 This Product
Canada Goose Langford Parka | |||||
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| Awards |  Best Splurge Parka |  Best Overall Men's Winter Jacket | Our Most Versatile Option |  Best Value Men's Winter Jacket | Best for Tight Budgets |
| Price | $1,475 List $1,525 at Backcountry | $500 List $500.00 at Amazon | $699 List $454.35 at Backcountry | $199 List | $62 List $61.97 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A pricey option that is built to last a lifetime of battling the elements | A cold weather parka that can meet nearly any winter climate head-on | A down jacket zips into a waterproof shell to create a versatile and stylish jacket with impressive weather resistance | This sporty, economical jacket is a great choice if you're looking to maximize function and minimize cost | An affordable jacket that performs well enough and offers a surprising array of features |
| Rating Categories | Canada Goose Langfo... | Fjallraven Nuuk Parka | Patagonia Tres 3-in... | L.L. Bean Rugged Ri... | Wantdo Waterproof Snow |
| Warmth (30%) | |||||
| Weather Resistance (25%) | |||||
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Versatility and Style (10%) | |||||
| Construction Quality (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Canada Goose Langfo... | Fjallraven Nuuk Parka | Patagonia Tres 3-in... | L.L. Bean Rugged Ri... | Wantdo Waterproof Snow |
| Shell Fabric | 83% polyester, 17% cotton | Polyamide | H2No performance: 2-layer, 100% recycled polyester herringbone | 100% nylon | 100% polyester |
| Measured Interior Temperature | 75.1 °F | 80.2 °F | 76.3 °F | 74.7 °F | 72.6 °F |
| Insulation and Fill Power | 625-fill (80% down, 20% feathers) | 100% recycled polyester | 700-fill down | 100% polyester | Synthetic |
| Fill Weight | Not specifed | 250 grams/ sq meter | Not specified | 170 grams | Not specified |
| Removable Hood | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hood Adjustments | 1 topside adjustment strap | 2 side drawcords, 1 rear velcro tab | 2 side drawcords, 1 rear drawcord | 2 side drawcords | 2 side drawcords |
| Pockets | 2 exterior hand, 2 exterior top-loading waist, 1 interior zippered chest, 2 interior mesh stash drop-in pockets | 2 zippered breast pockets; 2 buttoned breast pockets; 2 top-loading bellow pockets; 2 fleece-lined handwarmer pockets; 1 media pocket on sleeve, 2 internal zippered chest pockets, 2 internal mesh stash drop-in pockets | 6 (exterior jacket: 1 zippered chest, 2 top-entry zippered waist with flap; interior jacket: 2 zippered waist, 1 zippered interior media pocket | 2 exterior zippered waist, 1 exterior zippered chest, 1 interior zippered media chest, 2 interior mesh stash drop-in pockets | 2 exterior zippered waist, 1 exterior zippered chest, 1 zippered interior media |
| Weight | 3.8 lb (XL) | 4.6 lb (2XL) | 3.4 lb (2XL) | 2.9 lb (XLT) | 3.3 lb (2XL) |
| 2-Way Front Zipper | Yes | Yes | Yes - on outer jacket only | Yes | No |
| Weather Resistant Features | Full parka length, extended hood, rib-knit cuffs, large protective collar, extra wide storm flap with metal snaps, | Faux fur lined hood, cinchable hood and waist, adjustable cuffs, heavy exterior shell, rugged front zipper flap, water-resistant shell, | Full-length design, H2No Performance standard waterproof membrane, cinchable hood and hem, adjustable cuffs | Cinchable hood, waist, and hem, water-resistant nylon shell, main zipper storm flap | Water-resistant shell, cinchable hood and hem, adjustable straps, spandex interiior cuffs, powder skirt |
| Available Sizes | XS - 3XL | XS - 3XL | XS - 3XL | S - 3XL | S - 3XL |
| Social or Environmental Certifications | Reasonably sourced down | Shell, lining, and filling made from 100% recycled polyester | Produced in a Made in a Fair Trade certified factory, 100% reclaimed and recycled duck and goose down, shell and lining of outer and inner jacket are 100% recycled polyester | None specified | None specified |
The Langford is a fashionable, full-length, splurge parka that comes with a hefty price tag. We feel its higher cost is offset somewhat by its top-tier construction and weather-resistant features. In addition to its price, what makes the Langford unique is its massive hood and extra-long fit.
Our high hopes were tempered just a bit after extensively wearing our Langford Parka in the open air. It earned respectable scores for this metric, but certainly not those reserved for our best performers. It simply just isn't as warm as other jackets made by Canada Goose.
Our docket of warmth tests included using a FLIR Thermal Imaging Camera to document each parka's ability to hold in heat. We conducted this test on a clear 22°F night in January. Darker colors in the images denote areas where heat is being retained, while lighter/brighter colors show the areas where heat is being lost the fastest. In comparing three of our top full-length parkas side by side, it is easy to see that the Fjallraven Nuuk Parka held in the most heat, followed by the Langford.
