Woolrich Woolen Mills Mountain Parka Review: Ulaanbaatar Field Test

Woolrich Woolen Mills Mountain Parka

Woolrich Woolen Mills Mountain Parka Review

For the majority of our field tests we head south to our mining compound deep in the Gobi Desert.  It’s not a great place, to be honest.  The wind never seems to stop.  The temperature rarely climbs above -10 Celsius, and the nights often fall to -40.  I can’t get a Diet Coke for love nor money, and every trip down to the compound keeps me away from my beloved Korean barbecue restaurant (God, I love kimchi).

The Gobi is undoubtedly beautiful, but it just isn’t designed for humans (especially frilly pantied pansies like me.  I like me some central heating).

It was with some relief, then, that I heard that last week’s planned trip down to the compound had been cancelled due to inclement weather.  In a country in which -30 Celsius is merely ‘brisk’ you have to wonder just what the Mongolians think would be inclement.  It turns out that there was a pretty bad sandstorm that had reduced visibility to near zero for a couple of days, and the last thing you want to do in a sandstorm is drive a tiny little van down the same track as a Chinese coal hauling road train.  Those things would crush us like a bug and not even give us the courtesy of noticing.

So, long story short this week’s field test of the Woolrich Woolen Mills Mountain Parka comes from a little closer to home.  Specifically, it comes from the busy, icy of Ulaanbaatar.

Specifications

• Shell: 60% cotton/40% nylon Ramar
• Lining: Upper, 80% wool/20% nylon yarn-dye twill.  Lower, 100% nylon taffeta
• DuPont® Teflon™ treated for water repellency
• Full length storm flap with snap buttons
• Dual entry handwarmer pockets
• 4 front pockets with hook-and-loop seals
• Internal security pocket
• Adjustable wool-lined hood with leather drawcord
  

  

Field Test

As I couldn’t get down to the Gobi I was determined to get out and about around Ulaanbaatar all week in my Woolrich Mountain Parka.  The traffic in UB has become horrendous in the last few years, so the obvious solution was to forego taxis in favor of my feet.

For seven days I wrapped up warm against temperatures that dropped as low as -38 Celsius (-36 Fahrenheit), walking from Mercury supermarket to Kimura’s Japanese bar, from the Grand Khaan Irish pub to my home near the Flower Center, and from Crystal Khuushuur cafe to the office of The Adventurists.  On treacherously icy ground it wasn’t easy to resist the urge to hail a cab but I persevered, and by the end of the week I’d walked about 20 miles in total – that may not sound a lot, but try walking 20 miles at -35 on icy streets then come talk to me.

The Intended Audience for the Mountain Parka

Impressions

Hmmmm….

First, the Woolrich Mountain Parka is so obviously a great jacket it doesn’t really need repeating.  I’m a huuuuuge fan of Woolrich, and I’m rarely seen around Ulaanbaatar without my toasty warm Woolrich Navigator.

It’s because I’m a fan that I’m trying to choose my words carefully.  The Mountain Parka IS a great coat, but it’s just not really designed for the Mongolian winter.  You know who it’s designed for?  This guy, over there in the photo.  It’s designed for a cold day in the US; a day when you can wear a shirt and sweater and still leave your parka unzipped without an outie navel falling off with frostbite.  For that climate it’s absolutely perfect.  You’ll look cool and stay warm.

For deep winter in Mongolia, though, I didn’t feel enough protection against the truly ridiculous temperatures.  I took to wearing my Woolrich Navigator along with a Mountain Hardwear Zonal jacket and the Woolrich parka.  That was the only way to stay warm.

I should make it clear that this isn’t the fault of Woolrich but myself.  Woolrich, I’m sure, never intended the Mountain Parka to endure Mongolian temperatures.  If that had been the intention they would have filled the jacket with down and charged twice as much.  In fact, they did do that.  It’s called the Woolrich Arctic Parka and I own a love it.

So, if you live somewhere that suffers through -30 Celsius winters you shouldn’t buy this jacket.  If you live in a sane, reasonable place where the winters just come with a little snow and the temperature usually stays on the more pleasant side of freezing, I can’t recommend it more highly.  The Woolrich Woolen Mills Mountain Parka is a lovely jacket.  It’s great looking, comfortable and great value for money.

Just not for Mongolia.

Pros

• Excellent Price
• Good looking
• Warm, comfortable lining
• Waterproof coating
• Great handwarmer pockets

Cons