4 Winter Parkas for Short Men (Hands-On Review)

It’s not easy to find a properly-fitted, high quality parka for short men, but we do have some options.

While most of us can get through winter by layering up under medium weight jackets, some climates call for an actual winter parka.

If you’re a shorter guy, you’ve probably found that most parkas are simply too long in the sleeves and body.

If you’re also thin (like me), most parkas are probably too big and baggy for you too.

9 out of 10 parkas I’ve tried on made me look and feel like Randy from A Christmas Story.

But I’ve found a couple of great options that actually look good on my smaller frame, and I want to share them with you.

My Build

For reference, I’m 5’6” in shoes and about 123 lbs after dinner. I have a 34” chest, and I usually wear XS tops.

My off-the-rack suit jacket size would be 34S, and my ideal pant size is 28×27.

Quick Note

The point of this article is to show you how these parkas fit. I’m not going to get into the technical features and performance of each coat.

You can check the product pages for more details about product features, weather ratings, materials, country of origin, etc.

Canada Goose Fusion Fit Langford Parka

First up, we have the mac daddy of all parka brands, Canada Goose.

I don’t think I’d ever spend $1,000+ on a winter coat unless I lived somewhere that experiences freezing temps for 3-4 months each year.

But I wanted to try a Canada Goose Fusion Fit parka because it was designed to fit “people with smaller body frames”.

According to their website:

Fusion Fit sizing was created by analyzing 26 key body measurements and more than 16,000 scans of individuals.

I was skeptical. Here’s how the Langford in XS Fusion Fit looks on me:

Is it overpriced? Yeah, probably. You’re paying for the brand.

But it IS an amazingly well-designed and well-constructed coat. It feels ultra premium and will probably last forever if you treat it right.

The fit isn’t perfect, and considering the price, I would need it to be just right.

Should You Buy It?

If you like luxury goods and have the money to spend, Canada Goose could be a great choice for you, especially if you’re smaller than the average guy.

It’s not great for extra short and slim guys, though, so you’ll want to try this on in a store or be ready to return it for a refund.

It’s also not great for anyone who cares about animal cruelty, as Canada Goose uses real fur on their jackets.

Finally, this coat will be overkill unless you live somewhere that gets really cold for at least a few months each year.

Ash & Erie Winter Parka

This is a hip length synthetic parka from Detroit-based shorter guy clothing brand, Ash & Erie. At the time of writing, it’s only available in black.

This parka has front hand warmer pockets, a water resistant shell, a removable hood, inside pocket and a velcro flap over the zipper.

It’s plush and comfortable. It’s also very affordable for a heavy winter coat, due to its synthetic make up (no down or fur on this one).

This is not a super slim fit coat, and there aren’t any drawstring inside, so you can’t make it slimmer.

On my svelte frame, it’s a little boxy, but not to the point where I wouldn’t wear it. You could wear a thick sweater under this jacket and still have plenty of room to zip it up.

Should You buy It?

I think this parka is the best choice on this list for anyone who wants something affordable, assuming you like the black colorway.

It’s also the best choice if you prefer hip length coats instead of longer ones, as most parkas are a bit longer.

If you don’t wear a lot of black, this parka isn’t for you, as it won’t go with the other colors in your wardrobe.

Additionally, if you want something higher end with natural materials like real goose down, you’ll need to spend a bit more on another brand.

Peter Manning NYC Winter Parka

Here’s another parka made specifically for shorter guys. It cost less than Canada Goose, but it’s not cheap.

It doesn’t have the draw string, fur riff, ribbed cuffs or brand cachet of Canada Goose. It doesn’t feel like a very high quality garment for the price.

I’m wearing size 1, and the sleeve length is fine, if not 1-2 inches too long. Overall, it’s slightly shorter than the Canada Goose Langford.

With no visible logos or fur, it’s also a more basic garment. It lacks the “cool factor” that you get with brands like Canada Goose or Alpha Industries.

Like many PMNYC items, the fit is somewhat “classic” (or boxy).

I’d like to see an internal drawstring that allows for a slimmer fit, or just a more modern cut through the torso.

This parka doesn’t work well for slim/athletic builds.

While you need some room for layers under your parka, I’d prefer a slimmer fit, or at least the option to adjust via drawstrings.

Should You Buy It?

If shorter sleeve length is your #1 priority, I’d probably go with the Ash & Erie parka because it looks better than the Peter Manning parka.

If you’re looking for a slim fit parka, this PMNYC parka isn’t the best choice for you, unless you’re up for getting it tailored (which can be tricky with insulated outerwear).

Patagonia Boys Tres 3-in-1 Parka

My experience with buying clothes from the kids section has been hit or miss (mostly miss), so I was pleasantly surprised when I tried on this Patagonia Boys Tres 3-in-1 Parka for the first time.

I tried the XL and XXL size and decided that the XL was large enough for my build.

First off, this coat fits me really well. Plus, it costs about $300 less than the men’s version.

Here’s the cherry on top: this “parka” is really just a raincoat shell attached to a down puffer jacket, and each layer can be worn on its own (hence the name):

I have two very small gripes with the Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka:

First, the sleeves are almost too short. They’re okay for me, but I have shorter arms for my height, so your mileage may vary.

Second, it’s slightly tight around the hips when zipped up (a common problem with boys’ tops).

I really wish it had a double zipper to add room in the hips, especially when sitting down.

Alternatively, I could probably size up to the XXL size for a bit more room and length, but I do like the snug fit of the XL.

Should You Buy It?

Yes, this is a great choice!

Keep in mind, it’s not really a parka. It’s a down puffer jacket with a removable weather resistant shell on the outside.

I think this is a bonus, but if you already have a down jacket and raincoat, you might prefer a traditional parka instead.

Also, even the XXL might not fit bigger guys, so this parka is best suited for svelte gents under 5’9″ or so.

Alpha Industries Slim Fit N-3B Parka

I don’t own this one anymore, but I wanted to include it because it’s affordable, slim fit and surprisingly flattering on shorter guys.

The Alpha Industries Slim Fit N-3B Parka can regularly be found on sale on Amazon, so try not to pay full price.

I ended up getting rid of this parka because of the way it looked. My style is pretty subdued, and this parka always felt too flashy.

Between the shiny finish, bright orange liner, faux fur hood and arm pocket, it just didn’t really fit my somewhat basic aesthetic.

If you do buy this one, I recommend the navy color, as it’s a bit more subtle than the green or grey versions.

Should You Buy It?

I think the Slim Fit N-3B Parka is a great choice for certain guys:

• If you want a more youthful look
• If you need a truly slim fit parka
• If you’re on a tight budget

Most older guys in their 30s, 40s and beyond will probably find this parka to be a bit too flashy.

The Choice is Yours…

The good news is, us shorter guys finally have some choices when it comes to real winter outerwear.

Just a few years ago, there were no parkas for short men on the market. Now, finally, we have a few solid options.

Would you add any parka to this list? Let me know in the comments below!