold weather.The jacket IS very heavy and the hood is not perfect!

I have tried the Ice jacket which is more slim fit and perfect as causal wear. However I will still keep this parka for the extra cold days. :-)

Not a bad coat considering I paid $150. No way is it worth the full pop. Had to add Velcro for the fur trim around the hood, for some reason North Face has felt it is necessary around the collar but not around the hood. While I was at it I had a hood stiffener sewn in and that helped. The hood wasn't really useful (especially the fur trim) without these modifications. All in it has cost me about $200 with the modifications and for that price I would say it is good value.

It has lot's of useful pockets, plenty of insulation and the outer shell is very durable. I haven't had any problems with the down settling yet, but I have only had it for one year. For the record I spend a lot of time outside in Northern Alberta with the occasional trip North of the arctic circle so it has seen some pretty harsh weather. Most of the guys I work with wear fur or Canada Goose parkas which are very nice but cost at least 3 times what I paid and get trashed just as easily.

Yes it is very heavy --But it is also the Warmest coat I have ever worn! I don't mind the weight I am not a small man xxl
I love all the attention to detail, the storm sleeves, the numerous pockets etc. I t is my favorite parka.,Great for a football game & sitting outside .

great jacket. the hood has problems fitting correctly. It hags over my eyes... NOT recommended for walking with hood on.

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.

I ‘am really satisfied with my “investment” special as we have a rather cold and snowy winter this year in Sweden.

Don't waste your money of this coat if you need extreme cold protection. I had another chance to wear one of these things outside today at -42.
Junk. Get a Canada Goose and be done with it.

I have a black North Face McMurdo, with the faux fur hood and all. I've had it for a number of years.

What the marketing blurb is true - it's absolutely the best jacket in sub-zero temperatures.

It's even enough to wear it over a T-shirt in some low temperatures, provided your destination is well-heated of course!

The only down-side (no pun intended!)?
If you put it on in the warm indoors, and for some reason you get delayed departing, then you're going to sweat very soon!

I'm a walker. As such, I'm out for 4 to 6 hours at a time - usually around lower Manhattan, where I do my shopping, get a coffee and rarely use the subway unless I need to go uptown. I got this parka because everyone said it was warm, but was quickly disappointed after about 30 minutes to find that, while my core stayed warm, my arms did not. In fact, they were cold- and the temperature was around 36.

It was also huge - I normally wear a Medium or Large, but in this case I needed a Small. People told me that it runs large so that you can layer, but to me at least, that's not the point of a huge jacket like this.

Basically, if you want something that looks cool and won't be outside at a bus-stop or walking around for long periods of time in cold weather, it's great. If you want to stay warm, this won't do the trick. I can't even imagine how cold I would get in real deep freeze conditions.

By the way, what they don't say about this jacket is that it's only 550 fill power down. Save your money and go for a 700 or 800 to really stay warm.

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

The jacket has a nice look to it & is really warm but its not breathable at all. I live in NY & even when its in the 20's & I have just a t-shirt on with the zipper fully open I am still sweating. Its far too heavy and uncomfortable to even move your arms in this jacket, its like trying to walk around with the heaviest thick blanket around you. The hood is just a joke it does not work at all. It was my first time buying a north face jacket & I usually wear a size XL in different brands. I bought this jacket in 2007 & spoke to one of the gear heads & told him I was 5'6 & weigh about a 135-140lbs & he suggested I go for a medium. When I got the medium in mail it was it was big & fitted me more like a large. I called back and wanted to to change it for a size small but it was all sold out & I got this jacket at a very good sale price so it wasn't worth the refund. I called and spoke to one of the gear heads named Greg & he said whenever I decided to return this jacket no matter how long backcountry.com would take care of the return shipping as I was suggested the wrong size by the gear head. I tried getting a size small again next year but it was sold out again as it seems to be the size that sells out the most. Now when I am trying return this jacket for a different one backcountry.com says since its been 3 years they are not responsible for the returning shipping. So I am a little bummed about how first I was suggested the wrong size & now they're even refusing the return shipping, guess I will have to take care of that myself. Bottom line is if your in the east coast this jacket might not be the one for you & you might wanna down size as the Mcmurdo does run pretty large.

I purchased my Northface McMurdo Parka and I love it. Unfortunatley, I only got a chance to wear it once so far because the week I got it the weather in New York suddenly began to warm up which was only about four weeks ago. But I will be ready harsh weather next winter although you never know it has ben known to get coldin New York even during the spring. I recommend this coat. Love all the pockets.!!!

So far, so good. Fortunately, the bitter cold has left us. Only time will tell when winter arrives again. He loves the jacket. Likes the way it feels. The hood is too furry against the face, it blocks vision. So, he took off the fur piece. Great idea.

The GOOD: Parka is VERY Warm. I have worn down to -15F and keeps you toasty even with little on underneath. Not completely wind proof though but stil decent.

The BAD: for me and what I needed it for.. it was a little too big. Im a standard medium and the jacket was slightly larger than I was hoping for and fit poorly. I used this mainly to get around the city and commute to and from work so it was a little bulkier than would have been ideal. I subsequently bought a Mountain Hardware Downtown coat and it fits my needs much better. Slimmer fit, not as bulky but still as warm and maybe a bit more wind resistance.

The UGLY: Hated the hood. Useless and horribly designed. There was no way to wear the hood and be able to see out. Poor design with no adjustment as noted in other reviews.

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.

2 WORDS : WORTH IT!!!!1

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.

product as expected, short term delivery which gives a five stars rating for Backcountry. I am sure to shop there again as the products are really top ones.

Very warm coat with plenty of pockets. The hood sucks. The drawstring of the hood does not pull in close and the wind blows right into it fully. Thus the fur and hood do not protect you at all. Overall, a very good coat for the cold weather but a little too heavy.

in December. My son is in the Coast Guard and I have had to send his gifts TO the North Pole. Anyhow, he is delighted and says he will use the parka "for the rest of his life." Anyhow, for now it is good for shore leave in Kodiak. Yes, it runs large. My kid his muscular and about 5'10 and a medium fits well.

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.

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'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.

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.

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

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

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.

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'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

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.

I got one of these for Christmas and I have to say its a big pile of garbage.The hood snorkel is to short. There is no support for the hood so you can't see out. There are gaps between the fake fur and the hood so wind can blow in. The velco is missing on the fake fur so why make it removable?The cuffs are to short and don't bellow out of the sleeves. There is no inner draft flap.Whoever designed this parka obviously has not spent any time in REAL cold. But if you live far enough south you may be ok.I could go on but I won't. I took it back and bought a Canada Goose Resolute.This coat may be ok if you want to wear it shopping or whatever. It should not be sold in Canada (Saskatchewan) where I live because it gets cold here. To cold for junk like this.It does not belong outside in cold temps for extended periods. I work outside in -35-45 for extended periods and I would not wear this thing.Save your money folks.

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).