Customer reviews for Mountain Hardwear Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
Mountain Hardwear Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
Absolute Zero™ Parka
Overall rating:
(13 reviews) 13
Rating breakdown 13 reviews
5 Stars
12
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Star
0
7 out of 8(88%)reviewers recommend this product.
Customer reviews for Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
Review 1 for Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
Overall Rating
Very warm
PostedApril 20, 2013
Lloydie
Location: Calif.
Experience: Avid
Employee: No
Too Small
Too Large
Quality
How would you grade this itemʼs materials, construction and workmanship?
5
/
5
Function
How well this item performed in its intended use, and beyond.
5
/
5
Lots of pockets in the right places. Tons of down.
It's big. Surprisingly light for the bulk but if you run cold or are going to a place that can get well below zero, this is the jacket. After a long day I can get depleted, dehydrated, cold and I need to warm up before I begin to shiver. This jacket allows me to recover immediately. While climbing, at breaks, or around camp. It has become my friend under tough conditions.
It's big. Surprisingly light for the bulk but if you run cold or are going to a place that can get well below zero, this is the jacket. After a long day I can get depleted, dehydrated, cold and I need to warm up before I begin to shiver. This jacket allows me to recover immediately. While climbing, at breaks, or around camp. It has become my friend under tough conditions.
I would recommend this product.
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Review 2 for Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
Overall Rating
Amazing Warmth
PostedMarch 7, 2013
Too Small
Too Large
Quality
How would you grade this itemʼs materials, construction and workmanship?
5
/
5
Function
How well this item performed in its intended use, and beyond.
5
/
5
Recently purchased this parka for a Denali climb in May 2013. I have used in 3 times now, in temperatures ranging from -15 to 30 degrees. Within moments of putting it on, you can feel the incredible amount of warmth. Several large pockets help keep your hands warm and stuff items inside to dry out and warm up.
It's big. It's bulky. It's pretty heavy. But I was willing to sacrifice weight--so far I am glad it did. My only complaint is that I wish it came with a compression sack.
I would recommend this product.
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Review 3 for Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
Overall Rating
Thank you Mountain Hardwear
PostedFebruary 27, 2013
Too Small
Too Large
Quality
How would you grade this itemʼs materials, construction and workmanship?
5
/
5
Function
How well this item performed in its intended use, and beyond.
5
/
5
I've had this parka for over 10 years and it is still warm and comfy.
I dedicate this review to the Mountain Hardwear repair folks.
Almost as soon as I got my parka I tore through the woods with it and tore two or three huge holes in the lower section. I guess I thought the ripstop was thorn-proof (stupid).
I taped up the jacket with duct tape and sent the jacket in for repair. I asked if the jacket could be repaired and if a thicker nylon material could be sewn around the lower 8 inches instead of the lighter-weight ripstop. A few weeks later I had a custom jacket in my hands for a super-reasonable repair charge!
Happy happy!!!!
I would recommend this product.
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Review 4 for Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
Overall Rating
The hood ruin the great parka
PostedJanuary 22, 2013
WinterTraveller
Location: Hong Kong
Experience: Core
Employee: No
Too Small
Too Large
Quality
How would you grade this itemʼs materials, construction and workmanship?
5
/
5
Function
How well this item performed in its intended use, and beyond.
3
/
5
The parka is warm as expected like all other down parkas that cost $500+ I like its pocket layout that are very handy and length of the parka that cover my hip. I also love the Shark color that is much better than those expedition-look yellow or dull black on other brands. Besides, the parka has many fine-tuned feature such as tuck-away velcro part of the hood. In general, the parka is well-built.
I always expose to ambient temperature -30+C for 1 to 2 hours for slow pace activities. I have a few warm parkas and none of them is perfect. Having read good reviews on Absolute Zero parka and I thought it might help.
