Men's parkas on clearance

The M-51 Fishtail, from the Korean War to the Mods

The M-51 parka was distributed to the US Army in 1951 to protect soldiers from the Korean winter. Its nickname Fishtail comes from its two back flaps that resembled a fish tail, which could be tied around the thighs to cut the wind. Ten years later, British Mods adopted it to protect their suits while riding scooters. Alpha Industries, founded in 1959 in Knoxville, Tennessee to make military clothing, offers a version with a printed back, and Brandit, a German surplus style specialist, has a parka adorned with a flag. It has a loose fit designed to be worn over a thick sweater.

Other end-of-season items

The winter men's clearance also includes:

• Down jackets.
• Coats.
• Jackets.
• Sweatshirts.
• Trousers.
• Sneakers.

All end-of-season items are gathered on the winter men's page.

Gore-Tex and sealed seams: truly waterproof parkas

A parka is only waterproof if its fabric is lined with a membrane and its seams are sealed. The Gore-Tex membrane, with pores too small to let a drop of water through but large enough for sweat vapour, is used in the long parka from Aigle, a brand founded in 1853 in Montargis by American Hiram Hutchinson to work with rubber. Didriksons, established in 1913 on the west coast of Sweden to dress fishermen, produces the Akilles, and Helly Hansen, created in 1877 in Moss, Norway, with its oiled fabrics, offers the Nordsjo and Reine. The Merzen from Regatta completes the models designed for rain.

Down, synthetic filling or integrated heating

To combat extreme cold, the filling makes a difference. The down mixed with feathers, as used in the long padded parka from Aigle, provides the best balance of warmth and weight, but loses its loft when wet. Synthetic fillings resist moisture better: the Revolution Sorona uses a fibre partly of plant origin, and the padded lining of Kariban parkas retains heat at a lower cost. The heated parka Sixth June integrates heating zones powered by an external battery, not included, for long waits outside. A lined hood and adjustable cuffs prevent drafts.

Schott, Faguo, Selected: the city parka

In the city, the parka also pays attention to style. Schott, founded in New York in 1913 and famous for creating the Perfecto jacket in 1928, produces durable hooded winter parkas like the Nelson. Faguo, a French brand established in 2009, offsets its emissions by planting a tree for every item produced; its parkas Cheverny and Vernon are named after French communes. Selected, with the Troy and the Bow, and Le Temps des Cerises, with the Loen and the Orva, offer more fitted cuts. One should choose a length that covers the hips and a subdued colour, navy, khaki or black.

Frequently asked questions

Which parka to choose for a trip to Canada or Lapland?

Opt for a long parka, covering the upper thighs, with thick down or synthetic filling, and a enveloping hood with inner cuffs. Layer underneath a thermal layer and a fleece for extreme cold.

Short or long parka: what to choose?

The long parka protects the lower back and thighs during waits outside. The short parka, coming to the hips, allows more freedom for driving, cycling or walking quickly in the city.

How to choose the size of a men's parka?

Try it on with a thick sweater: the shoulders should not pull and the sleeves should cover the wrists with arms extended. A parka that is too tight compresses the filling, which then insulates less well.

How to re-waterproof a parka that lets water through?

Wash it with a detergent for technical clothing, then apply a water-repellent spray or machine treatment. A tumble dry on a low heat, if the label allows it, reactivates the treatment.

How to wash a down-filled parka?

Wash it alone, on a delicate cold cycle, with a special down detergent. Then dry it in the tumble dryer on a low heat with a few drying balls to restore the loft of the filling.