Arc’teryx Patera Parka: review of my favorite winter coat

When Arc'teryx contacted me to see if I wanted to test their Arc'teryx Patera Parka, I was thrilled. Arc'teryx has a reputation for creating high-quality gear and being someone who's cold super easily, I was curious to see how this winter jacket would perform.

Especially when I saw the price.

It differs depending on the country you get it from, but you easily pay 640 USD or 560 EUR and up for the Arc'teryx Patera Parka. Would this jacket be worth that money?

I wanted to be sure, and so I tested it for an entire winter, wearing it in many different situations and environments. I even took it on a 7-day road trip through Iceland in February.

I wore this Arc'teryx jacket in downpours, facing heavy winds, hiking in the Belgian Ardennes, and on city explorations. Here's what I think of it.

 

Arc'teryx Patera Parka review

Technical specifications

The Arc'teryx Patera Parka is made to be a thermally efficient winter jacket, with P75d GORE-TEX fabric using 2L technology. Specific areas of the parka are targeted for added insulation using Down Contour Construction and Down Composite Mapping technologies.

The core of this Arc'teryx winter jacket is filled with 750 fill power European goose down and the hem, collar, sleeves, and under-arm are strategically insulated with Coreloft 100 insulation.

The parka weighs 2.17 pounds or 985 grams, making it lightweight in comparison with other warm winter coats.
 

Features and performance

Arc'teryx jacket sizing and fit

The Arc'teryx Patera Parka is true to its size and fits elegantly over the shoulders and hips. It has long sleeves, is knee-length, and has a regular fit. A full-length zipper allows for extra mobility.

This Arc'teryx down parka is available in sizes starting from XS to XL. The Arc'teryx sizing chart helps in selecting the perfect size.
 

Pockets

The Arc'teryx Patera Parka has three pockets in total. The outer two pockets on each side are lined with fleece and provide a soft feel. These are insulated hand pockets with a zipper that keep your hands warm and are good to keep a tissue or your phone in.

One inner security pocket on the left is made for holding mobile phones or passports and can be closed with a zipper.

The zippers that are used are of high quality and are water-tight.
 

Durability

The Arc’teryx Patera Parka is made of durable polyester, is water-proof and wind-proof, and holds its own when worn daily, whether that's around town or when visiting Iceland in the midst of winter.

Made out of GORE-TEX fabric, it is lightweight and machine washable. As it is water-proof, the exterior can easily be cleaned using a damp cloth.

The quality of down feathers used is premium and provides adequate warmth, making it an all-around winter coat. The parka does not leak or shows wear-tear after a few washes and holds up to its standards. It’s sleek fit, warmth, and comfortability makes it a low-maintenance, long-term, durable coat.
 

How warm, wind- and waterproof is it?

Strategic placement of the goose down and the Coreloft synthetic insulation ensures that the Arc’teryx Patera Parka provides warmth in all the right places. Thanks to its length, your hips and thighs stay warm too.

The breathability of the Arc'teryx Patera insulated parka helps in regulating the temperature inside the coat. When you step from the cold inside, you won't suddenly start sweating. Likewise, whatever heat your body has from being inside stays well maintained within the coat once you put it on to go out.

This jacket is also truly wind- and waterproof. I was able to test that thoroughly when I wore it in Iceland in winter.

No matter how hard the downpour, the rain never makes its way into the fabric of this coat but stays nicely on top of it. In Iceland, my dad also wore a special outdoor coat but his did absorb the rain a bit and as a result, my Patera Parka was dry again much more quickly than his coat.

Washing the jacket hasn't diminished the effect of the DWR (durable water repellent) coating.

The jacket also offers great protection against the wind, even when the gusts are so strong you have trouble moving forward (Iceland again). The full sleeves, chin guard, lined collar and insulated hood provide full-coverage protection.

The two-way full-length zipper goes all the way up to the neck, making it unnecessary to wear a scarf. A flap covers the zip with button closures and provides extra protection from strong winds.
 

Comfort

The entire interior of the Arc’teryx Patera parka is soft and smooth. Filled with high-quality down, the parka does not feel heavy and is very comfortable.

In fact, I was a bit worried at first that it wouldn't be warm enough because it's so thin but as you could read above, the Patera Parka is the warmest coat I've owned so far.

The minimal bulk under the arms, on the sided and over the shoulders adds to the comfort.

The hood has adjustable drawcords that can allow you to fine-tune how it sits on your head.

Despite its slimming look, the coat leaves enough room to add interior layers. I'm a size small and I have a small in this coat, but I was still able to comfortably wear two fleece layers, a t-shirt, a long-sleeved mid-layer and a top underneath it when we were in Iceland. Yes, I get cold easily :-)

A benefit of the mid-length of the parka is that it keeps you warm while still providing ample space when you move or sit. Shorter coats won't provide as much warmth whereas full-length coasts often restrict your movements quite a bit.
 

Style

The Arc’teryx Patera Parka is sleek and slim-fitting. It complements the body shape very beautifully because it's slightly centered around the midsection without being restrictive.

Another plus is that it looks great regardless of whether it’s worn open or zipped down.

The look of the coat is minimalist and sophisticated without any big logos or decorative details. It's available in several stylish colors that complement its classic shape. This is a high-tech jacket that doesn't look like it at all – which I think is a massive plus.

So many outdoor jackets look like it and you often don't want to wear them in an urban environment. That's not the case with the Patera Parka. It's a good fit for any situation, whether that be a winter hike or a walk around the city.
 

The price

You haven't seen me say anything negative about this coat and honestly, there isn't anything about this coat I don't like… aside from its price. In Belgium, it costs 700 EUR but I have noticed that it's sometimes cheaper in other countries. In the US, it “only” costs 649 USD which is about 576 EUR.

Now is Arc'teryx worth the money? It depends.

I think it's definitely worth it if you are someone who

• is outdoors a lot in winter
• lives in a very cold place
• is easily cold
• doesn't want to buy a new winter coat every year

It might not be worth it if

• you're warm all the time, even in winter
• you spend winter somewhere warm and rarely travel to cold destinations
• you prefer having several coats to switch things up, rather than to invest in one good one

But even then, I think this coat is a good investment as it has such a classic look that it will last you a lifetime without going utterly out of fashion. Unless you gain or lose a lot of weight, obviously.

That's also why I choose the black version. Well, I kind of almost always choose black when it's an option, but by picking black I also knew that it would always go with whatever I was wearing. Last winter, I wore my Patera Parka all the time, for every occasion, with every outfit.

If you want a stylish, high-quality, nice and warm, wind- and waterproof jacket as well, you can get it here.
 

The verdict

While I realize its price is high, that's also the only negative point about the Patera Parka. It's warm, truly wind- and waterproof, comfortable, and looks good. I know I'll be wearing it for years to come.
 

And that's it for this review! Don't hesitate to let me know should you have any questions.
 

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I received a Patera Parka from Arc'teryx for review purposes.