Outdoor Research Super Alpine Down Parka Review

Bottom Line

The Outdoor Research Super Alpine Down Parka is reserved solely for some of the coldest days of the year. With its 800-fill down insulation, 30D ripstop out material, and mid-thigh length, this is a heavy-duty jacket for serious cold. Testing this jacket on some of the coldest and windiest days in Alaska, it’s one of our top choices for the best winter jackets.

The Super Alpine is unique among our selection of down jackets for its extremely durable outer material. The 30 denier construction is among the burliest made in down jackets and we found that it is great for windy days. While it effectively blocks the winds, it does not provide the wet weather resistance of waterproof shells. It beads light moisture and repels snow, but is not enough to take out on wet days.

While the Super Alpine offers impressive warmth, that comes at the price of its weight and bulk. This is one of the heaviest and bulkiest performance jackets we have tested. Even with the included stuff sack, it packs down to roughly the size of a sleeping bag. While this may be too large to bring on a backcountry trip, we found that this jacket excels on hikes on the coldest days of the year, where warmth is a priority above all else.

How We Tested

We tested the Outdoor Research Super Alpine Down Parka in Alaska’s winter cold over three months. From days on high Alaskan summits in the Chugach range to ice skating on the Kenai Peninsula, we brought out the Super Alpine to test its weather resistance, warmth, and durability in some of the harshest conditions we could find.

Warmth

When the temperatures drop and the wind picks up, the Super Alpine is the obvious choice. We used this jacket on a day with sub zero windchill while backcountry ice skating on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula and were immediately glad to have this jacket. Its long length, packed with 800-fill down provides great warmth down to the upper thighs. Exclusively a winter jacket, the Super Alpine is simply too warm to use other than on some of the coldest days of the winter.

When testing this jacket on stop-and-go activities whether that’s hiking in the Chugach, or ice skating on the Kenai Peninsula, we found this jacket to be the perfect insulator for low-output activities or for standing still in cold weather. With a light mid-layer underneath, this jacket kept us warm at rest into the single digits below zero. Though this jacket is too warm to wear on a hard hike up a mountain, it’s great for throwing on at camp, or for other low-energy activities in cold weather.

Weather Resistance

Denier is the thickness of the thread used to construct the outer of a jacket. The Super Alpine is constructed with 30 denier fabric, the highest of any of our down jackets. This offers impressive durability and increased weather resistance compared to jackets constructed from thinner materials.

However, we don’t expect down jackets to serve the purpose of a waterproof shell, and the Super Alpine is no exception. While the thicker denier does provide some increased weather resistance, primarily in snow and ice, it is still susceptible to wetting through rain and heavy precipitation. The Super Alpine is not our top choice for weather resistance, but does offer slightly better performance than other down jackets we have tested.

Comfort & Functionality

The Outdoor Research Super Alpine was designed primarily for mountaineering and ice climbing but still is functional enough to use for hiking and other winter sports. Due to its extreme heft, this jacket is likely too heavy and bulky to be used on most backcountry adventures or multi-day trips. Even packed down into the included stuff sack, it is about the size of a sleeping bag.

During our testing, we were pleasantly surprised with the comfort of this jacket. Brushed fleece lines the pockets, chin, and collar for on-the-skin comfort. With a slightly trimmer fit through the body, the Super Alpine avoids some of the boxiness found in similar designs. Regardless, this jacket is still performance-oriented and the style reflects that. While maybe not the best choice for a night on the town, the Super Alpine is perfect for adventures on the coldest days.

Features

The Outdoor Research Super Alpine Down Parka is designed with features for high mountain performance. The dual zip zipper alleviates bunching when sitting, allows you to comfortably belay while climbing, and increases airflow when you need to cool down. The arms, hood, and sides are built with a quilt-free design to increase durability in high-contact areas. 

Five pockets, including two hands, one external chest, and two internal stuff pockets, provide lots of room to keep items warm and protected. The included stuff sack was thoughtfully designed with a small buckle to keep it clipped into one of the internal stuff pockets. While not loaded with features, the Super Alpine comes with just enough to fill basic needs while on a winter adventure.

Should You Buy the Outdoor Research Super Alpine Parka?

The Outdoor Research Super Alpine Parka ranks near the top of our lineup for warmth and is recommended for those venturing into some of the coldest temperatures.

If you’re someone who prizes warmth above all else, this is the jacket for you. While this warmth comes with some trade-offs, namely weight and packability, we found it to be a dependable winter jacket for cold and windy days. Its thicker outer material blocks the wind and provides slightly more weather resistance, while its upper thigh length offers increased protection.

This jacket may be too technical to take out on the town, but it is sure to be a worthy pick for adventures in some of the harshest weather the mountains have to offer. Try out the Super Alpine for your next cold-weather jacket.

What Other Winter Jackets Should You Consider?

Take a look at some other similar options below or check out the full list of the best winter jackets for men.

Feathered Friend Khumbu Parka Review: An expedition-weight parka, the Khumu offers extreme warmth similar to the Super Alpine but with greater packability and less bulk.

The North Face McMurdo Review: Offering great warmth, the McMurdo is more style-oriented than the Super Alpine and has a waterproof outer shell. 

Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Parka Review: Lighter than the Super Alpine, the Stretchdown offers a lighter-weight jacket for more active adventures or for easily stuffing into a backpack.