The arrival of the Asgard Parka is a landmark moment for Arksen. The brand’s first expedition-grade parka is engineered for extreme expeditions as well as cold city days or après-ski evenings. It has been developed to sustainable production values and is being marketed uniquely on pre-sale to encourage conscious consumption.

The jacket will only be available as a limited-edition piece – with just 100 items in total – due to the design team’s desire to maximise the product’s performance. This involves the use a special high-grade but volume-limited fabric, which is 100% recycled, C-Zero, PCFC-free and only made in small batches at an artisanal Italian laboratory.

Minimising material waste is core to Arksen’s apparel philosophy – and this jacket’s origin story came precisely from that ambition. “Given the purity of exploration and adventure embodied by Arksen, we knew we needed a high-performance expedition parka in the collection and we wanted it to be the best,” explains Head of Apparel Design, Simon Oates.

“To create such an exceptionally capable and dependable jacket, we opted for a very special fabric, which comes at a high unit price. To enable its use, we took an innovative approach to material efficiency, combining it with other materials that are used in our product range and manufacturing in limited numbers to avoid wastage and over-production.”

The entire product is made of around 90 percent recycled materials and only the down lining uses virgin material – only because to resist the lowest arctic temperatures required a fill power beyond the capability of existing recycled materials. The entire jacket, meanwhile, is designed to be as recyclable as possible at end of life.

Limited numbers mean the parka – which will be available on a two-week pre-order – is one of the rarest on the market. It is designed to withstand temperatures as low as minus-40 degrees when worn as part of a correctly-deployed modular expedition outfit, with a 10-degree high that also makes it ideal for many everyday situations.

The cold winters of cities like Chicago, Stockholm or Munich may not reach right down to the most frigid of arctic temperatures, but they are certainly low enough to make them prime candidates for the Asgard Parka – and both expedition and city use will benefit from some innovative features that have been embedded within its design.

Cocoon hood

One of the highlight features is the double cocoon hood, which is fully compatible with helmets and goggles. It combines a high contoured collar that mimics the foul weather jacket, lined with fleece and filled with additional Primaloft down, with a heavy down-filled hood that can be lifted over, creating a fully locked-in feel for ultimate protection. 

Multiple pockets

Comfort and storage are maximised with 10 different pockets. This is made up of two storage pockets and two fleece lined hand pockets at the chest; two cargo pockets with Velcro closure, both containing two additional fleece-lined hand pockets; and two internal pockets, with a large cargo pocket at bottom and a smaller document pocket at the chest.

Waist adjustment

An innovative external waist adjustment system is integrated within the jacket, concealed behind a storm flap. This allows the wearer to adjust the waist without having to undo the jacket – minimising any potential exposure to the elements, whether that is in the arctic at minus-40 or in the city in the middle of a thunder storm.

Zip vents

The jacket uses intelligent breathable technology to maintain ideal body temperature and also takes inspiration from sleeping bag design with a two-way zipper that offers additional temperature regulation. This allows the wearer to remain fully cocooned in the upper part of the jacket while opening up the lower part to vent internal heat.

Internal harness

Built-in internal straps allow the jacket to be removed without having to be fully taken off. Firmly attached to the inner lining and engineered with precise ergonomic positioning, they allow the jacket to be work off the back, like a backpack, enabling heavy duty activity without the inconvenience of having to fully shed the clothing.

With the arrival of the Asgard Parka, Arksen now offers a complete expedition upper body layering system – coupling the latest product with a range of durable, insulating and adaptable fleeces and soft-shells and a collection of base layers made from soft, organic natural fibres that wick moisture and regulate body temperature. 

Oates concludes: “We already build things for purpose and build things to last, but now with the Asgard Parka, we’re building things to order. The customer is effectively getting a bespoke item. We have all the fabric and trims to make 100 pieces and once it’s gone it’s gone. I am sure we will do another parka, but we never one of this composition again.”

Asgard Specs

Italian-made, down-proof fabric crafted from 100% recycled materials

Super-lightweight, yarn-dyed shell with a rich, technical texture

850 fill power goose down insulation for exceptional warmth-to-weight performance

Anti-abrasion reinforcements at shoulders, elbows, and pockets for added durability

Ten-pocket configuration for comprehensive storage. Four chest, two cargo, two hand, and two internal pockets

Contoured collar designed to create a full cocoon for warmth and protection

Concealed waist adjuster hidden beneath the storm flap for a tailored fit without exposing to the cold

2-way YKK AquaGuard® zip allowing venting from the bottom without fully undoing the jacket

Swiss-made Schoeller® 4-way stretch softshell cuffs with integrated thumbholes to retain warmth and lock out drafts

Non-stitched baffles for improved durability and reduced heat loss

Fully adjustable, detachable hood for versatile coverage

Internal carry harness with quick-release system for convenience on the move

Made in Europe