REASONS TO BUY
Removable hood
Adjustable bungee waist
Fleece-lined pocket
REASONS TO AVOID
Runs large
Cold shoulders
Some feather lose
Shiny sheen exterior (Matte Sheen)
The North Face Acropolis - Women's Review
A long length parka that kept us warm when temperatures hit near freezing
Credit: Backcountry
Our Verdict
The North Face Acropolis Parka is sleek, simple, and sophisticated. Reaching just above the knee and insulated with 550 fill down the length of the jacket helped keep us warm on some seriously chilly days . Water-resistant, but not waterproof, this jacket is intended for cold weather, not wet weather.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
Insulated with 550 fill goose down, the Acropolis parka was warm and cozy. It did run a bit large, but we were able to fit a sweater underneath. If you want a more form-fitting jacket, consider ordering a size down.
Credit: Sierra Purcell
Warmth
Insulated with 550 fill down we stay warm when temperatures hit near freezing, but once they went below that we started to feel cold. When testing this jacket we did notice that it runs a bit big and allowed some cold air in at the bottom. There is an adjustable internal bungee waist that helped with a tighter fit - which helped with keeping us warmer.
There are internal cuffs on the sleeves that did a great job keeping out cold air and moisture. This small but practical feature makes all the difference in cold weather.
Credit: Sierra Purcell
The hood is detachable and is insulated with a good amount of down. There is enough room to wear a beanie on days that are extra cold. The pockets are lined with fleece on both sides. This small feature actually played a big role in keeping us extra-warm. One spot that lacked enough down insulation was the shoulders. We noticed during testing that our shoulders were noticeably colder than the rest of our body. The sleeves have internal cuffs that did a great job of keeping cold air out and trapping warm air in.
We were warm when wearing the Acropolis, but after an extended period of time outside we felt cold in the shoulders. There was less down in the shoulders than the rest of the jacket.
Credit: Sierra Purcell
Weather Resistance
Water-resistant, but not waterproof the Acropolis outer shell has DWR finish. When we tested it in rain and snow water initially beaded up and rolled off but after an extended period of time the jacket became saturated.
Style
The Acropolis has a simple look that makes it easy to dress up or down depending on what you look you are going for. We tested the black matte shine and there isn't anything about this jacket that is matte - keep that in mind if you are interested in this color. There are 5 colors to choose from - Ashen Purple, Medium Grey Heather, Vintage White, Black, and Black Matte Sheen. The pleated baffling on the outside gives the jacket a nice appearance.
There is an internal bungee waist which helps give the jacket a more of a tailored look, and we are glad that it's included because the jacket does run big and has almost a baggy look to it. The adjustable waist helps with that, but it also makes the jacket fan out at the bottom. The North Face Outer Boroughs has a very nice cinched waist on the exterior and is more form-fitting. If you like the look of the Acropolis Parka, but want more of a form-fitting parka, check out the Arc'teryx Seyla, the Patagonia Down With It Parka, The North Face Metropolis Parka II, or the Marmot Montreaux.
Comfort
Not overloaded with lofty down, the Acropolis Parka is insulated with the right amount of down that makes it comfortable to run errands in or take the dog for a walk. There is micro-fleece lining the pockets. The pockets were also deep and with the microfleece, it feels quite pleasant to slide our hands into on days that were extra cold.
There are two exterior pockets lined with micro-fleece. It's nice to be able to slide your hand into a soft warm pocket as opposed a pocket with just nylon or polyester.
Credit: Sierra Purcell
Features
There aren't many stand out features on the Acropolis Parka, but the features we do like to see on a winter jacket are present. The hood is detachable and adjustable. The hood is also oversized and has a cocoon brim. We found the hood to be extremely comfortable and warm. There is also enough room to wear a beanie. The sleeves have internal cuffs that prevent cold air from entering. This is a simple, but an awesome feature that we love to see included in winter jackets.
The hood is removable and adjustable but is quite large. Wearing a beanie underneath allowed for a tighter fit. It has an ample amount of down and did a great job of keeping us warm.
Credit: Sierra Purcell
There are two exterior pockets that are both lined with fleece. The pockets have a weird shape to them and are very tall at the top but shallow at the bottom. This is something we believe won't bother people, but it's worth mentioning. There is one internal zipper pocket, perfect for securing valuables. There is a double-sided zipper that allows access from both ends.
One stand out feature would have to be the long length. Reaching all the way to our knee this is one of the longest parkas we tested.
The Acropolis Parka reached all the way to our knee and was one of the longest parkas we tested. Despite this, the bell shape at the bottom of the jacket allowed cold air to enter.
Credit: Sierra Purcell
Durability
Over the two months that we tested the Acropolis, we did notice some feathers escaping at the seams, but it wasn't an alarming amount. We would like to mention that the exterior material is made of nylon and isn't as heavy-duty and durable as some of the other jackets we tested. Even though we didn't have any problems with the exterior stitching ripping or snagging, we would like to mention that there is a lot of it.
Value
The Acropolis Parka lands in the middle in terms of price. You are getting a warm winter jacket that will last more than one season, but keep in mind it's not waterproof. Intended for cold weather, but not super wet weather.
Conclusion
Overall after two months of testing The North Face Acropolis Parka, we found it to be a solid winter jacket that kept us warm when temperatures hit near freezing. It wasn't as warm as our Best Buy Award Winner, but it was close behind. Keep in mind that this jacket runs a bit large. You may want to consider ordering a size smaller if you don't plan on wearing any bulky layers underneath.
—
Liz Williamson
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