While its baffle construction are well made on the front part of the parka, the baffle divider is not wide enough (only 0.5" to 1") on the back that make it cold spot on extreme weather. Anyway, it's minor to me as I always carry a daypack on my back. I found no such problem on other baffled parkas that cost $500+ though.
The biggest flaw of the parka is its low profile hood. The hood is not deep enough to protect your face from side wind especially with beanie on. This is bad when you're at -30+C. In fact, this is major reason that I kept my NF Himalayan in the closet rather than outdoor.
It also renders the adjustable hood non-adjustable. Tighten it made it even shallower and expose more of your face to the environment. Keep it loose would made the rim of the hood wide open. I have to drop 2 stars due to this interesting design. It's a shame since it's a real GREAT parka other than this serious flawed hood design.
I do not recommend this product.
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Review 5 for Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
Overall Rating
Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
PostedJanuary 15, 2013
Murph1000
Location: St. Louis, MO
Experience: Casual
Employee: No
Too Small
Too Large
Quality
How would you grade this itemʼs materials, construction and workmanship?
5
/
5
Function
How well this item performed in its intended use, and beyond.
5
/
5
My husband is a true "freezy" cat! For example, he sleeps with a down filled cover and two extra blankets at night....we live in Missouri where the average winter temperature at night is in the teens and 20s. It is the first time I have ever heard him say that he was truly warm in the winter while wearing this coat out and about. He loves it. Has a nice fit and looks good on his 5' 10' build. I'm sure he would even be warm in much lower temperatures out on the ski lift.
This coat was the perfect Christmas gift. Well worth the investment!
This coat was the perfect Christmas gift. Well worth the investment!
I would recommend this product.
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Review 6 for Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
Overall Rating
Winter Rainier testing in just over a week
PostedJanuary 8, 2013
BigJimSlade
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Experience: Avid
Employee: No
Too Small
Too Large
Quality
How would you grade this itemʼs materials, construction and workmanship?
5
/
5
Function
How well this item performed in its intended use, and beyond.
5
/
5
Headed to Rainier in late Jan for an Avi course and figured there'd be lots of standing around. Chances are good this will be too warm (duh), but will give it a try and report back. Although obviously designed with other layers in mind, sizing seems a tad big. In its stuff sack the size is comparable to my WM Versalite sleeping bag, so packability may be an issue if space is limited. Very cool cuffs with thumb hole. Still need to experiment with securing the hood when not in use.
I would recommend this product.
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Review 7 for Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
Overall Rating
A keeper
PostedNovember 28, 2012
VanDerGraaf
Location: Pittsburgh
Experience: Casual
Employee: No
Too Small
Too Large
Quality
How would you grade this itemʼs materials, construction and workmanship?
5
/
5
Function
How well this item performed in its intended use, and beyond.
5
/
5
Bought this one for trip to continental Antarctica. Enjoyed it very much. It allowed me to stay outside long hours sometimes just sitting on chair next to mountains. Very comfortable and practical with all pockets and hand warmers. Used it also as pillow during frigid nights.In Punta Arenas, before flying to Antarctica, windy and mild cold weather used it just wearing a T-shirt. I am 5'11.5" and 170 lbs and M fits very well. It's a keeper. As pants, I used the Nilas. Perfect.
I would recommend this product.
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Review 8 for Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
Overall Rating
Like a sleeping bag you can wear
PostedJuly 23, 2012
Too Small
Too Large
The Absolute Zero Parka is the penultimate cold climate insulating layer for high altitude alpine travel. I recently took this parka on a mountaineering expedition in the Cascades in some pretty harsh weather conditions. Stopping for the day at a high camp below the summit of Rainier, temperatures dropped rapidly below freezing and I put on the AZP to preserve warmth. It has tremendous insulating loft and superior wind resistance. Combined with a pair of down pants, it's like wearing a sleeping bag. The Napoleon pockets allow access to small items without opening the front zipper. The DryQ shell material provides good water resistance and breaths well. The hood is not detachable, but I can't think of too many situations where I would wear this parka without the hood.
