Every resident of Russia knows how severe winters can be. This is especially true of the northern regions. This means that you must definitely get ready in the autumn and buy good warm outerwear. Fortunately, today the choice of jackets is so great that you can pick up a model even for the most sophisticated taste. And nobody canceled the good old coats, although they are very heavy and not always comfortable. And Alaska's down jacket has long been particularly popular. True, many still argue about what kind of clothes and where it came to us from.
A bit of history
The modern down jacket Alaska is only remotely similar to its ancestor. Once upon a time, the Eskimos, to protect themselves from the cold wind and the harsh climate of the North, sewed for themselves knee-length jackets, or even lower, from furs. Usually they were worn by hunters and fishermen, who were outside the house for a long time. Alaska lining has always been made of real fur. It was he who kept warm for a long time and warmed on the coldest days, and the furry on the hood helped protect against the wind.
Travelers who visited the North quickly adopted the practical Eskimo “fashion” and brought it to central Russia, where the winter down jackets (Alaska) were liked by the military, especially the pilots. By the way, the lining of this jacket was made of orange material, so that in case of an accident the pilot could turn the clothes inside out. By its bright color it would be much easier to find on the ground.
In the early 70s, fashion in Alaska wave swept the modern youth. Each student asked parents to buy such a jacket. True, this fashion quickly died out, as Alaska of poor quality appeared more and more often on the market, and fame was lost. Only in the 90s, such jackets were again remembered. Especially popular were children's Alaska. They dressed everyone, from toddlers to teenagers.
Alaska or park, what's the difference?
Often, a down jacket Alaska is mistakenly called a park. Such outerwear was worn by residents from the coast of the Arctic Ocean. In principle, these two jackets are not much different: Alaskans are made in a sporty style, and bright colors are used for tailoring, while the park is rooted in military affairs, therefore, thanks to the army’s past, it matches the military style. The main distinguishing feature of the parka is a thin lace sewn in the waist so that you can easily adjust the volume.
Jacket or Alaska?
The market today is oversaturated with a variety of models of winter clothing: jackets, down jackets, sheepskin coats, fur coats, etc. Each option suits a specific style of clothing. For example, a sheepskin coat looks great with tight jeans or long skirts, but it does not fit with ski pants.
Down jacket Alaska in this regard is the most universal option. It goes well with almost any clothing and footwear. In addition, the fur creates the effect of high cost, so even the most fastidious fashionistas love to wear Alaska. By the way, such jackets are perfect even for harsh climates, because they withstand temperatures up to minus 30 degrees. Of course, a simple down jacket is also not bad. But if you look at the composition and compare it with the composition of Alaska, it will immediately become clear who won.
Compositions
An ordinary down jacket consists, as a rule, of artificial down, which makes it less expensive. However, in severe cold, such a filler, alas, does not work well. Yes, and to wash clothes for fluff or feather packing is very problematic.
Slightly more expensive down jackets can contain up to 20% of feather filler. They are certainly warmer than their cheaper "colleagues", but are guilty of the problem of feathers sticking out in all directions.
The down jacket Alaska, unlike its brother, warms up due to the fur lining, which is easy to unfasten and wash. Yes, and the material for sewing the outer part of the jacket is water-repellent, which allows you to stay warm and dry, even if it suddenly rains.
The hood of Alaska should be given special attention. Unlike ordinary down jackets, special drawstrings are usually sewn in here, which allow you to protect your head as much as possible from wind and cold.
Alaska for men
As already mentioned above, the down jacket Alaska is a male type of clothing, because initially it was worn by hunters, fishermen and the military. Now you can find many models for both young people and unisex. They differ, as a rule, with restrained dark colors, straight cut and not too plentiful fur on the hood. The latter can be either sewn in or detachable, which is also extremely convenient. Another distinguishing feature that a male Alaska down jacket possesses is pockets. There are quite a lot of them, as on most types of army uniforms.
Alaska for women
When it comes to fashion for the fair half of humanity, you can list the variations endlessly. Jackets, windcheaters, coats, down jacket Alaska ... Women's wardrobe is much more extensive than men's. Alaskans for girls returned to fashion at the end of the 20th century and were most often brighter, sometimes even with drawings. After all, if men prefer restraint and practicality, then girls like to stand out, and in winter, this type of outerwear, such as an Alaska down jacket, is great for this. The female version, by the way, is characterized by a longer furry, and the hood is sometimes more likely an interesting detail than a functional attribute.
What to choose in the end, you decide. But in all its quality indicators, real Alaska will give odds to any, even the most new-fangled, winter jacket. The only negative that an alaska down jacket has is the price. As a rule, it is significantly higher than for simple jackets, and varies in the range from 2500 to 30 000 rubles. But Alaska will definitely serve more than one season!