Parka London Lara vs. Toast Winter Parka vs. Woolrich Arctic Parka

[Blackcurrantvodka]

After many years of faithful service it seems all my coats and jackets have given up I'm too fat for them now

I'm getting a last season Didriksons parka for general wear/getting mucky in the playground and garden etc. but I'd like a nice, smarter coat for when there's less chance of me getting covered in muddy wellies, tantrum snot and banana fingers.

Does anyone have any of these three parkas?

www.woolrich.eu/on/demandware.store/Sites-WPBAWO-EU-Site/default/Product-Show?pid=WWCPS1446CN02DKN&start=2&cgid=wo_woman

www.parkalondon.com/item/lara-womens-classic-parka-black-285_148.html

www.toa.st/uk/product/womens+coats+and+jackets/c0gcb/winter+parka.htm?categoryref=%2fcategory.aspx%3fcategoryid%3dwomens%2520coats%2520and%2520jackets%26seoterm%3dwomens%2520coats%2520and%2520jackets%26gclid%3dCMeExJ_j0s8CFeEV0wod2JQLYA%26gclsrc%3daw.ds&pcat=womens+coats+and+jackets&adimage=&clr=C0GCB_Navy

I'm very tempted by the Woolrich one but would have to wait until Christmas. The Toast one looks fab but everything I've tried on from Toast in the past has been ridiculously unflattering. I like the idea of the removable liner in the Parka London one but it doesn't look like it goes in at the waist very much.

All comments gratefully received!!!

The Woolrich is incomparible in quality to the other two, it is far superior - and has the price tag to match. It may be too warm for you, their arctic parkas are designed for sub zero US and Canadian winters really, so unless you really, really feel the cold, or do a lot of pitch side match watching, it may be too much. Although not waterproof, it will be the only one with the technical fibres to properly withstand rain, snow and wind.

I have last years Parka London parka, and while I love it, I bought it for looks rather than proper bad weather protection. It's autumn, mild winter warm enough for me, and although it's supposed to be water resistant, I wouldn't trust it for more than a shower. Love it though, and the removable fur liner will give you two coats in one.

I agree about the Toast styling, it was unflattering on me too, although probably next best in quality to the Woolrich. Again, wouldn't trust it's water resistance though, although it felt quite warm to me.

Also worth bearing in mind, the Parka London uses faux fur (although its very good), I think the other two use by-product rabbit fur.

I'd love the Woolrich, but I have a North Face Arctic Parka that is showing no signs of dying after five years use, and recent winters have just been too mild to justify the splurge.

Thanks, some really useful feedback! I do feel the cold a lot more now that I'm older. The Woolrich one is just so beautiful... but I'd have to wait for it to be a Christmas present at that price. I think I'm torn between the look of the Woolrich parka and the two coats in one aspect of the Parka London. I might have to order both to compare...

I've got the PL one. It's definitely not waterproof - needs a big brolly if it's doing any more than drizzling. I do like it a lot though and it's brilliant for dryer Autumn and Winter days. I definitely like that it can have the lining in or out too.

Have you seen the Toast one that is exclusive to John Lewis Toast parka

That Toast one is nice BikeRunSki but I fancy a snuggly collar.

I think you need to order them both so you can see they are two completely different coats, despite both being a parka style. Then decide which suits your lifestyle best.

Personally I see the Parka London one as being on the same "level"as the Didrikson one you say you already have. It's lovely, but its simply a really good "fashion" Parka and offers no real technical advantage in any kind of winter weather, The minute that kicks in, I'm getting my North Face out of storage! For the price, the Woolrich should be less about style and more about whether you actually need all the technical properties and will really get good use from it, now and in years to come. If you do more mucky, playground type stuff on a week by week basis, you'll never use it, but that Didrikson will have been a CPW bargain!

I have a Woolrich coat. It's superb. Be very very careful about buying online as there are fake websites about selling knock off Woolrich and North Face. The website you linked to is I think, the genuine one.

I have found my (2nd) coat to be a little smaller than a previous Woolrich that I owned (or maybe I am fatter ) but also the hood doesn't sit well on my head. If possible, try it on in a store and test out the hood, and the size and the location of the pockets. My 1st Woolrich coat had annoyingly shallow pockets. The 2nd one is much better.

They are seriously warm. I have never been too warm in it as a) I too suffer from the cold and b) I moderate what I wear underneath.

I'm overseas by the way - in a country with cold cold winters. Hence the wearing out of Woolrich coat no. 1!!

Thanks all...I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and order them (in various sizes ). At least Toast & John Lewis do free returns. Returning the Woolrich one looks pricey as I'll need to insure it. I haven't actually ordered the Didriksons one yet so that might be a game changer anyway!

As someone has pointed out in another winter coat thread, the woolrich has real coyote fur, so that may be an issue for your.

Coyote fur would put me off .. so you know how it's sourced ?

This is a link to the Woolrich Fur and Ethical policy - they explain the origins and certifications of their raccoon (from Finland) and coyote (from Canada) fur.

I have the Woolrich one and I absolutely love it, I ebayed quite a few things from my wardrobe to finance it but it was a great investment. Never been too warm in it. It also manages to work for casual wear and more formal stuff, which I don't think many parkas do. The parka London one looks nice but just doesn't compare IMO. And I'm not keen on the styling of the Toast one, particularly the back, I don't think it matches the look of the front, ends up feeling confused between classic traditional casual parka and smarter front.

I'd size up from normal size in woolrich, I am size 8-10 (36" bust) and medium is a good fit.