The North Face now sells an updated version of this jacket, the Miss Metro II, which we link to above. The entirety of this review refers to the original Miss Metro Parka.
November 2018The Miss Metro Parka is knee-length and weighs 1.8 lbs. Insulated with warm down, this jacket is lightweight and flattering. The outer shell is water-resistant and coated with a DWR (durable water repellent) treatment.
Window shopping in New York City, or commuting on the subway to work won't be an issue in the Miss Metro Parka. This jacket was one of the warmest jackets we tested. Insulated with plush 550 fill down and reaching all the way to our knees, we were impressed with how well this jacket did at trapping heat in and cold air out. Subtle, but cozy features like fleece-lined pockets warmed our hands up quickly and made it more enjoyable to be outside. We found this jacket to be comparable in warmth to the Patagonia Downtown Parka, but it fell behind the super warm Marmot Montreaux, which was the only winter jacket to score a perfect 10 out of 10 for the warmth metric. The knee-length makes it a warmer option than the mid-thigh length of the Canada Goose Camp.
While knee-length is great, the double-sided zipper stops just above the knee. There is a button snap on the bottom of the jacket (where the zipper doesn't reach) that keeps cold air out. The Arc'teryx Sylva Parka zipper stops mid-thigh and doesn't have a button snap at the bottom of the jacket; we could feel the cold air coming up the jacket when we were walking. Even though the Miss Metro and The North Face Thermoball Parka are both insulated with 550 fill down. The longer cut and loftier down in the Miss Metro makes it a warmer jacket.
The hood is insulated with down, and it's big enough to fit a beanie underneath it. It was a bit smaller than other hoods we tested, like the Patagonia Downtown Parka and the Canada Goose Camp.
A great option for a cold or snowy day, the DWR (durable water repellant) coating on the 100% polyester iridescent taffeta is only water-resistant. In wet weather, water beaded up and rolled off, but this jacket isn't waterproof and will eventually become saturated after an extended period of time.
The knee cut length offered extra protection from wind, rain and snow. The hood is adjustable, which we liked, but it was also small and didn't have much down insulation. Compared to the Marmot Montreaux or the Editors' Choice Canada Goose Kensington Parka, there are no internal cuffs in the sleeves. We thought this was going to be a big issue, but thanks to the long sleeves, cold air and precipitation did fairly decent job of staying out. While the Tres and Long Belfast are not as warm, they are better options for making it through a wet winter.
It's easy to dress this form-fitting parka up with heels, or wear it to your yoga class. The 100% polyester iridescent taffeta fabric looks and feels like suede, while the variegated quilting is flattering and stylish. We really like how The North Face used a matching green color for the logo; it blends in with the jacket really well, and we didn't feel like a walking ad.
If you love down jackets, but are turned off by the knee-length cut of the Miss Metro, check out the mid-thigh length The North Face Thermoball Parka or the Arc'teryx Sylva Parka. Both jackets aren't as warm, but they offer better mobility and are lightweight contenders.
Insulated with 550 fill down, The North Face Miss Metro Parka is plush, cozy, and super comfortable. The jacket never felt heavy when we were wearing it, but it's not as compressible as the Arc'teryx Nuri or The North Face Thermoball Hooded Parka; if warmth is what you're after, it is indeed warmer. The Miss Metro ran a little small in the shoulders when we compared it to the other jackets we tested; keep this in mind if you like to wear sweaters or thick layers underneath your jacket. The Patagonia Downtown Parka wasn't as tight at the knees as the Miss Metro, but it offered better mobility.
The main feature on this contender is its undeniable warmth. The down isn't as warm or thick at the Marmot Montreaux, but this jacket sleeker. DWR coating on the polyester iridescent shell extended our time outside in stormy weather. There is also a storm flap over the double-sided zipper that kept out cold air and precipitation. The hood is adjustable, and detachable by button snaps. The two exterior pockets are fleece-lined, and there is also an interior media pocket with a zipper closure.
Compared to the heavy duty thick rib cuffs of the Canada Goose Kensington Parka or the nylon cuffs with thumb holes on the Columbia Mighty Lite, the Miss Metro doesn't compare because it doesn't have any. We also had this issue with the Patagonia Downtown Parka, but at least the Downtown had internal elastic cuffs.
During the two months that we tested this jacket, it excelled in many metrics. There is lots of stitching on the exterior shell, so be somewhat cautious to snags that could occur. The main full zipper, and the pocket zippers are heavy duty, but we did find the narrowness of the exterior pockets to be impractical.
The polyester fabric is soft, smooth, and more durable than The North Face Thermoball, but not as heavy duty as the Canada Goose Kensington Down Parka or the Patagonia Tres 3-In-1 Parka. Another option that is a totally different look, but also a lot more durable, is the sporty and sleek Helly Hansen Long Belfast.
This winter jacket is perfect for a someone living in cold environment. Whether you are walking your dog, commuting to work, or running errands around town, you will remain toasty in this knee-length parka.
You will get your monies worth out of this jacket, which rings in at $320. The North Face Miss Metro Parka is warm, stylish, and flattering. Interested in saving $20? Check out our Best Buy winner, the Marmot Montreaux. It's warmer, and even more stylish with it's removable faux fur ruff - a great option for someone on a budget.
