Gear Review: Montbell Permafrost Light Down Parka

You can never have enough puffy coats, and the Montbell Permafrost Light Down Parka is the real deal. It’s meant to be worn in extremely cold temperatures and rowdy winter weather while keeping you warm and dry every step of the way.

Montbell Permafrost Light Down Parka Women’s

At-a-Glance

MSRP: $279
Weight: 13.8 oz. (391 g)
Material: 30-denier Ballistic ripstop nylon shell, 20-denier nylon taffeta lining
Fill weight 3.3 ounces, 800-fill
Color: Dark navy

Overview

This parka is the lightweight version of the Permafrost Parka. It has sewn-through construction to reduce weight and Gore-Tex Windstopper fabrics; this compressible, breathable, weather resistant, and windproof parka is perfect for backcountry adventures in cold weather. Note that it is not completely waterproof.

Circumstance of Use

I wore this jacket on multiple day hikes in New Hampshire. Winter came early in the Whites, and a fresh blanket of snow has made its way onto the higher peaks. It has gotten real cold, real fast. The temperatures dropped to the mid 20s during some points. Throw in the wind chill and it made for a frigid early-winter hike.

Features

Two-way adjustable hood: The hood stays snug on my head, even in windy conditions. It is super warm and thick, and kept my head dry and warm during the duration of my hikes.

Two zippered hand pockets: I like that the pockets have zippers so that nothing can fall out of them accidentally. The pockets are spacious and perfect to hold car keys, cell phone, etc.

Staff sack included: The jacket came with a stuff sack. It’s super soft, and has tons of space to carry any extra items while backpacking or hiking. I usually like to keep any Advil, chargers, batteries, etc., in there, and it has an easy to open drawstring to open and close the top.

Pros

Warmth: This jacket is SO warm. It’s basically a puffy blanket made into a jacket to wear. I feel toasty warm from the moment I put it on my body. It’s the perfect jacket to wear during the colder months.

Hood: The hood is thick and warm and stays secured on my head even when I’m hiking through wind. You can also tighten the hood to make sure it’s tight on your head and won’t fall off.

Color and style: I love the dark navy color. I’m not huge on flashy and bright jackets, so this is the best alternative to black. I love the color it came in.

Dries quickly: This jacket dries extremely fast and it does an excellent job to repel water from getting in. I wore it while it was raining and I stayed completely dry the entire time!

Cons

Bulky. This is definitely a winter jacket. It’s made to be worn in an extremely cold climate, preferably during the dead of winter. I intend to wear this parka for the rest of this winter. When I first put it on, it did feel a bit bulky and maybe too puffy for my usual taste, but sometimes you have to sacrifice style for warmth.

Overall

I’d recommend buying this jacket for your next winter coat. I’m super excited to continue using it for the remainder of the winter hiking season. I am fully convinced that it will have no issue maintaining its warmth and comfort. It gets a five star rating from me!

Shop the Permafrost Jacket Here