Popular Mechanics - USA (2020-11 & 2020-12)

THE NORTH FACE

GOTHAM JACKET III

Price: $299 | Insulation: 550-fill down |

Rating: Warmest | Moisture Protection:

2-layer waterproof shell

The Gotham Jacket III is as stylish

as it is capable of keeping you warm

and dry. The standard-fit men’s coat

accomplishes that with 550-fill goose-

down insulation, a gaiter built into the

hood, and rib-knit cuffs within the

sleeves and at the hem to seal out the

cold. To prevent water from seeping

in, The North Face deploys its DryVent

fabric—a material that’s treated with

durable water repellent—and seals

the seams. It’s not designed for heavy

activity, but this coat kept us warm when

the temperature dropped below freezing

and offered plenty of room for storage,

thanks to one internal and five external

pockets. Our only gripe: The brim of the

large faux fur-lined hood can fall to or

below eye level, making it difficult to see.

BEST PARKA

KÜHL ARKTIK DOWN PARKA

Price: $499 | Insulation: 800-fill down |

Rating: Warmest | Moisture Protection:

Water-resistant coating

There’s a lot to appreciate about the Arktik Down

Parka: A large hood, many pockets, a two-way zip-

per with a draft flap, and internal cuffs with thumb

holes top the list. Kühl also adds some flair with an

attractive cotton-blend shell, high-quality metal

hardware, faux-fur hood brim, and micro-suede

trim, without sacrificing performance. The 800-

fill down insulation kept us plenty warm and is

protected by a water-resistant PU-and-synthetic-

wax coating on the shell. We like the long sleeves

and the double-layer front pockets at the waist.

Secure your phone, keys, or wallet in the top, and

stuff your hands into the side pockets underneath

when the wind picks up. Consider purchasing one

size down, though, as we noticed the Arktik runs

big. Yeah, it’s the most expensive coat here, but

consider this your parka if you want durable capa-

bility blended with style.

BEST PUFFY

PATAGONIA MACRO PUFF

Price: $200 | Insulation: 90- and 135-

gram synthetic | Rating: Warmer |

Moisture Protection: DWR coating

This Patagonia puffy has fewer baffles

and higher loft than the brand’s popu-

lar Micro Puff coats. (Still, that doesn’t

mean the design makes you look like a

human marshmallow.) We found that

the Macro Puff hugs the body without

restricting movement, has a high neck,

and blocks chill-inducing winds very

well. The recycled-nylon shell houses

PlumaFill, a polyester insulation cre-

ated with ultrafine filaments wrapped

around stabilizing core fibers, to keep

you warm. So you won’t overheat, the

side panels and sleeves have 90-gram

PlumaFill, compared to the 135-gram

variety used in the body. Also available

with an attached hood, the Macro

Puff is plenty packable for mild days

when you just want to bring it along

as insurance.

November/December 2020 77

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