Canada Goose Jackets – Is It Worth It?

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In recent years, Canada Goose was transitioned from a smaller brand focusing on functional wear to a very stylish brand that became extremely popular. As a consequence, their flagship jacket, which we are about to review, costs around $1000 and so we want to know, is it really worth that money? How does it compare to other well-known jackets such as Moncler?

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Canada Goose History

Just like many others, it started out as a very functional brand for outdoor gear. It was founded by the Polish immigrant Sam Tick in 1957. Interestingly, it was not named Canada Goose but Metro Sportswear. They started producing down jackets in the 1970s but they were primarily focused on jackets for rangers and the police.

By 1985, they decided to produce jackets under their own brand which at the time was called Snow Goose, not Canada goose. At the time, they also manufactured private label jackets for companies like LL Bean or Eddie Bauer. They were growing slowly and in the early 90s, they expanded to Europe.

Canada Goose Logo
Canada Goose Logo

Unfortunately, someone else was already using the term Snow Goose so they switched their branding to Canada goose. Even though they were forced to change the name, it proved beneficial because of the positive association with really cold Canadian climate. In 2001, Dani Reiss took over as a CEO from his father at Canada Goose. At the time, a lot of companies were still shifting production overseas but he said: “No, we’re gonna produce in Canada”.

At the same time, he began pushing the products internationally and especially in Europe, people didn’t question the high price tag because they associated it was a luxury high-end product. Ironically, the brand Canada Goose flew pretty much under the radar up until about 2010. The brand undertook an aggressive product placement strategy using celebrities such as Daniel Craig. Of course, that was also reflected in their revenue. The company went from 18 million a year to a multiple of that, selling a 70% share for a quarter billion dollars in 2013.

Kate Upton Wearing Canada Goose
Kate Upton Wearing Canada Goose

By then, Canada Goose had become so popular that model Kate Upton wore a jacket on a Sports Illustrated cover swimsuit edition. Today, Canada Goose continues to focus on quality and domestic Canadian production. The Canada Goose product lineup has steadily increased and now includes lighter weight jackets as well as pants and other outerwear things. Of course, with the popularity of the Canada Goose brand, also a lot of counterfeit jackets pop in the market just like with Moncler. They also use an authentication system making sure that if you pay top dollar, you get the real thing and not a knockoff. Just like Moncler, Canada Goose is now a status symbol and so we really want to look into it whether the jacket is actually functional and worth your money.

Canada Goose Emory Parka
Canada Goose Emory Parka

What I’m Wearing…

So I’m wearing the Canada Goose Emory slim fit parka jacket with a coyote trim. In terms of colors, they are less flashy than Moncler and I chose an olive green.

Genuine Coyote Fur Trim

The first thing that distinguishes the jacket visually from the Moncler one is the genuine coyote fur trim. Canada Goose claims that it has a functional purpose in the sense that it creates more turbulent air around your face thus preventing frostbite more than a jacket without the trim. The company claims that the coyote fur is ethically sourced and trapped in Canada. Now, trapping is always difficult and painful for the animals so I know a few people who would question that claim.

Sven Raphael Schneider wearing a Moncler jacket
Sven Raphael Schneider wearing a Moncler jacket

Matte Material

The next thing that stands out is the material. It is matte and it’s a lot thicker than the Moncler jacket. Also and I find it quite unpleasant, it makes a lot of noise when you walk! The material is made out of 85% polyester and 15% cotton, it’s water-resistant, durable, and hard-wearing, as well as wind resistant. It’s not quite gore-tex membrane material but it’s definitely thick and much stiffer than what you get from Moncler. That being said, nylon is typically a higher-end artificial fiber and polyester. In my opinion, the stiffness of the fabric is directly felt to the entire jacket and other people would have compared the jacket to wearing that x-ray vest at the dentist’s office.

Canada Goose Emory up close
Canada Goose Emory up close

Ribbed Cuffs

The ribbed cuffs are quite useful because they prevent cold air from coming in.

Pockets & Zippers

The jacket features an abundance of pockets, has lots of Zamak metal snap buttons that are plastic covered. Of course, all branded. The zipper is an injection molded plastic from YKK, ironically, it’s the same one used at the Moncler Jackets. For some reason though, I find it a lot harder to close. So for a jacket that retails for $1,000, I would’ve expected a higher-end zipper made out of machined metal and not just an average YKK product that I can get on Amazon for about 6 bucks.

Down Feathers up close
Down Feathers up close

Duck Down Feathers

Even though the brand is called Canada Goose, the actual filling of this jacket consists of duck down feathers which are inferior to goose down. So what’s the difference between goose down and duck down? Well, goose down comes in larger clusters, usually traps the air better which means you get a higher fill power and more insulating with a goose than duck. Because this jacket uses duck down, it’s not surprising that there’s a fill power of 625.

Again, low-end fill power would be 300, high-end fill power would be 900. So this jacket sits right somewhere in the middle. It consists of 80% down and 20% feathers which is not as good as the Moncler jacket which is 90% goose down and 10% feathers but both are not as good as some other jackets on the market. For example, the Swedish brand Jöttnar produces a jacket with 93% down and a fill power of 850, and British manufacturer Peter Hutchinson Desings (PHD) boasts jackets with 1000 fill power.

