Men's jackets "Alaska": features and selection

The men's jacket "Alaska" is a classic of the military style that millions of boys, young men and quite adults all over the world dreamed of. Even without knowing what a parka was, just by the look of this outerwear one could understand that the vagaries of the weather were not scary with it. However, Knowing the history and features of real Alaska winter jackets, it should not be surprising that it has maintained its leadership status for over 60 years in a row. It is parks of this type that still beat sales records in the USA, Canada, Finland, and Russia.

Buying a real "Alaska" is a rather expensive and troublesome business. Not knowing how to distinguish an original from a fake, one can be flattered by the offers of firms that produce winter clothes, which are much inferior to classic models. A review of Finnish and Swedish jackets only confirms this fact - the best parks are still produced in the USA according to the original patterns of the 50s of the XX century from aviation nylon. It is they who are able to withstand the fiercest cold, squally wind and piercing freezing rain.

The Alaska Men's Winter Jacket is an elongated parka similar to the one used historically by the indigenous peoples of the north. Historically, this was the name of clothing that was sewn out with fur and protects from the cold in the most severe frosts. "Alaska" is often confused with anoraks, but they have a fundamental difference: the first protect from the cold, the second - from the wind.

The obligatory elements of a parka in its classic design include:

• contrasting lining (not all modern models have);
• hood lined with fur inside;
• zipper, most often double-sided;
• windproof flap over the zip with buttons;
• high neckline, covering the face in a buttoned state;
• fur edge along the edge of the hood;
• free silhouette that does not restrict movement;
• cuffs inside collars for extra protection from the cold;
• external welt pockets with zippers, patch inside and outside;
• waterproof outer coating with special impregnation.

Snorkel parka - this is how the jacket is called all over the world, known in Russia as "Alaska". It got its name for its resemblance to two items at once: traditional clothing of the indigenous peoples of the north and a diver's mask, which covers most of the face. The jacket first came to the USSR in the 80s of the XX century and was immediately renamed "Alaska" for its North American origin. Insulated outerwear with a bright orange lining has become a real dream for hikers and young people who want to become the owner of a fashionable foreign thing.

However, The history of "snorkel parks" dates back to much more ancient times - when there was a "cold war" between the USA and the USSR. In the 50s of the XX century, military bases of American soldiers were often located in a very harsh climate.

Forced to serve in such conditions, the pilots and technical personnel of the American Air Force needed special clothing with improved thermal insulation characteristics. It was by their order that a 3/4 length jacket was created, reaching mid-thigh and not interfering with aircraft control.

Besides the comfortable length, "Snorkel parks" received a deep hood with a flap fastener that protects the face from frostbite, and a fur trim... The task of the jacket was to maintain human comfort at temperatures down to -20 degrees. In addition, for its sewing, Ventile fabric was used - a cotton of a special weaving, which allows an ejected pilot to be in ice water for up to 20 minutes without risking his life. This material was later replaced by aviation nylon.

The real fame came to snorkel parka only after the license for their production was bought out by enterprising manufacturers. Jackets began to be produced in large quantities, they were very popular among teenagers not only in the USA, but also in Europe. True, this glory had a negative connotation. Representatives of disadvantaged strata of the population fell in love with "Alaska", and once in Russia, it became a real manifesto of the desire for a beautiful life abroad.

By the 21st century, the passion for parks had subsided, and this jacket regained the favor of a more respectable audience. More and more people, far from the social base, began to acquire clothes in the military style. "Alaska" harmoniously blended into the business style and became an attribute of a respectable life. Modern "snorkel parks" got a more relevant style, and the color of the lining began to be used not only in contrast, but also in the tone of the upper part of the jacket. It is worth noting that the trim of the hood of most modern jackets is artificial, whereas originally it was made of natural fur.

Today, parks like "Alaska" are produced by many manufacturers of outerwear. That's just original jackets, as well as their counterparts of decent quality, are created by only a very small number of brands.

This US brand is currently considered the only manufacturer of original Alaska or N-3B parkas. The manufacturer is especially proud of its three models listed below.

• Alpha Industries N-3B. This is an elongated "Alaska" - the very classic that is considered canonical today. The model is distinguished by a free straight cut, the top is made of aviation nylon, the fur inside the hood and at the edge is artificial, the lining is in the same color as the entire jacket, the fittings are plastic. The park is designed for a moderately cold climate.

