Here’s Everything You Need to Know Before Investing in a Canada Goose Jacket

I test products for a living, so I’m frequently asked, “is X worth it?” And it’s usually a question associated with a brand with high-ticket items like Canada Goose. When I had the opportunity to go to Toronto and visit the birthplace of the brand, I had to jump on it to do some investigating. The trip was centered around the Fall/Winter 2023 collection and, aside from visiting the factory, meeting designers, and touring the headquarters, I also got to bring home the Garnet Cropped Puffer to test afterwards. 

I knew Canada Goose jackets cost a pretty penny before the trip but I still gasped audibly when I saw the price of this coat. Now, before you click away assuming this is an article that recommends everyone should buy a $1,000-plus jacket, it doesn’t. After learning more about the brand and thoroughly wearing the jacket, I’ve broken down the nitty gritty bits of investing in a jacket of this caliber.

Canada Goose Garnet Cropped Puffer

View on Canadagoose.com $956 at farfetch.com

Top Features

Materials

The materials really set Canada Goose apart from competitors, especially since the jackets both look and feel premium. This cropped puffer is made with 750 fill power of responsibly sourced duck down. And, in 2021, Canada Goose received a certification from the Responsible Down Standard (RDS), ensuring that all of the down they source from ducks and geese meets animal welfare standards along with a long list of other strict regulations that must be followed to create each product. 

This particular jacket is also made with wind- and water-resistant, 100 percent Pima cotton specifically woven for down fill so feathers can’t escape the jacket. Canada Goose core down-fill jackets are all made in Canada with some parkas requiring dozens of sewers to create just one jacket, which I got the opportunity to see firsthand when I visited the Toronto factory.

Design

From the Fall/Winter 2023 collection, this cropped puffer is featured in the “Live in the Open” campaign to promote female empowerment with protagonists like cinematographer Sophie Darlington, actress and singer Sheila Atim, and Olympic ice hockey player Kimberly Newell as the leading ladies of the collection. A cropped puffer might not be the first jacket you think of in the Canada Goose lineup, but let me tell you, the coat has just as many thoughtful features as the brand’s iconic parkas. 

The extra puffy jacket has a sleek, minimalist design with an adjustable cord on the interior hem to offer a custom and secure fit as needed. There are two discreet, fleece-lined zipper pockets on the outside and two slip pockets in the interior. When it comes to warmth, this jacket has a built-in neck gaiter thanks to the large puffed collar that zips all the way up to protect the neck and chin. I’m also a big fan of the knit ribbed wrist gaiters for preventing the cold air from creeping up my arms. 

And, of course, besides the stylish statement this cropped puffer offers (compared to my very practical parkas that lack some style), my favorite feature is the removable backpack straps that allow the jacket to be carried like a backpack, which has proven particularly useful for being hands-free indoors like going through airport security, riding the subway, etc. 

Warmth

Thanks to Canada Goose’s handy Thermal Experience Index, it is easy to find out which jacket is suited best for your needs since the index shares the warmth rating in an easy-to-digest manner for Canada Goose newbies. On the warmth scale from one to five, the cropped puffer I tested is rated a two under the “versatile” category. It’s designed for comfort and to keep your core warm in temperatures from 5 to 32 degrees fahrenheit, which feels extremely accurate based on my personal experience with the jacket. 

I wore the jacket on several of New York City’s rainiest weekends and was thoroughly impressed with the water repellency since the rain didn’t make the jacket feel heavy or soggy when it got wet. It’s also no secret how windy and bone-chilling it can get here so, on cold and blustery days, I reached for this jacket since it kept my upper body from feeling windblown. The jacket is extremely comfortable to wear and versatile so I’m able to use it for walking the dog, going out to dinner, and commuting to the office. 

