Is this parka any good?

You get what you pay for. I honestly don't think that'll keep you warm when it's colder than -20 C outside without layering.

Jimboski wrote: ↑You get what you pay for. I honestly don't think that'll keep you warm when it's colder than -20 C outside without layering.

Some people pay just for the styling or the brand name. I really don't care about that. $250 (regular price) is still not cheap for a coat..

TheImp wrote: ↑Some people pay just for the styling or the brand name. I really don't care about that. $250 (regular price) is still not cheap for a coat..

But it's from Sears, everything is literally on sale because they're broke. Pretty sure that the regular price is inflated to make it look like a good deal. There's only one way to know if it's warm enough, to buy it and try it.

If it's 600 power fill down that's decent insulation to keep you warm.

Webhead wrote: ↑If it's 600 power fill down that's decent insulation to keep you warm.

Unfortunately it doesnt say anything about fill power, type of down used, etc. anywhere... typical of lower level coats. And we know fill power alone doesnt determine warmth of a coat. All it refers to is the loft of the down. There are dozen other factors that determine coat warmth.

TheImp wrote: ↑Some people pay just for the styling or the brand name. I really don't care about that. $250 (regular price) is still not cheap for a coat..

True, some brands are marketed purely on branding and marketing alone and are overrated and overpriced. But there's a reason certain brands keep coming up as best warmth for winter outerwear... and you pay a premium for that warmth and quality despite what the badge says, lol. Sears brands are not one of them. Anything below say -15C to -17C you can forget about it. Hell most northface are crap except for the Himalayan parka for warmth (retail $799.99). Their own retail sales staff will tell you that unless you layer up. *welp*

I bought the womans version awhile go, it keeps me toasty...not like I need it at the moment lol but when the Temps went to -1/-2 a couple weeks ago I was super warm.

Lovebugfeb2014 wrote: ↑I bought the womans version awhile go, it keeps me toasty...not like I need it at the moment lol but when the Temps went to -1/-2 a couple weeks ago I was super warm.

any chance you could make a review?
to go here, needs some expanding

I keep seeing it everytime I'm in Sears...I actually tried one on and its pretty thick and quality seems decent for the price you are paying..Didn't buy it as I don't think its going to replace my CG....I would suggest you personally go try it...there were tonnes of them at Town Centre and Fairview....

Lovebugfeb2014 wrote: ↑I bought the womans version awhile go, it keeps me toasty...not like I need it at the moment lol but when the Temps went to -1/-2 a couple weeks ago I was super warm.

That doesnt say much about warmth at only -1C/-2C, lol. I've been wearing a mid layer Eddie Bauer First Ascent 700 fill goose down hoody over the same period. I felt warm and toasty too. Wait till it's -25C or below...

I bought the Sears coat a little while ago. They had a one day sale where the price was too good to pass on.

It's a very nice coat with a lot of features and well priced (when on sale only). Unfortunately the weather here has been so warm that I can't try it out and there's no change in sight and so my opinion is not based on any real life experience actually wearing it. The insulation in it is good to very good but I think there should have been more to make it truly suitable for -20 weather or worse. Insulation is unfortunately the one area where it's easy for manufacturers to cut back on to get costs down. I compared it to my somewhat worn 20 year old London Fog jacket which I value because of it's fairly thick insulation, 80% down 20% feathers. My Fog coat has thicker insulation than the Sears and I've found it to be warm enough for the coldest Winnipeg weather. I don't know where the 600 fill power rating for the Sears coat comes from because they simply don't use it in their write up (at least not any more). Based on my observations I simply don't believe it.

The Sears coat does have some advantages though, such as the nicely elasticized cuffs for keeping the heat in. My Fog coat has regular cuffs and I buy longer gloves that I can tuck in to keep the cold out. The Sears is a full length parka to keep more of my body warm whereas the Fog is shorter. Incidentally I thought the Sears sizing was a little tight in that it didn't seem to allow the extra space needed for layering with sweaters and the like. Or maybe I just need to lose a little weight! Anyway it's something you really need to try out in a store if you're thinking of buying.

i would buy a North Face at that price

dredd2099 wrote: ↑any chance you could make a review?
to go here, needs some expanding

+1

also post front, side and rear profile pics wearing it so rfders can analyze the fit

Jimboski wrote: ↑But it's from Sears, everything is literally on sale because they're broke. Pretty sure that the regular price is inflated to make it look like a good deal. There's only one way to know if it's warm enough, to buy it and try it.

