The N-3B Snorkel Parka: The World's Warmest Coat

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The N-3B parka is one of the warmest coats in the world. It was created by the U.S. military during the 1950s for flight crews in bitterly cold regions, and it is still issued to soldiers stationed in freezing areas such as Elmendorf and Thule. The original N-3B parka was designed for temperatures as low as -60 degrees Fahrenheit. It was sage green in color, made of a silk nylon material and filled with a thick wool padding similar to a blanket. It was very warm, but it was also quite heavy. In the 1970s, the military changed the padding to polyester and the shell to a blend of both nylon and cotton. Not only did this make the parka much less heavy, but it made it even warmer than the original coat.

 

When the civilian market learned about this warm, hard-wearing jacket, they began copying its design. The civilian version of the jacket was affordable yet durable, and it quickly gained a reputation as the perfect school coat. Since then, it has gone through varying stages of popularity. During the 1970s, it was so fashionable that almost every schoolboy in the U.K. had one, but by the late 1980s it had fallen completely out of favor. During that time, people who wore it were considered old-fashioned nerds and were ridiculed unmercifully. It was impossible for this coat to remain in disgrace for long, however. It was still the warmest and toughest coat around, and with these timeless qualities, it regained its popularity in the 1990s. Today, it is worn by men, women, and children of all nationalities. It is once again a fashionable school coat, and it is very popular in hip hop and indie culture.

 

The modern N-3B parka is almost identical to the original. It has retained the drawstring hood that zips up so tightly that there is only a small hole to see through, a feature which made the jacket an effective protection against icy winds and gave it the nickname of the N-3B snorkel parka. It has a water-resistant nylon shell, and the lining has gone from the quilted orange material of the 1970s back to the original un-quilted fabric that is the same color and material as the outer shell. It has the same four front pockets as it did in the beginning, including two oversized pockets with snaps and two diagonal breast pockets, and the same sleeve pockets. It is also still a 3/4 length with a full-length, buttoned storm flap. One major change that has been made is that the hood is no longer lined with real fox fur but instead has a synthetic fur lining.

 

There are now several variations of the N-3B parka. It is available in many different colors, including blue, black, brown, silver and camouflage, and it can be obtained in both men's and women's styles. It is also offered in both nylon and cotton, in styles with a removable hood, and in styles specifically designed for children. Some companies even sell versions of the jacket that are filled with down to increase its warmth. In addition, it is still possible to find vintage styles of the jacket, including ones that are made of the original silk nylon with knit wrist cuffs and a waist drawstring and those that are lined with the quilted orange fabric of the 1970s.

 

There are several different companies that manufacture the N-3B snorkel parkas, but not all of them are faithful to the original design or as high-quality as the real thing. Popular manufacturers include Alpha Industries, Rothco and Spiewak.  Rothco manufactures the popular Ultra Force N-3B parka, and it has been selling the coat to military surplus stores for almost 50 years. It is of a superior quality, and yet it is much cheaper than similar parkas made by other manufacturers.

 

We specialize in Rothco N-3B parkas and are proud to offer you the real thing. This jacket is perfect not only for military personnel but also for police, security workers and common people in all types of cold-weather situations. It will keep you toasty while camping, fishing, hiking, and hunting, even during the coldest winter weather. It is also ideal for winter activities such as skiing and snowboarding, and it is an invaluable piece of survival gear for any situation when you may find yourself without shelter. We can guarantee you the best quality and the most competitive pricing on any Rothco N-3B parka.

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