10 Winter Parkas That'll Keep You Feeling Warm—and Looking Cool

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Here in New York City, the cold front of winter—real winter—is moving in fast. This means that, for me, the window to ditch my tees and light jackets and replace them with heavier, more waterproof pieces was very narrow; parka season arrived before I even had time to prepare.

And, yes, I do say "parka season" as opposed to "coat season" or "puffer season," because when the weather is this cold and wet and windy, a parka is a necessity. The insulation, length, and hoods of parkas set them apart from jackets which might be fashionable enough for winter, but certainly not functional enough. A parka, on the other hand, is hard to go wrong with, if it's A) under 45 degrees, B) wet and/or windy, C) generally miserable outside, or D) all of the above.

So as we veer into January and the threat of a feisty winter becomes a Jon Snow-level reality rather than a Ned Stark-level fantasy, hang up your lightweight jackets and your impractical coats, and pull out your parkas. These are styles that our editors have tried, tested, and loved over the years, so if you—like me—have procrastinated before getting one and need a new pick ASAP, you're in luck; 10 of the best men's winter parkas, from brands like The North Face, L.L.Bean, and Arc'teryx, are below.

Maine Warden's 3-in-1 Parka with Gore-Tex

The cold is no match for this Gore-Tex parka, which has cold-blocking fabric and a warm hood. Not only does it have a long-line fit for all-over protection, but it's for a good cause, too—L.L. Bean contributes $2 of each parka sale to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Arctic Cloth Heavyweight Performance Parka

Tommy Hilfiger has the ultimate go-to parka, where ultra-warm tech merges with a classic silhouette. This is outfitted with all the winter essentials to keep you toasty as can be: a faux-fur hood, rib knit cuffs, a zipper and button combo, and a long fit.

Faux Fur Trim Hooded Parka Jacket

Elegant and chic, this Guess parka is best paired with a teeny tiny cup of espresso, preferably in a fancy ski lodge. If you don't have all that on hand, though, fear not—it pairs perfectly well with any gloomy old winter day, too.

McMurdo Parka

It wouldn't be a winter-weather story without mentioning a staple in the cold-climate industry, would it? The longest coat in length by The North Face, this parka has it all: a fur hood, 600-fill recycled down with puffer insulation on the inside, and protection against all the winter elements.

Alpha Parka

The crew at Arc'teryx are masters of warmth and durability—so this parka will last you for years to come. In addition to a zip front that goes allll the way up to your chin, this parka's got Gore-Tex weather protection, a zippered chest pocket, and a lightweight, sleek feel.

The ReNew Long Parka

For a longer parka at a lower price point, Everlane has you covered (from rain, wind, cold, and snow, that is). Unlike most parkas, this one has adjustable drawstring cords for the hood, so you can truly tailor it to your preferences. And if that wasn't enough, the four front pockets are roomy enough for all your things.

Italian Short Tech Down Parka

Duck down and polyfill take this puffer parka to the next level. So does the removable drawcord hood, the drawcord hem, the Velcro cuff tags, and the chic, Italian style

Marquam Peak Fusion Omni-Heat Infinity Insulated Parka

With water-repellent tech and a hood, this parka is perfect for all of winter's outdoor activities. There's a fit for everyone, with sizes in Standard, Big, and Tall, and with Omni-Heat insulation and a thermal-reflective pattern designed to retain body heat, it really is suitable for anything.

Langford Hooded Parka

Canada Goose might be pricey, but the brand's parkas are a surefire investment that never lose style. They have a lot of options, too, but for a straightforward, timeless parka, this one is our fave, thanks to its attached hood, lined chin guard, fleece-lined pockets, and internally adjustable waist.

Heritage Men's Parka

Large pockets, duck down, a sympatex membrane, and a (removable) coyote fur-trimmed hood make this a parka worth keeping in your winter rotation.

Tips For Choosing

Parkas don't exactly come cheap, so when you're choosing your go-to winter style, you want to make sure you're getting the perfect one.

Style preferences vary, but the parkas you like aesthetically should definitely come equipped with proper protection to keep you warm during the coldest months of the year. Check out the insulation on each parka—the higher the fill number, the higher quality the down is.

Don't forget to keep your own preferences in mind, too, when it comes to fit and features. A removable hood might not be for everyone, same as a fur-trimmed hood might not be, either. Length is important, especially if you know you get cold legs and want full-body protection. And lastly, for goodness' sake, check out the pocket situation before you buy—the last thing you want is a half-empty tote bag sliding down your shoulder all season long because your bare minimum essentials couldn't fit in your parka.

Why You Can Trust Esquire

We’re not about writing how great things are if they aren’t actually great. Every product in Esquire’s round-ups are carefully curated by our fashion and e-commerce teams.

When it comes to parkas, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting styles that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved, along with styles that the rest of our stylish colleagues here at Esquire endorse. We live in a city where it's pretty damn cold in winter, and style is always of the utmost importance, so we've had to go through a lot of trial and error, and these parkas are the ones that are simply the best.

Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of wearing different things, seeing what we love and what we don’t, and going from there. No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you’re looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who and care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.

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