Written by Craig Landale in Reviews on the 7th December 2017

I was on a recent search for the best parka outerwear around and I stumbled across Musto’s impressive offering. I knew about this brand and their strong association with sailing, but I hoped I could find something that would work well in an urban city landscape at ease. A parka coat is a signature garment that every guy should have this winter. It’s a style that’s been around for decades and will be around for decades to come. It was important that I found one that was versatile enough to be teamed with both a casual assemble and a smart look. I needed plenty of pockets for a notebook, smartphone, wallet and headphones as well as snacks to see me through my busy London schedules where I can easily clock up 10k steps in a day whilst attending my meetings each week.

Battling the elements is essentially what Musto are all about. They engineer technical clothing to help people perform at their peak, no matter the adventure. Their designers are fanatical about detail and style, from the precise placement of ergonomic panels on active jackets to the careful crafting of the handmade leather shoes, this is where style meets hi-tech performance. To achieve this they only work with the best manufacturers so you can be assured of Musto quality every time. Testing is integral to the process and their products are put to the test in extreme hostile environments around the world and within labs. This is clearly why people still wear their own twenty-plus-year-old Musto gear today. This impressive durability factor is why the brand can offer a lifetime guarantee on many lines as well as an exceptional repairs service.

After speaking with Musto I was pointed to the Loska BR2 Primaloft Parka (£400), which is a stunning yet understated coat that is of series quality, available in Brilliant Blue, Liquorice, Black (the one I chose) and Forrest Green. It’s highly waterproof, breathable and windproof to Musto’s BR2 standard insulated with PrimaLoft Black Insulation Eco for lightweight warmth. I was in London at just 1 degrees to capture these images and later that day it even snowed lightly. I can confirm that I was comfortable all day; not too toasty and not too chilly. The coat even has microfleece lined handwardmer pockets and a microfleece lined collar for warmth and comfort. There’s a double storm flap over the centre front zip and removable faux fur hood trim which although I’m glad it's faux, certainly looks and feels the real deal. The 3-way adjustable hood with snap buttons to attach to the collar when not being used is a personal favourite feature since a big slouchy draping hood is a personal pet peeve of mine - the look ruins the aesthetic of an outfit for sure. This simple button mechanism keeps the hood shape nice and neat, sitting high up so you feel snug.

Another cool feature is the inner stretch cuffs with thumb loop to keep out the elements. Not only do I always lose gloves, but I require my fingers free for handling money, using my smartphone, skipping music tracks and tapping in and out of the TFL. So, having something that just warms the base of your hand quick and easy is a brilliantly clever feature. There’s also an internal zipped pocket (which is impressively deep may I add) with a headphone exit point. There’s 107 days of rainfall in London on average per year so the durable water repellent coating which helps water bead and run off for faster drying times is a strong feature. And finally, if you’re unlucky enough to get caught in a heavy downpour, there’s drainage holes inside the pockets to allow water to escape. So, if you’re living in a big city and are looking for a winter coat, I would recommend one of these Musto parkas – you definitely won’t be disappointed.

We review one of the best pieces of technical clothing around; the Musto Loska BR2 Primaloft Parka which is waterproof, breathable and windproof.