Expedition McMurdo 700 Fill Power Down Parka with Faux Fur Trim

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I love this coat. It runs on the larger size.it is reminiscent of the heavier traditional NF coats. I think it should be tailored closure to the female body. I liked the OLD version of the arctic parker that had the side closures. This one is warm but not flattering. Kind of boxy

I was excited to receive this jacket as it was the only one I could find at this price point (before entering the territory of that "Canadian Bird" parka brand) that checked all the boxes for cold Prairie winters: two-way zipper, storm cuffs, nylon-blend exterior, 650-700 down fill, and faux fur ruff. I tried it in a size small at a local store but found it was a full size too large. Luckily, we were able to locate an x-small on the website. I haven't used it outdoors yet, but I was quite hot after trying it on inside for a few minutes which I consider to be a good sign of warmth. The two-way zipper is heavy-duty and seems durable enough to handle a variety of outdoor activities. The storm cuffs are really soft (although I do wonder about durability and longevity and am really hoping they don't pill or wear quickly against the tougher nylon-blend fabric). However, if the North Face really wants to compete with "Canadian Bird," they need to make a few changes. First, the zipper is a bit scary to close towards the top. One must pull it outwards to ensure that it does not catch on the inner fabric, lest they become trapped inside. During the first try-on, my father had to carefully and patiently figure out what was going on so that I could be extracted. I'm hoping this is a scenario that will not need to be repeated in public. Second, the fur ruff is...underwhelming. Faux fur has been around for many years, and this was the best faux fur available?? Why did the North Face completely cheap out on the fur trim? I have a down jacket that I purchased roughly ten years ago for a quarter of the price of this one, and the faux fur is much richer looking - fuller, fluffier, a beautiful colour, lies more evenly. And most importantly, fulfills the function of keeping wind, sleet and snow off of my face. This is a major design flaw because Prairie winters are bitterly cold, especially with the wind. There's a reason why First Nations people use fur strips from animals with dense fur on their parkas! I removed the unattractive, flimsy, and thin faux fur strip and will have to figure something else out for face protection. Third, the hood and neck are not deep enough. I have a 57 inch head and can barely do the zipper up to my face, let alone with a scarf on (and I need a toque and scarf, you guys!) Without the fur ruff, the shallow hood exposes a significant part of my face to the cold. Given that the oversized body required me to take a size smaller than I usually do, perhaps the North Face needs to use a broader array of fit models? Lastly, the patch pockets could have been sewn without the extra layer of fabric under the pocket flap, which would have eliminated a bit of bulk. Women typically don't like added bulk around their hips. The coat is satisfactory given that it was a gift and nothing else was available, but I expect more in terms of design from this company, especially at this price point.