This article is part of our series Battle of the Brands, in which we compare category-leading products to their counterparts to determine which are actually worth your money.
Winter in New York City is no joke. Sure, it’s all easygoing trenches, raincoats, leather, shackets and midweight denim until November, but once December hits, it’s time for the big guns. Now that the weather consistently falls below freezing and every decision to leave the house is a big one, I reach for my Ifora Down Parka, a top-tier coat from the cold-weather experts at Arc’teryx.
At $1,600, we know this is an investment not everyone is willing to make. But I reconciled this huge spend after replacing years’ worth of average-quality winter coats — usually due to things like a broken zipper, unexplainable tear, leaking innards or untenable stains. The Ifora Down Parka represented what I hoped to be a final long-term solution to the dreaded urban winter. Part of the company’s style-forward Veilance line, this long jacket is stuffed with natural European gray-goose down and coated in sustainable waterproof Gore-Tex to keep me protected from rain, sleet and the inevitable snow. But it also gets added points for style, constructed in a stark, oversized design that lets me throw it on for a three-hour walk or over a dress for a night out. And it has invariably garnered compliments no matter what I’m wearing. Yet, as much as I loved every aspect of the coat, it made me wonder how it directly compares to a more affordable option.
To answer this question, I went searching for a fast-fashion winter jacket that was comparably stylish and billed as super warm. I decided on the Uniqlo Ultra-Warm Hybrid Down Long Coat because it was approximately the same length, thickness and general style, and garnered fairly good reviews online. Uniqlo is known for its popular, low-cost basics, and with an original price of $200 (I snagged the last one on the rack during the winter sale for just $80), it was exponentially less expensive than the Arc’teryx pick.
To test the jackets head-to-head, I wore them both for a few weeks in January, which dithered in temperature between mild 50s and the teens. I waited for a particularly chilly day (Alexa told me it was 17 degrees) to take a four-mile walk in Brooklyn Bridge Park, which sits on the East River, wearing just a T-shirt and yoga pants underneath. I also wore both jackets in the shower to mimic a rainstorm. Here’s what I learned about my splurge versus the bargain buy.
Arc’teryx Ifora Down Parka vs. Uniqlo Ultra-Warm Hybrid Down Long Coat at a glance
A mid-length down parka coated in Gore-Tex, the Ifora is Arc’teryx’s warmest coat to date. Not only will this lightweight jacket envelop you like a comfy blanket and keep you dry in any weather but its stylish, minimalist design and sturdy craftsmanship make it a timeless piece for any urban winter wardrobe.
Uniqlo’s basic winter coat combines down and polyester for the inner chamber and covers it with a nylon shell. And though it is sleek, stylish and warm, the cheaper fabrics do not ventilate very well in warmer temperatures and the zipper kept getting caught. However, I appreciated features like the hideaway hood and side slits on the bottom of the coat that let me move more freely.
Quick comparison
| Weight | 2 pounds, 6 ounces |
|---|---|
| Fill type | 850-fill European gray-goose down |
| Fit | Oversized |
| Exterior fabric | Gore-Tex |
| Pockets | Two exterior pockets with flap closures, one internal zippered security pocket, one zippered chest pocket, one non-zippered dump pocket |
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Uniqlo Ultra-Warm Hybrid Down Long Coat
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|---|---|
| Weight | 2 pounds, 5 ounces |
| Fill type | 56% down, 44% polyester |
| Fit | Slim |
| Exterior fabric | Nylon |
| Pockets | Two exterior side pockets with zippers, one internal zippered security pocket |
Both provide warmth, but Arc’teryx Ifora wins on details and ventilation
Strangely enough, even though they are crafted from different materials, the jackets weigh almost exactly the same. And if we’re talking straight-up warmth in the coldest weather, both fit the bill. On my four-mile jaunt through the windy waterfront park, the bigger problem I had with the Uniqlo Ultra-Warm Hybrid Down Long Coat was the missing details. For instance, the Arc’teryx Ifora Down Parka has interior cuffs inside the sleeves, and the sleeves themselves were subtly pointed toward my fingers, keeping my wrists and hands toasty, even without gloves. The Uniqlo coat has two snaps to try to cinch the material closer to your wrist, but that didn’t stop the wind from blowing up the sleeves.
When it came to donning the hood, the Ifora was also the hands-down winner. Not only is it roomy enough to fit over a hat and my ponytail (though it can be adjusted with a drawstring to fit closer to your bare head) but it has a built-in visor called a StormHood, which keeps rain and snow away from your face. This feature was something I coveted during rainstorms (more on that later) and meant I almost never felt the need to grab an umbrella before I ran out of the house. Uniqlo’s hood is shallow, does not fit as well over a hat or ponytail and definitely did not keep away the rain. Though, you can roll it up and hide it in the collar if you want to go hoodless, which is a nice touch.
Lastly, I love stuffing my pockets with crap, and the Ifora’s pocket situation is plentiful. The two generous outer pockets have large flaps that cover the openings so things stay put and it’s easy to get in and out without dealing with a zipper — which can be even more annoying with gloves or mittens. I never worried about losing my iPhone 15 Pro Max, lipstick, keys or gloves. Both coats have an inner zippered pocket, but the Ifora also has an extra zippered area on the outer chest and an easy-to-reach dump pocket on the inside chest. I loved that I could often leave the house without a bag and could even shove my large wallet and a hat in those outer pockets. The Uniqlo’s stingier pockets all have zippers, which meant there was always fumbling if I wanted to make sure nothing fell out. I also couldn’t fit my wallet or a hat in the side pockets, though the pockets did hold keys, thinner gloves, lipstick and just barely my iPhone.
