This is an awesome piece of gear; it lofts so high it's hard to believe. It is very highly water resistant, that is, virtually waterproof. The cut, the workmanship, the overall design are unsurpassed. This is a parka I'd bet my life on. It has replaced my Marmot 8000m parka as my go-to piece for serious, killing cold (neg. 30 F, neg. 40F; that kind of cold.) If you think it's too expensive, take it out in that kind of weather; you will no longer think it's too expensive. You need to wear this coat for a while, to get used to how huge it is. I did, and I'm more than ok with it. If you have the experience with really extreme cold, and use your head, this coat will get you there and, above all, get you back.

For once, I received a mountain hardware item that weighs considerably less then the stated weight (my spire 2 tent weighs much more than the advertised weight). My small is the perfect size and fit (I am 510 but very narrow in in the shoulders and waist) and weighs about 2#10ounces confirmed on my digital scale (2#13 ounces with the stuff sack). The medium would have been way to big. The fit and finish is great. The zipper works awesome as does the hood and tightening cords. I love the hem drawcord - a feature not seen on all parkas which is an absolute must IMHO. Seems very warm. Will test on katadhin next winter. This is replacing my MH sub zero parka. The absolute is a superio product and the fabrid around the face is MUCH MORE CONFORMABLE!

Mountain Hardwear Absolute Zero Parka:
Q) Warmest Parka Available today!
R) Great for Mountain Climbing!
S) Waterproof
T) 20 ounces of Down
CAUTION: A bit warm and overkill for city dwellers!

WARMEST COAT ON THE MARKET!!! I live in the mid-latitude prairies of Canada where temperatures tend to hover around -20 Celsius and can frequently plunge to -40 to -50 Celsius during the 4 months of winter. I spend a lot of time outside in these frigid temperatures and this more than keeps me warm - moving or stationary. I walk 4 kms daily outside. I used to wear 2-layers of clothing under my old 'warm' winter coat(s), along with mitts, toque and even balaclava just to stay warm...until I purchased the Absolute Zero Parka.
Now, I put on a light t-shirt and then my AZ. By the time I get to half-way to school - I have to take my hood off and unzip the front zipper because I overheat!!! I no longer wear gloves or a toque - the pockets are set into the down-insulated body of the coat which allows for unsurpassed hand-warmth, and the hood is insulated enough to keep my head warm without the need for a hat(s). The down seems to be staying in place, and I don't find that certain areas of my body get cold - like shoulders or forearms.
I had considered other Brands, like Marmot, Canada Goose and Patagonia. After trying them all on, what sold me on this coat is that its 800 fill goose down, fully waterproof, ripstop (conduit SL) fabric, with sealed seams. I don't regret my decision at all.
However, be warned in advance that if you decide on this coat you will need some room to store it - ITS NOT SMALL! And you may be called names like marshmallow or michelin man.

So..I was sick of being cold, and wanted to end it once and for all. This jacket is massive, even if you buy a size small. Don't plan on putting a shell over the top of it to protect it from pointy objects. Also, It is kind of ridiculous to wear around town due to its size. When you sit down it swallows you. Its kind of hard to hear with the hood over your head. I find that its only crazy warm when i am moving around. This thing is perfect for wearing around the house if your house is 56 degrees like mine. But when i go outside to scrape my car in -20, it does its job well. I have never liked mountian hardware clothing but I think they have got THF beat with this jacket.

I just got this parka. It's not cold enough yet for me to comment on the warmth factor (though I understand the AZ has proven itself already in this area) so I'll comment on size.
I am around 5'10 maybe 5'11 and weight around 145lb. I usually wear small. I took a small AZ, following advice I read here and it was the right thing to do. I think I still have enough room for a light down jacket underneath (though most buyers will never need so much insulation) and the sleeves are the right length. The body is shorter than I expected, but I understand that that's how "parkas" are dimensioned these days. That's ok, because I didn't really want a coat that goes down to my knees; to me that's extra weight for little added benefit. This one goes just barely below the butt. Of the two drawstrings (bottom and waist), the waist one felt awkwardly high at first (it's at belly-button level) but it seems to be designed that way to reduce "flopping" of the core, which can otherwise urge air in and out through the extremities. Useful.
Overall small was the right size for me.

also note: I haven't noticed the poor down distribution around the arms yet (perhaps that will come in time?) but the TNF Himalayan I tried on at the store had major down distribution problems around the arms, there was nothing in front of the forearms.

i returned this in favor of the north face himalyan which has a much better cuff system and an extra interior pocket

OK, this jacket is for serious mountaineering and sub zero temperatures or extreme conditions. If the temperature gets above 15 degrees, it probably will be more jacket than you need. It is extremely large and puffy. I am 6 feet tall, 160 pounds and usually wear a medium, but in this jacket the small was plenty big. Get this jacket only if you plan to be in extreme conditions. If not, it may just get left on the hanger, and that would be a shame.

Five star rating for the Absolute Zero Parka. For comparison purposes, this year I purchased, from Backcountry.com, the North North Face Blackhawk Down Jacket, the North Face Agaency Jacket, Canada Goose Expedition Arctic-Tech Parka, and the North Face McMurdo Down Parka. The Absolute Zero Parka was definitely the warmest, with minimal layering, in Northern Michigan sub-zero weather.
I have to admit that I will not be wearing the Absolute Zero as ofter as some of the other jackets; however, when it is needed, it is nice to have it in my arsenal.

First let me say that this parka is ridiculous in a good way. I have never in my life had such a warm jacket. I have yet to test it on any mountains worth noting however, I have used it extensively this winter while outside. I live in Michigan so I'll let you in on the average weather we've been having when I busted this jacket out. It was snowing at least a foot a day as well as peek daily temperatures being below zero with the wind chill added in. Now on to the part you're probably reading for... despite the cold weather all I would wear is a t-shirt and the Absolute Zero Parka and that would be more than enough to stay perfectly warm. This jacket is intense. I once made the mistake of shoveling snow in this Bad Jackson and that was a terrible mistake, by the time I was finished I had the jacket all the way unzipped with sweat collecting on my forehead. I'll say it once again, this jacket is intense. If your looking for the ultimate parka to combat intense cold and wind this is it. Zipper is huge and easy to use when wearing mittens as well as the draw cords at the bottom for blocking out the wind does its job very well.

i recommend The North Face Himalayan Parka.

There were some questions about the zipper on this jacket.

The zipper IS a two way zipper, so you can both zip it down from the top AND zip it up from the bottom.

I took the Absolute Zero jacket to Alaska for a recent trip on Denali. It is a great jacket to stay warm around camp while cooking. Most of the time, this jacket is too warm for wearing while moving. On days where I climbed in it, it has some nice features. There are two internal water bottle pockets, which kept my bottles from freezing (they would have froze in water bottle insulators). When it gets really cold, you can zip the jacket completely and use the cinch straps to protect most of your face. Excellent jacket, even in -20F temps.