Canada Goose Snow Mantra Parka

For standing around in extreme cold, these are great. but if you want to move about, they are constricting. Simply putting on and off is a major task; these coats are bulky.

I have a planned 28 day solo expedtion in the scottish mountains in the winter. I have chosen the harshest months and the weather is very extreme and i will be trekking above 3,oooft as much as possible. I will sleep in snow holes and bivi out at 3,000ft or more each night,
I would like to know if any reader could give me advice on whether the snow mantra jacket is too much for this expedition?
the temperatures can reach well below -10 and even worse in the windchill. any advice on the jacket would be appreciated
many thanks
shaun

How far will you trek each day? This parka is not made for trips where you will be aerobically pushing yourself. It would be too warm, say, if you were trekking even a few miles a day with a pack on. It would be good at night and during breaks, but not for on the move.

This is definitely overkill for a scottish winter trip – warmth wise and costwise. The Snow Mantra is designed for the coldest temperatures on Earth – much colder than scotland. At -10C (14F)I imagine you will be sweating very quickly. The only situation I think this jacket would be useful is if you are not planning on taking a sleeping bag. There are many lighter weight and cheaper down parkas that will be warm enough for you. Consider the offerings of RAB, Mountain Hardwear and Marmot.

This parka is designed for very, very cold cold weather. I live in the very north of Sweden and I use it when I plan to move around very little or perhaps sitting on a snowmobile. But don’t even think of putting of some physical strength in it because it’s to darn hot. It’s a great parka but don’t try to shovel snow wearing it.

I own a Snow Mantra. I live in The Yukon Territories, in the Canadian Arctic.

I won’t put this coat on until it is -30. Before that it is overkill for anything but standing around (for instance fishing at a hole). This coat does not breathe well at all. It is perfect for walking, snowmobiling, fishing and working outside when it is wicked cold. You will sweat yourself silly climbing in this coat. As mentioned in the article, with the hood up you have zero peripheral vision. This coat is not designed for active pursuits.

This is the coat you wear when you should not be outside, but have to go anyway. It is truly the warmest thing you will ever wrap yourself in. I am amazed by it every time I venture outside when it is too cold for machines to operate and your breath freezes in mid-air.

I live in the Northwest Territory north of the Arctic Circle in Canada’s Arctic, and I own a Snow Mantra Parka. Actually, it was issued to me through work and therefore must use it on a daily basis during the winter months. I must admit that I am not impressed at all by this parka. For one thing it fits like a straight jacket, very confining and heavy. It restricts your movements making even the smallest task a herculean effort. Also, in spite of all the praise others have written about it, it simply is not that warm. The insulation is sewn through not baffled like higher quality parkas are, and it’s pretty thin; I can feel many cold spots with no insulation at all. The zipper is backed by some kind of “fun fur” and has already broken after only 2 years of service. The hand warmer pockets are placed way too low to be reached and even if you could there is no insulation in them. I have been quite cold wearing this parka during snowmobile trips on the barren lands. It should be remembered that the poeple these parkas where made for, oil drilling workers and such, always have a warm place to go to at the end of the day. For the cost I think there is a lot better out there. For my money I will take my old NF parka. It is far lighter and much warmer, and best of all, after 25 winters it has kept me alive through some brutal cold, and it is still going strong.

Martin — Great info from your serious, multi-year “gear test” of this product! Question: What North Face parka are you talking?

The North Face Parka I have is an original Expedition Parka. It stuffs down very small, yet is very warm with a proper fitting hood that does not strangle you like the Snow Mantra mentioned above. When I lay them down together on the floor, side by side, my NF Parka has over twice the loft of the Snow Mantra. Best of all it is very light weight (also compared to the Snow Mantra) and allows you ample freedom to move around. A necessary thing when you are on an expedition. To keep the outer material clean and free from holes I also have a light-weight white nylon shell to pull over top. I picked it up at an Army Surplus store down south. It cost $20.00. I have been using this system for almost 25 years now and although I have tried alot of other parkas and clothing systems nothing quite measures up to the light weight warms of this old friend.

This parka is unsuitable for any athletic exploits, save for low-exertion walking / skiing. I have one – and it lives up to the hype as far as warmth and durability, but it really is an extreme condition parka meant to be warm above all other considerations, such as visibility, freedom of movement, weight and so forth. It is a fantastic parka for its intended purpose, and I certainly wouldn’t give mine up, but that purpose is specific and you would probably regret taking this parka on any extended climbing or hiking trip unless you are on flat ground and will never need to stow it in a pack. The Snow Mantra is heavy – I use it when working up north in the winter when I need to be outside in ridiculous conditions and may be standing around without exerting myself much. It will stand up to abuse, and makes for a great “industrial” jacket for this sort of exposure, but falls short when you are either working hard or doing anything athletic or requiring much dexterity or situational awareness. I also am an avid mountaineer, but choose to use other products more suitable for that purpose which are not as heavy, easily stuffable, and cut to facilitate easy movement. I have a light down vest that I use under a waterproof / breathable shell for moderately cold conditions, and a Feathered Friends Rock & Ice parka as a belay jacket and for for extreme cold / high wind / summit attempts. The warmth of this one is on par with the Snow Mantra, but it is much more suitable to purpose, being lightweight, stuffable, and easily accomodating movement while wearing a helmet or harness. This is my go-to parka for mountaineering, for sure. Of course, by the same token, I wouldn’t wear the Rock & Ice for working in a northern oilfield or as a daily wear item in the arctic – it would get destroyed in short order. Bottom line: excellent jacket, for the purpose, but make sure that purpose matches what you intend to do with it.

Hi Sean,

When you say the Rock & Ice parka is on par warmth wise with the Snow Mantra do you mean almost as warm? I recently bought a Snow Mantra for its reputation as the warmest jacket in the world but would also like a similarly warm belay jacket for things like winter backpacking. The Mantra is obviously not practical for stuffing in a pack. How long is the Rock & Ice? Also what is the fit of your Mantra like? If I wear a hoodie underneath mine it’s a bit snug.