15 Winter Parkas That'll Keep You Feeling Warm—and Looking Cool

Here in New York City, it's gone from 70 degrees in November (major yikes) to 35 degrees in a matter of weeks (major yikes again, but for different reasons). This means that, for me, the window to ditch my tees and light jackets and replace them with heavier, more waterproof pieces was very narrow; parka season arrived before I even had time to prepare.

And, yes, I do say "parka season" as opposed to "coat season" or "puffer season," because when the weather is this cold and wet and windy, a parka is a necessity. The insulation, length, and hoods of parkas set them apart from jackets which might be fashionable enough for winter, but certainly not functional enough. A parka, on the other hand, is hard to go wrong with, if it's A) under 45 degrees, B) wet and/or windy, C) generally miserable outside, or D) all of the above.

So as we settle into December and the threat of winter becomes a Jon Snow-level reality rather than a Ned Stark-level fantasy, hang up your lightweight jackets and your impractical coats, and pull out your parkas. And if you—like me—have procrastinated before getting one and need a new pick ASAP, you're in luck; 15 of the best men's winter parkas, from brands like The North Face, L.L.Bean, and Arc'teryx, are below.