Gear Test: Feathered Friends Icefall Parka

I had heard a lot about Feathered Friends down products but this was my first experience with any of them. The product that I am reporting on is the Icefall Parka with eVENT waterproof-breathable shell and the 800-fill upgrade.
MSRP US $435 + $13(800-fill upgrade).

Let’s just start by saying I am usually cold. I don’t know if it’s my age catching up to me, or what, but it seems that I need a warm jacket all the time. Most of my use for this jacket was on Aconcagua (6962m) in Argentina. Since Feathered Friends recommends this parka as a seven summit or expedition parka I guess Aconcagua was the perfect testing ground because it’s both. Aconcagua tests gear to its limits, as it is a very cold and unforgiving mountain. There is lots of wind, dust, some snow and cold weather.

This year when I was there it was a colder season than most times I’ve been there so the importance for warmth was critical. I started using my down parka at camp 1 at 4200 metres and used it everyday from there; including climbing in it on summit day.

The warmth of this jacket cannot be disputed…it is the warmest jacket I have ever worn, and isn’t the whole idea of a down jacket for warmth? Although I’m sure there are warmer jackets out there (Feathered Friends Rock and Ice Parka) this parka is probably warm enough for most anywhere on earth. With that said, lower on the mountain it was definitely overkill but I didn’t mind being so toasty warm. I found that the eVENT shell material was solid enough to stand up to the abuses of Aconcagua. It blocked the wind great and held of the snow just as well. The hood was large and warm but I did have some trouble with the hood snaps coming undone. There is a double zipper storm system that is made withs heavy-duty YKK zippers. The main difficulty I found with the jacket is the double zipper system. I think the idea is great in theory but I found that when I was doing up the zipper the material between the zippers would always get stuck in the main zipper. It even tore the material one time. I think the lightweight characteristics of the eVENT material encourage the zipper to trap it. I believe that a slightly heavier material sewn between the zippers will reduce the zipper catch.

All in all I am quite happy with the Feathered Friends Icefall Parka and it really does keep you incredibly warm. I would recommend this product for high altitude, expeditions, winter expeditions and anywhere else extreme cold is encountered.
View at Feathered Friends
Features: (As listed on Feathered Friends Website)
- Tuck Stitch Baffled Construction & Differential Cut
- Interior water bottle pockets, large expansive Velcro Cargo Pockets
- Removable Hood
- Down Filled Zipper Draft Tube, Velcro cuffs & draw cords at waist and hem to seal out drafts
- Full length design for layering over your waterproof/windproof shell