• Explorer. Thigh-length model with removable trim. Stylish parka looks modern, combined with a business and free style of clothing. Outside Alaska is made of all-weather aviation nylon, inside is lined with polyester and nylon, artificial filling. The cut is straight.

• N-3B Puffer. Quilted "Alaska" in a modern design with natural down. This warm winter parka helps you survive the coldest winters. The model has a straight cut to the thigh, it goes well with sportswear.

A company from Finland that produces warm and reliable Alaska parks. Popular Finnish jackets of this type are cheaper than their American and Canadian counterparts. The brand produces "Alaska" with climate control, from membrane fabrics that provide optimal regulation of the microclimate. Natural down and feathers or Down Composite Mapping are used as fillers - a composite material made of polyester. The status of the legendary jacket corresponds to model Scanndi Finland DM19098 with Glazzex topcoat and moisture resistant ETL impregnation.

The brand produces stylish Canadian versions of Alaska parkas with goose or duck down filling and natural fur collar. Among the most current models is the Canada Goose Heli-Arctic Parka, an option designed for helicopter pilots operating in the most challenging Arctic conditions. The model has a loose fit, insulation made of white duck down, an inner lining of dense nylon, an outer Arctic-Tech material with a protective impregnation from water and dirt. Also of interest are Slim fit Westmount Parka and Expedition Parka models, comfortable for use in urban environments.

These Alaska jackets are made in China, but the brand is headquartered in Juneau, Alaska, USA. The company supplies materials from Asian countries: Japan, South Korea. The brand has quite a few popular models of Alaska parks.

• N3B Oxford. Classic "Alaska" for extreme cold weather with natural fur. A distinctive feature of the model is the outer material Oxford, nylon with a water-repellent impregnation.

• Husky Storm. Classic flight Alaska N-3B made from reinforced flight nylon. The parka has a moisture-repellent impregnation, reinforced seams, a plastic two-way zipper, a buttoned valve.

• Falcon Republica. Cropped Alaska made from aircraft nylon. Fashionable jacket for cold winter, comfortable when moving in the car.

The manufacturer from Sweden offers his vision of what modern "Alaska" should be like. The company produces jackets with taped seams and 100% wind and moisture resistance. The upper part of the Swedish snorkel parka is made of soft polyester, the fur of the hood is synthetic. Among the popular models are Reidar Parka, Marcel Parka, although different from the original, but still quite reliable even in severe frosts.

When choosing a jacket for a man for the winter, "Alaska" can be a good alternative to ordinary down jackets. Modern manufacturers offer a wide range of these jackets, and it can be difficult to make a final decision. To find your snorkel park model, you should pay attention to important points.

• Size chart. Most "Alaskans" have a traditional American one, and this should be taken into account when choosing, since the characteristics will differ from the Russian ones.
• Landing. In "Alaska" it can be fitted - Slim fit with tapered sleeves, and classic, loose along the entire length. The first option is convenient if the jacket is worn in the city.
• Top coat type. It can be soft cotton, aviation nylon. The second option guarantees full thermal insulation and moisture resistance.
• Lining. It can be quilted satin, soft cotton or synthetic materials to match the top of the jacket. Some models retain the bright orange color of the lining. She looks more elegant and original.
• Fur edge. It can be natural, but is increasingly being replaced by high quality faux fur with a long pile around the perimeter of the hood and a short one inside it.
• Filler. In classic parks, this is holofiber. Natural down and feather of a bird can also be found in different variants. They complicate the care of the jacket and can cause allergies.
• Color spectrum. Classic "Alaska" has a khaki or olive shade, under the influence of UV rays it gradually becomes almost burgundy. Modern manufacturers offer blue, red, black, gray jackets. They are less easily soiled, easier to combine with different styles of clothing.

The need to determine whether the real "Alaska" is purchased or its cheap analogue periodically arises among all fans of comfortable clothing for leisure and travel. Since only N-3B parkas, which fit the first models and produced by the Alpha Industries brand, have the “original” status, the differences are often significant. For example, signs of counterfeiting may include:

• curves, uneven seams, stitching with different thread pitches;
• asymmetrically located pockets;
• different length of sleeves;
• yellow or plastic zippers (white metal original with black slider);
• buttons, other fittings in a contrasting color;
• inappropriate number of buttons (the brand has 5 inside and 5 outside);
• lack of plastic false cartridges on the sleeve;
• too bright, "flashy" color;
• short elastic of cuffs (must be long, double knit);
• the branded font on the keychain is not in vintage style;
• no hanger-loop and spare buttons under it.