Marmot Chelsea Coat

I'm from a part of Australia that doesn't really go below 4 degrees Celcius, ever... but I travelled to Levi in Lappish Finland over xmas/ NYE 2009 (where the temp can sometimes go to minus 40 C, but averaged minus 20 C while I was there)... so I put ALOT of research into buying a coat that would keep me as nice and toasty as I am accustomed to.

And this coat definitely did! I was never in any high winds, so I cannot attest for that factor.

-However, the waterproofing held up perfectly to walks in pretty heavy snowfall.
-It is SO warm! I usually feel the cold alot (it makes me very cranky) but whenever I was wearing this coat I was always happy!
-In minus 5 C I could wear a tshirt and singlet underneath.
-In minus 28 C I wore a tshirt, singlet, longsleeve shirt and fleece jumper.
-The coat easily fitted this much clothing underneath... and could have fit possibly another 2 jumpers.
-The hood has drawstrings to make it tighter.
inside chest pocket too.

I'm a size 8-10 (Australian sizing) up top and 10-12 on bottom and bought the large jacket just to be on the safe side because I wasn't sure how many layers I would need to wear... admittedly the jacket is a little bulky, but when layering I was always very comfortable, and could move my arms easily. I have taken in the strap that runs along the back to give it a bit more shape, because of the larger sizing.

Hope this helps! :)

Dollar-wise, this coat is the largest clothing purchase I've ever made, and I have to say, it's worth every dime. I was looking for a down coat--something at least knee-length--stylish enough that I would actually want to wear it. The pictures of this coat don't do it justice: it's adorable. It is also beautifully constructed; the seams are double-sewn, the fabrics are beautiful, and it is carefully finished. It hasn't gotten really cold here yet, but at 650 fill power, I find it hard to believe this coat won't keep me warm. (Plus, it's waterproof! What more could you want?)

Originally, I hesitated to purchase it because of the reviews regarding problems with the velcro closure--but Marmot has redesigned the coat to close with snaps. Another tidbit that isn't included in the description: not only does the hood zip off the coat, but the fur zips off the hood! The collar, when snapped, comes up really high, and when the hood is attached to it you really have complete protection against the cold and wind around your neck and face.

I was brave (or foolish?) enough to buy the coat in winter white, but it's machine washable. The customer service folks I talked to recommended using Nikwax Down Wash, as well as the Tech Wash from time to time to maintain the waterproofing.

The coat does run small--which was another plus for me since I'm really petite--but you may end up buying one size up from your usual depending on what you plan to wear underneath.

When I got this coat in mid-December, it was 2 degrees and snowy in Chicago, and I thought, "If this coat was a guy, I'd marry it." (Or if it was a girl, I'd marry it in Massachusetts.) It's warm and cozy, dependable, and downright adorable: a good length for the city, a nice tailored nip to the waist, a full hood to keep the wind out. It's been a hideous winter in Chicago, but I am now not afraid of the below-zero-wave that the forecasters are predicting for later this week. Yay, Marmot!

As to the caveats: (1) this coat definitely looses feathers on the inside. Dark sweater wearers beware -- it's more of a problem than I thought; (2) the fabric on the outside is indeed waterproof, but it gets slightly bunchy (so the nice lines of the coat aren't always quite as elegant as one would hope), and the feather-bits from the inside tend to stick to it -- so pet owners beware; (3) the "espresso" color is actually a kind of dark purple, not brown, as one would expect... more of a deep mauve-y plum color... or fresh bruise, perhaps? I happen to like it, but you - Ms. Potential Consumer - should know what you're getting.

All in all, though, this coat and I are still in the Honeymoon phase. I accept its minor flaws, cherish its many attributes, and look forward to many happy winters together.

This is the warmest down coat I've ever owned, and I've owned a few. I used to have the NF Metropolis Parka and it was warm but wouldn't stand up to wind and rain. I wanted to get a really warm coat that would and this one fits the bill perfectly. I looked at every other down coat (NF, Patagonia & others) and none had all the great options of this coat along with being waterproof & windproof. The other coat I was looking at was the Arctic Parka from NF. Also a very nice coat, but felt heavy and as reported by others, I had trouble with the zipper. Also, the hood isn't removable which I didn't like.
The Marmot Chelsea performing even better than I expected! It is sooo warm! It got tested out today in -20F windchill and I wasn't even a bit cold! The hood is awesome and kept my head toasty. I love that it's removable. This coat is the perfect length as well falling just above my knees and it isn't too heavy either.
Overall, this is a fabulous coat. After MUCH research, I couldn't be happier with my choice. I definitely recommend this coat to anyone.

Bought this today. Tried on a zillion coats (northface, patagonia, isis) I had initially like the NorthFace metropolis parka, but then realized it wasn't waterproof. Tried on the NF waterproof version(arctic) with the fur hood. Very similar to this Chelsea coat. But even in the larger size, the NF felt very restrictive, heavy, and overbearing. Tried this marmot chelsea coat and instantly fell in love. I was in between a XS and S, but put a midweight fleece under it and sized up and went with the small. The exterior is soft to the touch, and the overall weight of the coat is extremely light. Pockets are warm and well placed, and the jacket hits just above the knee (I am 5'5, 120 lbs) The belt in back is flattering. The espresso color was fun with the orange lining, but I went for the black. Highly recommend this coat based on fit, weight, feel. Can't attest to its warmth, however just having it on to try it on, it was WARM. And finally, I really appreciate that marmot didn't go overboard like NF does and plaster logos all over. There is a discreet black on black logo on the cuff, and thats it.