The Langford has solid bones and tons of heat-retaining features (dense rib-knit cuffs and a massive collar, to name two). But, after wearing it daily for several weeks, we found its bark to be a little bigger than its bite. Yes, this coat is the real deal, but when compared side by side against the Canada Goose Expedition Parka, it simply doesn't hold in the heat as well. The manufacturer states its 625-fill down can handle lower-end temps ranging from 5°F to -13°F. We feel this is somewhat generous. In our experience, a more realistic minimum range is 15°F to 10°F — if we're moving. So if you're headed for extremely frigid temps, you may want to pass on the Langford — or plan on wearing a fair amount of extra layers.
Most of our preliminary warmth data was subjectively collected while traveling through Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania in December. During our stay, we spent a minimum of eight hours outside walking city streets, strolling the Baltic Sea coastline, and visiting Christmas markets well into the evening. We tested several jackets during our visit, and found that the Langford did a great job blocking brisk Baltic Sea breezes better than most.
Our home-based testing confirmed our initial findings. During 20°F nighttime temps in January, we used a Bluetooth thermometer to record interior body-heat measurements. The Langford topped out at 75.1°F — solid, but nowhere near the Fjallraven Nuuk Parka (80.2°F) or the Canada Goose Expedition Parka (82.1°F).
When it comes to shielding the head and face from the elements, the Langford is the king of the hill. Its cavernous hood can swallow any sized noggin whole, and its integrated collar can cover most faces up to the cheekbones. This feature increases this jacket's efficiency and is one of the most comfortable and easy-to-use hood/collar combos we've ever tested. However, at the top of our personal Langford wish list is a drawstring waist. Although the jacket's extra length does a great job of holding in body heat, we feel cinching the waistline tight would allow the Langford to more effectively trap warm air around the chest, shoulders, and back. We also think this feature would earn it a few more style points.
Firsthand experiences, mixed with in-home testing, proved the Langford to have solid weather-resistant properties, earning it upper-tier marks for this metric. The only thing we didn't like was how the outer shell responds to a heavy downpour.
We simulated a worst-case rainstorm in our bathroom shower, dumping more water onto the Langford than most climates get in an entire year. Not only did this parka-length protector keep our body dry, but its tunnel-style hood completely shielded our head, neck, and face (but it does limit overall visibility when fully zipped). The deluge of water we dumped on this jacket never made it to its insulation or anywhere near its interior. However, the fibers of the outer shell fabric quickly absorbed and held onto water. The water-soaked cloth was heavier when wet and required a fair amount of dry time. It also can be a little uncomfortable or annoying if you happen to duck into a restaurant or coffee shop and need to hang your water-logged Langford on a chair or coat rack.
In addition to a reasonably waterproof shell, the Langford Parka defended well against wind, especially cold breezes that swirled through both city streets and the countryside of Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania. The only two jackets in our lineup that performed as well in similar settings were the Fjallraven Nuuk Parka and the Canada Goose Expedition Parka. In addition to its extra-long hem and solid outer shell, three additional top Langford features are its very dense ribbed-knit cuffs, towering collar, and deep fleece-lined handwarmer pockets, which sit high on the upper abdomen. The cuffs put up a very strong defense against wind, rain, and snow, and the collar swallows up nearly the entire face and neck — we often felt like a turtle burrowing its head into its shell. And this jacket's handwarmer pockets sit at the perfect height, allowing the hands to stay toasty warm and the arms and shoulders to feel supported and rested while walking.
We loved the look of the Langford. For a parka, it really ticks the style boxes (more on that in the next section). But, the trade off for its sleek lines and fashion-forward vibe is a slightly slimmer fit — broad-shouldered users may find the top half of this jacket a titch too snug. In short, we held back a little on our comfort scores.
The manufacturer's website specifically points out this jacket's urban style and slimmer fit, so if your body type doesn't lend itself well to svelte fashion, you may experience some trial and error in your attempt to find your perfect size. Even with the help of the product's online size chart, our taller, larger-bodied testers found it difficult to synthesize measurements for chest, waist, hips, and sleeves. Often, one size or length had to be sacrificed to accommodate another. In our case, we opted for a truer chest measurement but had to settle for a little shorter-than-ideal sleeve length. In the end, we still loved the overall fit and feel of our Langford, but did find it to be a tad snug through the shoulders and armpits. Of the entire lineup we tested, we found the Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka and the Marmot Fordham to have the most comfortable overall feel.