I would recommend this product.
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Review 9 for Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
Overall Rating
Making Alaska feel like Florida
PostedOctober 5, 2011
GoofyPilot75
Location: Jacksonville, FL
I live in Florida, and when I decided to go to Alaska to photograph the Northern lights near the arctic circle, I decided to find the warmest jacket possible, especially doing something that doesnt involve much movement. THIS WAS PERFECT!!! While sitting outside from 8pm to 2am in freezing temperatures, while not producing any heat, this Parka made the Arctic feel like Florida!!! Thank you Mountain Hardwear for making yet another incredible product!!!
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Review 10 for Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
Overall Rating
WARM!
PostedFebruary 23, 2011
Steve
Location: Northwest Wyoming
If you are looking for unquestionable warmth at the possible expense of bulk and weight, this is the jacket for you. I started off testing the grit of this jacket with a 1 1/2 hr snowmobile ride in sub-zero temperatures in a blizzard with only a light base layer on underneath. It felt as though I had never left the comfort of my warm bed that morning! Cuts the wind, sheds the moisture, and keeps the warmth where it needs to be.
Day to day life traveling by snowmachine in temeratures as low as -40 has given me great appreciation for warm clothing innovations. Is it heavy? Yes. Is it bulky? Without a doubt. Extreme weather conditions call for extreme technical adaptation of clothing and that is exactly what the Absolute Zero delivers.
Day to day life traveling by snowmachine in temeratures as low as -40 has given me great appreciation for warm clothing innovations. Is it heavy? Yes. Is it bulky? Without a doubt. Extreme weather conditions call for extreme technical adaptation of clothing and that is exactly what the Absolute Zero delivers.
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Review 11 for Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
Overall Rating
I am finally warm
PostedDecember 13, 2010
As an engineer in the interior of Alaska I play and work in temperatures of -50 with winds sometimes in excess of 50 mph. This is the fisrt jacket I have ever worn that has kept me warm with minimal activity. Thus far I have tested it down to -30 standing for 6 hours, however I have some -50 temps coming next week and will update as to how it performs in that. It has excellent construction and is smooth against bare skin. It is the only jacket I have truseted to truly protect me when in the remote back country of Alaska. If I could give it 10 stars I would. The sizes are large, I am 6'0 175 and wear a medium.
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Review 12 for Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
Overall Rating
Puffy and warm
PostedNovember 15, 2010
This is without a doubt the warmest down jacket I've encountered. My down jackets and parkas from other makers feel like uninsulated shells compared to the Absolute Zero Parka. I had read various online reviews that stated it was too warm for anything but the most awful conditions but I've found it to be quite versatile. At camp in Winter it's nice to be able to sit around after dinner without having to dive into a sleeping bag to stay warm and merely putting this jacket on assures nearly instant warmth. As stated by others, it's makes for an incredibly luxurious pillow when you finally take it off to go to bed and the pockets (two inside, and four outside if you include the hand pockets) hold an incredible amount of items that may need to be kept warm to prevent them from freezing: water bottles, camera batteries, Etc. At 6' and 185#s, a size M fits perfectly.
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Review 13 for Men's Absolute Zero™ Parka
Overall Rating
Absolute Zero Parka
PostedSeptember 1, 2010
Location: Argentina - Aconcagua - 22,851ft
Who: me and one other, unguided for 17 days
Who: me and one other, unguided for 17 days
Pros: WARM, durable, VERY comfortable, windproof, water beaded right off it, good pocket placement, hood is well made and tightens easily to protect face, hood is able to roll up in coat, makes a great pillow at night if you bring a fleece pillowcase.
Cons: slightly bulky, little heavy... but then again what do you expect for such a great jacket!!
This jacket was just right for me, I used it all during my trip at camps and it was amazing. It is very warm and allowed me to wear the jacket without having so many layers on underneath. It is also very windproof.
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