Men’s Paka Apu Parka Review

Bottom Line

While not yet a household name, the Paka Apu Parka is an emerging product that has quickly proven to us to be one of the best winter jackets on the market. Its innovative blend of alpaca fiber and synthetic materials, combined with a well-designed construction, makes it a versatile jacket for both city wear and active adventures.

The Apu surprised us with its impressive blend of comfort and performance. Weighing just over a pound, it’s one of the lightest jackets in our lineup that still provides excellent weather resistance and warmth. On a cold Alaskan day, snowshoeing in single-digit temperatures, it kept us completely warm—even too warm with a mid-layer underneath. We appreciate the pit vents, a feature not commonly seen in winter jackets, which help dump excess heat during active outings. While advertised as comfortable down to -20, we found this jacket comfortable in the single digits. A bit too warm to be a layered piece for active pursuits, it’s perfect to throw on when you reach the summit and want to warm up quickly.

The Apu blurs the line between technical gear and casual wear. It has a slightly longer cut than most technical jackets, giving it a more casual appearance. Despite its lightweight design, it feels a bit bulky and isn’t ideal for adventures where you need to pack it away. However, for its price, this jacket is highly versatile and performs well in many winter conditions.

How We Tested

The Paka Apu Parka was tested over two months in freezing Alaskan weather. We wore this jacket during winter hikes, snowshoeing adventures, and backcountry ski trips to evaluate its cold-weather performance. We carefully assessed four metrics to perform a thorough analysis of the jacket. We own and regularly use every item we test to ensure the most unbiased and rigorous testing possible.

Warmth

The Paka Apu Parka is a solid winter jacket, no matter the temperature. We tested this jacket in Alaska’s frigid winter temperatures all the way down to the single digits and zero degrees, and found it comfortable and warm in all of our tests.

The Apu Parka is built with Paka’s PAKAFILL insulation, a blend of alpaca fibers and synthetic insulation. This gives it the warm when wet performance of synthetic, combined with the moisture-wicking and anti-bacterial properties of natural alpaca fibers. We appreciate the slightly more insulated core with 130g of insulation and the lighter arms and hood with 110g of insulation.

This progressive insulating strategy kept our core warm and extremities well-regulated even during active adventures. The Apu Parka is rated for down to minus twenty degrees, which may be a stretch for this jacket, but it provided more than enough insulation during our tests in more common winter temperatures.

Weather Resistance

While most jackets tend to sacrifice weather resistance for warmth or vice versa, the Apu Parka somehow manages to excel at both. The shell, although not made from Gore-Tex or other well-known materials, endured all the winter weather we encountered. The in-house fabric, created with 100% recycled polyester, kept water and snow out effectively.

Although we sometimes hesitate to trust proprietary polyester shell materials, Paka has produced a durable and reliable shell that we’ve trusted on many adventures while testing this jacket in Alaska’s mountains. Strong enough for wet snow or sleet, the Apu Parka is an excellent choice for staying dry when the weather turns harsh worse.

Comfort & Functionality

The Apu Parka is a unique jacket that balances casual style with performance. Its relaxed fit and slightly longer hem make it resemble a casual jacket, but weighing just over one pound, it’s light enough for active outings.

We used this jacket for everything from running errands, shoveling snow, and snowblowing the driveway to snowshoeing and backcountry skiing. If you’re looking for a jack-of-all-trades, the Apu Parka is an excellent choice. The only concern for backcountry use is that it is bulky. Although lightweight, it doesn’t compress as much as more performance-focused jackets. While great for a day trip, it may not be ideal for longer trips where saving space in your pack matters.

Features

The Apu Parka is unique among our jackets because it has pit vents. During snowshoeing tests in Alaska’s Chugach Range, we appreciated this feature for releasing heat during uphill climbs or keeping a comfortable core temperature in milder conditions.

It’s a great feature that we wish more winter jackets would include. The jacket also features thumb loops that prevent warmth from escaping around the cuffs. Two hand pockets and an external chest pocket make it easy to access essentials, while two large internal pocketsto store an extra pair of gloves. Although it’s not overly complex, the Apu Parka is streamlined and simple, with well-designed features that enhance its functionality across various conditions.

Should You Buy the Paka Apu Parka?

The Apu Parka is a “one jacket for anything” piece that is stylish enough for around town, light enough for mountain adventures, and warm enough for most winter temperatures. Those looking to buy one jacket for all their winter adventures will find the Apu Parka to be the perfect fit.

However, it is somewhat bulky when packed down. This jacket isn’t our top choice for backcountry adventures or for maximizing every inch within a pack. While more expensive than budget options on the market, the Apu Parka is an extremely well-built jacket that is highly versatile and sure to perform for years to come.

What Other Winter Jackets Should You Consider?

Check out our full gear guide for all our favorite winter jackets.

Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Review: Another parka that blends technical performance with city style, the Tres’s modular design offers great versatility.

Patagonia DAS Parka Review: With a similar weight and level of insulation, the DAS is more packable for backcountry adventures.

Rab Neutrino Pro Review: If you’re more into the classic warmth of down, the Neutrino Pro is an excellent choice.