The Therme Parka is the perfect answer for anyone who's looking for a jacket that's warm and waterproof but doesn't want to wear their 'on the mountain' jacket every day. It combines a Gore-Tex lining with internal baffles full of gorgeous European Goose down to give you a jacket that not only looks and feels great but is also a brilliant barrier against the elements.
The layer closest to your body is numerous baffles filled with 120g of 750FP European Goose Down to keep you snuggly on the coldest days. On top of that, sandwiched between the down and the face fabric is a layer of Coreloft (which is also used as the only insulation in the hood and the storm collar, meaning that even if they get wet on the inside, like when you're struggling to get your hood up in a downpour, the baffles will still keep your head warm and won't compress) - This double layer of insulation is called Down Contour Composite which helps the down to maintain maximum loft and protects the down from any condensation that may form inside the jacket. The result is a highly efficient system with excellent moisture management.
The outer fabric that protects all of that down is a 2-layer Gore-tex, the outer most layer being a 75D, 100% Polyester face fabric that is not only really easy to keep clean but is also super burly and gives the jacket a sleek silhouette. The Gore-Tex membrane is tough, incredibly waterproof and also highly breathable, making it an effective barrier against the elements keeping you, and all of those warm clusters of down, protected and dry.
The jacket features drawcords in the sides and rear of the hood and internal wrist cuff gaskets to further aid in sealing out the elements when the weather is at it's worst. Along with that, the jacket also has two generous, insulated hand pockets, an outer chest pocket and an internal passport-sized pocket, for extra storage. The two-way centre front zipper means that, for extra comfort, you can undo it from the bottom when you are sat down for coffee or in the car.
All of these elements come together to give you a Parka that will keep you warm and dry and make you look good whilst doing so.
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Waterproof Gore-Tex Membrane
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Warm
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Durable
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120g European Goose Down
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140g Coreloft
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Down Contour Composite technology
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Regular Fit
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Upper-thigh length
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Two-way centre front zip
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2 hand pockets
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1 internal chest pocket
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1 external chest pocket
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75D Polyester face Fabric
How to wash your down products
Having spent years talking to people about down products, whether that’s a jacket, sleeping bag or even a pair of slippers, very few have had the confidence to go ahead and wash the product on their own, especially when they have just spent an arm and a leg on it. This small guide is here to explain that it’s not as daunting and utterly terrifying as it first appears.
Step one: Before you even get near that washing machine, wipe off any excess mud or dirt that may be lingering on the surface of the jacket, as this will clog up the washing machine, eventually rendering it useless.
We recommend the use of Nikwax Down Wash Direct for down products as it’s one hundred percent environmentally friendly and will wash and re-proof the garment without the use of bleach or any other nasty chemicals. What household washing agents can (and often do) is remove the water repellent coating on the fabric of the jacket, whilst also damaging the delicate array of feathers inside.
Step two: We’ll assume in this instance that you’ve been washing other products prior to your down jacket and have used a bleach based detergent. Therefore it’s a good idea to run the washing machine for half an hour or so without anything inside to rinse it clean before adding the Nikwax or putting the jacket in. Also, don’t forget to remove the detergent drawer to give it a wash inside, outside and behind, as detergent can clog up and still enter the washing machine if not cleaned out thoroughly. This ensures that any remnants of detergent are removed and that the Nikwax products will work effectively.
Step three: Set the washing machine to a cold wash (check the garments care label, most tend to be around 30°C) and as delicate as possible. Most washing machines have a “wool” cycle which is ideal.
Step four: If using Nikwax Down Wash Direct, place 100ml in either the tray or directly into the washing machine inside a small pot/ball. If you choose to use another washing product, place the appropriate amount in the machine in the same way.
Step five: Set the washing machine to run on a slow cycle, allowing plenty of time for the jacket to soak up the cleaning/re-proofing product. Most washing machines will have a pre-set time for different washing cycles.
When the cycle has finished be prepared for a shock, your precious bit of kit will come out looking like a soggy ball of material. But don’t worry, you haven’t ruined it, it’s just that all that fluffy down insulation has become water logged and has clumped together. The trick is to now get all that down nice and dry to reinstate its superb insulating properties. Simply hanging it up in a warm place will not work that well. It will take days to properly dry and you will have to constantly break up the clumps to get it thoroughly dry. The best way is to use a tumble dryer; either a domestic one for smaller items or a commercial drier for sleeping bags.
Step six: Pop the garment into the dryer and make sure to select a low heat; a high heat runs the risk of melting seams and fabrics within the garment. It sounds weird, but shove a few tennis balls into the drier with the garment; the tennis balls will bounce around and help to break up the clumps of down. Every 20 minutes, pull the jacket out of the dryer and lie the jacket down on a table. Run your hands over the jacket until you find a 'clump' or ball of down; tease apart this down clump and spread it evenly into the baffle. Once you're confident you've pulled apart every clump to the best of your ability, stick it back in for another 20 minutes. Keep repeating this until there are no more clumps left.
Step seven: When the cycle has finished and you are sure that you have got the garment as dry as possible, hang it up in a warm dry place, an airing cupboard is ideal, for 24 hours. This drives out the last of any dampness and allows the down to loft fully. Take it out and give it a good shake and, hey presto, it’ll be as good as new.