We enjoyed wearing the Langford for long periods of time. In particular, walking in this coat is a dream, thanks to its accommodating fabrics and comfortable, well-placed hand-warmer pockets. However, our favorite jacket of the bunch to cruise around in is the Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka. It scored higher than the Langford for its overall fit, classy style, and unmatched welcoming feel. Both the Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka and the Langford are longer in length, and even though the Langford's fabrics are much stiffer and denser, our stomach, waist, and thighs never felt confined when we were on the move in the outdoors or city streets. It's cozy and thick and surrounds you with a weighty protective feeling. Other parka-length jackets in our mix that scored higher than the Langford for their overall comfort were the Fjallraven Nuuk Parka and The North Face McMurdo Down Parka. The Nuuk for its soft, weighty feel, and the McMurdo for having a down comforter vibe.
As for negatives, the ribbed-knit cuffs are specifically engineered to do battle with the elements, so they do fit a little too snugly on the wrists. Also, this jacket's slimmer fit can limit extensive layering, although we stayed perfectly warm, sans layers, in typical winter temps (10°F to 32°F). There was very little we did not like about this jacket, but we must admit our aversion to its zipper. Getting it started was usually an absolute pain. In technical terms, locking the insertion pin into the starter box and smoothly engaging the zipper pull never happened on the first try. This result was recurrent on daily attempts over a two-week period — with even worse results when the zipper was cold. Additionally, due to this jacket's length, the extra material would often balloon around the chest and stomach when sitting. However, all complaints aside, we still felt the Langford was, overall, a pleasure to wear.
It fits the bill for outdoor adventure, but is trendy enough to look good in an urban environment, which is why we gave the Langford solid scores for this metric. Despite its modern look, it didn't garner our very best scores due to its overall style — it's still a large, bulky, parka-length jacket.
We wore our Langford extensively in the tree-lined countryside of Eastern Europe but also cruised many cobblestone city streets. Any way we sliced it, this jacket performed well and looked great in a variety of settings. Even in the swankier public squares of Gdansk, Poland, the Langford oozed enough style to fit right in. The Cotopaxi Calidez and Fjallraven Skogso both scored higher for their versatility and style, mainly for their mainstream appeal and general-wear capabilities.
Versatility features that we loved include this jacket's adjustable hood strap, which helps to pull the hood up off of the face for better visibility. We also enjoyed stuffing larger items, like hats and gloves, into its two interior mesh stash drop-in pockets.
Our testers adored this parka's built-in backpack straps. In truth, we didn't need to use them very often, but they really came in handy walking through large train stations or indoor shopping centers. Instead of carting this bulky jacket by hand, simply unzip, remove your arms, and carry the entire Langford on your back.
After months of use, we found the least versatile aspect of the Langford Parka is its pure bulk and density. Yes, it's stylish and tailored, but this coat is still reasonably large, and it takes up a lot of space in closets, cars, cubbies, and shopping carts. In particular, it doesn't travel very well, specifically on planes. We often found it a challenge to stuff it into the overhead compartment because it takes up about as much space as a small carry-on.
Staying true to its iconic Canda Goose namesake, the Langford received its highest marks in this metric. It will set you back quite a few bones, but this jacket did not disappoint us in the least when it came to its noticeably elevated craftsmanship.
When it comes to clothing, the number of stitches per linear inch along each seam is generally a tell-tale sign of quality. So we measured several sections of this jacket's seams and were pleased with what we counted. All seams consisted of 12 stitches per inch, which is on par with other high-quality jackets we've tested. However, there are an elite few, like the Cotopaxi Calidez which had 16 stitches per inch (on some seams).
This parka's shell is composed of a very dense polyester weave (83%) interwoven with cotton thread (17%). The mixture results in a solid shield that can handle the rigors of daily wear, or worse. The zippers on the Langford are tough. The snaps are solid metal. Cordura piping surrounds both cuffs to protect them from wear and tear. During months of use, we never noted a negative comment in regard to the Langford's durability or craftsmanship.
The Langford is built to do battle with the elements. While it isn't as warm as other Canada Goose expedition models we've tested, it's still a legitimate player when it comes to colder weather — just not extreme cold. So if you have the cash and are in the market for a solid parka that will protect you from wind, precip, and cold, this is one of those purchases that should last you a decade or two with proper care. One thing many of our testers liked was the Langford's modern, urban-ish style. It has a great look, making it well-suited for the city, as well as the great outdoors. The only advice we have is to layer up a bit when temps drop below 15°F to 10°F — and stay moving.
If the price of the Landford is a little offensive to you, we highly suggest checking out the Fjallraven Nuuk. We survived while wearing it in the frigid Lapland of Northern Sweden in the dead of winter. It's warmer than the Langford, but has a distinct design that isn't as urbanesque. Other parka-length jackets to consider are the Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka (if you want a classier jacket) and the The North Face McMurdo (if you're into big, puffy, bubble down coats). We also really loved wearing the Cotopaxi Calidez. It's not as warm, but it has great lines, is lightweight, and offers a simple, minimalistic look.
