The North Face Gotham Parka - Women's Review

Hands-On Review

It comes in five colors: Urban Navy, Graphite Grey Heather, Forest Night Green, Juniper Teal, and TNF Black.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

This form-fitting jacket does a great job at keeping heat in and cold air out. The mid-thigh length makes the jacket more functional, but decreases its warmth compared to a knee-length parka like the Marmot Chelsea Down or the Arc'teryx Patera Parka. While our core stayed warm in this model, when out in high winds or stormy conditions we could feel the difference from the lack of coverage. The 550-fill-power goose down is evenly distributed throughout the jacket, but is not as lofty or warm as the Marmot Montreaux with its 700-fill-power down. The hood on the Gotham is filled with down though, which helped keep our heads warmer than the un-insulated hood that is on the Patagonia Tres Down Parka.

Weather Resistance

The shell is made of 100% nylon that is coated with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish. While water initially beads up and rolls off the shell, it is not fully waterproof like the Patagonia Tres Down Parka or Arc'teryx Patera Parka. The elastic cuffs on the sleeves helped keep precipitation out and heat in, and the adjustable cord around the hood lets you get a tighter fit in bad weather. This jacket doesn't have a weather flap across the main zipper which allows cold air to leak through in windy conditions; the Mountain Hardwear ZeroGrand Metro Coat and The North Face Arctic Down Parka both did a better job of blocking the wind than this model.

Style

We liked the style of this jacket. It is form-fitting and not bulky, and the nylon fabric has a satin look to it that works well with the five color options. It's classy enough to wear in the city, but functional enough for the mountains.

Comfort

This jacket fits like a glove and scored high in the comfort category. The down insulation is comfortable and not overly bulky, which allowed us to be active in the jacket without feeling weighed down. It has cozy fleece-lined pockets and the insulated hood kept us warm and protected.

Features

The stand-out feature on this jacket is the elastic waist, which makes it form-fitting and feminine looking. This is something that other models, like the Columbia Snow Eclipse Mid Jacket - Women's lacked, leaving them boxy-looking and not as flattering. The exterior fleece-lined pockets with zippers are a nice feature, as is the interior fleece-lined media pocket. A full two-way zipper allows access and ventilation from either end, which is a nice feature for better mobility. Though the hood isn't detachable there is an adjustable cord, which came in handy in stormy conditions.

Durability

We had a few issues with the zippers on this jacket. While it is hard to find a zipper that works perfectly, the ones on this model were particularly finicky. The full length two-way zipper has to be lined up perfectly or it won't zip up properly. The exterior pockets have a curved shape and the zippers are small, which makes them snag frequently. Snags can rip the material and also put the teeth out of the zipper, so be careful when using these pockets and open and close them slowly.

Best Applications

This parka is a good choice for someone living in a milder climate where winters are cold but not freezing, and not very wet either. It's lightweight and functional, and it is perfect for an active lifestyle, from commuting to work, running errands or walking the dog.

Value

With a price tag of $249, this jacket is one of the least expensive models we tested. While it isn't waterproof, it's a good choice for a basic all-around winter jacket that delivers warmth, style and simplicity.

Conclusion