Best winter parkas for cold weather

Top pick: The North Face McMurdo Parka. It's the classic cold-weather answer — 600-fill down in a waterproof DryVent shell, hip length, and a hood that stands up to wind. Warm enough for real winter without the bulk of an expedition coat.

Who the others suit:

• Patagonia Stormshadow — the wettest, nastiest days: GORE-TEX shell, 700-fill recycled down, lighter than the McMurdo.
• Fjällräven Expedition Long Down — deep cold and long coverage; a women's cut, best for standing around in serious chill.
• Fjällräven Nuuk — heavy synthetic fill and a high water column, so it keeps working when wet.
• Mountain Hardwear Nevadan — a lighter, packable down option for milder cold or travel.
• Arc'teryx Therme SV — top-tier weather protection if you want the most premium shell.
• Finisterre Vellus — modest warmth, so better for damp coastal winters than hard freezes.

Skip the cheap fashion puffers and kids' coats here — they're not built for severe cold.