Thermal Experience Index
Thermal Experience Index

Thermal Experience Index

Unlike Moncler, Canada goose has warmth grading method which is called TEI or thermal experience index. That will help you to find a jacket that is best suited for your needs and your environment and the level of coolness you experience.

Is The Canada Goose Emory Jacket Worth It?

PROS

  • The construction of the Canada Goose jacket seems more rugged and sturdy. Frankly, I don’t wear these jackets enough to really figure out the difference because when I go skiing, I layer up because that allows me to get exactly the right heat level for the temperature outside. This arctic tech fabric is definitely more sturdy than the nylon one from Moncler and I think over time, it will wear better.
  • Unlike Moncler, Canada Goose comes with a lifetime warranty, however, that sounds better than it actually is because it’s just a warranty against manufacturing defects.
  • It’s definitely a quality parka, it has a real fur trim, it has a fill power of 625 and it keeps you warm and is well thought through.

CONS

  • The sound it creates and the noise it makes when I walk, I find it simply unpleasant.
  • It’s heavier than the Moncler jacket which is not so great in my opinion but more importantly it’s simply too stiff for my tastes.
  • Also keep in mind that you can find warmer jackets with a higher fill power for about half the price of this Canada Goose.
Having the right accessories can really upgrade an entire outfit no matter the season
Donegal tweed overcoat, fedora hat, Fort Belvedere yellow gloves and blue scarf
  • Overall it’s pretty expensive even though it’s twenty dollars less expensive than the Moncler jacket but at the end of the day, I don’t find any of those jackets really stylish because this one is very shiny and puffy, this one is less puffy but it’s so stiff and just makes me feel like a very unstylish person. So if you really care for style go with a heavy overcoat that will keep you just as warm in the city at the same time you will look a lot better.

CONCLUSION

In terms of value, one could argue that Canada Goose is better because it has more details it’s more functional and will likely wear longer than the Moncler jacket. That being said, the increased weight, the stiffness of the fabric in combination with a pain in the ass zipper, I don’t think $995 is a good value for this parka.

What’s your take on Canada Goose Jackets? Drop a comment below!

Reader Comments

  1. “Also keep in mind that you can find warmer jackets with a higher fill power for about half the price of this Canada Goose.”

    Such as?

    1. Checkout rei.com down-filled jackets, they give a loft rating and fill weight for each jacket. My relevant credentials for offering this advice is that I have experience in high alpine rescue.
      The question here seems to be one of personal taste rather than functionality. For non life-threatening pursuits many prefer the feel of a heavier garment whilst others prefer more freedom of movement. Take your pick…

    2. Do your homework.
      Yes, there are definitely other brands that have been making coats and jackets as long as CG.
      And no, I do not think it is worth the price.
      Too much hype has gone into producing this garment which has increased the price.
      Belstaff, Paul Smith, Armani, Brooks brothers, Joseph, Moncler, Bruer, Chevignon, The North Face, Calvin Klein, Stone Island, Balencciaga…The list is endless, if you do your homework.

  2. I got my jacket in 2007. I have worn this on the slopes and through every NYC winter and itโ€™s white! I got this before it was a huge trend. It is an amazing coat. What you forgot was the customer service. After years of wear and cleaning, the fur on the collar dried out and rotted. I wrote the company. I had to take pictures of the patch and inside labels to prove it was real. Then I had to have it cleaned and sent to them. 4 weeks later it came back to me in a custome garment bag. Inside was a fully reconditioned jacket!!! AT NO CHARGE! They added a new fur collar, replaced the zipper, replaced all the knitted cuffs and anything else they saw as โ€œwornโ€. That was after 10 years of wear! It may be expensive, but tell me ANY company that would do that! Worth every penny!

  3. John, Arcโ€™teryx makes jackets using goose down, coreloft, or a combination of the two, for city or slope, with Gore-Tex shells, priced from $650 to $950.

    1. Arcโ€™teryx is certainly the best quality in down jackets, hands down. I have several and their Firebee AR is *unbelievably* warm/light, while avoiding the Michelin Man look (the down baffles are concealed under a clean exterior). I went to the Arctic Circle in Sweden for New Years, and I wasn’t cold in the least. Plus, I can wear it on my commute to work without feeling like I look as if I’m going on an alpine expedition (though I could!). They’re not high-fashion like Moncler, but that shiny nylon look might not be your bag. They are definitely superior in warmth/style to Patagonia, North Face, Canada Goose, et al.

  4. Poke around on any hiking, camping, or mountaineering forums (people who need to stay warm for long periods of time outdoors as a matter of survival) and you won’t see Canada Goose mentioned in any serious comparisons of outwear. In fact, the popular review sites don’t even consider them. It’s a style brand, not a performance brand.