When it came to ventilation in warmer temps, there was no contest. Even with the zipper open, I was too warm in the Uniqlo Ultra-Warm Hybrid Down Long Coat when it hit 50 degrees. The natural goose down in the Arc’teryx jacket is so breathable, it tempered any weather and I could zip up and still feel comfortable.
TL;DR: Both jackets are warm and weigh about the same, but the Arc’teryx Ifora’s price tag ensures you get more bang for your buck, with better pockets, a roomier and more versatile hood and windproof sleeve cuffs. In terms of ventilation, the Uniqlo’s polyester blend and nylon exterior kept me too hot when the weather was warmer, while the natural insulation and breathable Gore-Tex of the Arc’teryx never overheated.
Fit and style
As mentioned, both these jackets weigh in almost the same, with the Arc’teryx’s 168.5 grams of 850-fill goose down edging it up 1 ounce to 2 pounds, 6 ounces. And though the coat boasts a design that is all Nordic minimalism (I ordered a medium in black, though it is also available in an off-white Dust), it does offer a stylish, generous fit for today’s oversized fashions. The medium was perfect for me at 5 feet 7 inches tall. I probably could have gone down to a small, but I liked where the dropped shoulders fell and that it came down right below my knees.
The Uniqlo has a relaxed fit and a clean design, but it runs extremely large. Though I am normally a medium, I ended up with an XS, which ended up being a little shorter than I would have liked. On the company’s website, more than one reviewer complained of the jacket being way too big when they ordered their usual size, with one commenting, “I liked the look of this coat but unfortunately the sizing is off.” Another says, “I ordered a large, although the recommended AI size said XXL or XL. I am lost in it. It is WAY too big.”
Lastly, one of my biggest pet peeves of any winter jacket has always been annoying, cheaply made zippers. I don’t know about you, but I have spent too many frustrating minutes bent over trying to fit the double zipper of a long jacket together before heading out into the cold. The Ifora’s sturdy single zip, in comparison, slips right in and up, even while wearing gloves or mittens. No muss, no fuss, and I’m in love. The Uniqlo’s double zipper is a huge pain, and to be honest, I do not have high hopes that it’s going to last past a single season. Commenters on the site agree, saying things like, “The zipper got caught the first week I bought the coat. I tried to fix it, and the coat tore around the zipper” and “Super warm but the zipper keeps on getting stuck. I waste my time fixing my zip when getting out of the house.” Both zippers zip up to right under the chin, so you won’t need to add a scarf to keep your neck toasty — yet another nice perk in the city, where keeping track of your many cold-weather accessories can be problematic.
TL;DR: In terms of fit, both represent a stylish, oversized look, though the Arc’teryx fits true to size, while you should consider sizing down on the Uniqlo, which then changes its stated design goals. The zipper on the Arc’teryx is easy to thread and to pull up and down, even with gloves or mittens on, while the Uniqlo’s double zipper is hard to put together and feels cheap.
Water resistance
When it comes to keeping you dry in a downpour or blizzard, there’s not much of a contest between these two jackets. Donning each coat and stepping into the shower for 10 minutes proved the “you get what you pay for” adage, with the Arc’teryx’s waterproof Gore-Tex literally repelling the water to keep my body bone-dry, while the Uniqlo’s water-resistant nylon covering leaked through after about five minutes. I wasn’t completely soaked, but I was extremely damp and the coat felt heavy on my body.
Another thing I noticed was that the insulated StormHood on the Arc’teryx hood did indeed keep my face dry as well, unless I looked up, of course. The hood on the Uniqlo just covers your head and won’t shield your face.
TL;DR: As expected when pitting Gore-Tex against nylon, the Arc’teryx kept my body and face dry in the shower, while the Uniqlo was soaked through in five minutes.
Bottom line
Full disclosure: Splurging on a sturdy, super-warm winter parka is not something I’ve done before — and we are not in the habit of suggesting you pay $1,600 for a piece of clothing. However, after purchasing years of anemic fashion-forward cold-weather coats or lower-cost, sale-rack jackets that leaked feathers and ended up in the bin after a season or two, I was ready to put my money where my mouth was. The Ifora Down Parka, which is crafted from natural materials that offer levels of ventilation, will be a constant companion for many seasons to come. And if you’re not ready to plunk down the cash on a forever staple, the Uniqlo Ultra-Warm Hybrid Down Long Coat will offer you a warm, combined fill of down and polyester that will certainly last a season or two.
Yes, the Arc’teryx’s price tag can be prohibitive, but the fact is, in addition to its stellar warmth, waterproof Gore-Tex and perfect fit, it’s also an investment. I will keep it forever with the knowledge that it will never go out of style. And if anything does happen, Arc’teryx offers a hefty warranty. Now all I have to do is stop my teenage sons from stealing it for themselves — though if a 17-year-old thinks my coat is cool, I’m obviously ahead of the game.