Rant: Spent $200 on a winter coat from that fancy outdoor store and it's garbage for actual Edmonton cold

I mean everyone raves about Canada Goose but I dropped $200 on a North Face parka last November and by December the zipper was sticking and the wind cut right through. Anyone else find that expensive 'rated' gear just doesn't hold up here?

2 comments

2 Comments

brookerobinson1mo ago

My buddy spent like $400 on a Patagonia jacket two years ago and the first time he wore it in -30 the hood wouldn't cinch tight enough so the wind just went straight down his neck. He tried to return it and they gave him some store credit but it was a whole ordeal. I've had better luck with those cheap Carhartt jackets from Mark's honestly, they might not look as cool but they're basically built like a brick wall. Last winter I wore a $80 one from there every day and it handled everything we got. Maybe it's just me but I feel like all these outdoor brands are just marketing hype and not actually tested here.

gavincampbell1mo ago

Got a Carhartt from Mark's for like $90 three winters ago and it's still going strong. The trick is you gotta layer underneath anyway, no single jacket does it all in -40 windchill. Those fancy brands are designed for people who walk from their car to the office in Toronto, not for standing at a bus stop here. Save your money, buy the workwear stuff, and spend the leftover on a good base layer.