  5. The way the brand has taken off fascinates me. Genius marketing.
    The CG parkas are everywhere but I do not get the appeal of them. If I was a trapper in Alaska or Hudson Bay, I might need a garment like that…but I probably could not afford/would not pay the silly price. However, I see them in urban settings and think they are way over-specified and quite ugly. To pay nearly a thousand pound in the Uk to buy one of these things is not something I am ever likely to do except if it is a chilly day in Hell.

  6. I’m very surprised no one has mentioned the U.S. Air Force NB-3 snorkel parka. Mine was a lifesaver on more than one occasion. This coat looks to be a near copy of that right
    down to the coyote trim.

    1. Greg, you’re spot on. I’ve had my N3-B ever since army days and have bought two or three more since then. They are warm, roomy and durable: simply a non-nonsense garment that’s up to the job when I’m out and about in freezing conditions (and at my place it can get pretty cold). No fancy labels, no designer tags – just a good parka which comes at a fraction of the price.
      It’s the trouble with all these clothing items that are “hip” and “fashionable”: they are ridiculously expensive, are often endorsed by celebs (whose fees go on top of the original price!) and sometimes come in colours you will be sick of in no time. And the buyers are soon stuck in a dilemma too: on the one hand they expect their garment to be “exclusive” but on the other hand they don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb in the street either. But you canโ€™t have it both ways: you can’t reconcile “exclusive” and “fashionable”. If after a while the jacket is seen on any Tom, Dick or Harry (complete with a Starbuck’s coffee and ear-plugs) it’s no longer “exclusive” – instead it’s now โ€œworn by the proles”. Quality is usually poor too, because a “fashion item” is not made to last anyway, as it will have gone out of fashion within a year and will be discared. And a garment as a “status symbol”? As soon as any Chinese student, any bearded hipster or any school teacher on the street wears it, it will immediately cease to be a status symbol…

      My advice is to stick to the makes that have stood the test of time, like Barbours, John Partridge, Cordings, L. L. Bean etc. My personal favourite over the years has been “Hoggs of Fife” from Scotland. Look for โ€œform follows functionโ€ and look for traditional colours, materials and patterns that will never go out of fashion โ€“ because theyโ€™ve never been in fashion.

  7. I think it depends a lot on where you live. CG, Kanuk and other local brands tend to perform well in the harsh conditions found in many Canadian cities. That said, CG is a relatively expensive brand to wear if you live in a place where the temperature rarely goes below the freezing point.

  8. I have to completely disagree with your position on Canada Goose. During my three year assignment to South Korea, I absolutely froze during the first winter there – and I was wearing a very expensive, very thick coat that I thought would have been more than adequate. At minus 25 wind chill, I may as well have not been wearing the coat at all. One of my colleagues recommended a Canada Goose Expedition Parka and it was the best money I have ever spent – quite frankly I would have paid double for it. You criticise the noise the material makes when you walk? That seems to be scraping the bottom of the barrel to find fault in my opinion. And who cares about looking faaaabulous when you’re freezing your cojones off?? Function and practicality over style wins every day in my opinion – especially when it’s minus 25!

    1. I live in Minnesota where I am outside everyday in the winter, and even at -30 degrees why super heavy woollen overcoats keep me warmer than the Canada Goose. If you like your’s that’s great, wear it. I think you can get either more stylish overcoats or performance jackets that perform better than Canada Goose for less.

  9. It is surprising and disappointing to find you advertising something with labels all over the outside, in contravention of your own rules

  10. I have a Canada Goose jacket and love it, though where I live in Canada there’s only a handful of days that I really need it. The hood really does make a huge difference in terms of your ears and face being warm on -30 windchill days. I also appreciate that it was not made overseas. That said, it was a (lovely) gift; if I was going to choose a cold weather parka (not a camping/climbing/skiing sporty jacket) I’d probably go with a Quartz Co. one; very similar quality, many are washable with removable fur, slightly lower priced- but unlike Canada Goose you can sometimes get a Quartz jacket on a good sale!

  11. I live just north of Detroit and must be outside walking for three miles per day regardless of temperature. My favorite coat was a snorkel coat by Nautica purchased twenty years ago. Due to age the nylon shell is breaking down. I purchased a Canada Goose Chateau. It’s a nice coat, but when walking into a sub zero north wind, I felt cold air against my chest. Now it sits in the closet and I am back to the raggedy Nautica. Yes, layers would have helped, but the point was to have a warm coat in arctic conditions. BTW: Indeed, the zippers are awful. I’ve looked at NB-3, but none I found had down or Coyote fur. For warmth, you have to have down and the Coyote fur makes a big difference. I have heard that Triple F.A.T Goose is comparable to Canada Goose, but only slightly less expensive

  12. I’ve have a Triple Fat Goose Eberly II for two winters in the North East of England.
    Amazing. Lovely and light, properly warm and toasty, has the armpit vents to regulate things better, reat pockets, zipper is biff, but the poopers are what i mostly use.
    Totally worthe the moey and the shipping charge. My wife, who dislokes the cold, i managed to convicne her to get the womens version too. Waiting for it to arrive.
    I chose it cos the longer length vs canada goose hip ones.
    No regrets.

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