That regular price is what they have been selling the coat for two years now. It regularly goes on sale for $20 off, because it's a department store, so things go on sale for $20 off every other week.

I've tried on the coat. It's very warm and would be fine for Southern Ontario. If you're in a colder part of Canada, you probably now how to dress yourself for the weather by now, so you'll also be fine. The fit is a little boxy though, so don't expect a Canada Goose Chateau silhouette, which the jacket is clearly designed after.

urawomanimamachine wrote: ↑That regular price is what they have been selling the coat for two years now. It regularly goes on sale for $20, because it's a department store, so things go on sale for $20 every other week.

Huh? $20 ???? That's quite a sale. I think I keep missing it!

woof wrote: ↑Huh? $20 ???? That's quite a sale. I think I keep missing it!

I wouldn't take his word for it. Nothing at Sears, even with their business in shambles, goes on sale "regularly" for over 90% off.

50% off is believable, and this jacket looks like a great value at $125 given the specs; worth trying on, at the very least.

Only on Red Flag Deals would someone mistake my error for a $20 jacket sale.

Edit: Not making fun of you zabuza, jumping on a $20 pricing error is pretty typical over at Hot Deals

Had a chance to try a few on at Sears STC. They have tons of them, racks and racks, haha. Here's the thing I was impressed but not impressed at the same time. Impressed becuz the coat is actually not that bad for it's low price range and not impressed if you match it up to the higher priced CG, OSC, etc. The difference in price between the parka and the bomber is only $20... so for those interested u would rather go for the parka than bomber. $249.99 vs $229.99. Besides, the bomber is not constructed well at all and leave you way more chilly than the parka. The down used is something called "duvet down" and they include a small tube sample with each coat. I'm wondering if duvet down is the same type used for duvets and comforters, lol. Hence, the cheap pricing. I'd say the fill power is no more than 300 max, if that. So I'm guessing between 200-300 fill. While I was sweating just wearing a mid-layer EB First Ascent 700 fill down hoody at mall room temperature I felt comfortable in the Sears coat. I'd say it was maybe 3 degrees F above room temp. That's all well and good walking inside but outdoors at temps of -20C and colder I'm pretty sure this jacket would feel quite cool to cold without any layering underneath.


Bomber.
-square cut, does not hug the body at the waist. There is no elastic waist band of the typical bomber.
-no draw string at waist level to keep wind/elements out. So either it hugs your body or it doesnt which sucks (and it would let the cold air underneath)
-only drawstring is at the neck area to adjust the hood.
-very unflattering style, box, straight cut.
-zippers are some brand called CMZ, not ykk. Plasticky metallic feel but does the job.
-no 2 way zippers, single zip
-hoody cannot be removed

Parka
-reminds me of a cheapo version of EB 650 fill superior down parka. VERY similar in style.
-fits like the typical parka, not box cut like the bomber
-cmz double zipper, not ykk
-drawstrings at waist level, at bottom of parka, and a 3rd for adjusting the hood
-fur is faux of course but was surprised at the thickness and heaviness of the faux fur collar. It did feel warm when placed over head, surprised it did a better job than expected.
-velcro adjust strap for the back hood, again similar to EB superior down parka
-cuffs like CG with a slit for thumb like Nobis, though a very poor job in design. Rather than snug your hand and wrist like the higher models it's loose and big, not much of an elastic material at all. Feels like it's for hands/wrist of a 6'2" or 6'4" dude
-instead of the typical snap button zipper flap found on TNF models or velcro flap on brands it uses manual buttons to close the zipper flap. I find that cumbersome esp. for a winter jacket. No one likes fumbling with manual buttons at -20C. I would have preferred magnetic buttons if anything like some Nobis models.. but you pay for what u get.
-hood is not held by zipper but by manual buttons. Terrible design flaw and found it a PITA to undo for hoodless parka or for purpose of cleaning.

Conclusion: You pay for what you get. A fairly well made jacket considering the price. If interested I would wait for a good sale price. Otherwise I would rather buy the Eddie Bauer 650 fill Superior Down Parka which sells for 50% during boxing day. A much better buy at a similar design but much warmer and better built.