[$50 shipped in the USA.]

I'll put up some homestyle photos of these parkas in action here soon. But for now these stock pics will do.

The N3B is the extreme arctic military parka. These are replicas. They seem well made. I also have a pricey original N3B that weighs 4.5 lbs -- these are less bulky than that one -- that one is truly extreme, so these replicas are less so. But maybe there's such a thing as moderation. Less bulky might be a good thing sometimes. They also have a shiny nylon outershell while mine is matte. But they're specced the same otherwise: same pockets, stitching, reinforcements, same gov't-type tag in the back.

I have them in navy/large and gray/XL.

Large specs = 3 lbs; raglan sleeve measures 29" from neck to cuff; 19" armpit to cuff; nape > hem 34"; pit > pit 28.5"; low part of zip > zip (widest part of coat) 54.5".

XL specs = 3.5 lbs; raglan sleeve measures 30" from neck to cuff; 19.5" armpit to cuff; nape > hem 35"; pit > pit 29"; low part of zip > zip (widest part of coat) 58".

I got turned onto the 3/4-length snorkel coat (again) last year when I went iceskating at a friend's house on a windblown lake. I dressed in 6 layers in my usual winter waistcoat Carhartt. On our walk down to the lake my pal said "Don't you have a winter coat? I can go back and get you one. I mean, a real winter coat, that goes down below your hips, like this surplus one." I thought I was fine. I froze to death. So I fixed the situation.

If it's winter and you wear a N3B parka and trooper hat you'll be warm, that's all there is to it. If it's cold and windy and you DON'T wear them, you'll be miserable. Take yer pick!

They have 4 huge pockets on the front. I love 4 pockets! They swallow up everything you can jam into 'em. I load mine up with scarf, gloves, camera, phone, hat, waterbottle, eyeglasses case. And the outline of the already bulky coat stays the same. It's like carrying a messenger bag without the bag.

Plus, the UK Mods in the 60's were into these parkas. And American kids of the 70's. Snorkel parkas! (I had one, too. Blaze orange was involved. It probably was even DOWN-filled. Didn't good ones have to be back then?)

Just like trooper hats, it's time for a parka comeback. Get ahead of the curve.

Sadly, my wholesalers sold out of their trooper hats.

But big surplus mittens also go with these coats. Or classy black leather D3A surplus gloves with wool liners. You can skip the Mickey Mouse boots, unless you're ice-fishing. I want to help you cover all your cold weather bases.

Details: Nylon outer, pile fur lined hood. Quilted-insulation. Rib-knit internal cuffs. Snap-flap handwarmer pockets. Snap-flap chest pockets. Zip-closure arm pocket with pen slots.

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