Durability

We test thousands of products at T+L, and one of the most important attributes of any item we try is the durability factor. After wearing this jacket nonstop for several months and putting it through my own series of durability tests, I’m happy to report that this jacket feels like it will stand the test of time. The puffer can withstand scrapes from sharp dog nails, being dragged on the pavement, and being shoved into a carry-on for long periods of time without showing an ounce of wavering quality. Of course, I will continue to test this jacket for years to come and report back as needed. 

Canada Goose also has a lifetime warranty guarantee for manufacturing defects and, if the damage isn’t covered under warranty, they have a repair program where you can send your jacket in to breathe even more life into it in the event that it tears, rips, or needs new zippers. 

Why I Love It

It's surprisingly easy to pack

I didn’t foresee needing extra space in my carry-on for a large puffer jacket so I wasn’t quite sure how I’d bring the jacket back to New York City. However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the jacket could be folded up into a ball that only took up a small part of my suitcase. The best part is that even after being shoved in my luggage for hours on end, the jacket came out looking good as new without any wrinkles or decrease in puffiness. 

I had the opportunity to meet and chat with Newell about traveling around the world with the Chinese ice hockey team and she shared that she always brings her Canada Goose parka with her on flights by using the handy backpack straps. So, naturally, I had to try it out so I wore my jacket up until security and I loved having the ability to be hands-free thanks to these straps.

The jacket will last a lifetime

Originally designed for park rangers, dog sledders, and scientists in Antarctica, Canada Goose jackets have been made to endure the harshest of weather conditions since the 1950s. The premium materials used to craft (and even handmake) the jackets means you’re getting the brand’s promise of quality over quantity, which can be well worth the investment. 

Buying a jacket that will last for decades shouldn’t be a decision taken lightly so it’s important to do thorough research on the Canada Goose jacket that best fits your needs, and if you happen to live close to New York City, I highly recommend checking out the Cold Room at their store in Short Hills, New Jersey, to step into a chamber that gets as low as 9 degrees Fahrenheit.

Canada Goose is a mission-backed brand

One of the best parts of my trip to Toronto was learning about all the ways Canada Goose gives back. Referred to as “Humanature,” the brand outlines multiple initiatives they support with sustainability efforts, community cultivation, and wildlife conservation. Their Resource Centre Program provides Northern Canadian Indigenous communities with upcycled fabric, zippers, and buttons. They buy works from Indigenous artists and display it in retail locations and around the Toronto headquarters, which was exciting to see. Canada Goose also partnered with Polar Bears International to protect polar bears and counter climate change in the Arctic. 

What to Consider

The biggest thing to consider when looking at Canada Goose jackets is the price. These are expensive pieces of outerwear and the cost can be inaccessible. If you’re planning on dropping this kind of money on a jacket, don’t take the decision lightly and really consider which of their many styles will suit you best for years to come. For example, the cropped puffer I tested isn’t the most practical option for someone living in extremely cold weather and it’s not designed for those kinds of temperatures. If you’re looking for a jacket that will combat harsher conditions, consider one of the classic parkas like the Shelburne Parka or the Mystique Parka. For more versatility and style, opt for the Garnet Cropped Puffer (the one I tried) or the Cyprus Puffer.

Is a Canada Goose Jacket Worth It?

After testing a Travel + Leisure Trusted product, we always end the assessment by placing a value rating on the item. To be fully transparent, I didn’t pay for this jacket so I can’t speak on this as a paying customer. However, it’s my job to test products and I judged the Garnet puffer the same way I would evaluate any other one and I do believe this jacket (and Canada Goose as a brand) has an extremely high value when it comes to quality, warmth, and fit. As I’ve said, I’m confident that the coat I now own will last me decades. For those that can afford the price tag and who live somewhere cold enough to need a warm jacket, you will not be disappointed in the product, and the investment will pay off as the years go by. 

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Anna Popp is a commerce writer at Travel + Leisure, where she writes and reviews travel products. She has been travel writing since 2018 and product testing since 2021. An avid skier and participant in other outdoor pursuits, Anna has personally tested a wide range of winter gear, including jackets, vests, and boots. 

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