The North Face Vostok Down Parka - Men's - 2010 BCS

1)The North Face Vostok is an extreme parka - for extremely cold conditions.
2) Alert: It is very heavy in weight! At 54.3 ounces you really feel the weight of this North Face Parka. For most gearheads, this parka is simply a bit too heavy!!!
3) On the plus side, it is durable and will last.

BOTTOM LINE - OTHER LIGHTER PARKAS = MORE COMFORT!
1) TNF Vostok is an awesome parka!
2) But comfort is an important need for most of us!
3) For greater comfort than this parka, meaning lighter weight and ease of mobility, there are other down parkas that will provide equivalent warmth to the Vostok, and still provide far greater comfort in terms of lighter weight and greater mobility - in extreme cold!
3) The Mountain Hardwear Absolute Zero Parka succeeds in providing warmth for Extreme Cold, and is far lighter and more comfortable than the Vostok.
FOR MOUNTAIN CLIMBING, AND EXTREME COLD, THE MT. HARDWEAR ABSOLUTE ZERO IS THE PARKA OF CHOICE!

This is a beautifully made, very warm coat that has all the features I wanted plus it looks so great! The cuffs seal to keep the cold out and everything works to keep you comfortable. My only con is that I consulted the North Face sizing chart, which indicated that I should be a Large, but when the coat came and I tried it on it was way too big. I have a 44" chest but this fit me like it was an X-large or even XXL ! I did love this coat though and will be ordering a medium for sure when it comes back in stock for the coming season. Backcountry.com made it very easy to take care of the return.

I have owned many The North Face items over the years. This parka is at or near the top in my opinion. I am 5'8'' and 145lbs and this parka fits me well in a mens small which was hard to find in stock. I purchased the black model and am not really a fan of the other colour combinations. In 2010 there was taxi cab yellow and black, blue and black, and red and black, and black on black.

PROS: extremely warm - 700 down fill, durable outside fabric, light for a parka (200g lighter than my old TNF McMurdo/400g lighter than my current TNF Sabretooth parka), range of motion in the parka is very good (does not feel constrictive), inner cuff is a nice touch and makes the sleeves fit better, waterproof and breathable, lots of pockets, looks sharp!

CONS: more improvements than cons really>>would like to have soft fabric/hand warmer material inside the pockets instead of cold nylon, hem cinch cord at the waist would ensure a more snug fit.

I've worn many parkas from TNF over the years: Mt Erebus, Double down parka, Chinook Convertable Parka, McMurdo, Gotham, Sabretooth, as well as a Canada Goose Chilliwack and this parka is a cut above all of them. This Vostok jacket is a nice alternative to the Canada Goose parkas many people are wearing these days as I feel it is constructed better. The Canada Goose parkas have less down fill, is only water resistent with the DWR coating, I found the wrist cuffs to pill after a couple of months. Construction and durability is important is important to me if I'm spending this much on a quality winter parka! Will be enjoying this parka for many winters. Highly recommended.

I am 5'7, 165 lbs and just purchased a men's medium (in solid black). After trying on the parka with both a heavy sweater as well as without the sweater and just an oxford shirt, I would say that the Vostok is fairly true to size if you prefer a parka that is not restrictive and reasonably tailored. I plan on wearing it here in Manhattan (NYC) where the temps drop in hurry and the whippy winds can be incredibly biting - especially as they dance around and in between the high rise buildings. To me, this is the quintessential city jacket if you want to remain comfortably warm and dry, regardless of Mother Nature's twisted sense of humor.

I wore the Vostok Parka for the first time at work this week. Temperature was above freezing, altitude was above 10,000 feet. Wind was 50 to 60 mph.First time ever that I have stayed warm and comfotable under these conditions. The parka was actually lighter than the many layers of clothing that I have had to wear in the past, working in these conditions. This parka is Fantastic.

I own a LOT of TNF gear, and I have for 15 years straddled the line between size L and XL. I've typically opted for XL. Shocked that I had to go down to a Medium for a proper fit. I am 6'0", 210 lbs.