ALPINE NORTH Laurentian Women’s Vegan Down Long Parka Jacket with Faux Fur Hood

I have used this jacket for two winters now and it looks just like it did when it arrived. I'm the volunteer caretaker of an eight-acre cemetery in Ohio, so I work every day, including during the winter. This jacket has seen me through snow-shoveling, tree planting and pruning, lots of bending while collecting downed tree limbs, and many winter gardening tasks. As a vegetarian for 40 years now, I am always thrilled to find vegan clothing options.I should have purchased a medium, but I bought a large. I am 5'3 and weigh 128 lbs. and the size chart indicated I needed a medium. I didn't know how INCREDIBLY WARM the parka would be and I thought I would be putting a couple of layers under it so I bought a large. It turns out I usually wear a tank top or a t-shirt under the parka on the coldest of days and I am never cold in it. Even though it is too large on me, drafts don't get in. Please go by the size charts and don't buy larger than necessary thinking you'll need layers underneath because you won't, at least not in most areas of the country.I love the abundance of pockets and the combination of a zipper and snaps. You can snap this baby clear up to your chin if you want. The cuffs don't admit any cold air since there are knit fabric cuffs under the sleeve cuffs. I nearly always wear a slouch beanie to keep my head warm, but it's nice to have the option of the hood on windy days.I have washed the parka four times now, despite the fact that the tag says "dry clean." I wash it on the delicate cycle and put it in the dryer on "air dry" for about 30 minutes to insure its poofiness, then let it hang to finish drying. It still looks brand new. I bought it in black and the color has never run. The pictures in my review are of the parka after the fourth washing. The faux fur comes out beautifully after the air dry cycle on the dryer. There is virtually no lint in the dryer on the air dry setting, so don't worry that you'll mess up the faux fur by washing the parka.If you wash it like I do, there is no need to dry clean it. The main reason I have washed it as often as I have is because 3 of my 5 cats consider this parka the best bed ever, so it serves that function if I toss it on a chair when I get home rather than hang it up. :)I am delighted with this wonderfully made parka and imagine it will last me for many, many years to come.

I have become a complete and total nerd over this coat. It is warm, comfortable, and beautiful. The quality is incredible. It’s made in Canada so you know they know what they are doing. It is not down, so I am not allergic to it. The length is perfect for keeping warm without being restrictive. The hood is amazing- big enough to go over a hat comfortably, keeps wind away from your face, and looks cute. Good price for the quality. I’m going to start a fan club for this dreamy coat.

This is an extremely sturdy, very warm coat. The length was exactly what I was looking for and the extra-large hood is very stylish. I only wish the pockets were a bit deeper. This coat has only two fairly shallow flap pockets without a zipper and there are no side slash pockets. There are zippers on the sleeves to make room for a sweater underneath, and other elevated details, so it's odd to me they skimped on the pockets. Otherwise I'm very pleased. The coat is super warm and comfortable.ETA - upgrading to 5 stars. Now that it's freezing cold in NYC, this coat is a rock star. It's warm, perfect fit, comfortable, and the hood is worth ten stars. And, it looks great. So glad I have it.

Warm. Great length. Nice color. Too big. Awful hood. Weirdly located chest pockets (hand warmers or boob holders?) Had to return, especially considering the price.

Very warm without being too bulky. Love the longer length. The hood is actually my favorite part, it is as thick as the rest of the coat and keeps my head and face protected from the bitter wind. Love the cuffed sleeves with thumb holes! Washes well, color has not faded, lots of storage pockets and good quality zippers.Perfect for the sub zero MN winter.

I chose this parka for a cruelty-free alternative to down parkas. I found Alpine North after doing a google search and spent a couple of days deciding whether or not I wanted to make the purchase. But after receiving and wearing this product, I'm so happy I did. I was used to buying from the Northface and had concerns that a non-down parka wouldn't be as warm. This one is just as warm if not warmer than my old Northface. I ordered the "grape" color in a medium. Normally I'm a small but I wanted something to fit over my big sweaters in the winter. Grape was kind of a departure from my normal style, as I normally choose neutral or black colors for coats, but if you're considering this color, I'd say go for it. I love it. It's not too purple. It's kind of a maroon/wine colored purple. So different than white, black or olive that I'd normally go for. I actually got a compliment on the color of the coat the first couple of days that I wore it. As for size, I'm about 5'2 and the Medium hits below my knees right at my calves. It fits over my heaviest sweaters with room for my arms and doesn't feel too tight. I really like the thumbholes for my hands. And finally the price is great! I spend over $300 on my last Northface parka and it ripped under the arm not too long after I purchased it. This coat was $120 and it feels like it's thicker and higher quality than my old Northface parka. The only two detractors for me: 1- You can't remove the fur trim on the hood, it's permanently attached. 2- And there is no cinchabilty to the waist area of the coat. It goes straight down. If you're looking for some sort of shape, the cut of this parka may not be for you. But, for me the cruelty-free "down", the color, warmth, and price made this a great purchase.