REASONS TO BUY
Warm
Durable
Good style
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor weather resistance
Bulky feel
Patagonia Maple Grove Parka Review
A warm and durable winter jacket for dry conditions
Credit: Patagonia
RELATED: Best Winter Jackets for Men of 2024
Our Verdict
In a crowded field, the Patagonia Maple Grove Parka stands out for its warm down insulation, durable shell fabric, and sharp urban looks. It is packed with recycled goose down that will keep users warm in all but the most extreme winter climates. The outer fabric, seams, and zippers are built to last, and the parka looks great in any setting. A major downside is that the outer fabric is made from canvas and cotton, and is only waterproof temporarily until the DWR coating wears off. This is a shame because, with a truly waterproof shell fabric, this jacket would be greatly improved. Instead, we can only recommend it for dry conditions, which limits its use.
Our Analysis and Test Results
When we first picked up this jacket, we knew we were holding a high-quality contender. It is warm, durable, looks great, has a full set of features, and is relatively comfortable to wear. Unfortunately, the shell fabric isn't waterproof, which detracts from its overall performance.
Performance Comparison
The Patagonia Maple Grove Parka is a warm, durable, and stylish winter jacket, but it lacks a waterproof outer shell.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Warmth
The Patagonia Maple Grove Parka is filled with plenty of high quality, 600-fill power down insulation that has been recycled from other down products. This insulation is very warm and durable, and fills every corner of the jacket, including an insulated neck rib to take up some room in this critical warmth area. This jacket has a good amount of insulation to keep users warm on most brutal winter days, but those who live in truly arctic climates would want to consider a warmer jacket.
The Maple Grove Parka is insulated with plenty of high-quality down, which provides ample warmth for those cold winter days.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Weather Resistance
Unfortunately, the Maple Grove is not fully waterproof, due to its mostly cotton shell fabric. Patagonia treats the outer shell with its excellent DWR repellent finish, but this treatment eventually wears off, and when it does, the parka won't be waterproof. Down insulation is highly susceptible to moisture, losing its loft, and thus its insulation capabilities, when wet. This means that if water soaks through the outer shell fabric, not only will the user get wet, but they'll also get cold as the down becomes ineffective. Users who live in wet winter climates should not consider this jacket suitable for everyday winter use.
The Maple Grove is treated with DWR, but once that rubs off, the cotton shell fabric readily absorbs water.
Credit: jeff dobronyi
Comfort
When you first put on this jacket, you notice its weight. The shell fabric is burly and heavy, and there is tons of down insulation to keep the user warm. However, the jacket is remarkably comfortable to wear, despite the apparent bulk. The down baffles lay pleasantly against your skin, and the jacket cut doesn't leave any bulk hanging off the body awkwardly. The hood is comfortable as well. That said, the outer shell is canvas, and feels like it.
The cotton shell fabric and well-tailored cut make this jacket very comfortable to wear, though a bit heavy.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Style
Our testers like how the Maple Grove parka looks. It has sharp features and an urban look without being a full trench coat, with large cargo pockets and open handwarmer pockets on the front waist, and a button flap that covers the front zipper. The jacket features clean lines and the classic small Patagonia label on the front lapel. The jacket's style is decidedly casual, yet refined and classy.
The Maple Grove's style is decidedly urban, though easygoing and casual.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Features
The Maple Grove Parka features two open handwarmer pockets that are located directly underneath the two large front cargo pockets, which snap closed with two buttons each. There is an external chest pocket on the left side, and an internal one on the right side, both with zipper closures. Our favorite winter parka design also includes interior stash pockets for storing gloves and other winter accessories, but the Maple Grove is still very well-featured.
The pocket arrangement on the Maple Grove is comfortable and useful, with overlapping handwarmer and cargo pockets around the waist.
Credit: jeff dobronyi
Durability
The Maple Grove is built to last. The canvas external shell fabric is thick and can take a beating. All of the stitching seems very solid, despite our best efforts to pull the jacket apart at the seams. Patagonia makes good clothing and this jacket seems like no exception. We did not run into any durability issues during our testing period. Plus, Patagonia has excellent warranty and repair programs should you run into any issues.
Canvas outer fabric and tight, strong stitching mean this jacket is built for the long haul.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Value
This jacket sits squarely in the middle of the pack in terms of price, while delivering slightly above-average performance. The big issue for us is the lack of a waterproof membrane in the shell, rendering this jacket less useful for users in moist winter climates. And since winter typically brings rain and snow, not just sunny skies, we can't recommend this jacket for users looking for one winter jacket to wear every day, no matter the weather. It could suffice for people who spend most of their time inside and expect to have very limited exposure to precipitation.
Conclusion
This jacket kept our testers warm and looking good, and it is durable enough to withstand rugged outdoor use. We are disappointed that Patagonia did not decide to include a waterproof shell fabric, which would make this jacket much more useful in climates where winter storms are a part of life. That said, if you are looking for a winter jacket to keep you warm in a cold and dry climate, the Maple Grove is an excellent choice.
Built for both the cold city streets and high-mountain winters, the Maple Grove is a great option for warmth and fashion, though don't expect much weather resistance.
Credit: jeff dobronyi
—Jeff Dobronyi
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