Every winter there’s a week where your fall jacket stops pretending it can handle the weather. This coat is for that week, and the twelve after it.
Today’s shop spotlight is a The North Face Women’s Arctic Parka in Khaki / Tan, size XL, new with tags, for $308. The North Face lists the current version of the Women’s Arctic Parka at $350 to $400 on its own site. Here’s where the coat comes from, what it’s built to do, how to wear it, and what to check before you buy any parka secondhand.
From climbing gear to the coat on every school pickup line
The North Face started in San Francisco selling rock climbing and camping equipment, according to its company history. The logo on the chest of this parka is a nod to Half Dome, the granite rock face in Yosemite National Park. By the late nineties the brand had moved well past climbers, and today you see that logo in ski lodges, city sidewalks and carpool lanes alike.
The Arctic Parka is the brand’s take on an everyday winter coat. It isn’t a technical summit jacket. It’s the long, warm, waterproof coat you wear to work, to the bus stop and to a Friday night football game when the wind picks up in the fourth quarter.
What this parka is built to do
From the listing and the tag, here’s what you get with this one:
- A waterproof, breathable shell: The North Face DryVent 2L fabric keeps rain and wet snow out while letting body heat escape, so you don’t end up clammy on a long walk.
- Thigh length: it covers your hips and the tops of your legs, which is the difference between cold and comfortable when you’re standing still outside.
- An adjustable hood with removable faux-fur trim: wear the trim when it’s snowing, zip it off when you want a cleaner look.
- Secure zippered pockets and rib-knit cuffs: your phone and keys stay put, and the cuffs keep wind from running up your sleeves.
The style code on this coat is NF0A4R2V, the earlier version of the Arctic Parka. The North Face’s current model on its site uses a newer style code, so if you’re comparing specs online, match the code to the version you’re looking at.
How to wear a khaki parka
Black parkas are everywhere. Khaki is the color that looks a little more put together without trying, and it goes with almost everything in a winter closet.
- Everyday: dark jeans, a cream or gray sweater, and brown or black boots. The tan coat ties the whole outfit together.
- Work: black pants and a simple knit. A long parka covers a blazer or cardigan completely, so you can walk in warm and take it off at your desk.
- Weekend and game days: leggings, a hoodie and sneakers or snow boots. Pull the hood up with the trim on and you’re set for the bleachers.
Parkas are cut with room for layers, so plan on wearing a sweater or fleece underneath. If you’re building a cold-weather wardrobe on a budget, our fall wardrobe for under $100 post covers the pieces that go under a coat like this.
Buying a parka secondhand: what to check
A good parka is one of the best things to buy resale, because they last for years and the price drop from new is real. Check these before you buy any used or new-with-tags coat:
- The hangtag and inside label: they should match each other on brand, size and style. This coat still has its original hangtag attached, and it shows in the listing photos.
- The logo: The North Face logo should be clean and evenly stitched. Fuzzy edges or crooked letters are a warning sign.
- Every zipper: run the main zip, the pocket zips and the hood zip all the way up and down. Zippers are the most expensive thing to fix on a coat.
- Seams and cuffs: look for loose threads, worn cuffs and pilling under the arms. On used coats, check the inside collar for makeup or wear.
- Fit with layers: try it on over a sweater, raise your arms and give yourself a hug. If the back pulls tight, size up.
Our 7-point condition check walks through the rest. Hitting the slopes this year too? Our guide to used ski clothes covers the snow gear side.
The details
- Item: THE NORTH FACE Women’s Arctic Parka
- Style code: NF0A4R2V
- Size: Women’s XL
- Color: Khaki / Tan
- Condition: New with tags
- Our price: $308 (The North Face lists its current Arctic Parka at $350 to $400 new)
We have one of these, in this one size.
Steal this: Buy your winter coat in October, try it on over a sweater, and run every zipper before you pay.
If you wear a women’s XL, get the North Face Arctic Parka here before the first real cold front. Not your size? Browse the rest of the Frugal Teacher shop, where we keep adding coats, fleece and cold-weather gear all fall.