Are Canada Goose parkas worth the money?

[oldnewbie]

Just this really. I've seen a nice Didrikson in a sale locally, but really like Canada Goose. Are they overkill for the British climate? If so, what can people recommend?

Patagonia and Alpkit both make excellent down jackets with good ethical credentials.

Down jacket warmth is measured in “fill power”. 600-800 is plenty for the UK. That’s the Patagonia “down sweater hoody” and “Fitz Roy” models, and the Alpkit “Filoment” , “Filo” and “Phantac” models.

I have a Didriksons - best jacket I've ever bought! Cosy, completely waterproof and a big hood. Have had it for a few years and I love it. Also have a North Face, think it's the Arctic parka - it's great too, warmer than the Didriksons, so tend to keep it for the really cold days.

Being anti fur makes you a numpty?! I've seen the demonstrations outside Canada Goose on Regent Street and chatted to the protestors. I would never wear fur or down but the methods to trap the coyotes is awful. I would say the biggest pest is mankind.....

I have one, I bought it in 2013 when it was a bit over £400 (same coat is £900 today).

It is amazing for really cold weather if you have to be outside for a sustained period of time. I travel for work to Nordic countries where it is really handy!

I don’t particularly care about the fur but what is irritating is that you have to be really careful if you take it off in a restaurant or bar. You can’t just hang it up on a communal coat hook and hope it’s there when it comes back. They are very recognisable, very desirable jackets, so the risk of getting it stolen is pretty high. I’d look into Woolrich parkas if I had to replace it, similar price point but not on the back of every D-list celebrity.

I would say the biggest pest is mankind.....

Not as warm or furry though so think I'll stick with the coyote

I reckon they are too warm for the UK - and I'm Australian.

Patagonia is better, cheaper, and ethical. BCorp certified; they promote repairing rather than replacing jackets, and you can get loads of fantastic jackets second hand in brilliant condition. Bought new, they are still well worth their money.

I wouldn’t want something with real fur so it would be a no brainer for me.

However I can say that I absolutely love my didrikson - one of my best purchases.

I like my Canada Goose and have had it for a few years now so cost per wear is working out very well. The part of the UK I wear it in is definitely cold enough for a CG!

There is never a need for anyone to wear a coat where an animal, pest or not, has suffered. Some posters are simply not interested in the cruelty they are buying into.

My tall slim friend has one, it is very long and slim fitting, she has had it for about 15 years and wears it when her sons are playing rugby or rowing in the winter. She says it's one of the best investments she's made.

You should look at Fjallraven, great quality coats, very warm and a flattering fit. DD has one. Fur is artificial and down comes from traceable ethical sources. And the logo is a cute fox. The non-down ones are marginally less expensive and still very warm. Quite a trendy label here in the US because students love the backpacks.

I am gobsmacked that anyone would knowingly and willingly buy real fur these days.

am gobsmacked that anyone would knowingly and willingly buy real fur these days.

Agreed. Don't get it.

The anti fur sentiment is most pronounced in the UK. DH is Danish, I live in the US and my mothers family are from Canada. Even Canadians, who are very environmentally friendly, wear fur. The Swedes and Norwegian do too. The big difference is that they have one coat that they wear for years and they normally pass it down between the generations. My mother has already given me her mink coat. It's designed so I could take panels out and add them back in. My sister has my grandmothers. The high cost means people have one. The cost is $2500+ My mothers is valued at $25k replacement value for insurance and the furrier where it's stored during the summer told me to buy one like it today would cost about $30-35k. This coat will easily survive another 100+ years if maintained properly.

It's not for everyone but in the UK the protesting is very offputting, especially when the facts presented are not true. If Canada Goose were letting Coyotes starve once trapped the Canadian government would have them shut down immediately. The laws are very strict and enforced.

Living in the U.K., no you don't need to buy a fur coat. It's totally unnecessary and I wouldn't want to buy such a warm coat. You want a down coat with a rainproof exterior. I got a Marmot coat at Costco for $130 which is normally $300 for my commute to work. Hopefully it will last me 10+ years. My last coat lasted 7 years and the lining has worn through. I can't even donate it. Buying cheap clothes that last 1-2 years is far worse for the environment than fur.

I think they are disgusting.

I am actually in support of fur BUT and it’s a big but, it has to be ethical.
By ethical I mean not kept in tiny cages, shot or gassed not electrocuted or trapped, the whole animal utilised not just the pelt.

I ave a number of beautiful Toscana sheepskin items that I love, from GENUINELY free range dual purpose animals.
Ethical fur.
Wild rabbit items, again, IMO, ethical fur.

Trapped coyote is so far from ethical.
It doesn’t matter if they are a pest species.
Trapping is barbaric and not having a problem with it is just revolting and speaks volumes about the sort of person you are frankly.

The domestic dog, left to its own devices in the street is a pest.
And yet, people go mad when villagers mistreat them!
Pay hundreds of pounds to ‘rescue’ them and ship them over here.

The hypocrisy is outstanding!
There is very little difference between domestic dogs and coyotes. Very little.

I've worn my thermalight parka in The Baltics, Scandinavia and Iceland in winter. You don't need fur to keep you warm it's not the only option.

@Want2bSupermum I do understand that. BUT what you are talking about is utilising the fur for insulation, which makes sense, I wouldn't choose to wear it but it serves a purpose. With Canada Goose, the fur is just used as a trim for the hood, so serves absolutely no purpose except to make it look good (to some people). Absolutely no reason they can't use faux fur for that instead.

By law the traps have to be checked every 24 hours so they don’t starve.

I have a couple coyote skins in my freezer that my uncle shot, I don’t know what to do with them

I used to think they were fake until I started to read up about the coats. I won’t buy one now for that reason.

Thanks to those who have pointed out about the unethical origins, I had no idea. I own one, but TBH I have a few patagonia ones too and they are very warm too (and I have lived in NYC and Boston) so OP I suggest you go with that instead. They are very environmentally friendly and one of the most ethical companies around.

The fur hood does have a purpose. When walking through a blizzard it catches the snow amazingly well so you can see where you are going. The synthetic stuff doesn't do as good a job. After the second snow blizzard my synthetic one on my commuter coat was knackered. I've walked through numerous blizzards in my inherited coat and it's as good as new. I put the hood on and I can walk home no issues. I can easily see where I'm going too. No sunglasses needed either to protect from the wind.

I've got a Barbour Outlaw coat and it's the warmest coat I've ever had. I'll go outside and my legs and hands all be freezing cold but my body and arms are lovely and warm. You can't feel any wind or anything though it and it's waterproof.

I’ve got a Marmot 700 fill 100% goose down it was about £300.

I wear it constantly.

*in winter obv.

by law the traps have to be checked every 24 hours so they don’t starve

Oh well that makes it all okay then!

24 hours is a ridiculously long time.
Surely you can see how utterly petrifying and unspeakably cruel that is?!