When I was living in Boston, I walked everywhere and was spending quite a bit of time outside standing to wait for public transportation. During winters, I would wear two – yes TWO – down jackets over my sweaters to feel somewhat not freezing (mind you, I still wasn’t warm). I felt semi-ridiculous peeling off layer after layer once I was inside and decided that this way of living wasn’t practical. After doing some research, I found Canada Goose and decided to purchase their classic Trillium Parka in navy. Below is my honest review.
Outfit: Coat – Canada Goose Trillium Parka Jeans –Madewell Demi Cali Button-Front Jeans Boots – La Canadienne Samia Boots Sweater – Madewell Cream Mockneck Sweater
Fit:
Overall: The Trillium is not the most slimming, but it isn’t meant to be. However, this coat isn’t completely shapeless either due to their drawstrings which I will hi-light later. The Trillium is a Regular Fit (Canada Goose also has Slim Fit and Relaxed Fit), meaning that there should be room for several heavy layers underneath. For reference, I am 5’4 and weigh 110 pounds and I purchased a XXS (Canada Goose goes up to XXL). I am able to comfortably wear a heavy sweater with the zipper up.
Length: This coat hits me mid-thigh. The end of the sleeves reach my fingers if I pull them completely straight. Normally this is something I would tailor, but for this coat, I prefer the sleeves longer because they provide extra warmth for my wrists and hands. Also, they do stay up when I pull them back if I need my hands.
Warmth:
Canada Goose has a Thermal Experience Index (TEI) rating from 1 through 5 that determines warmth. The Trillium has a TEI of 4. This means that it can withstand conditions down to -25°C (-13°F). This rating has been tested over and over again by me unintentionally. I can genuinely say that the Trillium kept me warm during my commutes in blizzards and below-freezing temperatures.
The coat is windproof – I do not feel the wind chill even when I am outside for long periods of time. It is also weatherproof (but NOT rainproof) – I am always kept dry during snowstorms, the snow tend to just slide off the outer shell.
Functionality:
- Adjustable buckle on the back of the hood: you can shorten or elongate so that it can stay on your head with or without a hat
- Removable hood and fur
- Adjustable drawstrings at the waist: allows you to tighten in order to create a form-fitting silhouette or loosen to wear more layers.
- Straps for carrying on shoulder
- Pockets:
- My favorite are the hand warmer pockets at the waist. The insides are lined with fleece and they always keep my hands extra cozy.
- I use the bottom pockets for cell phones and wallets since they are deeper and have a button to secure my belongings.
- On the inside, there is a handy pocket perfect for valuables.
Quality:
I have owned this coat for over five years and I wear it every single day 2-3 months of the year and I do NOT baby this jacket. Impressively, the coat has held up really well. The jacket is still puffy, the zippers are still gliding smoothly, there is no color fading, and in general show very little wear and tear.
One downside is that my coat leaks a ton of down feathers every time I wear it – even to this day. It is especially evident when I am wearing darker colors underneath. This does make me worried about how sparse the filling will get eventually.
Other pros and cons:
I want to also highlight some additional pros and cons and didn’t quite fit into the other categories.
Starting with the cons first:
- An obvious one is the price – the price tag on these Canada Goose coats are no joke, and they keep hiking up the costs. When I bought my Trillium five years ago, I thought I was crazy for spending $500 on it. Now, the Trillium is $950 and I’m willing to bet that it will reach the four digits sooner rather than later.
- This particular coat is heavy and bulky. It does take up a lot of space when traveling, and it is not comfortable to carry around (unless you are using the backpack straps feature).
- This coat does not do well in rain. I was once stuck in a downpour; not only was my jacket soaked but it also smelled like wet dog for weeks.
Moving on to pros:
- Canada Goose stands firmly behind the quality of their products. They have a lifetime warranty guarantee which means if there is a defect in workmanship, they will either repair the item or replace it.
- Canada Goose will also repair items in cases of accidents as well. In this case, you will have to pay for the repair since negligence is not covered under their warranty.
Final Verdict: Overall, this is a good “investment” jacket for those looking to stay warm in winter. The quality is undeniable and I am excited to use it for decades to come. It is stylish (as far as winter jackets go, you will NOT look like the Michelin Man), functional, and will get you through brutal winters unscathed.
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