From the first time I ever heard of the First Lite Refuge Parka, I was excited about it. In truth, I did not need another heavy-duty outer layer, I was already well equipped with high end gear, but I could see that the Refuge Parka was a cut above anything I had laid my hands on thus far. And I needed to get one.
What is so impressive about this thing? Two main things really, the first is raw performance and the second is the technical features. It is the best coat/parka I have ever hunted in. And yes, I hunt with everything I review. I’ve worn this thing in very cold weather and couldn’t be happier with it.
I must regularly make it a point to give a disclaimer about my enthusiasm when it comes to my favorite gear pieces, this is ultimately a heavy coat, and it is not magical. But it is about as good as a heavy parka can be for duck hunting. If you want to stay warm and dry during the worst, coldest, windiest, and rainiest days that waterfowl hunting has to offer, you will be hard pressed to find a better way to do it than with the Refuge Parka.
Raw Performance
This is the heaviest parka that First Lite makes for the duck and goose hunter. It is windproof and waterproof. It is as its name states, a refuge from the elements. It has one job, to keep you warm and dry and it does it very well.
Once I get my decoys and blind setup I will sit down and put on the hood and tuck my hands into the handwarmer pockets, effectively retreating into the fortress of warmth that is this parka as I wait for shooting light, and it is truly a great experience. I almost feel as if I am sticking it to the cold windy weather, saying “take that”.
First Lite also makes the Refuge Bibs, but I almost always have waders on so I do not have a need for any waterfowl bibs. Though I wish I did more late season duck and goose hunting in fields so I could use the bibs because they would be MUCH warmer than my typical waders!
Technical Features
Yes, other companies make coats of similar weight with quality insulation and waterproof layers, but the features are what set this thing apart. This is also one of the major reasons I was excited about this parka. First Lite tends to make very smart gear, filled with features that real hunter’s treasure, such as:
A Technical Hood – Most jackets have a hood. But it feels like First Lite specifically engineered this hood and then built the rest of the parka around it. The detachable hood is patent pending and is a three-way adjustable “turret” style piece. What this amount to is a hood that fits your head all the way around and doesn’t sag over your eyes while giving more field of view than any other hood I’ve ever used. You can flip up the brim down to keep the sun out of your eyes. You can also leave the brim flipped up in its default position and it will allow water to channel around the face opening into a rain gutter that drips down the sides to keep your head and neck dry. You must try the hood on, it is an outstanding design.
Front Dump Pockets – The First Lite Refuge Parka has two front shotshell dump pockets that can each hold a box of shells. These use a very smart heavy flap design that is magnetically self-sealing. I cannot stress how much I like these pockets. First, it is so nice to be able to just grab shells without needing to work a zipper or snaps. Second, if you are hunting in the rain the pockets reseal by themselves keeping rain out of your pockets, something you may forget to do with zippered or snapped pockets.
Other Pockets – This thing has a bunch of cool pockets, a front horizontal zippered pocket on the left with another self-sealing magnetic horizontal pocket on the right. There is a zippered pocket on the left bicep, two dump pockets inside, and two very nice fleece lined handwarmer pockets on the outside. These are so warm and well placed that I do not see a need to use a hand warmer muff when hunting with this coat.
Body Mapped Insulation – The parka has between 200g and 300g of mapped synthetic insulation. The term “mapped” means different parts of the garment have different thicknesses of insulation based on the needs of the hunter for warmth and freedom of movement. The body is thicker, but the arms are a little thinner to give you more range of movement and to make it easier to shoot.
Seals – Every opening has great adjustability to ensure weatherproof seals. The cuffs have low profile easily adjustable straps that are the best I’ve ever used. There is an adjustable wading belt around the waist so you can keep the elements out or cinch up the parka when crossing deep water. And of course the hood and neck portion are great for keeping the weather out of the top opening.
Mobility/Surface Finish – The internal finish is a little silky but not slippery. This makes it very easy to put the parka on over your mid layers, but you do not feel like you are swimming in a coat that sloshes around over your layers. It is a great combination that when paired with the mapped insulation gives you great range of motion. Overall, this thing fits and moves very well for a parka that is this heavy duty. The outside finish is also a little smooth and is quieter than my other waterproof jackets. It is by no means quiet, but all rain proof layers make some noise, and this one is better than the others I have.
Zippers/Access – Overall the zippers are of nice quality and have good, coated pull strings that make them easy to grip and operate with gloves on. The bonus feature is that next to the hand warmer pockets is a second set of zippers that enables you to reach right through the parka and access your layers underneath. This is not a feature I often make use of, but if you get into some serious rain, this is a great way to access things without the risk of getting them wet. It also enables you to take hand warming to a higher level.
Layering Strategy
To get the most of any parka, you need to wear the right layers under it. The Refuge Parka makes that easy to do. In the 20s, I will wear a mid-weight base layer like the First Lite Kiln Merino Wool crew top, a mid-layer like the First Lite Rugged Wool Hoody, and then this parka. These are what I actually use. I may be a bit of a First Lite junky, but any quality base layer and mid-layer like a fleece would work.
There is also plenty of room for more layers, but they just aren’t needed unless its below 20 degrees. When the weather is even more severe, I would add an insulated mid layer like the First Lite Source Jacket and perhaps use a heavier base layer. If you layer properly, I can’t imagine any conditions in which you might realistically hunt waterfowl where this parka will not keep you warm.
Multi-Purpose Use
When looking at a high-end piece of gear, one of the big questions I ask is; what else can this be used for? If it is the ultimate late season waterfowl hunting parka that is great. But can I get any more milage out of an investment piece like this? The answer is absolutely yes. In wet and/or windy conditions, this heavy insulated coat is great for deer hunting. Yes, it’s a bit noisy for deer hunting but in heavy winds or precipitation, that doesn’t matter, all noise is muffled by the weather.
There are also non-hunting uses, like ice fishing, cold weather ocean fishing, and winter camping. I’ve worn it Christmas caroling, and it would be good to wear to outdoor winter sporting events like football games. It would make a very effective ski jacket as well.
Conclusions & Recommendations
The First Lite Refuge Parka is an outstanding piece of gear for the toughest conditions any waterfowl hunter will face. It may not be cheap, but it is actually a bit less expensive than some of its top brand competitor parkas. It is not just a heavy duty insulated windproof coat, it is packed with features that make it more comfortable, versatile, and enjoyable to use.
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Till next time. God bless you, and go get em in the woods!
George Konetes Ph.D. – Founder and Host of the New Hunters Guide.
The New Hunters Guide is simply what George wishes he would have had when learning how to hunt; a single place to get practical hands on knowledge about different kinds of hunting, gear, strategy, and tips that can improve your comfort and fun factor in the woods.
As a note, First Lite gave me this parka at my request to do this review, thanks to them for their support.