The Granite Peak Parka is a great but not quite perfect jacket. The 3 in 1 design features an outer jacket that's highly windproof and waterproof, and an inner fleece jacket that zips into the outer jacket for added warmth. Either the outer shell jacket or the inner fleece can be worn independently, or together as conditions warrant. It's truly a versatile jacket and I've come to love the flexibility this kind of rig offers. For what it's worth, I have a similar 3 in 1 jacket from Columbia's Titanium line and this one is pretty comparable in quality and functionality (and interestingly, my Columbia & Hi Tec jackets have identical zippers, allowing me to interchange the inner fleece jackets between the two).
First, the positives: Quality is really high. Sturdy durable shell, welded seams, beefy zippers and pulls, etc. No doubt this will last many years. Water beads up nicely on the shell and it handles inclement weather well, also blocking wind very effectively. Aesthetically, the jacket is nice looking and sporty. The fleece is handsome with a very traditional, outdoors look (unlike my Columbia liner jacket that is more tailored looking) and it offers good warmth coupled with the shell. The sizing is accurate (mine is XL) with room for additional layers underneath and room to move as activities might dictate, but not baggy. Plenty of pockets (2 hand pockets, 2 chest pockets, and 1 inner pocket on the shell; 2 hand pockets and 1 chest pocket on the fleece), and the shell hand pockets have a nice fleece lining for comfort and warmth (lacking on my Columbia jacket). A big plus is the smooth lining on the inside of the fleece jacket, which allows it to slip on and off easily over other layers. My Columbia fleece jacket lacks this and it can be a pain when removing the jacket and the material wants to stick to the bases layers. Lastly, both shell and liner have drawstrings on the waist to help keep out cold and elements.
Now the neutrals, depending upon preference: The jacket does not have zippered underarms for cooling down-if you're into winter sports and want pit zips then this isn't the jacket for you, if you want a warm jacket for winter then you're fine. The shell sleeve cuffs have a velcro strap for tightening them to keep snow, wind, cold, etc from getting in at the wrists. I like the option of cinching the cuffs down tight. But the cuffs also have built in elastic which I don't like whenever I put on or take off the jacket the elasticized sleeves catch on my watch and I just dislike the feel of the cuffs putting slight pressure on my wrists all the time. Some folks may like the elastic, but I wish it weren't there. Next, I wish the neck was just a hair roomier when the jacket is zipped all the way up. I have a big neck (17+ inch neck in dress shirts) and although it isn't overly restrictive, the neck area is slightly more snug than I would like when the jacket is secured around the neck area (in fairness, if your neck isn't big this shouldn't be an issue). Finally, the hood is not removable. It can be rolled up and secured with a velcro strip, but for those who prefer a removable hood be aware this one is full-time.
Now for the few negatives I've found: First, wish the openings for the hand pockets on the shell were a little bigger. Not hard to get my hands in, but not much spare room with the openings becomes slightly annoying if you're wearing insulated gloves that add bulk to the hands. The pockets on my Columbia shell have a taller opening and it's more comfortable and natural feeling. Second, the hood works reasonably well but would benefit from a more substantial support brim. My Columbia hood has a wire brim that's bendable and retains it's shape, and it makes the hood so much more manageable.
There you have my take on the Granite Peak Parka. Overall it's a quality piece of gear that does a lot well, and it might just render a bunch of your old jackets and fleeces obsolete. Aside from a less than stellar hood system and some areas of simple preference, there's not much to complain about here. If you're looking for a 3 in 1 jacket (which I highly recommend) this one is definitely worth a look, particularly because it can often be found online for under $100 and offers a lot of bang for that kind of buck.
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