I just received this coat and it fits perfectly. I got the small and i'm 5'7" and 120 lbs. It's the perfect size. The coat is not bulky at all and surprisingly light. I knew the color would not be black black, it's more a deep navy blue and that's OK. However i'm disappointed in how much lint it attracks. I've had wool coats in the past that would attrack its fare share and this is worse that wool. I'm gonna have to use the lint roller on it every day, if not several times a day. Also, when folding it, the part of the fabric that is folded turns lighter, i'm not sure how to describe it but you see light creases in the fabric which does not make it look as nice as it should. Seems to me like the coat will not look good after a first wash and lose a lot of its color unevenly. So it does not deserve 5 stars because of the look of the outside fabric, but it does have a very flattering fit and is very warm.

I bought this coat about a month ago, and I absolutely love it. I tried on many coats before deciding on this one. In fact, at one point I had narrowed my selection down to parkas by Canada Goose, Patagonia, and North Face. Then, the guy helping me in the store said "you should really try this Marmot Chelsea - its as warm as any of the ones you are looking at, its waterproof (unlike the Canada Goose), windproof, light and flattering". I tried it on and I was sold. I have worn it in many kinds of weather the past few weeks - freezing rain, -15, serious winds - and I have been dry and toasty every time. What I like the most is how understated it is - you think something this chic and simple couldn't seriously keep you warm and dry. On the contrary, it does both with ease and is for the serious weather. It just happens to offer all of this with style, not like most of the other parkas which are smaller versions of the men's parkas.

I ordered this in the wine color, size medium. I am 5'4" and 128 lbs. The color is beautiful and I would highly recommend it - a nice change from the usual black down jacket. The coat was made very well and extremely warm. The hood is a little big, but the hood zips off and you can take the fake fur off separately if you aren't into that. I ended up returning the coat unfortunately because it was way too bulky on top for my taste. I tried a small on in a store and it was a little too tight around the hips (I am more pear shaped). I would definitely recommend the jacket if you are looking for very warm jacket (just above the knee), sturdy and a beautiful color. And backcountry is free to ship and returns are so easy.... what do you have to lose?

I live in NYC and spend plenty time waiting for buses and trains not to mention walking all around town. This coat is warm and wind-proof, even the pockets are lined and warm. The outer material is great as light drizzles simply beads off. The hood is very well designs as it fits your head but does not impede your vision as some hoods do. The best part is that it stays on your head even facing the wind.

The cut of the coat is awesome as it has a nice waist. The cuff is adjustable so you can snug them around your wrist to prevent wind penetration. I am 5'-3" and weights 115lb. Size S is just perfect with a medium weight sweater underneath. Overall this coat is very well constructed and worth every penny!

At first, I loved this coat. As a teacher, I was incredibly warm on recess duty. It looked nice and I loved the color. Still, after a month of wear, I began to notice the fabric on my left sleeve only was fraying. I blamed myself, thinking I had done the damage somehow. Finally, it occurred to me what was happening. Unless you remove the coat when you go inside a store etc, nothing can stop the velcro from rubbing against your left sleeve. (It doesn't happen on the right sleeve because the velcro is not on that side.) I cannot understand why Marmot did not discover this before putting this coat out for sale. When you pay good money for a coat, you expect it to last more than a month or two before looking worn out. The velcro causes too much damage. I hated to return this coat, but decided I must in the end. Keep looking. Don't get this coat.

My initial reaction was love at first sight. This coat was exactly what I was looking for- great fit, warm, but not too bulky. Then I started noticing that whenever my coat is unzipped the sleeve catches on the front Velcro closures. I thought I could live with this, but after a month I realize this is more than a minor annoyance. The fabric on the inner portion of the left sleeve is becoming pilled and worn well beyond what I would expect after 1-month of wear. I expect a $300 coat to hold up to at least a few seasons of wear. Sadly I am on the verge of returning this otherwise fabulous coat.

This coat had the warmth and the lightness that I was looking for but I had problems with the zipper and the velcro sticking to everything. Had to take the coat off to get the zipper started. I think the coat ran small. It was tight under the arms but large in the waist. Style needs some tweaking! Quality of fabric seemed really good. I was very dissapointed.
Again Backcountry came through with their great service!

I ordered this coat for my daughter, who goes to college in freezing Madison, WI. We ordered and returned this coat (and 2 other down coats from L.L.Bean and Lands End). Although this coat seemed like a quality garment, with great technical features (waterproof, 650-fill down), it just looked kind of funny on her--rather shapeless and stiff. She ended up getting a slighly shorter down jacket from Eddie Bauer that went on sale after Christmas and was about a third of the price. It's not waterproof and probably not as warm as the Marmot (although it's also 650-fill), but it's more stylish and flattering.

Warm coat!
my gripes are: that the black fabric picks up lint easily and wrinkles.
And if you want to keep your jacket unzipped your sleeve or any other material will stick to the velcro (annoying) they should have had the sticky velcro part on the zipper side (facing downward to prevent this)