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Finding the right parka is essential for beating the winter wet and cold. Don't spend another winter shivering and miserable, when you can embrace it from the comfort of your warm, dry parka.
A wet snow is falling. The wind is howling. And you have to shovel the driveway, or walk to the library, or wait at the bus stop. Are you destined to be miserably damp and cold? Not if you're wearing a parka!
Don't have a parka? You've got time to shop before the weather gets truly heinous. We typically see great deals from L.L.Bean, REI, and Backcountry on a wide variety of parkas. Such multi-layered jackets or coats designed are designed to keep the snow, wind, and cold in extreme weather. You can find parkas made for every type of weather from a cool San Francisco fog to Antarctic conditions, and the prices vary just that widely, too. We took a look at a variety of jackets from quality manufacturers to show you just what to look for in the perfect parka.
The first things to consider when purchasing a park are the types of weather conditions you are likely to face. If you live in a temperate climate, a very basic coat like the Woolrich Men's Mountain Parka ($95.94 with $10.95 s&h, a low by $27) is advisable. It features a shell of DuPont Taslan nylon and a 70% wool liner, and comes with a hood and plenty of cargo pockets. This parka isn't completely waterproof, and the light lining won't extend far down the thermometer, but it's a reasonable price for a cool weather parka.
If you live in a region where temperature doesn't often dip down into single digits but wet snow can be expected, like along the Carolina coast, you probably don't need a great deal of insulation, but waterproofing is crucial. The London Fog Men's Chester Microfiber Parka ($109.99 with $8.95 s&h, a low by $9) comes with a lightweight zip-out liner and detachable faux fur collar inside a shell of rain-resistant bonded microfiber. This parka also has ample pockets to protect your electronics from the elements.
Speaking of zip-outs, many popular parkas are designed with layering in mind. A quality parka can be separated into three pieces of clothing: the parka, the zip-out jacket, and the outer shell. These modular coats are particularly useful in fall and spring when the weather patterns can be unpredictable. A great modular option is the Columbia Sportswear 3-in-1 Sleet to Street Interchange Parka ($169.95 with free shipping, a low by $1). Its shell is waterproof, making for a fine raincoat and the zip-out jacket is made of fleece, a snuggly option on a cool fall morning. The Bugaboo has several other features you might look for in a parka: taped seams to keep water and wind from finding a way in; zippered pockets; and snap cuffs that allow you to seal in warmth.
There are also parkas for the fashion conscious. The Patagonia Women's Down With It Parka ($239.95 with free shipping, a low by $60) is a knee-length quilted coat with a slim cut that's made from recycled fibers. This jacket also features the best insulator: goose down.
As you shop for a parka, you'll find that there are a variety of insulating materials available, which can be broken down into four types:
How these insulating materials are sewn into a jacket also determines how well they work. A cold spot in the parka is created when inner and outer shells come into contact via stitching. A two-walled construction prevents this; the inner and outer shells are held apart by baffles filled with down or synthetic fill.
If you live in a place that truly takes the worst punches from Old Man Winter — say North Dakota or Alaska — you'll really want to dress for success against winter's onslaughts. Take a look at a parka like The North Face's Men's McMurdo Down Parka ($329.95 with free shipping, a low by $60). This ultimate parka boasts:
Before you know it, the wind and snow will be upon us. Don't spend another winter shivering and miserable, when you can embrace it from the comfort of your warm, dry parka.
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Tom Barlow is a contributing writer for Dealnews.com, where this article first appeared.
Original story: http://dealnews.com/features/How-to-Pick-the-Perfect-Parka/512328.html
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About a year ago, I happened upon this statement about the Monitor in the Harvard Business Review – under the charming heading of “do things that don’t interest you”:
“Many things that end up” being meaningful, writes social scientist Joseph Grenny, “have come from conference workshops, articles, or online videos that began as a chore and ended with an insight. My work in Kenya, for example, was heavily influenced by a Christian Science Monitor article I had forced myself to read 10 years earlier. Sometimes, we call things ‘boring’ simply because they lie outside the box we are currently in.”
If you were to come up with a punchline to a joke about the Monitor, that would probably be it. We’re seen as being global, fair, insightful, and perhaps a bit too earnest. We’re the bran muffin of journalism.
But you know what? We change lives. And I’m going to argue that we change lives precisely because we force open that too-small box that most human beings think they live in.
The Monitor is a peculiar little publication that’s hard for the world to figure out. We’re run by a church, but we’re not only for church members and we’re not about converting people. We’re known as being fair even as the world becomes as polarized as at any time since the newspaper’s founding in 1908.
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A selection of the most viewed stories this week on the Monitor's website.
Hear about special editorial projects, new product information, and upcoming events.
Select stories from the Monitor that empower and uplift.
An update on major political events, candidates, and parties twice a week.
Stay informed about the latest scientific discoveries & breakthroughs.
A weekly digest of Monitor views and insightful commentary on major events.
Latest book reviews, author interviews, and reading trends.
A weekly update on music, movies, cultural trends, and education solutions.
The three most recent Christian Science articles with a spiritual perspective.
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